Age: Teen – Page 4 – Disability Day of Mourning

Eduardo José

Name: Eduardo José.
Died: July 6, 2020.
Age at death: 17.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Cabanelas, Mirandela, Portugal.
Disability: Autism, epilepsy.

Details:
Eduardo was found dead in a well, where he had drowned after his mother drugged him with antipsychotics, pushed him in, and then held him under to ensure he drowned.

Though there was talk of lack of support, Eduardo’s mother had in fact refused to admit her son to an institution that specialized in autism a few years previously. According to the court, Eduardo’s mother never accepted that he was autistic, and would not give him medication that he had been prescribed.

The coronavirus pandemic left Eduardo alone at home with his mother, who claimed that she could not stand his behavior. But Eduardo’s teacher remembers him as “a very sweet child. He never gave us any problems over the 11 years he was here; he never had any episode of violence.”

Case Status:
Fátima Martinho (Mother), also called Fátima da Conceição, convicted of homicide and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Eduardo Jose
Mulher que matou filho autista condenada a 10 anos de prisão
Mãe que afogou filho autista em Mirandela fica em silêncio em frente ao júri
Jovem que sofria de autismo encontrado morto num poço. Mãe é a principal suspeita
Mãe atirou o filho autista a um poço. O que se sabe do crime de Cabanelas?
Julgamento com júri da mulher acusada de matar o filho autista em Mirandela arrancou esta terça-feira

Kylie Larson

Name: Kylie Larson.
Died: June 21, 2020.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Respiratory failure.
Location: Paynesville, Minnesota, USA.
Disability: Perinatal hypoxic brain injury, quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

Details:
Kylie’s mother, alone with her because her stepfather was on a fishing trip and her brother was staying with friends, ignored alarms from her blood oxygen and heart rate monitor, repeatedly turned off the alarms, reduced the sensitivity, and eventually removed the alarm altogether. Kylie died of respiratory failure.

Kylie was a middle-school student whose schoolmates often pushed her around the halls to hear her laugh. She liked going outside, especially to new places. She enjoyed boat rides and spinning around in her wheelchair.

Case status:
Elise Nelson (Mother), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Source:
Paynesville Mother Seeks to Withdraw Guilty Plea in Disabled Daughter’s Death
Stearns County mom admits to murder for silencing disabled child’s oxygen-monitoring device alarm
Central Minnesota woman pleads guilty to the murder of her disabled daughter
Paynesville Woman Pleads Guilty to Murder in the Death of Her Disabled Daughter
Paynesville, Minnesota, woman pleads guilty to murder in disabled daughter’s death
Disabled girl, 13, died ‘after mother turned her pulse alarm off for some peace’
Murder charges: Stearns County mom silenced disabled child’s medical device alarm
Charges: Paynesville mom deprived care, killing her daughter with disabilities
Kylie Christine Larson
Mother kills disabled daughter, silences her medical device alarm while stepdad is away fishing: Police
Woman charged in death of her disabled daughter
Paynesville mom charged with murder for tampering with child’s medical equipment, warrant issued

Louise Smith

Name: Louise Smith.
Died: May 8, 2020.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Havant, Hampshire, England, UK.
Disability: Mental illness.

Details:
Louise’s uncle killed her by punching her in the face repeatedly until she died. Police described the murder as “sexually motivated.”

Case status:
Shane Mays (Uncle), convicted of murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
‘A monster’: Uncle jailed for life over 16-year-old’s ‘sexually motivated’ murder
Louise Smith murder: Social workers probed after uncle found guilty
Uncle jailed for life for ‘sexual murder’ of Louise Smith, 16, in woods

Dustin Baggett

Name: Dustin Baggett.
Died: January 18, 2020.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Smoke inhalation and burns.
Location: Florissant, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Dustin was pulled out of his burning house by firefighters, but died a day later in the hospital. The fire was investigated and shown to be arson, and police suspected a man who lived in his house.

Dustin’s neighbors had long been worried about how he and the other children in his house were being treated. They called authorities repeatedly. Dustin, though nonverbal, was a friendly boy and constantly smiling. A neighbor remembers, “We all kind of took him in, knowing he needed our love.”

Case status:
Bobby Copass (Household member), charged with second-degree murder and first-degree arson.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Dustin Baggett
Man suspected of setting fatal fire in Florissant now charged with murder
15-year-old Missouri boy who lived with autism died after arson fire; upgraded charges expected
Police: Boy, 15, with autism killed in arson fire

Henko Naudé

Name: Henko Naudé.
Died: January 16, 2020.
Age at death: 17.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Secunda, South Africa.
Disability: Muscular dystrophy.

Other victims: Lizelle Naudé, 52; Tina Naudé, 83.

Details:
When 17-year-old Henko researched the symptoms of his disability, his father got angry. He shot Henko, his mother, and his grandmother in their beds and then killed himself.

Henko was a gifted high school student and an excellent chess player.

Case status:
André Naudé (Father), deceased.

Source:
Secunda family murder: Dad couldn’t cope with son’s illness

Hector Pizarro

Name: Hector J. Pizarro.
Died: September 4, 2019.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Congenital disability, autism, epilepsy, mobility impaired.

Details:
Hector had been known to child protective services for some time. At one point, he was found to weigh only 60 pounds and monitored by child welfare until he gained weight to 68-70 pounds. But once watchful eyes were averted, Hector was once again neglected.

Hector’s mother brought him to the emergency room, weighing 42 pounds. He died shortly thereafter from malnutrition, with a bedsore covering one side of his body, making it clear that he was neglected to death. Her neighbors had been completely unaware that Hector even lived there.

Case status:
Iraida M. Pizarro-Osorio (Mother), convicted of chronic child neglect resulting in great bodily harm, sentenced to 4 years probation.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Hector Pizarro
Milwaukee woman sentenced to 4 years’ probation in death of son
Autism Memorial: Hector Pizarro
16-year-old Milwaukee boy weighed 42 lbs.; mother charged with his death
Mom charged in death of 16-year-old son who weighed just 42 pounds
Milwaukee mom charged with starving her son to death
16-year-old boy weighs 42 pounds at death, mother charged
Milwaukee mom charged with neglect of teenage son, weighed just 42 pounds at time of death
Mother charged in death of disabled, 42-pound teen

Amy Nguyen

Photo of a teenage girl in a flowered baseball cap, lavender Bratz t-shirt, and black-and-white giraffe-print skirt. Name: Amy Nguyen.
Died: August 20, 2019.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Ontario, California, USA.
Disability: Unspecified special needs.

Details:
Amy and her 4-month-old sister Kaitlyn were found dead, with “visible injuries”, and their mother was arrested on suspicion of having killed them.

Amy loved colorful clothing. She was fond of bows, headbands, skirts, and bracelets, and often complimented others on their clothes. She doted on her baby sister. Her classmates called her “Sweet Amy”, and remember how welcoming she was to new students and anyone who felt out of place.

Case status:
Linda Nguyen (Mother), charged with murder.

Source:
Friends say goodbye to Amy and Kaitlyn Nguyen
Woman accused of killing her two children to undergo mental evaluation
California Mother Under Investigation For Murder Of Her Daughters And Attempted Suicide
Ontario mother’s suicide notes detailed plan to kill her two daughters, ages 4 months and 14 years, police say | FOX 10 Phoenix
Mom is responsible for deaths of 2 girls found in Ontario home, police say
Ontario Mother Left Suicide Notes Indicating Plan to Kill Her 2 Daughters First, Police Say
Linda Nguyen: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
LA-area mother left note detailing plan to kill her children, arrested in their death

Cristina Pangalangan

Photo of a young girl sitting in a wheelchair, lips pursed, looking annoyed. She has fair skin and her brown hair is messy. Name: Cristina Pangalangan.
Died: August 5, 2019.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Heat stroke.
Location: Colleton County, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Developmental disability, wheelchair user.

Details:
Cristina’s mother deliberately left her in the car for five hours on a hot August day. According to investigators, she checked on Cristina twice, once at noon, before continuing to leave her in the car, and then again at 3pm where she claimed to discover the car was locked and she and her boyfriend had to leave to get a spare set of keys. When first responders who received a call about a child in a locked car arrived on the scene, they found that Cristina had died.

Her eighth-grade teachers remember her as a “very motivated student” who smiled at everyone.

Case status:
Rita Pangalangan (Mother), convicted of murder, sentenced to 37 years.
Larry King (mother’s boyfriend), convicted of murder, sentenced to 32 years.

Source:
New bill aims to help get justice for victims of deadly child abuse
SC v. King, Pangalangan: Disabled Teen Death Trial
WATCH LIVE: Couple on trial for developmentally disabled teen’s hot car death
Testimony begins in murder trial of disabled 13-year-old in Colleton Co.
Mother, boyfriend left disabled Lowcountry girl to die in hot car, solicitor says
SC v. King, Pangalangan: Mom, her boyfriend sentenced in teen’s murder
Couple found guilty in death of 13-year-old with cerebral palsy left in car
Sick mum deliberately left disabled daughter to cook to death in baking car
Trial for murder of special needs Walterboro girl will begin in late August
Delayed murder trial painful for loved ones of Walterboro girl left to die in hot car
Department of Social Services facing lawsuit after girl with special needs dies in car
Lowcountry mother charged with murder in teen’s hot car death resigns from teaching job
13-year-old special needs girl found dead in car in SC; 2 people arrested, authorities say
Report: Two charged with murder after deliberately leaving disabled 13-year-old in car for several hours
Man, woman charged with murder in Colleton County after girl’s death in hot car
Teacher, boyfriend charged in 13-year-old’s death
Teacher mum ‘left disabled daughter, 13, to die in roasting hot car for 5 hours’
Colleton girl’s accused killers had multiple brushes with police amid rocky relationship
Authorities identify 13-year-old girl who died after being left in car
Mom, boyfriend left disabled girl in vehicle 5 hours before death, Colleton deputies say
Teacher of the Year ‘left her disabled teenage daughter to die in roasting car’
Cristina Pangalangan hot car death: Rita Pangalangan & Larry King charged w/ murder
Mother, Boyfriend Charged With Murder After 13-Year-Old Girl With Special Needs Dies in Hot Car
Woman leaves kids in hot car week after sister died in their mom’s hot car, SC police say

Sam Koets

Name: Sam Koets.
Died: March 28, 2019.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Drowning, hypothermia.
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Sam was made to live in the family’s unfinished basement, in horrible conditions. He died when his father left him alone, hands tied, near the family’s pool on a cold spring day. A little while later, he texted Sam’s thirteen-year-old sister, asking her to check on Sam. She sent back a photo of Sam, wading chest-deep in the pool, which was so cold it had ice floating on top. Sam’s father, however, did nothing to help Sam; he did not call emergency services, attempt to return home, or contact anyone but Sam’s thirteen-year-old sister who was watching Sam die in front of her eyes. Sam’s body was found floating in the icy pool; he had been dead at least an hour.

Case status:
Timothy Koets (Father), charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree child abuse, second-degree child abuse committed in the presence of another child and fourth-degree child abuse, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 2-15 years in prison.
Michelle Koets (Mother), sentenced to 21 days in jail for refilling Sam’s Ritalin prescriptions after he died.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Sam Koets
‘Sam had value’: Judge sentences father, former GRCC professor to 2-15 years for disabled son’s drowning
Father pleads guilty in drowning death of disabled son
GRCC fires man accused of manslaughter in son’s death
Mother enters plea for refilling dead son’s prescriptions
Michigan man charged with involuntary manslaughter in autistic son’s drowning death now accused of illegally filling teen’s prescriptions
GRCC professor headed to trial in son’s death
Haunting final photo shows disabled boy moments before he drowned in icy pool
Michigan dad charged after bound autistic son drowns in pool
‘It’s a nightmare:’ Professor’s arrest in death of son with severe autism rocks family
Former student shocked after professor charged in son’s death
Dad Charged in Death of Teen Son Who Has Autism
Local professor faces manslaughter charges in autistic son’s death
Michigan Professor Arraigned in Drowning Death of Autistic Teen Son Found in Icy Pool With Arms Bound
Father didn’t alert rescuers when son with autism waded into deep, cold pool, police report says
Father charged with manslaughter in son’s death
Teen with severe autism found dead in icy pool with arms bound; Michigan professor father charged
Professor facing charges in drowning death of son with special needs
Father charged with manslaughter in son’s death
Georgetown Township Father Arrested After Son’s Death
Professor facing charges in connection with drowning death of son with special needs

Ashlyn Ellis

Name: Ashlyn Rayanne Ellis.
Died: March 17, 2019.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Smoke inhalation during house fire.
Location: St. James, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Physical disability, nonspeaking.

Details:
Ashlyn was neglected by her mother. She died when she was left alone at home and the house caught on fire. She could not escape because she was in her bed, which had been transformed into a makeshift cage that locked from the outside.

Case status:
Tracy Ellis (Mother), charged with second-degree murder and child endangerment; pled guilty to first-degree child endangerment, sentenced to 6 months to 14 years.

Source:
Ellis sentenced to 14 years in DOC
Document: Disabled teen who died in house fire was trapped in bed, mother charged
Mom charged with murder after disabled daughter killed in house fire
Maries County, Mo. mother faces murder charges in death of disabled daughter in house fire
Mother charged with daughter’s murder after Maries County fire
Mother Charged With Murder In Disabled Daughter’s Death
Deputies: Disabled teen was alone, locked in bed as house burned
Null & Son Funeral Home | Rolla, MO