Remembering the Disabled Murdered by Caregivers
Homicide followed by completed suicide.
Name: Mickey Liposchok.
Died: December 17, 2013.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Port Vue, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.
Details:
Mickey’s father shot him and then killed himself.
Case status:
Richard Liposchok (Father), deceased.
Source:
Father, disabled son found dead; friends call killing an ‘act of love’
Name: Randle Barrow.
Died: December 14, 2013.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
Disability: Autism.
Details:
Randle’s mother took him to the Tennessee River, drowned him, and then went home and killed herself. She was said to be “overwhelmed by all the events in her life”.
His behavioral therapist describes Randle Barrow like this: “Randle made every kid in his classroom smile constantly. He was hilarious; the happiest kid. He would do anything for anybody. If he saw a child upset, he cried for that child. He understood.”
Case status:
Delicia Barrow (Mother), deceased.
Source:
Autism Memorial: Randle Barrow
Deaths of mom, autistic child believed to be murder-suicide
Police: Randle Barrow’s Mother Drowned Him in Tennessee River, Then Killed Herself
Friends Of Randle Barrow Say His Mother Was Devoted, Caring
Police say autistic child was murdered by his mother
Name: Carol French.
Died: November 20, 2013.
Age at death: 73.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Wandsworth, Southwest London, England, UK.
Disability: Stroke.
Details:
When Carol survived a stroke, her husband tried to convince her to move to Switzerland for euthanasia. But Carol wanted to live; she declined to move and was planning her next summer vacation when her husband strangled her and stabbed himself in a murder-suicide.
Carol was a retired women’s magazine editor.
Case status:
Douglas “Harry” Morton (Husband), deceased.
Source:
Husband suspected of killing wife after stroke
Husband murdered wife then stabbed himself through the heart
Coroner says wife was killed unlawfully
Battersea woman died of strangulation and husband died from stab wounds in apparent murder and suicide
Name: Qyzra Walji.
Died: October 31, 2013.
Age at death: 21.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: London, Ontario, Canada.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.
Details:
When she was about six years old, Qyzra’s parents immigrated to Canada from Tanzania, so that she could get good education and health care.
She was a bright student whose friends remember her smile fondly; she was always smiling. She liked fashion, pop culture, and boys.
She wrote an article in Girls’ Life about her experiences. You can read it here:
The Story Of A Girl With Cerebral Palsy
When their temporary visas expired and the government of Canada planned to deport them, Qyzra’s father shot her and her mother Shyroz in a murder-suicide.
Case status:
Mohamed Walji (Father), deceased.
Source:
Mohamed Walji killed his wife and severely disabled daughter, then himself, but questions remain
Listening to Qyzra
The Story Of A Girl With Cerebral Palsy
Waljis? relative says Immigration at root of family’s desperation
A building super, his wife and disabled daughter were found dead
London police confirm family of murder-suicide died from gunshot wounds
Police search for motive in tragic murder-suicide death of London, Ontario family | National Post
Triple death was murder-suicide
Name: Jake Harkins.
Died: September 6, 2013.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Autism.
Details:
Jake’s father shot him to death in a murder suicide.
Case status:
Jake Harkins Sr. (Father), deceased.
Source:
Autism Memorial: Jake Harkins
Domestic incident leaves two dead, 1 injured
Dad Kills Son, Self, Shoots Wife in “Gruesome” Murder-Suicide: Police
Memorial Dedicated at NE Phila. School to Autistic Boy Who Died
Name: Mary Bowers.
Died: August 25, 2013.
Age at death: 83.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Orange City, Florida, USA.
Disability: Stroke, Alzheimer’s; recently moved to assisted living facility.
Details:
Mary was shot to death by her husband, who then shot himself.
Case status:
Gary Bowers (Husband), deceased.
Source:
Caregivers who kill their spouses share traits, experts say
Police: Man kills wife, self at assisted living facility
Murder-suicides among elderly driven by illness, depression
Mary Emma Willoughby Bowers (1930 – 2013) – Find A Grave Memorial
Name: Marian Roberts.
Died: August 17, 2013.
Age at death: 57.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Oakland, California, USA.
Disability: Quadriplegic, TBI.
Details:
Marian was shot by her father in a murder-suicide.
Case status:
William K. Roberts (Father), deceased.
Source:
Oakland father, daughter shot to death in murder-suicide
Oakland man kills disabled daughter, self
Elderly Oakland man kills disabled daughter, self
Oakland father, daughter shot to death in murder-suicide
Name: Melinda ‘Mindy’ Pace.
Died: July 22, 2013.
Age at death: 58.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Jackson, Mississipi, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.
Details:
Mindy’s sister fatally shot Mindy and her dog before committing suicide.
Case status:
Nancy Pace (Sister), deceased.
Source:
Murder/Suicide – Killed – Melinda Pace (Jackson, MS)
Jackson woman who killed sister dies
Name: Mary Swierzewski.
Died: July 6, 2013.
Age at death: 59.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: East Rockhill, Alabama, USA.
Disability: “Mentally handicapped”.
Details:
Mary was shot by her father in a murder-suicide.
Mary “loved to dance. She also enjoyed volunteering at the Sellersville Theater, Quakertown Library and participating with the Silver Sneakers at the Upper Bucks YMCA. Mary loved bells and took great pride in her collection. She also enjoyed watching Dora, the Explorer and Sponge Bob.”
Case status:
Thaddeus Swierzewski (Father), deceased.
Source:
Murder/Suicide – Thaddeus Swierzewski (Bucks County, PA)
Mary Swierzewski (1953-2013) – Find a Grave.
Name: Virginia Boldt.
Died: January 18, 2013.
Age at death: 75.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Tequesta, Florida, USA.
Disability: Dementia, chronic illness.
Details:
Virginia’s husband went to the assisted-living facility where she lived and shot her to death, then killed himself.
From her obituary: “She was a Mensa Society member; enjoyed classical music, particularly opera. She was an organist, loved bird photography, Maine Coon cats and wildlife.”
Case status:
Roy Boldt (Husband), deceased.
Source:
Caregivers who kill their spouses share traits, experts say
Roy Boldt, Virginia Boldt: New details in Clare Bridge Tequesta nursing home murder-suicide
Roy Boldt, Virginia Boldt Tequesta Clare Bridge murder suicide: Family says shooting was ‘love pact’
Virginia Boldt Obituary – Aycock Funeral Home