Age: Young Adult – Page 8 – Disability Day of Mourning

Joshua Alonzo

Photo of a teenage boy in a power chair, wearing a blue shirt and tie. He is smiling broadly. His dark hair is cut short. Name: Joshua Alonzo.
Died: May 27, 2018.
Age at death: 21.
Cause of death: Malnutrition/dehydration.
Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Disability: Schizencephaly, cerebral palsy.

Details:
At 18, Joshua got too old to go to his pediatrician, but instead of finding a new doctor, his mother allegedly denied him medical care for the last three years of his life. He couldn’t eat on his own, and needed to be fed.

Joshua died of malnutrition and dehydration. Though he had always been small, weighing 51 pounds at age 18, when he died he weighed only 38.

Case status:
Alma Munoz (Mother), charged with causing serious bodily injury to a disabled person.

Source:
Mom collected benefits as disabled son, 21, died weighing 38 pounds, Texas cops say
Texas mom charged when disabled adult son dies after three years without medical care
Obituary for Joshua Alonzo – San Antonio, TX
San Antonio mother arrested after disabled son dies of malnutrition, dehydration

Antoin Hawes Jr.

No Photo Name: Antoin Hawes Jr.
Died: May 13, 2018.
Age at death: 28.
Cause of death: Pneumonia.
Location: Augusta, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Autism, ADHD.

Details:
Antoin’s parents kept him locked in a room with the window boarded up, chained by his ankle. He had to sleep on old couch cushions wrapped in garbage bags and use a bucket for a toilet. There were no lights, no heating, and no air conditioning. When he got sick, they didn’t get him medical help. By the time an ambulance was finally called, he had died of pneumonia.

Case status:
Antoin Sylvester Hawes Sr. (Father), charged with neglect of a disabled adult and felony murder.
Stephanie Jones Hawes (Mother), charged with neglect of a disabled adult and felony murder, died before trial.

Source:
Hawes released on $75,000 bond in death of his disabled son
Augusta death investigated, victim kept in room with no windows or bed
Man found dead in Kissingbower Rd. home, parents arrested
Parents arrested in suspicious death of son at Augusta residence
Parents of autistic man found dead indicted on felony murder charges
Richmond County couple indicted on murder charges in disabled son’s death
Shocking Death in Augusta: Parents Kept Autistic Son Locked in Windowless Bedroom!
Autism Memorial: Antoin Hawes Jr.

Destiny Rollar

Photo of Destiny Rollar. She has pale skin and hair dyed auburn. She is wearing big glasses, a black strappy dress, and a gold heart necklace. Name: Destiny Rollar.
Died: April 11, 2018.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Lower Township, New Jersey, USA.
Disability: Milroy’s disease.

Details:
Destiny’s boyfriend was arrested on suspicion of shooting her to death.

She was a manager and hairstylist at a salon, and the mother of twin girls.

Case status:
Charles A. Bland (Boyfriend), charged with murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and hindering his own apprehension.

Source:
Lower Township woman killed was a ‘sweet,’ ‘outgoing’ mother of twins
Hair stylist allegedly murdered by boyfriend was devoted mom of twin girls
Obituary of Destiny Rollar | DeMarco-Luisi Funeral Home
Villas Man Charged in Murder Of 22-year-old Mother of 2
Man awaiting extradition in shooting death of mother of 2

Amanda Zriny

No Photo Name: Amanda Zriny.
Died: April 8, 2018.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Lucas, Texas, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability; limited communication and mobility.

Details:
Amanda’s father strangled her before hanging himself.

She often attended city council meetings with her councilman father.

Case status:
Don Zriny (Father), deceased.

Source:
Officials: Former Councilman Strangles Special-Needs Daughter, Commits Suicide
Collin County investigators: Dad strangled daughter before hanging himself
Officials: Ex-councilman found hanged, wheelchair-bound daughter strangled in Collin Co. home
Former city councilman hangs self after strangling disabled daughter
Severely disabled Collin County woman relied on father who strangled her in murder-suicide
Former Texas city councilman, disabled daughter found dead in home

Nichol Widger

Name: Nichol “Nikki” Widger.
Died: April 1, 2018.
Age at death: 20.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Unspecified “special needs”.

Details:
Nikki and her mother, Melisa Widger, were shot and killed by her father on Easter Sunday before he committed suicide. Her 18-year-old brother survived to call police.

Case status:
Eric Widger Sr. (Father), deceased.

Source:
Man killed his wife and special needs daughter in murder-suicide on Easter, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office says
Sheriff: Oklahoma Man Killed Wife, Daughter and Himself
Police: 3 dead, 1 hurt in shooting at Tulsa home
Father of 2 Kills His Wife and Daughter and Then Himself in Easter Sunday Murder-Suicide

Cody Nachtrab

Portrait photo of Cody Nachtrab, a teenager with dark hair and light skin and a wispy mustache. He is smiling for the camera. He is wearing a pale-green dress shirt. Name: Cody T. Nachtrab.
Died: March 12, 2018.
Age at death: 23.
Cause of death: Smoke inhalation.
Location: Deer Creek, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Developmental disability.

Details:
Cody died of smoke inhalation in a fire set by his sister.

He liked tractors and enjoyed playing with his toy cars. His favorite movie was Shrek. He had a collection of backpacks.

Case status:
Dana L. Nachtrab (Sister), convicted of homicide by negligent handling of fire and arson; sentenced to seven years in prison followed by five years on extended supervision.

Source:
Woman faces homicide charges following brother’s death in house fire
Clintonville woman charged with starting fire that killed developmentally disabled brother
Woman charged with starting fire that killed developmentally disabled brother
Obituary for Cody T. Nachtrab | Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory
Deer Creek fire: Sister sentenced in brother’s arson death

Kaylina Anderson

Name: Kaylina L. Anderson.
Died: March 10, 2018.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Mesa Verde, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Kaylina’s mother and stepfather abused and starved her to death. She had been kept locked in a filthy room, and when she died she weighed only 45 pounds.

Case status:
Jill Williams (Mother), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 15 years to life.
Steven Williams (Stepfather), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 15 years to life.

Source:
Couple Murdered Wife’s Mentally Disabled Teen Daughter: 15-to-Life
Mesa Verde Couple Plead Not Guilty in Disabled Daughter’s Death
Autism Memorial: Kaylina Anderson
Justice For Kaylina Anderson
Mother, stepdad reportedly kept autistic, malnourished 18-yr-old daughter confined to a feces-filled room before she died
Mother, stepfather on trial after ‘severely autistic’ girl found dead
Parents accused of keeping malnourished autistic girl locked in feces-filled room
‘Severely autistic’ woman weighed 45 pounds, body found locked in feces-filled room, prosecutor says
Autistic woman weighed just 45 pounds when body found locked in feces-filled room near Blythe, prosecutor says
Young woman with ‘severe autism’ weighed ‘3st when body was found in room’
‘Severely Autistic’ Teen Weighed Just 45 Pounds When She Was Found Dead In Feces-Filled Room, Prosecutors Say
Autism Memorial: Kaylina Anderson

Austin Steele

Portrait photo of Austin Steele, a young man with brown hair and fair skin, wearing a black suit and tie. Name: Austin Steele.
Died: March 1, 2018.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Lancaster, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
After his grandfather died, Austin moved in with a caretaker. At 18, he moved out, though he would often call his caretaker–sometimes in the middle of the night–to ask for a hug.

Austin was an independent young man. He would take weeks-long trips to the beach on his moped. He was enrolled in GED classes, and he wanted to join the military and become an engineer.

Two months after he allowed a man and his wife to move into his mobile home with him, his body was found. Austin may have been killed because he had become involved romantically with one or both of the couple; or the 30-year-old man, who was a registered sex offender, may have been abusing him.

The man had shot him, left him to die overnight, and with the help of his wife, dismembered, burned, and dumped his body.

Case status:
Christopher Allen Holford (Housemate), pleaded guilty to murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, sentenced to 50-60 years.
Brandy Nicole Faye Duncan (Housemate), convicted of accessory after the fact to murder, sentenced to 2-12 years.

Source:
Autistic SC teen who was burned, dismembered ‘knew he was loved’
LANCASTER HOMICIDE: Family seeks justice for teen’s death in Lancaster County
Lancaster autistic teen, killed in ‘haunting’ case, remembered as ‘kind, caring’
‘One of the worst cases’: Body of Lancaster man, 18, burned and dismembered; 2 charged
New details in Austin Steele murder
SC newlyweds charged in connection with murder, dismembering teen’s body
Human remains found as Lancaster Co. deputies investigate homicide
Couple Charged After An 18-Year-Old’s Dismembered Remains Were Found On Lancaster Property
Autism Memorial: Austin Steele

Shain D’Onofrio

No Photo Name: Shain D’Onofrio.
Died: February 24, 2018 (Body found).
Age at death: 24.
Cause of death: Long-term neglect.
Location: Plains Township, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, autism.

Details:
Shain’s bones were found in a burning shed, and his mother was the prime suspect in his death; however, it took five years of investigation to determine that Shain had died from long-term neglect.

Case Status:
Linasheri D’Onofrio (Mother), charged with neglect of a care-dependent person and reckless burning or exploding.

Sources:
Woman charged for death of disabled son
Woman charged in death of disabled son found in burning shed
Plains shed body was male; disabled man, mom, focus of questions
Autism Memorial: Shain D’Onofrio

Tial Melvin

No Photo Name: Tial La’Chella Melvin.
Died: February 3, 2018.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Starvation, hypothermia.
Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, physically and mentally disabled.

Details:
Tial died from starvation and hypothermia, weighing fifty pounds despite being 5’1″ tall. Her sister had also been neglected.

Case status:
Bertha Brewington Melvin (Adoptive mother), charged with first-degree murder and two counts of domestic abuse, neglect, and exploitation of disabled or elderly adults; died before trial.

Source:
Fayetteville woman charged with murdering disabled daughter
Fayetteville mom charged with starving disabled daughter to death :
Fayetteville mom charged with murder, neglect of disabled daughter
Fayetteville woman starved her mentally disabled daughter to death, police say
N. Carolina mom charged in daughter’s malnourishment death
Mom charged with starving disabled daughter to death
Fayetteville mom charged with starving daughter to death
Disabled Fayetteville woman died weighing 50 lbs, autopsy says
Mom starves mentally disabled 55-pound adult daughter to death: Police
Fayetteville woman dies after being charged with killing disabled daughter