Age: Teen – Page 18 – Disability Day of Mourning

Josiah Carroll

Josiah Carroll's gravestone; it reads, Isaiah 55:12, 1981 to 1993. Name: Josiah Carroll.
Died: June 14, 1993.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Smothered.
Location: Cedarville, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Josiah was allegedly smothered by his older brother. The death was witnessed by Josiah’s brother Isaiah, but his testimony was not considered because he is non-verbal and communicates by pointing.

Case status:
Kathleen Carroll (Mother), not charged.
Timothy Carroll (Father), not charged.
James Carroll (Brother), charged with delinquency by reason of involuntary manslaughter, acquitted.

Source:
Hannah, Noah, Molly and Joshua Carroll
Boy Saw Slaying, He Tells

Mr. Lev

No Photo Name: Unknown; last name may be Lev.
Died: February 22, 1991.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Poisoning.
Location: Jerusalem, Israel.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
This teenage boy’s mother was found guilty of poisoning him.

Case status:
Zvia Lev (Mother), found guilty of murder.

Source:
Autism Memorial: 16-year-old male, Name Unknown
Michael Rotem, “Mother found guilty of killing her autistic son,” Jerusalem Post, February 22, 1991.

Malanie and Medhini Paul

No Photo Name: Dr. Malanie Desilva Paul.
Age at death: 48.
Disability: Arthritis, depression.

Name: Medhini Paul.
Age at death: 17.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Name: Anthony Rajiva Paul.
Age at death: 12.
Disability: None.

Died: June 16, 1990.
Cause of death: Poisoned.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Details:
Dr. Malanie Paul, her 17-year-old daughter Medhini, and her son Anthony Rajiva were killed by her husband, also a doctor, who sedated his family and then attached them and himself to IVs full of poison. Apparently, he had decided that there was “no alternative to death” for his disabled wife and daughter, and had killed twelve-year-old Anthony too because he feared that the boy would enter the foster care system and become “a freak”.

Case status:
Anthony R. Paul (Husband/Father), deceased.

Source:
No Hope, Doctor Ends Family’s Lives

Rishonda Jones

Name: Rishonda “Nickie” Jones.
Died: February 8, 1988.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Arthritis, scoliosis.

Details:
Rishonda died of starvation and infected bedsores.

She was an honor student who liked to write poetry and short stories.

Case status:
Michelle Jones (Mother); charged with manslaughter and child cruelty.

Source:
Woman pays to bury starvation victim
Probe starvation of disabled teen

Dominic Diehl

A gravestone. It reads: Andrew Joseph Diehl. July 20, 1973 to October 29, 1986. Your life was not lived in vain, my son. Inset: A poor-quality black-and-white newspaper photo of a dark-skinned boy in a white T-shirt. Name: Dominic J. “Andrew” Diehl.
Died: October 29, 1986.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Child abuse survivor; emotionally disturbed.

Details:
Andrew died of head injuries inflicted by his adoptive father; he was tied to the floor of the family bus and severely beaten.

Andrew liked to read Western novels.

Case status:
Michael Diehl (Adoptive father), first-degree murder, 41 years; eligible for parole after 7 years.
Karen Diehl (Adoptive mother), manslaughter, 31 years; released after 6 years.

Source:
Dominick J. (Andrew) Diehl
Parents of 17 Arrested In Fatal Beating of Son
Facing Charges, Father Wanted Life Support Continued : Brain-Dead Boy’s Death Ends Dispute
Dominick Joseph “Andrew” Diehl (1973-1986)

Michelle and Scott Sandor

No Photo Name: Michelle Sandor.
Age at death: 14.

Name: Scott Sandor.
Age at death: 11.

Died: September 3, 1982.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Greenwich, Connecticut, USA.
Disability: Marfan syndrome.

Details:
Scott and Michelle Sandor were shot by their mother, who then shot herself. Their mother also had Marfan syndrome.

Case status:
Linda V. Sandor, deceased.

Source:
3 IN GREENWICH ARE FOUND SLAIN AT THEIR HOME

Robert Fish

Name: Robert Blake Fish.
Died: October 8, 2022.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Malnutrition, dehydration.
Location: Duncan, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Details:
Robert died from starvation, weighing 47 pounds; his family is accused of neglecting to feed him. Police say they also found unused seizure medication, which Robert needed but had not been given.

Robert’s obituary says he “loved Mickey Mouse, dinosaur sounds, Christmas time and milkshakes from Cookout.”

Case Status:
Hope Fish (Mother), charged with murder, felony child abuse, and unlawful neglect towards a child.
Freddie Fish II (Uncle), charged with accessory to murder and unlawful neglect toward a child.
Freddie Fish Sr. (Grandfather), charged with unlawful neglect towards a child.

Sources:
SC teen weighed 47 pounds when he died. His mother is charged with his murder
3 charged in death of Spartanburg Co. teen with special needs
3 family members charged in death of teen boy who weighed 47 pounds
Robert Blake Fish – Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes

Aston Starkey

No Photo Name: Aston Starkey.
Died: March 2, 2024.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Malnutrition/dehydration.
Location: Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Aston’s body was found in the motel where he and his mother had been staying. His cause of death was established as malnutrition and dehydration, contributed to by neglect.

Case Status:
Serena Starkey (Mother), wanted on suspicion of murder; found dead a little under 4 months later.

Sources:
Mother sought on Alabama murder charge in death of son with special needs found dead in Texas
Autopsy reveals 13-year-old Birmingham boy with Down Syndrome died of malnutrition and dehydration, mother wanted on murder charges
Media Release 130- Homicide Investigation- Cahaba Park Circle
Hunt for mom after her son, 13, found starved to death in motel
Boy, 13, living in Birmingham motel dies from malnutrition, dehydration; mother sought on murder warrant