Type: Fatal Abuse – Disability Day of Mourning

Gael

No Photo Name: Gael (Surname unknown).
Died: November 17, 2024.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Unspecified abuse and neglect.
Location: Sete Lagoas, Brazil.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
When Gael died, his mother called a funeral director to remove the body; but when the funeral home sent an employee, they saw the condition of Gael’s body and called police. He was lying in a damp room, on a dirty mattress; he had injuries on his body, was very malnourished and dirty, and had rotten teeth.

Case Status:
Gael’s mother and stepfather were arrested on suspicion of murder.

Sources:
Tragic Death of Child with Cerebral Palsy Reveals Shocking Signs of Violence
Criança com paralisia cerebral é encontrada morta e mãe e padrasto são presos em Sete Lagoas
Criança com paralisia cerebral é morta em MG; casal é preso por suspeita de maus-tratos
Casal é preso após criança com paralisia cerebral morrer com sinais de maus-tratos e desnutrição
Criança com paralisia morta em casa vivia em situação ‘lamentável’, diz tia

Selena Kellum

Name: Selena Kellum.
Died: November 15, 2024.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Unspecified abuse and neglect.
Location: Sebring, Florida, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Selena was found dead in her mother’s garage, wearing only a diaper. She was extremely malnourished and covered in injuries in multiple stages of healing, and had been tied to the garage door.

Case Status:
Diana Natasha Mack (Adoptive Mother), charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and destroying evidence.

Sources:
Hernando mother remains worried about 12-year-old daughter’s whereabouts after other daughter’s murder
Former DCF employee accused of abusing, killing adopted daughter in Sebring: ‘Horrific crime’
Birth mother of 13-year-old believed to be murdered shares concern for other child adopted by suspect
Woman charged with abuse and first-degree murder of adopted daughter

Esther Nakakande

No Photo Name: Esther Nakakande.
Died: November 9, 2024.
Age at death: 20.
Cause of death: Starvation, torture.
Location: Mairye Village, Wakiso District, Central Region, Uganda.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
When one of Esther’s relatives came to visit her, he was horrified to find her dead. Esther’s relatives found that her body was covered in wounds, and she was emaciated. They believe her father and stepmother, who have been arrested, tortured Esther and did not feed her enough in the four months she stayed with them before she died.

Case Status:
Elemiya Kibirige (Father), arrested on suspicion of murder.
Justine Zalwango (Stepmother), arrested on suspicion of murder.

Sources:
Wakiso Couple Netted for Starving Disabled Daughter to Death
Couple Held Over Death of Disabled Girl

Elijah Hale

Name: Elijah Anthony Hale.
Died: September 5, 2024.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Hot water burns.
Location: Walkertown, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Elijah suffered severe burns, believed to have been inflicted when he was put into a bathtub full of scalding hot water. Elijah’s stepfather was arrested for child abuse, and Elijah was taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with third-degree burns. He lived for 46 days before dying from his injuries.

Elijah loved animals and loved his family. An active, energetic child, he spent his days singing, running, and playing ball.

Case Status:
James Wilford Huff (Stepfather), charged with first-degree murder.

Sources:
Stepfather charged with first-degree murder in death of 5-year-old autistic boy in Walkertown
Autistic boy, 4, dies after being severely burned in bathtub
Walkertown man charged with murder after death of child, Forsyth County deputies say

Lawanda Mitchell

No Photo Name: Lawanda Mitchell.
Died: March 13, 2024.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Assault.
Location: Dallas, Texas, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
In response to a welfare check, police responded to Lawanda’s home and found her in critical condition. She had been assaulted two days before, allegedly by her son, who was arrested. Lawanda died from her injuries some weeks after the assault.

Case Status:
Barron Wallace (Son), charged with injury to an Elderly and/or Disabled Person; charges upgraded to murder after Lawanda’s death.

Sources:
Man faces murder charge in mom’s death weeks after he assaulted her, Dallas police say
Man faces murder charge in Dallas woman’s death, weeks after alleged assault, police say
Dallas Man Barron Wallace Charged with Murder Following Victim’s Death Weeks After Assault
Dallas woman dies weeks after violent assault, suspect arrested

Paul Lavery

No Photo Name: Paul Lavery.
Died: January 31, 2024.
Age at death: 58.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Liverpool, England, UK.
Disability: Mobility impaired, agoraphobia.

Details:
Paul had recently had brain surgery and was recovering at home when his nephew, who was caring for him, got drunk and became angry at him about a missing watch. Paul’s nephew choked him, dragged him down the stairs, left him outside on the sidewalk on a stormy night, and mocked him from the upstairs window. When emergency workers arrived, summoned by a concerned neighbor, Paul’s nephew attacked them and was arrested. Paul was taken to the hospital, where he died after two weeks from head injuries received while he was being dragged down the stairs.

Case Status:
Liam Elms (Nephew), sentenced to 14 years in prison and 4 years parole.

Sources:
Liverpool man jailed for killing disabled uncle in drunken rage and attacking emergency workers who came to help him
‘I can’t justify it, what I done. I loved him’
Man charged with murder after victim dies of his injuries

Geanna Bradley

Name: Geanna Bradley.
Died: January 18, 2024.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Starvation, blunt trauma, pneumonia.
Location: Wahiawa, Hawaii, USA.
Disability: ADHD; foster parents suspected schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Details:
Gianna was found dead in her home, the victim of a suspicious death that investigators soon realized had come from repeated abuse. She had died from multiple blunt force injuries, starvation, and pneumonia.

Case Status:
Brandy Blas (Foster mother), charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, second-degree murder, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment.
Thomas Blas (Foster father), charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, second-degree murder, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment.

Sources:
Legal Guardians Accused Of ‘Prolonged Abuse’ In 10-Year-Old’s Death
Birth father of Geanna Bradley shares his final memories of his daughter

Karter Holloway

Name: Karter Holloway.
Died: January 1, 2024.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Traumatic brain injury.
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Medics were called to Karter’s house, where they found him seriously injured, covered head to toe in bruises. He died from a brain hemorrhage in the hospital the next day. His father was arrested on suspicion of having beaten him severely.

Case Status:
Amir Hines (Father), charged with murder and felony intentional child abuse.

Sources:
Funeral held for non-verbal 5-year-old Karter Holloway, beaten to death
Raleigh father charged with murder in 5-year-old son’s death, family said boy was ‘beaten all over’
Dad allegedly beat 5-year-old nonverbal son to death, leaving boy bruised from ‘head to toe’
N.C. father accused of fatally beating 5-year-old autistic son, causing brain hemorrhage
Karter Holloway ( bop bop ), organized by Kennedy Holloway

Nicholas Wallwork

No Photo Name: Nicholas James Wallwork.
Died: December 27, 2023.
Age at death: 66.
Cause of death: Heroin overdose.
Location: Taylorsville, Utah, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Medics found Nicholas on the floor, not breathing, and could not revive him. Nicholas’s niece allegedly poisoned him with heroin; police say she told them that she was trying to “ease the pain”.

Case Status:
Kimberly Wallwork (Niece), charged with second-degree manslaughter.

Sources:
Woman accused of killing uncle who had dementia in Taylorsville
Utah woman admits to giving uncle multiple doses of heroin before his death, police say

Damari Carter

Name: Damari Carter.
Died: December 7, 2023 (Missing, presumed dead).
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Missing, presumed dead.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Nonspeaking; suspected learning disability.

Details:
Neighbors heard Damari screaming; then his mother’s boyfriend was seen dragging a trash bag out of their apartment. Eventually, police asked his mother what had happened, and she said that her boyfriend had beaten Damari, killing him, and then put him in a trash can. Police are still searching for Damari’s body.

Case Status:
Dominique Bailey (Mother), charged with murder and abuse of a corpse.
Kevin Spencer, charged with murder and abuse of a corpse.

Sources:
Mom Claimed 4-Year-Old Was Hit by a Car; Now She & Boyfriend Are Accused of Murdering Him
Police do not believe they will find 4-year-old Damari Carter’s body
‘Damari Was My Heart’: Dad of Pa. Boy, 4, Speaks Out After Boy’s Mom & Her Boyfriend Are Charged with Murder (Exclusive)
Boy’s body remains missing after mom, boyfriend are charged in his murder
West Philadelphia detectives searching dumpsters for body of missing 4-year-old Damari Carter: police sources – CBS Philadelphia