Category: Type: Homicide

Death due to the actions of another human being.

Catherine Jones

Photo: An older woman with brown skin and glasses, reclining in a wooden chair with red upholstery. She is wearing a fluffy pink robe and a maroon beanie hat, and is covered with a white blanket. She is smiling for the camera, head propped on one hand.Name: Catherine Jones.
Died: November 21, 2021.
Age at death: 90.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Buffalo, New York, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Catherine lived with her granddaughter. She was found dead in her home, shot in the chest; unregistered guns were found in the house, and her granddaughter was arrested.

Case Status:
Jamien Harris (Granddaughter), pleaded guilty to having an “unregistered illegal weapon”, sentenced to 5 years probation. Primary suspect in Catherine’s murder, but cannot be charged due to double jeopardy laws.

Sources:
‘It will eat her alive’: Woman dodges murder case in death of 90-year-old grandma with dementia
Buffalo Woman Sentenced on Gun Charges While Homicide of Her Grandmother Remains Under Investigation | Erie County District Attorney’s Office
90-year-old Buffalo woman killed, granddaughter called ‘strong person of interest’ in case
Woman arraigned in investigation of fatal shooting of her grandmother in Buffalo
Buffalo Woman Arraigned on Gun Charges as Investigation Continues into the Fatal Shooting of Her Grandmother

Yoshihito and Yoshio Ohashi

No PhotoName: Yoshihito Ohashi.
Age at death: 32.
Disability: Unspecified; bedridden.

Name: Yoshio Ohashi.
Age at death: 65.
Disability: Stroke.

Died: November 17, 2021.
Cause of death: Fire.
Location: Asahi, Chiba, Japan.

Details:
Yoshihito and Yoshio, father and son, died in a house fire. Police arrested their wife and mother, who they say confessed to setting the fire because she was tired of caring for them.

Case Status:
Toshiko Ohashi (Wife/Mother), arrested on suspicion of murder.

Sources:
Woman arrested over arson-murders of bedridden husband, son
Bu nasıl anne? Yatalak oğlunu ve kocasını diri diri yakarak öldürdü
Yatalak hasta oğlunu ve eşini öldürmek için evini yaktı
Idosa presa pelo incêndio criminoso e homicídio do marido e filho
Woman held over murders of husband, son to undergo psychiatric evaluation

Dawn Walker

Photo of a woman with light skin and long, dark-brown hair, wearing a pink blouse; she is sitting at a table at a sidewalk cafe.Name: Dawn Walker.
Died: October 31, 2021.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Asphyxia, head injury.
Location: Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England, UK.
Disability: Bipolar disorder.

Details:
Dawn was newly married when she told her husband that she had bipolar disorder, and that she wanted a divorce. He strangled her to death.

Case Status:
Thomas Nutt (Husband), convicted of murder, sentenced to at least 21 years.

Sources:
Thomas Nutt, who murdered wife on wedding night and put body in suitcase jailed for at least 21 years
Husband admits killing new bride ‘after she asked him for a divorce’
Man accused of murdering his new bride, stuffing her body in a suitcase and dumping it in a field

Jacob Ardagna

Black and white photo of a fair-skinned man with dark hair, wearing a white shirt.Name: Jacob Ardagna.
Died: October 27, 2021.
Age at death: 47.
Cause of death: Multiple blunt force injuries.
Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Disability: Mental illness.

Details:
Jacob’s son had recently moved in with him when the two got into an argument about money. The two were in the back of the building when Jacob’s son began beating him with a wooden stick, then dragged him back into the apartment, where he beat Jacob severely and went to work, leaving Jacob to die.

Jacob loved the rapper Tupac Shakur. He was cremated wearing a Tupac shirt, and his family wore Tupac shirts to his funeral.

Case Status:
Ryan Cannon (Son), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 9 years.

Sources:
Son sentenced to nine years for vicious assault leading to his father’s death
Hamilton man pleaded guilty to manslaughter in beating death of his dad Jacob Ardagna

Summer Tatum

Photo: A young woman with fair skin and brown hair in a pageboy cut; she is wearing a yellow shirt and navy sweater.Name: Summer Knight Tatum.
Died: October 18, 2021.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Prattville, Alabama, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Summer’s husband shot her twice in the head. Prosecutors say he was angry because she had discovered he was having an affair. Rushed to the hospital in critical condition, Summer–who was five months pregnant–died soon afterwards. Her baby, a boy named Everett, was delivered dangerously premature and lived only a few hours.

Case Status:
Hunter James Tatum (Husband), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 198 years.

Sources:
Man Will Serve Nearly 200 Years in Prison After Guilty Plea in Shooting Death of Wife and Unborn Son
Alabama Man Indicted In Fatal Shooting Of Disabled Wife, Unborn Child Over Video Game Console
Prosecutor says text affair led to days of fighting, shooting deaths of pregnant woman, unborn son
Prosecutor: Man shot pregnant wife twice in head after she discovered affair

Violet Walcott

No PhotoName: Violet Walcott.
Died: October 17, 2021.
Age at death: 76.
Cause of death: Stabbing.
Location: Wait-a-Bit, Trelawny, Cornwall, Jamaica.
Disability: Mobility impaired after stroke.

Details:
Violet was discovered in her bed at home, dead from major wounds inflicted with a large knife.

She was a hardworking woman who had built her own house without help from anyone.

Case Status:
Jermaine “Man” Powell (Grandson), charged with murder.

Sources:
Young farmer charged with his elderly grandmother’s murder in Trelawny
Bedridden woman chopped to death
Bedridden 76-y-o woman brutally stabbed to death; grandson held | Loop Jamaica
Elderly female farmer chopped to death

Anthony Bronner

Photo: An African-American man, close-up, taken from below. He has a scruffy beard and mustache. One of his eyes points off to the left. He is wearing a sports jersey with a yellow collar.Name: Anthony Bronner.
Died: October 13, 2021.
Age at death: 48.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Police found Anthony shot to death in his apartment, and witnesses identified Anthony’s nephew leaving the apartment. The nephew’s ID and cell phone were found at the apartment.

Case Status:
Mikelynn Thomas (Nephew), arrested on suspicion of murder.

Sources:
OKC Man Arrested In Connection To The Shooting Death Of His Disabled Uncle
OKC Man Arrested In Connection With The Shooting Death Of His Uncle Who Used A Wheelchair
Oklahoma City police still searching for suspects, identify man shot to death at apartment complex
Man In Wheelchair Shot, Killed In SW OKC
1 killed in apartment shooting in southwest Oklahoma City

James Lewis

Photo: Young boy, seated, with deep brown skin, wide nose, and broad smile, his black hair cut short. He is wearing black shorts and a yellow T-shirt printed with the words Gotta Catch 'Em All.Name: James Rashard Lewis.
Died: September 29, 2021.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Throat cut.
Location: Waco, Texas, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
James was found dead at home, with his throat cut. His father, who police say was covered in blood and attempted to evade arrest, was charged with murder.

Neighbors often saw James running back and forth in the hallways and up and down the steps of their apartment complex.

Case Status:
Bronchae Defraunce Lewis (Father), charged with capital murder, found not guilty by reason of insanity; to be evaluated for 100 days at a state mental institution; case to be reviewed yearly.

Sources:
Waco man charged in death of autistic son found not guilty by reason of insanity
Waco man indicted in September death of 10-year-old son
Waco 10-year-old slain Wednesday identified
Affidavit details how Waco man allegedly murdered 10-year-old son
Waco man charged in brutal killing of autistic son regains competency to stand trial
Waco man charged in brutal killing of autistic son regains competency to stand trial

James Westcott

Photo of a man with fair skin and a thin strawberry-blond beard and mustache, head shaved, wearing a black shirt red collar, and silver stud earrings. His expression is neutral.Name: James Westcott.
Died: September 17, 2021.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Taberg, New York, USA.
Disability: OCD, bipolar disorder, ADHD.

Details:
James was shot to death, allegedly by his brother. James’s family testified that James had unmedicated bipolar disorder and had threatened to burn down the house the day before James’s brother decided to “defend” his family by shooting the unarmed man.

Case Status:
Matthew Westcott (Brother), convicted of murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.
Micheal Westcott (Brother), charged with attempted murder, charges dropped; convicted of making a false statement.

Sources:
Taberg man who shot and killed brother in 2021 sentenced to 25 years to life in prison
Parents take the stand in murder trial of brother vs. brother
Westcott trial: accused killer couldn’t remember shooting
Science in the spotlight, focus on forensics during day 4 of Westcott murder trial
Brother of defendant and victim testifies in brother’s murder trial
Parents of defendant, victim, testify in Matthew Westcott murder trial
Man fatally shot in the face by younger brother was also stabbed by older brother, troopers say – syracuse.com
Second brother charged in Annsville homicide accused of stabbing sibling after he was shot
Man shot in face by younger brother was also stabbed by older brother, troopers say
Man Accused of Murdering Brother with a Shotgun in Annsville

Unknown Boy

No PhotoUnknown Boy.
Died: September 15, 2021.
Age at death: Child.
Cause of death: Acetaminophen/dipenhydramine intoxication.
Location: Weston, Florida, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
This boy, whose name has not been released, was found emaciated, covered in bedsores, and unresponsive, and could not be revived. A post-mortem examination established that he had died from poisoning with over-the-counter medicines. Police believe the boy’s death was a deliberate act.

Case Status:
Lashawn Hampton (Caregiver), charged with first-degree murder.

Sources:
Woman Facing Murder Charge in Boy’s Death at Weston Home: BSO
Weston Woman Charged With First Degree Murder After Bedridden Neglected Juvenile Found Dead
Weston woman arrested months after child found dead in her home, deputies say
Florida Woman from Private Community Accused of Murdering ‘Bedridden’ Boy with Lethal Dose of Over-the-Counter Drugs
WESTON WOMAN ARRESTED FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER