Age: Young Adult – Page 14 – Disability Day of Mourning

Michael Furst

Photo of Michael Furst. He is a young man being held up by someone behind him; he is up to his waist in water and leaning over to look into the water. He has red hair and fair skin; his arms are curled over his chest because of spasticity. He wears a blue T-shirt. Name: Michael Furst.
Died: March 6, 2016 (Body found; died February 2016).
Age at death: 24.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Peshtigo, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Michael died of starvation because his mother, though she was paid a government stipend to care for him, did not feed him. When he was found dead, his body weighed only 36 pounds.

Case status:
Renee Furst (Mother), died of a drug overdose several days after Michael died.

Source:
Peshtigo man with cerebral palsy starved to death by mother — also dead
Peshtigo starvation death investigation complete

Rebecca Cutler

Name: Rebecca Cutler.
Died: February 10, 2016.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Willowbrook, New York, USA.
Disability: Bipolar disorder, postpartum depression.

Details:
Rebecca and her three children were stabbed by her boyfriend. Rebecca and her two children, Maiyah and Ziana, died; her third child survived. Her boyfriend tried to claim that because she was bipolar, Rebecca had killed her children and he killed her in self-defense.

Case status:
Michael Sykes (Boyfriend), convicted of second-degree murder of Rebecca Cutler and first-degree murder of Maiyah and Ziana; sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
Monster who murdered two babies and their mom in Staten Island Ramada Inn massacre gets life without parole – New York Daily News
Mom killed the 2 kids, not me, testifies defendant in Ramada Inn massacre
Jury selected in hotel massacre murder trial
Man stabbed girlfriend, babies 69 times in S.I. slays: DA
Staten Island stabbing suspect arraigned on 3 counts of murder
Man Convicted of Killing Girlfriend in Hotel Room, But Not Her 2 Kids
Wake To Be Held For Mother, Children Killed In Staten Island Stabbing
New trial, new lawyer for defendant in Ramada Inn massacre

Digby Dowdle

Name: Digby Dowdle.
Died: January 23, 2016.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Poisoning, asphyxiation.
Location: Wadalba, New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: TBI due to car accident.

Details:
Digby’s mother sedated him and then suffocated him with a plastic bag.

Digby was often seen walking his greyhound Lucy.

Case Status:
Susan Marie Dowdle (Mother), convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to 2 years; released on time served.

Sources:
CENTRAL COAST MOTHER WHO KILLED SON RELEASED FROM PRISON | NBN News
In loving Memory Of my friend Digby Dowdle 1989 – 2016
’Kind’ mum charged with son’s murder
Digby Dowdle (26) Allegedly suffocated by his mother
R v Susan Dowdle

Carmina Brown

Black and white photo of Carmina Brown, a young woman with straight, dark hair and pale skin. She is squinting into the sun. Name: Carmina Brown.
Died: December 11, 2015.
Age at death: 27.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Kennewick, Washington, USA.
Disability: Developmental disability.

Details:
Carmina was shot by her father in a homicide-suicide. He also killed her mother, Elena.

Carmina worked at Goodwill and was on a Special Olympics swim team. She enjoyed cycling and went to camp every summer.

Case status:
Doug Brown (Father), deceased.

Source:
Neighbors, friends reeling after apparent murder-suicide in Kennewick
Carmina, Elena, Douglas Brown Obituary
Non profit honors murder victim
New project honors disabled Tri-Cities woman killed by her father

Vishal Gaikwad

No Photo Name: Vishal Gaikwad.
Died: October 27, 2015.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Pashan, Pune, India.
Disability: Unspecified physical disability.

Details:
Vishal’s father killed him and his mother (Arati Gaikwad, age 35) with an axe before hanging himself.

Case status:
Raju Laxman Gaikwad (Father), deceased.

Source:
Man hacks son, wife to death, then hangs self

Corey Carpenter

No Photo Name: Corey Carpenter.
Died: October 23, 2015.
Age at death: 27.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Blanca, Colorado, USA.
Disability: Fragile X, autism.

Details:
When his father died, Corey inherited his property. His mother sought conservatorship of him and refused all assistance with caring for him.

Corey starved to death when his mother stopped giving him food and water and refused to get him medical help. He weighed only 57 pounds.

Case status:
Carol Carpenter (Mother), convicted of negligence causing death, sentenced to 8 years probation.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Corey Carpenter
Colo. mom arrested after disabled son, 27, dies of malnourishment
Blanca mother resisted getting medical help for son
October trial set in mom charged in son’s death
Starvation death case heads to trial
Mom gets probation in son’s death

Justin Kirby

Photo of Justin Kirby. He is a man with ruddy skin and light brown hair, wearing a white sweatshirt. His hair is cut short; his expression is neutral. Name: Justin Kirby.
Died: September 26, 2015.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Rod-cone dystrophy; visual impairment.

Details:
Justin was shot by his wife. She claimed self-defense, but the placement of the bullet wounds proved he had been shot while trying to run away.

He was a stay-at-home dad for his three children; he loved the outdoors and riding his horse.

Case status:
Taylor Roxann Kirby (Wife), pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, sentenced to 15-22 years.

Source:
Justin Wayne Kirby – View Obituary & Service Information
Woman who killed husband sentenced to 22 years
Neighbor says children played 20 feet away from dying father

Jessica Hagan

A blonde young woman with Down Syndrome, wearing a fuzzy blue sweater and a medal around her neck. Name: Jessica Hagan.
Died: September 8, 2015.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Poisoning.
Location: Cranston, Alberta, Canada.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Jessica’s mother allegedly poisoned her with a fatal drug overdose.

Jessica loved the Alberta Ballet and collected Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards. Her brother, a bodybuilder, names her as his biggest supporter.

Case status:
Christine Hagan (Mother). Never charged; died months later of natural causes.

Source:
Homicide unit investigating suspicious death in Cranston
Calgary police declare Jessica Hagan’s death a homicide, but no charges

Jody Meyers

Photo of Jody Meyers. She has fair skin and blond hair with darker roots. She is holding a cell phone in a leopard-print cover, and wearing a silver ring and a peach sweater. Name: Jody Meyers.
Died: August 26-28, 2015.
Age at death: 20.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Mannum, South Australia, Australia.
Disability: Partially deaf.

Details:
Jody’s boyfriend strangled her; then he buried her under a concrete slab in the yard, reported her missing, and pretended to help search for her.

Case status:
Neil Archer (Partner), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 22 years to life.

Source:
Vile murderer’s plea for special treatment
Jody’s grieving family: throw the key away
22 years for ultimate act of betrayal

Joyce Taylor

Photo of Joyce Taylor. She is a young woman with long blond hair and glasses, wearing a wide-brimmed black hat. Name: Joyce LaDonna McIntire Keys Taylor.
Died: August 17, 2015.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Amarillo, Texas, USA.
Disability: Unspecified (Mental illness, possibly depression).

Details:
Joyce’s husband suffocated her.

She was pregnant when she died. Her four-month-old fetus, a boy, died with her.

Case status:
Allen Taylor (Husband), convicted of murder, sentenced to 20-40 years.

Source:
Man indicted in killing of pregnant wife
Man Charged with Murdering Pregnant Wife
Obituary | Joyce LaDonna McIntire Keys Taylor | Rector Funeral Home