Age Categories – Page 89 – Disability Day of Mourning

Dadirai Mashonga

No Photo Name: Dadirai Mashonga.
Died: July 13, 2017.
Age at death: 40.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Magunje, Zimbabwe.
Disability: Deaf.

Details:
When a local businessman offered him $4000 for a human head to use for a ritual, Dadirai’s brother allegedly waited until she was alone, killed her with an axe, and decapitated her.

Case status:
Robert Tazvireva, charged with murder.
Samuel Mashonga (Brother), charged with murder.

Source:
Beheading haunts family
Tempers flare at Karoi ritual murder funeral
Hurungwe man beheads sister
Man beheads sister, two bodies decompose in huts
Villagers burn ritual murder suspect’s business complex
Zimbabwe: Man offered $4,000 for human head, beheads sister
20-year-old offered $4,000 for human head, beheads his 40-year-old sister
Man who beheaded sister for $4000 and businessman appear in court
HORROR RITUAL MURDER: Court Told How Man Stabbed, Beheaded Sister For Local Businessman

Virginia Villa

Name: Virginia Villa.
Died: July 12, 2017.
Age at death: 73.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Pacoima, California, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness.

Details:
Virginia was shot by her husband in a murder-suicide.

She was a foster mother to many children, and worked as a special education assistant before she retired.

Case status:
Gilbert Villa (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Elderly couple killed in Pacoima murder-suicide is identified
Virginia Villa, 73 – The Homicide Report
Virginia Villa, age 73

No Photo Name: James Walker.
Died: July 11, 2017.
Age at death: 72.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Glendale, Arizona, USA.
Disability: Disabled veteran; wheelchair user.

Details:
James was murdered by his stepson because he refused to get out of bed.

Case status:
Heath Allen McConkey (Stepson), convicted of second-degree murder, sentenced to 13 years.

Source:
Glendale man accused of beating disabled stepfather to death
Glendale police: Man beat disabled stepfather to death
Glendale man allegedly beat disabled stepdad to death
Final release order and order regarding counsel
Glendale man accused of fatally beating disabled stepfather
Arizona Man Allegedly Beat Disabled Stepdad to Death for Not Getting Out of Bed
Glendale man accused of beating disabled stepfather to death pleads not guilty
Glendale Man Pleads Not Guilty to Fatally Beating Stepfather

Micah and Olivia Gee

Photo of Olivia and Micah Gee, two African-American toddlers. Olivia is wearing a pink sweater and has her hair tied back in a headband with a big purple flower on it. Micah is wearing a striped blue-and-green shirt, and has his arms around his sister. Name: Micah Gee.
Age at death: 3.

Name: Olivia Gee.
Age at death: 2.

Died: July 10, 2017.
Cause of death: Internal bleeding from blunt trauma.
Location: New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Severe asthma.

Details:
When Olivia and Micah were found dead in their beds on the same night, they were thought to have died of asthma attacks. But on autopsy, it became clear that the brother and sister had been beaten to death.

Case status:
Jade Spencer (Mother), charged with six counts of first-degree manslaughter, six counts of second-degree manslaughter, and assault.

Source:
Bronx Mother Indicted on Manslaughter, Assault Charges in Deaths of Her Two Toddlers in 2017
Mother Charged With Manslaughter In 2017 Deaths Of 2 Bronx Toddlers
Siblings, ages 2 and 3, die after breathing trouble
Seeking answers to toddlers’ death
Investigation Continues Into Deaths Of Bronx Toddler Siblings
Bronx Toddlers’ Deaths Are Ruled Homicides
Deaths of toddler siblings ruled homicides
Deaths of young siblings in the Bronx ruled homicides
Bronx toddlers bled to death after savage beating
Medical Examiner Says Blunt Force Trauma Killed Young Bronx Siblings
Beaten Bronx Toddlers Died of Internal Bleeding, NYPD Says
Bronx Toddlers Were Beaten to Death, Medical Examiner Says
Toddler Siblings From The Bronx Were Beaten To Death

Omar Omran

Memorial left outside Omran Omar's apartment, consisting of flowers, stuffed animals, and notes. In the foreground is a sign that says, "Rest in peace, precious little boy." Name: Omar Omran.
Died: July 10, 2017.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Kimmage, Dublin, Ireland.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Omar was stabbed to death by his mother.

Neighbors left flowers, notes, and toys outside his apartment building. One neighbor remembered that Omar used to throw his toys over his balcony, and his neighbor used to bring them back to him.

Case status:
Maha Al Adheem (Mother), charged with murder; found not guilty by reason of insanity, committed to mental hospital.

Source:
Mother of boy stabbed to death in Dublin is Iraqi doctor
Doctor arrested after son, 3, is found stabbed to death
Boy (3) killed in Kimmage ‘not a stranger to anyone’, says father
Mum accused of killing autistic son told police ‘it was my knife’
Doctor is held over fatal stabbing of autistic son, 3
Doctor ‘arrested after her autistic toddler is stabbed to death in their flat’
Mum arrested over toddler son found dead with stab wounds in apartment
Detectives investigating fatal stabbing of toddler (3) arrest woman
Stab victim Omar (3) laid to rest after ‘final kiss’ from father
Heartbroken father of stabbed Irish tot kisses him goodbye as he is laid to rest
Tearful Father Of Omar Omran Lays Stabbed Son To Rest
Doctor accused of murdering son was ‘amazing’ mother, neighbour tells court
Doctor who stabbed her son (3) to death in their south Dublin home found not guilty of his murder
Doctor found not guilty of murdering son (3) by reason of insanity

Leona Twiss

Black and white photo of Leona Twiss, a young woman in old-fashioned clothing. She has curly hair and light skin and is wearing a white blouse and flight attendant's cap. Name: Leona Twiss.
Died: July 9, 2017.
Age at death: 95.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Fort Ann, Florida, USA.
Disability: Early dementia, frail elder.

Details:
Not long after Leona’s grandson moved into her house to help care for her, he and his wife conspired to kill her; he strangled her with a towel.

Case status:
Kevin L. Gonyea (Grandson), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 15 years to life.
Melissa Gonyea (Grandson’s wife), pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and tampering with physical evidence and other charges related to being an accomplice, sentenced to 3 1/3 to 10 years.

Source:
Gonyea sentenced to 15 years to life for strangling his grandmother
Fort Ann man charged with murder
Fort Ann grandson and his wife charged in death of 95-year-old grandmother
Local police travel to Florida for murder investigation
New York man charged with strangling his 95-year-old grandma
Man accused of killing grandmother, 95
Sheriff’s Office: Fort Ann woman found murdered, family members arrested
Murder suspect has new attorney, court date
Fort Ann couple indicted in connection with 95-year-old’s killing
Family: Woman in murder case deserves life, too
Videos show woman’s implication of husband, others in murder case
Wife of Fort Ann murder suspect pleads guilty
Murder case hearing postponed as subpoena issues debated
Gonyea mulling plea offer in grandmother’s murder
Fort Ann murder suspect talks plea deal again
NY man pleads guilty to strangling grandmother, 95
Following death of 95-year-old woman, two more family members charged
Police were suspicious of Twiss relatives at murder scene
Documents claim former guard told of killing inmates
Defense claims defendant is ‘immune’ in murder case

Peggy Schroeder

Photo of Peggy Schroeder, a middle-aged woman with wavy brown hair, fair skin, and glasses. Name: Peggy Schroeder.
Died: July 8, 2017.
Age at death: 53.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Morrison, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Deaf.

Details:
Peggy was shot to death by her teenage daughter. Her daughter and her friend then set the house on fire to hide the crime.

She was a faithful churchgoer and avid gardener.

Case status:
Anna Schroeder (Adopted daughter), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 20 years.
Rachel Helm (daughter’s girlfriend), pleaded guilty to concealing a homicidal death and arson, sentenced to 11.5 years.

Source:
Rachel Helm gets over a decade in prison for helping Morrison teen hide mother’s death
‘I’m the child who shot and killed her own mom’: Morrison teen sentenced to 20 years in prison in mother’s 2017 death
“It’s kind of slap in the face”; Police upset with judge’s decision not to charge Anna Schroeder with 1st-degree murder
Neighbors react to fire, death investigation of Morrison resident
Community healing begins after Morrison murder
Teen girl asks DEAF mother to cover face before shooting her in the head, enlists friend to cover up murder by setting house on fire, hides gun in cemetery
Teenage girl posts ‘love you’ after allegedly killing mom
Fundraiser started for Morrison mom’s funeral expenses
Anna Schroeder: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Inside the prosecution debate: When kids kill

Angelina Costello

Name: Angelina Costello.
Died: July 6, 2017.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Injury, malnutrition.
Location: Ogden, Utah, USA.
Disability: Premature, medically fragile.

Details:
Angelina died from starvation, burns, and blunt trauma. She had been abused by her parents for essentially her entire life. Her parents believed that because she was born premature, she was “cursed”, and that her disability meant she brought bad luck to the family.

Case Status:
Brenda Emile (Mother), pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, sentenced to life without parole.
Miller Eric Costello (Father), pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated murder, sentenced to life without parole.

Sources:
‘Dehumanized and tortured by monsters’: Judge berates parents for horrific killing of toddler
The Awful Abuse 3-Year-Old Angelina Costello Suffered Before She Died — And How Her Mother Tried To Cover Up Her Wounds
Detective: On family videos, Angelina Costello ‘looks like a skeleton’
Costello pleads guilty in daughter’s starvation, beating death
Mother charged in brutal abuse death of 3-year-old can’t withdraw guilty plea, judge says

“Child D”

No Photo Name: “Child D”.
Died: July 2, 2017.
Age at death: Less than 1 year.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Disability: Spina bifida.

Details:
Child D, who cannot be named for confidentiality reasons, was born a twin; her twin was non-disabled. Because of her spina bifida, she needed to use a catheter to urinate, and her parents were taught to do this while she was in the hospital. Her family was known to social services.

Toward the end of her life, hospital staff noticed she was growing thin, and she was treated for a urinary tract infection. In the hospital, her father was observed not to be catheterizing the baby girl. At a medical appointment, professionals noted that she was “not her smiley self”.

When she was less than a year old, Child D was brought to the hospital unresponsive and declared dead. Authorities found her five siblings poorly cared for and her home badly kept. They concluded that Child D had been catheterized only intermittently, and that she had died due to the poor care given her by her parents.

Case Status:
Her parents were charged.

Sources:
Severly disabled baby girl found dead in Glasgow home was not properly cared for by parents, review found
Severely disabled ‘smiley’ Scots baby dies after being neglected by parents
Significant Case Review: Child D

Mahalakshmi

Name: Mahalakshmi.
Died: June 28, 2017.
Age at death: 28.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Disability: Depression.

Details:
When Mahalakshmi’s mother died, she became depressed, and her younger brother took care of her. But he became convinced that because of his sister, he would never be able to get married; so he allegedly strangled her when she lay down to take her afternoon nap.

Case status:
Shiv Kumar (Brother), charged with murder.

Source:
Bengaluru: Man kills unwed, ‘troubled’ sister
Bengaluru man murders ‘fat’, ‘depressed’ sister for standing in the way of his marriage
Police book man for murder of his elder sister