Type: Homicide – Page 18 – Disability Day of Mourning

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

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 Photo Name: 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

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

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

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 Photo Unknown 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

Najir Diehl

Name: Najir William Diehl.
Died: September 5, 2021.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Methanol poisoning.
Location: East Fairfield Township, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Mobility impaired; unable to walk independently.

Details:
Najir’s mother is accused of killing him by feeding him a cup of windshield washer fluid. He was found dead at his home, and poison was detected in his blood.

In his obituary, Najir is remembered as someone who “…had a passion for life. His bus trips to school and his bus drivers made him very happy. He also loved to eat, go swimming, read books, and the dogs and cats at his home.”

Case Status:
Mary Eileen Diehl (Mother), charged with criminal homicide, pleaded no-contest to third-degree murder, sentenced to 10 to 20 years.

Sources:
Cochranton-area woman gets 10 to 20 years in child poisoning case
Crawford woman pleads no-contest to 3rd-degree murder in adopted son’s poisoning in 2021
Trial moved to March for Crawford woman charged in poisoning of 11-year-old adopted son
Trial for alleged poisoning is postponed until March
Trial date uncertain for Crawford woman charged in boy’s fatal poisoning
Woman charged with killing disabled son had him drink washer fluid to “free him”: Police
Woman accused of fatally poisoning adopted son
State police charge Crawford County woman in poisoning death of 11-year-old adopted son
Najir William Diehl Obituary

Mohammed Mukhtar

No Photo Name: Mohammed “Amin” Mukhtar.
Died: August 30, 2021.
Age at death: 53.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Miles Platting, Manchester, England, UK.
Disability: Mental illness.

Details:
Amin was in a four-year relationship with an abusive girlfriend, who had repeatedly hurt him and had been arrested three times for abusing him, but then manipulated him into refusing to press charges when he needed medical care for his injuries. Soon after she started dating another man, she tied up Amin and strangled him to death with an extension cord.

Case Status:
Charlotte Dootson (Partner), convicted of murder, sentenced to 22 and a half years to life.

Sources:
‘Evil’ woman strangled partner to death after tying him up while she sexted man
‘Callous’ Manchester abuser who strangled partner jailed

Jamie Nau

Name: Jamie Nau.
Died: August 22, 2021.
Age at death: 29.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Disability: Mental illness.

Details:
Jamie’s boyfriend, who was known to be abusive, dumped her and her possessions out on the road. The next day, he came looking for her and fatally shot her.

Case Status:
Brandon Boone (Boyfriend), pleaded guilty to manslaughter and weapons charges, sentenced to 34 1/2-37 1/2 years.

Sources:
Judge rejects Omaha man’s accidental-hit defense in meth-fueled killing of his girlfriend
IN CUSTODY: Omaha Police arrest man wanted for first degree murder of woman
Blair man who killed girlfriend told lots of people about it, Omaha detective testifies
Jamie Lynne Nau’s Obituary (1992 – 2021) Omaha World-Herald