Remembering the Disabled Murdered by Caregivers
Age 19-29
Name: Kanchana.
Died: March 7, 2017.
Age at death: 28.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Trang, Thailand.
Disability: Chronic encephalitis.
Details:
Kanchana’s mother strangled her before committing suicide.
She left behind two children, aged two and nine when she died. They went to live with relatives.
Case status:
Somjai (Mother), deceased.
Name: Jhalandia Elaine Butler.
Died: March 5, 2017.
Age at death: 28.
Cause of death: Stab wounds.
Location: Crofton, Maryland, USA.
Disability: PTSD, bipolar disorder (claimed by killer).
Details:
Jhalandia’s boyfriend was abusive and had already been charged with assault once for choking and punching her. He murdered Jhalandia by stabbing her to death.
Jhalandia was a US Army veteran who had served for six years and two tours of duty in Iraq. She had met her boyfriend while they were both being treated for PTSD at a military hospital.
Case status:
Ryan Hollebon (Boyfriend), pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, sentenced to life without parole.
Source:
Iraq war veteran gets life in prison for Crofton murder of girlfriend
Jhalandia Elaine Butler, 28
Crofton veteran who pleaded to killing girlfriend appeals life sentence
Name: Brandon Strauss.
Died: February 20, 2017.
Age at death: 21.
Cause of death: Polymicrobial gram negative sepsis, drug intoxication and medical neglect.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome, epilepsy, autism.
Details:
Brandon was badly burned in the shower over 12% of his body. His parents say that while his father was washing him, he had a seizure in the shower and accidentally turned on the hot water, causing second- and third-degree burns. Brandon’s parents covered the burns with ointment and bandages; but they did not seek medical attention.
As several days passed and the burns began to look worse, Brandon’s parents put off taking him to the emergency room–until one morning they found him dead. On autopsy, he was found to have dangerous levels of medication in his body.
Case status:
Yolanda Strauss (Adoptive mother), charged with murder and abuse of a vulnerable person, charges dropped.
Ross Strauss (Adoptive father), charged with murder and abuse of a vulnerable person, charges dropped.
Source:
Autism Memorial: Brandon Strauss
Murder charges against Las Vegas couple dismissed
Las Vegas couple charged with murdering their special needs son, 21
Couple charged with murder in death of their special needs son
Pair face murder charges in Vegas man’s Feb dying – Vegas Review-Journal
Las Vegas couple are charged with murdering their 21-year-old adopted special needs son who was found with lethal levels of medication in his system
Las Vegas couple face murder charge in death of special-needs son
Pair face murder charges in Las Vegas man’s February death
Las Vegas couple suspected in death of their special-needs son indicted
Name: Rahima Khatun.
Age at death: Young adult.
Name: Amirul.
Age at death: Child.
Died: January 21, 2017.
Cause of death: Unspecified homicide.
Location: Angiadi, Bangladesh.
Disability: Unspecified.
Details:
Rahima Katun and her son Amirul were both killed by her husband.
Case Status:
Najrul Islam (Husband), convicted of murder, sentenced to death.
Source:
Man sentenced to death for killing disabled wife, son
Man sentenced to death for killing disabled wife and son
Name: Natasha Wild
Died: November 28, 2016.
Age at death: 23.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Syke, Rochdale, Manchester, England, UK.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.
Details:
Natasha’s boyfriend was possessive and abusive. He hit her and accused her of faking her cerebral palsy. Convinced that she was sleeping with someone else, he stabbed her in the neck, killing her.
She was a third-year student at Liverpool Hope University, working her way through university as a cafeteria worker at the local high school.
Case status:
Lloyd Brackenbury (Boyfriend), convicted of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility and detained in a psychiatric hospital.
Source:
Mum’s agony over student stabbed to death by paranoid boyfriend
Student stabbed to death by paranoid boyfriend who thought she was having affair
Name: Devendra Prasad Misra.
Died: November 18, 2016.
Age at death: 27.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Madhapur, Hyderabad, India.
Disability: A “serious mental disorder”.
Details:
Devendra’s brothers reportedly beat him to death because they believed he was demon-possessed. Another brother was also attacked, but rescued by neighbors and taken to the hospital.
Devendra worked as a security guard at at MNC, an IT company in Hyderabad.
Case status:
Birendra Prasad Misra (Brother), charged with murder.
Mahendra Prasad Misra (Brother), charged with murder.
Source:
Hyderabad: Superstition led to man’s murder
Hyderabad: 2 arrested for killing brother, attack on another
Cops yet to find out cause of fight among siblings
Fight among siblings: Cops yet to find out cause of fight among siblings
Name: Andrea Spina.
Died: November 7, 2016.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Murder.
Location: Vespolate, Novara, Italy.
Disability: Autism, epilepsy.
Details:
Andrea’s father took him out of the institution where he lived; then, when Andrea was asleep, his father strangled him.
Case status:
Pietro Spina (Father), charged with murder, acquitted by reason of insanity.
Source:
Prosciolto Pietro Spina, l’uomo che uccise il figlio autistico e poi tentò il suicidio
Man kills disabled son, attempts suicide
The family drama in Vespolate: father kills disabled child and attempted suicide
Novara: uccide figlio disabile e tenta suicidio: padre ricoverato in ospedale
Novara, 52enne soffoca il figlio 20enne disabile e tenta il suicidio
“Non può restare solo” e disperato prende una sconcertante decisione
Vespolate, uccide il figlio disabile e tenta il suicidio
Uccide il figlio disabile e tenta il suicidio. Temeva che sarebbe rimasto da solo
Vespolate, padre uccide il figlio disabile e poi tenta il suicidio
Dramma a Vespolate: “Non riusciamo a darci spiegazioni del gesto di Pietro”
Il dramma di Vespolate: “Pietro voleva farla finita, ma nessuno immaginava uccidesse il figlio”
Name: Margaret Fleming.
Died: Reported missing October 28, 2016. Probably died between December 18, 1999 and January 5, 2000.
Age at death: 35 (when reported missing; most likely 19 at death).
Cause of death: Missing, presumed dead, ruled homicide.
Location: Inverkip, Inverclyde, Scotland.
Disability: Intellectual disability.
Details:
Margaret was last seen alive at a family gathering on December 17, 1999. At the time, she was staying with a couple who served as her caregivers. For many years, her caregivers pretended she was alive and that they had heard from her, while they pocketed her disability allowance.
Seventeen years after she disappeared, with Margaret required to appear for a benefits assessment, her caregivers finally reported Margaret missing. Though they claimed they had seen her, no one else had. After detectives investigated, Margaret’s housemates were arrested for tying her up, bludgeoning her to death, and dumping her body. They had apparently held her hostage for two years before her death, tied up and locked in a room.
Margaret’s body has not been found. When she was last seen, she was “around 5ft 5 inches in height, with collar length black hair and brown eyes… of heavy build… wearing a green coloured tartan fleece or jumper, dark coloured jeans or trousers, wearing [dark] ‘Karrimor’ type boots… had a satchel-type handbag.” Anyone who knows anything about Margaret’s disappearance and death is encouraged to call the Inverclyde police department.
She attended a local college, but had never worked.
Case status:
Eddward Cairney (Unrelated housemate/caregiver), convicted of murder and sentenced to 14 years to life.
Avril Jones (Unrelated housemate/caregiver), convicted of murder and sentenced to 14 years to life.
Source:
Margaret Fleming: Man who murdered vulnerable teenager dies in jail
Man who murdered vulnerable woman refusing to settle proceeds of crime action
Carer who murdered teen & claimed her £182k benefits REFUSES to pay back cash
Margaret Fleming: Killer Cairney refuses to settle benefit scam claim
Margaret Fleming inquiry postponed by council
Independent inquiry into murder of Margaret Fleming to begin
Carers jailed for murdering teenager
Bogus carers who murdered vulnerable teenager Margaret Fleming sentenced to life in prison
Carers guilty of murdering missing teenager
Carers accused of murdering missing disabled woman claim she is still alive
Margaret Fleming murder accused carers Eddie Cairney and Avril Jones set for High Court
Missing woman still alive, claim carers
Carers of vulnerable woman not seen since 1999 accused of murder
Missing woman Margaret Fleming was not in control of her bank cards
Missing Person, Margaret Fleming – Inverkip – Police Scotland
Carers of missing Margaret Fleming ‘murdered her and claimed benefits’
Carers detained over disappearance of Inverkip woman not seen in 18 years
Couple claim that missing Margaret ran away in fear
Carers due in court over disappearance of Inverkip woman not seen since 1999
Renfrewshire couple face High Court accused of murdering Margaret Fleming, who ‘vanished’ 18 years ago
Margaret Fleming murder accused left without wheelchair
Murder accused ‘swore at police officers’
Name: Muhammad Azwan Wahab.
Died: October 2, 2016.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Baling, Malaysia.
Disability: Paralyzed.
Details:
Muhammad and his aunt, 54-year-old Rokiah Abdullah, were killed, and his brother has been arrested for the double murder.
Case status:
Azman Wahab (Brother), charged with murder.
Source:
Man accused of killing disabled brother, aunt in Baling denied bail
Lelaki Didakwa Bunuh Adik, Ibu Saudara – Semasa
Name: Austin Anderson.
Died: August 29, 2016.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Dehydration, medical neglect.
Location: Aldrich, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Autism, blindness.
Details:
Austin’s mother took him out to a field in the middle of nowhere. For two days, she withheld his food, water, and medication in the summer heat while Austin begged for her help. He died from dehydration and from being refused the medication he needed to live.
Case status:
Kimberly R. Lightwine (Mother), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and elder abuse, sentenced to 7 years, served 2 1/2 years.
Source:
Autism Memorial: Austin Anderson
‘I killed my kid:’ Polk County mother charged after death of blind, autistic teen
‘Let God take you’: Woman said she left her blind, autistic son in field until he died, police say
Lightwine charged with two felonies in death of son
Mother Accused in Death of Disabled Son Returns to Court
Woman accused of son’s death in Polk County appears in court
Attorney releases video segments of police interview with mom accused of killing her son
Bench Trial in May for Mom of Disabled Victim
Polk County mom could be out in 120 days after guilty plea in blind, autistic son’s death
Polk County Woman Pleads Guilty in Connection with Death of Blind, Autistic Son
Mother pleads guilty to son’s death
Mother pleads guilty to letting her blind, autistic son die in a field
Woman claims innocence in son’s death despite guilty plea
Once charged with murder in autistic son’s death, Ozarks woman says she’s a victim