Type: Homicide – Disability Day of Mourning

Karen Pautler

No Photo Name: Karen Pautler.
Died: April 25, 2025.
Age at death: 75.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Fenton, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Frail elder, mental illness.

Details:
Karen’s husband allegedly shot her because he “was exhausted from taking care of her, but did not want her to die in a nursing home.”

Case Status:
Kenneth Pautler (Husband), charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Sources:
Man accused of killing wife says he didn’t want her to die in a nursing home
Jefferson County man charged with wife’s murder; says he didn’t want her to die in a nursing home
Fenton-area man allegedly shoots, kills wife
Jefferson County man kills wife, says he didn’t want her to die in a nursing home

14-year-old girl

No Photo Name Unknown
Died: April 19, 2025.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Salepoua’e, Samoa.
Disability: Physical disability.

Details:
This teenage girl’s family returned from their Sunday shopping trip to find her body behind the family’s bathroom, covered in leaves. Her uncle had been the only adult at home at the time, and neighbors said they often heard him verbally abusing the young woman.

Case Status:
Her uncle, age 29, has been charged with murder.

Sources:
Uncle charged for killing disabled teen
Uncle charged in death of disabled girl in Samoa
Uncle Charged with Murder of Disabled 14 Year Old Girl

8-year-old girl

No Photo Name Unknown.
Died: April 18, 2025 (Earliest news article).
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
This 8-year-old girl was strangled by her grandmother, who police say confessed to the crime, saying that she wished to spare the family the “burden” of caring for the young girl.

Case Status:
N. K. S. (Grandmother), charged with murder.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: 8-year-old girl
Dubai: Grandmother held for strangling 8-year-old autistic girl, says she wanted to help her son, daughter-in-law
Dubai: Grandmother strangles 8-year-old autistic girl; confesses to crime
UAE: Grandmother allegedly kills eight-year-old autistic granddaughter in Dubai to alleviate burden of care
Family Tragedy: Dubai Grandmother to Face Trial for Killing 8-Year-Old Autistic Granddaughter

43-year-old man

No Photo Name Unknown.
Died: April 18, 2025.
Age at death: 43.
Cause of death: Assault w/ weapons.
Location: Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
Disability: Deaf.

Details:
When this man was found murdered, police interviewed witnesses and analyzed CCTV footage and concluded that his partner had tried to enter the house, found the door locked with the deaf man asleep, and tried to force it open. When the victim woke, angry, his partner allegedly murdered him with an axe and a steel rod.

He was the supervisor of custodial services at a local cemetery.

Case Status:
His partner is charged with murder.

Sources:
Man held for murder of gay partner who was deaf

Jean Hoesing

Name: Jean Ann Hoesing.
Died: March 16, 2025.
Age at death: 74.
Cause of death: Blood loss.
Location: Perry, Iowa, USA.
Disability: Bipolar disorder, multiple sclerosis.

Details:
Jean’s husband called emergency services and reported that he had killed her to “put her out of her misery.” Responders arrived to find Jean dead in her bedroom with her throat cut.

Case Status:
Richard Hoesing (Husband), charged with first-degree murder.

Sources:
Perry man killed his wife ‘to put her out of her misery,’ suspect tells police
Jean Anne Hoesing – View Obituary & Service Information
Husband, 75, tells cops he killed his sick wife ‘to put her out of her misery’

Yashasvi Pawar

No Photo Name: Yashasvi Pawar.
Died: February 20, 2025.
Age at death: 17.
Cause of death: Poisoned.
Location: Naupada, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Disability: Congenital disability; mobility impaired, nonspeaking.

Details:
Police believe that Yashasvi’s mother, frustrated because Yashasvi’s recent illness caused her to cry out in pain through the night, poisoned her with medication. Yashasvi’s mother, grandmother, and a family friend were captured on CCTV carrying her body into a car, intending to take it to be cremated. All three have been charged with murder.

Case Status:
Snehal Pawar (Mother), charged with murder; at large/wanted.
Surekha Mahangade (Grandmother), arrested on suspicion of murder.
An unidentified family friend, charged with murder; at large/wanted.

Sources:
Woman poisons differently abled, bedridden daughter to death in Naupada

Helen Witter

Name: Helen Kay Witter.
Died: January 17, 2025.
Age at death: 80.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Lombard, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Helen died from a gunshot; police say her husband called 911, admitting to having shot his wife, and was arrested. Her husband’s lawyer is arguing that Helen’s husband shot her because her dementia made her irritable.

As a young woman, Helen was a business secretary; then she became a homemaker to raise her four children. She is survived by seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Case Status:
Charles Witter (Husband), charged with murder.

Sources:
Lombard man accused of murdering wife says he ‘went nuts’
Helen Witter Obituary (1944 – 2025) – Evansville, IL
81-year-old husband accused of shooting his wife to death in their bed

Jayden Dixon

No Photo Name: Jayden Dixon.
Died: January 5, 2025.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Smothered.
Location: Meridian, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
When Jayden wasn’t seen outside for several days and his trailer was eerily quiet, his neighbors grew worried. One of them approached Jayden’s mother, who argued with the neighbor. The trailer park manager saw them and called the police because Jayden’s mother appeared intoxicated. Police responding to the disturbance found Jayden’s body in the trailer; he had been suffocated, and their three dogs were also dead.

Jayden was good friends with a neighbor’s child; both were autistic, so they understood each other very well. Jayden was known for giving hugs to his friends.

Case Status:
Meagan Dixon (Mother), charged with murder, child abuse resulting in great bodily injury, and three counts related to cruelty toward animals.

Sources:
Homicide investigation at Lovey’s Landing in Sutter County: New details emerge
Meridian mother accused of killing 11-year-old son
Police Say Calif. Mom Was Causing Disturbance. Then They Found Boy, 11, and 3 Dogs Dead
No plea is entered in death of child, 11

Kul Acharya

black and white photo of an older southeast asian man wearing glasses and traditional headwear Name: Kul Prasad Acharya.
Died: December 23, 2024.
Age at death: 56.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi, Khotang, Province 1, Nepal.
Disability: Depression.

Details:
Neighbors grew worried about Kul and his son, 22-year-old Prabin Acharya, and called the police to check on them. Police found their bodies in the home; both had been fatally bludgeoned, and Kul’s other son was missing. After a brief time on the run, the surviving son turned himself in. Police say that he confessed to killing his father and brother because his father had depression, his brother had become addicted to drugs and wasn’t doing well at school, and he believed they were better off dead.

Mr. Acharya was head of the Khotang District Post Office.

Case Status:
Milan Acharya (Son) is charged with murder.

Sources:
Milan Acharya surrenders and confesses he killed father and brother
Balkot double murder suspect surrenders to police
Curb Rising Homicides

Princeton Jones

Name: Princeton Nicholas Jones.
Died: November 30, 2024.
Age at death: 9.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Compton, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Princeton was staying with his grandfather when his father allegedly fatally shot him.

A bright, funny boy, Princeton was very close to his mother.

Case Status:
Nicholas Jones (Father), charged with murder and child abuse resulting in death.

Sources:
West Rancho Dominguez father pleads not guilty in son’s shooting death
Father arrested after his 9-year-old son shot and killed in Compton
Father Arrested In Shooting Death Of Autistic Boy, 9
Father Arrested in Fatal Shooting of 9-Year-Old Autistic Son in Compton