Age Categories – Page 9 – Disability Day of Mourning

Michael Parks Jr.

No Photo Name: Michael Steven Parks Jr.
Died: September 17, 2023.
Age at death: 29.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Michael, who lived with his mother, went to bed one night and died in his sleep. At autopsy, examiners took note of his extremely low body mass index and declared that he had died from malnutrition due to neglect.

Case Status:
Pamela Parks (Mother), charged with involuntary manslaughter and neglect of a disabled adult in a domestic setting causing serious injury.

Sources:
A Winston-Salem woman faces a manslaughter charge after her disabled son’s death in 2023
Autopsy reveals a man died from malnutrition in his mother’s care
Disabled man found dead inside Triad home, woman charged with involuntary manslaughter, officials say
Autopsy reveals Winston-Salem man with Down syndrome died of malnutrition; mother charged with manslaughter

John and Lois McCullough

Name: John McCullough.
Age at death: 70.
Cause of death: Poisoned.
Disability: Possible autism, hypertension, type II diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia and glaucoma.

Name: Lois McCullough.
Age at death: 71.
Cause of death: Bludgeoned, stabbed.
Disability: Agoraphobia, OCD traits.

Died: September 13, 2023 (Body found; died June 18, 2019).
Location: Great Baddow, Essex, England, UK.

Details:
John and Lois lived with their daughter, who decided to kill them. She saved up prescription medicine and drugged them both, and in the morning, John was dead. Lois survived, so their daughter bludgeoned and stabbed her to death instead. She concealed the bodies for several years before a welfare check revealed that the two were dead.

John and Lois were old-fashioned, private people. John was a retired business studies lecturer who enjoyed golf; Lois loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Case Status:
Virginia McCullough (Daughter), convicted of murder, sentenced to 36 years to life.

Sources:
How Virginia McCullough murdered her parents – and lived with their bodies for four years
Virginia McCullough jailed for 36 years for murdering parents
Why Did a ‘Manipulative’ Daughter Kill Her Parents, Then Live with Their Bodies for the Next 4 Years?
Why Virginia McCullough killed her parents and lived with their bodies
Virginia McCullough case
Autism Memorial: John McCullough

Florence Brown

Name: Florence Brown.
Died: September 12, 2023.
Age at death: 94.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Lansdale, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Florence’s husband called police to tell them he had just shot his wife. Police arrived to find Florence and her husband with gunshot wounds; Florence, who had been shot multiple times, was dead on arrival at the hospital, and her husband died later that night.

Case Status:
Stanley Brown (Husband), deceased.

Sources:
Lansdale husband, 93, killed wife, 94, in murder-suicide, Montgomery County DA says
93-year-old man kills his wife, then himself in Montgomery County murder-suicide: Police
Stanley Florence Brown Obituary – Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, Inc. – Lansdale – 2023
Shooter and Victim Identified in Tuesday’s Murder-Suicide in Lansdale
MURDER-SUICIDE: Husband Kills 94-Year-Old Wife Then Himself In Lansdale, DA Says

Philista St. John

Name: Philista Mae St. John.
Died: September 7, 2023.
Age at death: 86.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Polson, Montana, USA.
Disability: Dementia, diabetes.

Details:
When police were called to do a welfare check on Philista, they found that she had been stabbed to death and her body hidden. They arrested her son, since he had an outstanding warrant, and later charged him with the stabbing that had caused Philista’s death when they found a note which they believe was written by Philista’s son, in which he stated that he “couldn’t do it anymore” and admitted that he had killed her.

Case Status:
Garrett Edward Vaska (Son), charged with deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence.

Sources:
Polson man charged with stabbing his mother with dementia to death
Polson man charged with killing mother who had dementia
Man accused of killing mother in Polson pleads not guilty
Philista Mae St. John Obituary 2023

Baba Junior

Name: Baba Junior.
Died: September 5, 2023.
Age at death: 4 months.
Cause of death: Suffocation.
Location: Berekum, Bono, Ghana.
Disability: Suspected autism.

Details:
Suspecting that the little boy had autism, Baba’s father allegedly hired a fetish priest to suffocate the child. Baba’s parents went to the cemetery at night to bury the body. Neighbors who heard about the incident reported it to the police, who are now investigating.

Case Status:
Dj Poli (Father), wanted and at large.
Madam Paulina (Mother), arrested but later released.
Nana (Hired killer), status unspecified.

Sources:
Man allegedly pays fetish priest GHS800 to kill 4-month-old autistic son, buries him secretly
Man Allegedly Kills His 4-Month-Old Autistic Son
Man allegedly kills and secretly buries his 4-month-old son — Kasapa102.5FM
B/R: Level 200 Legon student allegedly kills four-month-old son for being autistic baby
Autism Memorial: Baba Junior

Cheryl Mansoff

Name: Cheryl Lee Mansoff.
Died: September 2, 2023.
Age at death: 63.
Cause of death: Beaten.
Location: Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.
Disability: Leg amputee, diabetes.

Details:
Cheryl lived with a man who helped her by doing errands and yardwork. When police were called to their home, they found her dead; she had been violently assaulted.

Cheryl was an avid reader. She leaves behind three children and three grandchildren.

Case Status:
Stephen Teetaert (Caregiver, tenant), charged with second-degree murder.

Sources:
Neighbours, uncle talk about homicide
Obituary of Cheryl Lee Mansoff | Brockie Donovan Funeral & Cremation Services

JMGC

No Photo Name: “JMGC”.
Died: September 1, 2023.
Age at death: 25.
Cause of death: Poisoning.
Location: Valencia, Spain.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
This young man’s mother took him to a hotel room, where she poisoned him and then herself. Police say she had become ill and was convinced no one would be able to take care of her son like she could.

Case Status:
LMC (Mother), deceased.

Sources:
Woman takes her life after killing her disabled son
Una mujer mata a su hijo discapacitado y después se quita la vida en un hotel de València

10-month-old girl

No Photo Name Unknown.
Died: August 21, 2023.
Age at death: 10 months.
Cause of death: Unspecified; homicide.
Location: Giyani, Limpopo, South Africa.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
This baby’s mother claimed that she had died of natural causes; but neighbors became suspicious, the child’s body was found buried in a shallow grave, and her mother was arrested for murder.

Case Status:
Her mother, charged with murder and obstruction of justice.

Sources:
Mother arrested after death of disabled baby
Heartless mother in the dock for murder of 10-month-old baby
Limpopo woman arrested for allegedly murdering her disabled daughter

Martha Rutledge

No Photo Name: Martha Rutledge.
Died: August 14, 2023.
Age at death: 99.
Cause of death: Starvation, untended bedsores.
Location: Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Mobility impaired.

Details:
Martha was found dead at home. Her body was very thin, and she was covered in multiple severe bedsores. Her daughters, with whom she lived, are accused of not providing any medical care to their mother. Martha also had a lot of alcohol and THC in her system when she died; unable to move from her bed, she would not have been able to ingest these on her own. She had not seen a doctor in ten years.

Case Status:
Martha Carroll Rutledge (Daughter), charged with abuse or neglect of a vulnerable person resulting in death.
and Nancy Rutledge (Daughter), charged with abuse or neglect of a vulnerable person resulting in death.

Sources:
Rock Hill sisters granted bond for mother’s death whose body has ‘chronic open wound’
Police: Rock Hill woman died from lack of medical care, 2 daughters charged
Martha Rutledge Obituary (2023) – Rock Hill, SC – The Herald

Connie Smith

No Photo Name: Connie Smith.
Died: August 13, 2023.
Age at death: 76.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Frail elder.

Details:
Connie was fatally shot in her own home. Police say her son, who lived with her, confessed to killing her.

Case Status:
Shane Smith (Son), charged with first-degree murder.

Sources:
Update: Oklahoma City man charged with first-degree murder in mother’s shooting death
Man arrested after shooting, killing elderly mother in NW OKC, police say
OKC man booked for murder of elder mother
Man Arrested, Accused Of Shooting Mother To Death In NW Oklahoma City