Age: Teen – Page 6 – Disability Day of Mourning

Ryanna Grywacheski

Photo of Ryanna Grywacheski, a young woman wearing dark-rimmed glasses, a choker, and a dark blouse. Her hair is dark brown and cut short; her skin is fair. She is wearing light makeup. Name: Ryanna Grywacheski.
Died: September 16, 2017.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Marystown, Newfoundland, Canada.
Disability: Injuries from car accident; depression.

Details:
Ryanna was killed by her 37-year-old boyfriend, who then committed suicide.

She loved animals and cooking, and wanted a career as a welder.

Case status:
Jeff Kilfoy (Boyfriend), deceased.

Source:
Family mourns Regina woman killed in murder-suicide in N.L.
Marystown deaths are murder-suicide, RCMP confirm
‘I always called her unbreakable’: Regina woman remembers friend murdered in N.L.

Chatiya Wongthong

No Photo Name: Chatiya Wongthong.
Died: September 11, 2017.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Bangkok, Thailand.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Chatiya was allegedly strangled by her mother.

Case status:
Yolawadee Suasermsiri (Mother), arrested.

Source:
Mum admits killing autistic daughter, attempts suicide
Mother who strangled to death autistic daughter is psychiatric hospital patient
Mother confesses to police: ‘I strangled to death my autistic daughter’
Mother confesses to police: ‘I strangled my autistic daughter’
Mom Says She Strangled Autistic Daughter Out of Desperation

Kiara LaSalle

Name: Kiara LaSalle.
Died: September 1, 2017.
Age at death: 17.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Sacramento, California, USA.
Disability: Developmental disability.

Details:
Kiara and her mother Erica Wallace were both shot by her mother’s boyfriend.

Kiara was a recent high school graduate who worked in retail, volunteered at an animal shelter, and planned to attend Sacramento City College. Her dance instructor remembers her as his most dedicated student.

Case status:
Eric Dawan Arnold (Mother’s boyfriend), killed by police after shooting two officers.

Source:
Her mother and sister were killed in their house. Now she wants to use it to help other women.
First, a mother and daughter died. Then two officers were shot
Neighbors relieved double murder suspect is dead
Woman Speaks Out After Man Suspected of Killing Her Mom, Sister is Shot, Killed by Police
Vigil held for mother, daughter killed in their South Sacramento home

Savannah Leckie

Photo of Savannah Leckie, a teenage girl with fair skin and light-brown hair, wearing a knit cap and sweatshirt. She is holding two black-and-white goat kids. Name: Savannah Leckie.
Died: August 4, 2017.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Unknown homicide.
Location: Ozark County, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Autism, depression, ADHD.

Details:
Exactly how Savannah died is unknown because her body was burned and only bone fragments were found. Her birth mother was convicted of abuse of a corpse.

She was a junior firefighter who liked to do volunteer work and care for farm animals.

Case status:
Rebecca Ruud (Birth mother), convicted of abuse of a corpse for burning Savannah’s body; acquitted of murder because suicide could not be ruled out as a cause of death; sentenced to 4 years, released on time served.
Robert Peat Jr. (Birth mother’s boyfriend), charged with first-degree murder and child abuse; charges dropped after he testified against Ruud.

Source:
Missouri Woman Sentenced to Time Served for Abandoning 16-Year-Old Daughter’s Corpse
Autism Memorial: Savannah Leckie
Missouri woman acquitted of murder in teen daughter’s death after judge deliberates for nearly a month
Missouri woman acquitted for killing her austic daughter
Ozark County woman Rebecca Ruud found not guilty of murder in daughter’s death
What happened to Savannah Leckie? Case explored as Rebecca Ruud is acquitted of murder in 2017 death of daughter
Missouri woman acquitted of murder in 2017 death of autistic teen daughter she gave up for adoption as a baby
Missouri woman acquitted of murder in teen daughter’s death after judge deliberates for nearly a month
Mum dragged ‘dead’ daughter onto fire – then knocked her out when she screamed
Trial set to begin for Ozark County mom accused of killing 16-year-old autistic daughter
Missouri Supreme Court says recording with attorney can be used against Ozark County murder suspect Rebecca Ruud
Recording Allowed as Evidence in Mother’s Alleged Slaying of Daughter
Candlelight vigil planned for murder victim Savannah Leckie
Savannah Leckie murder case broadens out of state
Teenage murder victim remembered
Husband, wife indicted in death of Ozark County teenager
Amid allegations of torture, Ozarks boyfriend and mother charged with murder of teen girl
Southern Missouri couple indicted in death of woman’s teen daughter who had autism
Adoptive mom, boyfriend at Leckie murder arraignment
Adoptive mother of Minnesota girl killed in Missouri asks, ‘What if?’
New trial date for woman accused of killing daughter
Suspect in Savannah Leckie homicide to be released after ‘developments’ in case

Palak

Photo of Palak, a teenager wearing a blue shirt. Her hair is short, and her skin is tan. The photo is indistinct and small. Name: Palak.
Died: July 15, 2017.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Asphyxiation.
Location: Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Before killing himself, Palak’s father hanged her because he was “worried about her future”.

Palak is survived by her brother and mother, who were not home at the time of the murder.

Case status:
Mukesh Kumar (Father), deceased.

Sources
Man kills autistic daughter, hangs self
Trader kills mentally ill daughter, ends life
Father kills daughter, hangs self in Jagraon
Autism Memorial: Palak

Brianna Gussert

Name: Brianna Gussert.
Died: May 29, 2017.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Sepsis.
Location: Appleton, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome.

Details:
Brianna was neglected by her mother, who declined help whenever she was offered it. She was kept in a filthy room, and her mother didn’t let her go to school, feed her, or change her diaper. She died from sepsis due to neglect, and her death wasn’t reported for five days. She weighed only 33 pounds, down from her normal weight of 50 pounds.

She was a sports fan who played baseball in a special-needs league. She enjoyed watching the Packers and the Badgers play football, and the Brewers play baseball.

Case status:
Nicole Gussert (Mother), convicted of child neglect resulting in death, sentenced to 17 years.

Source:
Wisconsin mom sentenced in disabled daughter’s neglect death
Mom left disabled daughter, 13, in a feces-filled diaper before sepsis death
Obituary for BRIANNA L. GUSSERT – Menasha, WI
Mother arrested in death of special needs daughter
An Appleton woman arrested for the death of her 13-year-old special needs daughter
Appleton Police arrest mom for death of special needs daughter
Appleton woman arrested in death of teenage daughter
Woman Faces Neglect Causing Death Charge
Wisconsin mother charged in horrific “slow death” of disabled daughter
Brianna Gussert: Heartbreak at every turn in Appleton girl’s death
No help came: Heartbreak at every turn in death of 13-year-old Brianna Gussert
Wisconsin mother charged in death of disabled daughter
Shocking case of alleged neglect: US mother charged over death of disabled daughter who ‘suffered immensely’
WATCH: Disabled girl in soiled diaper died ‘slow death’ due to neglect
Disabled teenage daughter found in soiled nappy dies in house smelling of ‘rotten food, human waste and death’
A Wisconsin Woman Allegedly Allowed Her Disabled Daughter To Die Slowly In Horrific Conditions
Girl in Appleton neglect case absent from school 162 days in final year before she died
Investigators: Appleton home smelled of “death”
Appleton mother charged in death of disabled daughter
Girl died of sepsis after mother left her sitting in excrement-filled diaper
Disabled teen neglected by mother and left to die
Teen Girl with Disabilities Suffered a ‘Slow Death’ from Her Mother’s Neglect, Authorities Allege
‘Smell In The Air Of Rotten Food, Human Waste And Death’ — Wisconsin Mom Accused Of Starving And Neglecting Daughter
Court records show 13-year-old Brianna Gussert’s decline over nearly 6 months
Wisconsin teen with disabilities suffered ‘slow death’ due to mother’s neglect, authorities say
As Jessica’s dad, I’m shocked by horrific death of girl with disabilities, but not surprised

Lovedeep Singh

No Photo Name: Lovedeep Singh.
Died: May 17, 2017.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Fateh-Ullah-Shahwala, Dharamkot, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Disability: Mobility impaired; bedbound.

Details:
Lovedeep and his three-year-old sister Jasmine were killed by their father, who hacked them to death with an axe. Police said that he was frustrated because two of his sons were physically disabled. He initially tried to blame the crime on their mother and her brother, but then when the truth came out he ran from police.

Case status:
Sher Singh (Father), arrested on suspicion of murder.

Source:
Moga children double murder: Twist in the tale, police book father
Spate of crimes in Moga, 5 murders, three rapes in 10 days
Moga siblings’ murder: Day after, father booked for murder
Moga | Mother Kills Her Daughter And Stepson With An Axe

Sabrina Ray

Photo of Sabrina Ray. She is a thin girl with pale skin and dark brown hair in a boy cut. Her expression is solemn. Name: Sabrina Ray.
Died: May 12, 2017.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Perry, Iowa, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
Sabrina was tortured and starved by her family. When she died at age 16 after being drop-kicked down the stairs by her adoptive brother and subsequently starving to death, she weighed 56 pounds and looked like an eight-year-old child.

Her death may have saved the lives of her two adopted sisters, who were also abused and were rescued from the home and taken to the hospital when Sabrina was found dead.

Case status:
Marc Ray (Adoptive father), pleaded guilty to child endangerment and kidnapping, sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Misty Ray (Adoptive mother), charged with child endangerment, child neglect, criminal conduct, theft, and fraud, sentenced to life in prison.
Carla Bousman (Adoptive grandmother), pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment, two counts of child endangerment, on count of neglect of a dependent person, one count of accessory after the fact, and one count of obstructing prosecution, sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Josie Raye Bousman (Niece), pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependeent and child endangerment, sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Justin Dale Ray (Adoptive brother), pleaded guilty to two counts of willful injury, sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Source:
Starved teen looked like she was an ‘8-year-old,’ say day care visitors
Disabled Teen Drop-Kicked Down A Flight Of Stairs, Then Held Captive And Starved By Family, Including Grandma
Defenseless Adopted Teen Girl, 16, Drop-Kicked & Starved To Death In Iowa Home
Police: Brother ‘drop-kicked’ starved Iowa girl, grandmother helped in torture
Community mourns Sabrina’s death, plans grief services
A Voice for Sabrina Ray
More Change of Venue Motions Filed in Sabrina Ray Case
New Charges Leveled at Marc and Misty Ray
Perry Fire Department Hopes Justice Is Served For Sabrina Rays’ Death
Sabrina Ray case comes to a close as final family member is sentenced

Davarion Davis

Photo of Davarion Davis, a boy with brown skin and black hair in a buzz cut, photographed outdoors, smiling at the camera. He is wearing a pink sweatshirt with a logo printed on the front. Name: Davarion Davis.
Died: May 4, 2017.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Infection secondary to kidney disease.
Location: Gary, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Nephrotic syndrome.

Details:
Davarion’s nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disease, should have been easily treatable with medication; but his mother neglected his medical care, often forgetting to give him medication and eventually taking him off medication entirely. He died of an infection related to his untreated nephrotic syndrome.

Case status:
Teisha Ellis (Mother), pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent causing bodily injury, sentenced to 3 years on work release.

Source:
Gary mother faces felony neglect charges after son’s death due to kidney disorder complications
Support Lil D Homegoing Service organized by Stompdown Laydii
Mother sentenced to 3 years in work release for child’s death from chronic medical condition

Jeffrey Franklin

Name: Jeffrey “JR” Franklin.
Died: March 1, 2017.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Guilford, New York, USA.
Disability: Deaf; autism; developmental delay; mobility impaired.

Details:
Jeffrey had been adopted when he was about nine or ten years old.

Jeffrey’s adoptive parents killed him because he was “becoming too much to handle”. Then they burned down their trailer to try to hide the evidence.

Jeffrey liked watching 3D movies. He liked cartoons and as a child he had worn the mustache from his Mario Halloween costume to school for a month. He liked trains and had a toy train set.

Case status:
Heather Franklin (Adoptive mother), pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, third-degree arson and tampering with physical evidence, sentenced to 7-11 years.
Ernest Franklin (Adoptive father), convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree arson and tampering with physical evidence, sentenced to 21 years to life.