Category: Age Categories

Peter Abrahams

Photo of Peter Abrahams, an elderly African man with medium-brown skin and white hair and mustache.Name: Peter Abrahams.
Died: January 18, 2017.
Age at death: 97.
Cause of death: Blunt head trauma.
Location: Red Hills, St. Andrew, Jamaica.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
After Peter objected to the way his aide’s husband had used his credit card, the man became angry, threw him out of his wheelchair, and bashed his head against the floor until he died.

Peter was a novelist, journalist, and political commentator who was born in South Africa, lived in the UK, and finally moved to Jamaica. His work focused on political and social issues, especially racism.

Case status:
Norman Tomlinson (Husband of Peter’s aide; lover?), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 7 years.

Source:
Wikipedia: Peter Abrahams
Murder accused alleges gay affair with Peter Abrahams — sources
Investigators Give Details On Murder Of Peter Abrahams
Suspect reportedly admits to killing Peter Abrahams
Sleep on Sir Abrahams
Peter Abrahams

Alex Santiago

Photo of a young man with tan skin and curly hair, smiling for the camera, wearing a sweater.Name: Alex Santiago.
Died: January 17, 2017.
Age at death: 21.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Berryville, Arkansas, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Alex had already survived one murder attempt by his brother, who had locked him in a gasoline-drenched bedroom and lit a match. Alex was airlifted to a hospital, where he spent three days before going home. Eight months later, his brother finally succeeded in killing him by bludgeoning him with a baseball bat and stabbing him with a sword.

Case status:
Joseph Santiago (Brother), convicted of murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Alex Santiago
17-year-old arrested after killing autistic brother with baseball bat, sword
17-Year-Old Accused Of Killing Autistic Brother With Bat And Sword
Carroll County murder victim was suspect’s autistic brother; Bat, sword were weapons
House Fire Victims by Taylor Santiago
Arkansas teen pleads innocent in brother’s death
Juvenile, for now, pleads not guilty in death of autistic brother
Murder suspect identified: Enters ‘not guilty’ plea in brother’s slaying
Carroll County teen pleads not guilty to capital murder, other charges
Mental evaluation Judge orders exam for Santiago, accused of slaying brother
Carroll Co. Murder Suspect to Undergo Mental ExamCarroll Co. Murder Suspect to Undergo Mental Exam
Arkansas Teen Sentenced to Life for Killing Brother

Mercedes Witterman

No PhotoName: Mercedes “Bunny” Witterman.
Died: January 16, 2017.
Age at death: 69.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Sylmar, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Mercedes was shot by her husband, who then shot himself.

She was a retired nurse who like crafting.

Case status:
Rubin Witterman (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Mercedes S. Witterman’s Obituary on Los Angeles Daily News
Death of Sylmar couple investigated as possible murder-suicide
Mercedes Witterman, 69 – The Homicide Report

Victoria Cherry

Photo of Vicky Cherry, a middle-aged woman with pale skin and straight brown chin-length hair.Name: Victoria Cherry.
Died: January 15, 2017 (Body Found); missing October 2015.
Age at death: 44.
Cause of death: Likely strangulation.
Location: Bolton, Manchester, England, UK.
Disability: Epilepsy, depression, drug abuse.

Details:
Vicky’s boyfriend claimed she had moved away and stole her benefits for some time. Her body was found fifteen months later, stuffed into a cupboard. It was impossible to tell exactly how she had died, but damage to her neck implied Vicky had probably been strangled.

Case status:
Andrew Reade (Boyfriend), pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and preventing a lawful burial, sentenced to 4 years, 4 months.

Source:
Man jailed for hiding girlfriend’s body in cupboard for more than a year
Victoria Cherry: Man arrested on suspicion of murder after police find body
Tributes to mum found dead at flat
Tributes paid to Preston woman Victoria Cherry
Police searching for missing woman Victoria Cherry for over a year find body in Bolton house
Man hid body of dead girlfriend in airing cupboard for 15 months
Man, 43, hid his dead girlfriend’s body in his airing cupboard for 15 months
Vicky Cherry death: Boyfriend jailed over airing cupboard body

Patricia Maulder

No PhotoName: Patricia Anne Maulder.
Died: January 14, 2017.
Age at death: 66.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Waipukurau, New Zealand.
Disability: Mental illness; chronic anxiety.

Details:
Patricia’s husband killed her before dying by suicide. His daughter-in-law thinks he believed Patricia would not be able to cope without him.

Patricia kept a neat garden. Before retirement, she and her husband had run a fish-and-chip shop.

Case Status:
Kevin Maulder (Husband), deceased.

Sources:
Murder-suicide couple ‘victims of mental health stigma’, coroner finds
Deceased Waipukurau couple named
Couple found dead in Waipukurau named

Ms. Tsang

No PhotoName: (Ms.) Tsang.
Died: January 14, 2017.
Age at death: 63.
Cause of death: Throat cut.
Location: Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, China.
Disability: Depression.

Details:
Ms. Tsang’s husband cut her throat, killing her; then he jumped from their high-rise apartment window.

Case status:
Chan (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Elderly man kills wife, jumps to his death

Marilyn Miller

Photo of Marilyn Miller, a woman with short white hair and fair skin, photographed outdoors.Name: Marilyn Miller.
Died: January 14, 2017.
Age at death: 83.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Waterloo, Iowa, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness.

Details:
Marilyn’s husband took her to the park, where he shot her before killing himself. Friends said he might have done it because he didn’t want them to go to a nursing home.

Marilyn grew a garden in her backyard. She liked collecting seashells.

Case status:
Neil Miller (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Murder-Suicide couple wanted to avoid nursing home
Autopsies: Iowa murder-suicide couple suffered health issues
Autopsies confirm murder-suicide in park deaths of couple

Irene McLean

Photo of Irene McLean, an elderly woman with curly white hair and fair skin, wearing an embroidered sweater.Name: Irene McLean.
Died: January 10, 2017.
Age at death: 96.
Cause of death: Malnutrition, failure to thrive.
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease.

Details:
Irene died from malnutrition and multiple rib fractures, after being removed from her home by adult protective services in terrible shape.

Irene visited over 100 countries during her lifetime. She liked swimming, yoga, and dance, and could still do the splits in her late 80s.

Case status:
Cause of death ruled undetermined. Autopsy findings included skin ulcers from abuse or neglect and multiple rib fractures.
Police are questioning family, especially a caregiver who would have been an heir to her estate.

Source:
Malnutrition, Alzheimer’s and broken ribs cause of death for elderly woman taken from Virginia Beach home
A 96-year-old Virginia Beach woman was found with bruises and skin tears. Her friends want to know why.
Death of elderly Virginia Beach woman found with bruises, skin tears spurs police probe
96-year-old woman dies after being removed from horrific condition
Friends search for answers after death of 96-year-old woman found with bruises, torn skin
Friends want to know what happened to Irene McLean

Barbara Martone

Photo of Barbara Martone. She is a woman with auburn hair and fair skin, wearig pink lipstick and nail polish, gold earrings, and a black and gray blouse.Name: Barbara Martone.
Died: January 9, 2017.
Age at death: 81.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Wayne, New Jersey, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness (Cancer); disabled elder.

Details:
Barbara’s husband shot her in a murder-suicide.

She was retired from her job fundraising for Easter Seals; she had two sons, a grandson, and a granddaughter. She liked lobster dinners, dancing, gambling at Atlantic City, and crossword puzzles. She always carried photos of her children and grandchildren, and would show them to anyone she met.

Case status:
Daniel Martone (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Few answers in murder/suicide of Wayne couple
Barbara Martone’s Obituary on The Record
Health problems plagued couple prior to shooting deaths
Wayne Man, 80, Kills Self, 81-Year-Old Wife In Murder-Suicide: Prosecutor

Karen Allen

No PhotoName: Karen Allen.
Died: January 6, 2017.
Age at death: 74.
Cause of death: Pulmonary embolism.
Location: Tampa, Florida, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Karen died from malnutrition and from having been left immobile for a long time, which caused a blood clot to form in her lungs and kill her. She weighed 68 pounds.

Case status:
Harold Earl Allen (Husband), charged with aggravated manslaughter of an elderly disabled adult; died before trial.

Source:
Man accused in wife’s death dies in Hillsborough car crash
Elderly man accused of starving wife to death (video)
Medical examiner report shows what led to arrest of malnourished Hillsborough woman’s husband
Man arrested after wife’s autopsy revealed malnourishment
Wife weighed 68 pounds when found dead, husband arrested
75-year-old is arrested after his bedridden wife dies weighing just 68 pounds
Deputies: Tampa man starved wife who weighed 68 pounds at death