Category: Age: Young Adult

Age 19-29

Andrea Spina

No PhotoName: 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”

Margaret Fleming

Photo: Young woman with thick, dark shoulder-length hair cut in bangs. She has brown eyes, fair skin, a narrow nose, and a round face.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’

Muhammad Wahab

No PhotoName: 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

Austin Anderson

Photo of Austin Anderson, a thin boy with fair skin and dark blond hair. He is holding a hand near his face and smiling.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

Mindy Speck

No PhotoName: Mindy Speck.
Died: August 22, 2016.
Age at death: 21.
Cause of death: Insulin overdose.
Location: Eastlake, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Autism, cerebral palsy, Type I diabetes.

Details:
When Mindy had a meltdown after having to spend a day in the hospital being treated for a urinary tract infection, Mindy’s mother gave her repeated doses of insulin until she collapsed from hypoglycemia. It wasn’t until the next day that Mindy’s mother called paramedics, and by then Mindy was dead.

Case status:
Sandra Speck (Mother), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 88 days in jail and 100 hours of community service.

Source:
Ohio woman confesses to killing disabled daughter
Prosecutor Says Woman Confessed To Killing Disabled Daughter
Eastlake woman admits giving diabetic daughter fatal overdose of insulin
Eastlake woman pleads guilty to killing autistic daughter with insulin overdose
Prosecutor: Woman gave autistic daughter lethal insulin dose
Woman Pleads Guilty for her Daughter’s Fatal Insulin Overdose
Mom pleads guilty to giving autistic daughter lethal insulin dose
Ohio mom charged with murder in 21-year-old daughter’s death
Eastlake woman charged with murder
Prosecutor: Mom confessed to killing disabled adult daughter
Mother Kills Disabled Daughter, Claims She Was ‘Overwhelmed’ By Responsibility
Eastlake woman charged in daughter’s death ‘feels horrible,’ attorney says
Eastlake woman who admitted giving daughter fatal overdose of insulin sentenced
Mom sentenced for killing daughter with special needs

Theron Leonard

Name: Theron Leonard.Photo of Theron Leonard. He is a young man with fair skin and short brown hair. He is wearing a gray sweatshirt and a yellow life vest and smiling at the camera.
Died: August 5, 2016.
Age at death: 24.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Otter Lake, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Theron’s mother stabbed him in the chest. He was rushed to the hospital but died of his injuries.

Case status:
Tamara Leonard (Mother), charged with murder, pleaded guilty but mentally ill, sentenced to 10-20 years in prison.

Source:
Mother charged in son’s stabbing death
Updated Press Release: Homicide, Marathon Township
Mother charged in son’s stabbing death
Woman stabbed her disabled son to death, police claim
Lapeer County woman pleads guilty to fatally stabbing disabled son
Mother who fatally stabbed cerebral palsy son pleads guilty, but mentally ill
Woman sentenced to decade in prison for 2016 murder of disabled son

Charlotte and Claire Hart

Photo of Charlotte and Claire Hart. Charlotte is a young woman with blonde hair in a ponytail, and Claire is a middle-aged woman with straight blonde hair in bangs. They are leaning against eaach other and smiling.Name: Charlotte Hart.
Age at death: 19.
Disability: Depression.

Name: Claire Hart.
Age at death: 50.
Disability: Multiple sclerosis, ovarian cancer survivor.

Died: July 19, 2016.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Spalding, England, UK.

Details:
Claire, her daughter Charlotte, and her two sons were trapped in an abusive household. The two young men tried to protect their mother and sister and finally managed to rent a small house for them.

But soon after they moved out, Claire and her daughter Charlotte were shot dead by her husband, who then killed himself.

Claire kept a vegetable garden in which she grew some of the family’s food. Both women were animal-lovers who especially loved dogs. Charlotte liked to ride horses and volunteered to help the elderly; her favorite video game was Call of Duty.

Case status:
Lance Hart (Claire’s husband, Charlotte’s father), deceased.

Source:
Murder was final act of abuse and control
‘He was a tyrant’: man opens up on father who killed mother and sister
Memorial to Claire & Charlotte Hart.
‘We didn’t recognise that he was dangerous’: our father killed our mother and sister

Lydia Whitford

Photo of Lydia Whitford. She is a young woman with fair skin and dark brown hair; she is wearing a turquoise jacket and pink baseball cap. Her mouth is open and her face relaxed in a neutral expression. Name: Lydia Whitford.
Died: July 14, 2016.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Possible homicide; possible natural death after abuse.
Location: Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada.
Disability: Autism, epilepsy.

Details:
Lydia’s death was originally ruled natural, but her mother and sister saw bruises on her body and pushed for an investigation. More than a year later later, Lydia’s foster mother was charged with manslaughter. Exactly how Lydia died has not been released.

Her sister told reporters that “I want people to remember her as the kind and loving person she was.”

Case status:
Lisa Marie Campbell (Foster mother), charged with manslaughter, charges stayed.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Lydia Whitford
Vigil marks birthday of woman with autism who died in CFS care
Family wants answers in homicide of teen living in licensed foster home
Family of woman with autism found dead in foster home seeks answers
Family plans birthday vigil for Manitoba teen with autism killed in foster care
Family seeks answers after teen’s death in foster care deemed a homicide
Homicide victim’s family asks how woman with autism died in CFS care
Killing of teen with autism in foster care to be investigated by Manitoba’s children’s advocate
Foster mother charged in death of autistic woman, 18
Woman charged with manslaughter in death of disabled woman
Winnipeg woman charged in death of teen with autism
Foster mom charged in 2016 homicide of teen with autism, family says
Winnipeg woman arrested following homicide in July 2016: RCMP
Family of teen with autism looking for closure after Crown stays manslaughter charge against foster mother

Jeffrey Kittredge II

Photo of Jeffrey Kittredge II, a heavyset man with fair skin and short brown hair, smiling broadly.Name: Jeffrey A. Kittredge II.
Died: July 7, 2016.
Age at death: 20.
Cause of death: Sepsis.
Location: Barre, Vermont, USA.
Disability: Spina bifida, congenital brain defect.

Details:
Jeffrey loved the outdoors and enjoyed sports. As a child he participated in bowling and wheelchair soccer and eventually began coaching sports. He also liked fishing and wildlife.

Jeffrey’s father and father’s girlfriend neglected him until he died from blood poisoning caused by infected bedsores.

Case status:
Jeffrey Kittredge (Father), found guilty of neglect of a vulnerable adult, sentenced to 3-5 years in prison and 5 years probation.
Jennifer Cote (Father’s girlfriend), pleaded guilty to Medicare fraud and neglect of a vulnerable adult, sentenced to 1-3 years.

Source:
Montpelier man sentenced in connection with disabled son’s death
Montpelier woman gets 1-3 years in death of vulnerable adult
2 charged after man died from septic shock due to bed sore
Jeffrey A. Kittredge II
Pair charged in 20-year-old’s bed-sore death
Dad, girlfriend charged after disabled son died of septic shock from bed sores

Elizabeth Wilms

No PhotoName: Elizabeth Wilms.
Died: July 5, 2016.
Age at death: 29.
Cause of death: Murder.
Location: Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Elizabeth’s boyfriend was abusive and took advantage of her mild intellectual disability. He beat her fatally and left her to die alone on the floor. At autopsy, she had GHB, often used as a date-rape drug, in her body.

Case status:
Alexander Freeburn (Boyfriend), convicted of murder, sentenced to 25 years; murder conviction overturned, found guilty of manslaughter, resentenced to 9-12 years.

Source:
Remorseful killer who left girlfriend to die has sentence cut in half
Vic killer apologises over victim’s death
Melbourne woman ‘petrified’ of killer boyfriend