Remembering the Disabled Murdered by Caregivers
Homicide followed by completed 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
Name: Mary Matteson.
Died: July 10, 2012.
Age at death: 87.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Summit Township, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease.
Details:
As she lay in a hospital recovering from a broken hip, Mary’s husband killed her and shot himself.
Case status:
Paul Matteson (Husband), deceased.
Source:
Seven years after couple’s murder-suicide, financial adviser pays restitution in embezzlement case
Accused felon, past financial adviser fined $80,000 for work with elderly pair
Elderly men most likely to commit suicide, experts said, weeks after 89-year-old kills himself, his ill wife
Failing health may have caused 89-year-old man to feel desperate, neighbor says of Tuesday murder-suicide in Summit Township
Name: George Hodgins.
Died: March 6, 2012.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Sunnyvale, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.
Details:
George’s mother killed him, then shot herself.
George communicated by means of a VOCA and often wore headphones, listening to music. He was very active and loved being outdoors, but was frightened of the neighbors’ dogs.
Case status:
Elizabeth Hodgins (Mother), deceased.
Source:
Autism Memorial: George Hodgins
Guest opinion: Death by Legislature
Sunnyvale police: Mother killed 22-year-old autistic son, then herself
Parents of autistic children speak out on Sunnyvale murder-suicide
The Murder of George Hodgins
Sunnyvale mom kills autistic son, self, police say
Murder of George Hodgins
Sunnyvale police: Mother killed 22-year-old autistic son, then herself
Sunnyvale Killings Called Murder-Suicide: Neighbor
The After-Effects of a Mother’s Murder/Suicide
Autistic support group to host Sunnyvale vigil for George Hodgins, killed in murder-suicide
Name: Jeshiah DeJesus.
Died: February 9, 2012.
Age at death: 9.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Deerfield Park, Florida, USA.
Disability: Autism.
Details:
Jeshiah was stabbed to death by his father after his father took their family hostage. After wounding his family and killing Jeshiah and 76-year-old Oliva DePlante, a bystander, his father committed suicide.
Case status:
William De Jesus (Father), deceased.
Deanna DeJesus (Mother), pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, sentenced to 10 years in prison and 5 years probation.
Source:
Autism Memorial: Jeshiah DeJesus
Deanna De Jesus, Wife of Man Who Stabbed Sons, Gets 10-Year Sentence
Report: Broward County RV park killer kept sons despite molestation allegations
Boy describes father’s killing spree, mother’s inaction
‘Which one do you want me to do first?’ Psychotic father’s chilling question to his wife before he stabbed to death his older son, nine
More Weird Details Emerge in Deerfield Park RV Park Murder-Suicide
Age at death: 7.
Age at death: 6.
Names Unknown.
Died: November 12, 2011.
Cause of death: Murder-suicide.
Location: Martiguez, France.
Disability: Autism.
Details:
These two siblings were killed by their mother in a murder-suicide.
Case status:
Their mother, deceased.
Source:
Autism Memorial: 6-year-old male, 7-year-old Female, Name Unknown