Category: Type: Homicide

Death due to the actions of another human being.

Darren Henson

Photo of a young, sandy-haired boy wearing a blue "Birthday Boy" ribbon. His hands are blurred from waving them. Name: Darren Henson.
Died: May 31, 2021.
Age at death: 9.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Louth, England, UK.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Darren’s stepfather stabbed him and his mother to death. He had grown to hate Darren and wanted to wipe out his mother’s bloodline.

Darren loved football (soccer), especially Chelsea football. He was “a happy child with a kind heart.”

Case Status:
Daniel Boulton (Stepfather), convicted of two counts of murder, sentenced to 40 years to life.

Source:
Evil Daniel Boulton’s twisted hatred for autistic boy he killed
Manhunt killer handed minimum of 40 years for murdering woman and autistic son
Child safeguarding and domestic homicide review set after double Louth murders
Man who stabbed mother, 26, and her autistic son, nine, to death is convicted | Daily Mail Online
Autism Memorial: Darren Henson
Ex-partner brutally stabbed mother and autistic son in front of baby, court told
Violent ex ‘brutally stabbed mum and autistic son to death before 24-hour manhunt’ – Plainsmen Post
Coventry gran’s tribute to boy, 9, after alleged double murder
Suspect, 29, ‘knifed to death ex-partner and her autistic son, nine’

Liam Husted

Photo of a small boy sitting in a swing and smiling broadly at the camera. He has black hair and tan skin and is wearing a striped red and blue shirt.Name: Liam Husted.
Died: May 28, 2021.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Liam’s body was found by hikers. Initially unidentified, he was called “Little Zion” until a family friend recognized his photo as that of Liam, who had gone missing along with his mother. Less than a day later, police found her and arrested her on suspicion of murder.

Liam loved to swim. He attended a school for autistic children and had a therapist to visit him at home for “behavioral issues,” but these services were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Case Status:
Samantha Moreno Rodriguez (Mother), pleaded guilty to murder, child abuse, neglect, or endangerment resulting in substantial bodily harm, sentenced to 28 years to life.

Source:
Samantha Moreno-Rodriguez: sentenced to life in prison for murdering 7-year-old autistic son
California woman accused of killing 7-year-old son near Las Vegas sentenced to life in prison
Mom who killed 7-year-old autistic son on hike outside Las Vegas sentenced to minimum of 28 years in prison
Mother guilty of strangling 7-year-old son, dumping body in desert receives sentencing
Sentencing date set for mother charged in 7-year-old son’s murder
The murder of Liam Husted: Mother, 36, pleads guilty to strangling autistic son, 7, to death
Mom accused of strangling 7-year-old agrees to plead guilty
Mother Strangles 7-Year-Old Autistic Son, Dumps His Body In Desert
Autism Memorial: Liam Husted
Prosecutor: California mother admitted strangling special-needs son found dead in Nevada desert
California woman arrested after special-needs son’s body found in remote Nevada area
Samantha Moreno Rodriguez arrested in special needs 7 yr old son murder
Body Of John ‘Little Zion’ Doe Found Near Las Vegas Identified As Missing San Jose 7-Year-Old; Mother Wanted For Murder
California mom suspected in son’s death arrested after nationwide manhunt
Mother arrested in Denver in connection with San Jose boy’s death near Las Vegas
Mother arrested for death of son found dumped on Las Vegas hike trail
San Jose Mother Suspected of Killing 7-Year-Old Son Arrested in Denver
California mom jailed in Denver following son’s Vegas death

Brian Cotter

Photo of a teenage boy with pale skin, wearing a green baseball cap and white dress shirt with a light-green tie. He is smiling awkwardly.Name: Brian Cotter.
Died: “A few days after” May 17, 2021.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Fresno, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Brian’s brother called 911 to report that Brian had shot his father and then himself. First responders arrived to find Brian’s father, Patrick, dead and Brian severely injured. Brian would die at the hospital several days later. However, police investigated Brian’s brother’s story, found that it did not match the evidence, and arrested him for the double murder. At trial, the prosecution would prove that Brian’s brother had set up the killings to look like a murder-suicide in order to pin the blame on his autistic brother.

Brian and his father used to go on walks, and Brian would carry a walkie-talkie to keep in touch with his neighbor. A natural with computers, he created his own cartoon character and made his own films.

Case Status:
Robert Cotter (Brother), convicted of murder, sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
Teen Who Killed Father & Tried to Pin Murder on Autistic Brother is Going to Prison: Reports
Teenager who killed his father and brother in Fresno last year on his way to prison
Teen accused of killing father, brother faces possible death penalty with family support
Detectives say murder-suicide in Fresno was really a double homicide
Victims’ family member arrested in Fresno mobile home park shooting that left 15-year-old autistic son and father dead
“It’s going to be a loss to us”: Neighbors react to alleged mobile home park murder
Autism Memorial: Brian Cotter

Wendy Cole

Photo: A middle-aged woman with light blond hair, fair skin, and glasses, wearing a black and white striped shirt. Her hair is cut short in a boy cut; one corner of her mouth is curled up in a slight smile. Her neck is wide, and her jaw is square; her eyes are close-set and small. Her long bangs cover her forehead and sweep to one side over her glasses.Name: Wendy Cole.
Died: May 11, 2021.
Age at death: 70.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: March, Cambridgeshire, England, UK.
Disability: Unspecified; used mobility scooter.

Details:
Wendy’s son stabbed her to death.

Wendy was a friendly woman who could often be seen at the shops on her mobility scooter.

Case Status:
John Cole (Son), found guilty of murder, sentenced to 11 years to life.

Sources:
Life sentence for Cambs man who stabbed mum to death
Man who murdered his mum as he struggled to look after her is sentenced to life in prison
Man arrested after elderly disabled woman ‘murdered’ at home
Elderly disabled woman found dead in bungalow as man, 35, arrested over murder
Carer son Googled about slitting mum’s throat days before murdering her

Melissia Hinton-Miller

Portraint photo of an older woman with dark skin and short gray hair, wearing make-up, earrings, and a red top with a white collar.Name: Melissia Hinton-Miller.
Died: April 20, 2021.
Age at death: 65.
Cause of death: Shot.
Location: East Pennsboro, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Melissia and her daughter Joanna were both shot by Melissia’s husband shortly after the police, who were there on a domestic violence call, left. Melissia survived ten days in the hospital before dying from her injuries.

Case Status:
John Miller (Husband), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to life.

Source:
Man accused of killing daughter faces more charges after wife dies from her injuries
Cumberland County man pleads guilty to killing wife and daughter

Jax Ponomarenko

Photo of a small boy standing in the snow, mouth open in a laugh, holding a brown dog's leash. He has fair skin and brown hair, and his cheeks are red from the cold. Name: Jax Ponomarenko.
Died: March 25, 2021.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Beaten with baseball bat.
Location: Parma, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Jax’s father called 911, saying, “I’ve killed my son,” and claimed he had been hearing voices. He then described how he had beaten the boy to death with a baseball bat.

Jax used a tablet to communicate.

Case Status:
Matthew Ponomarenko (Father), pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, kidnapping, and child endangerment; sentenced to 45 years to life.

Source:
Parma father who beat 5-year-old son to death with baseball bat avoids death penalty, will spend life in prison
Autism Memorial: Jax Ponomarenko
Man Pleads Not Guilty After 911 Call Shows Alleged Confession in Baseball Bat Murder of 5-Year-Old Son
Matthew J Ponomarenko: Parma dad beats autistic son with baseball bat, calls 911: ‘I’m hearing voices’
5-year-old boy killed in Parma, boy’s father arrested, police say
Matthew Ponomarenko beats autistic son, Jax, 5, to death w/ baseball bat
GRAPHIC: ‘I just killed my son after hearing voices,’ Parma, Ohio dad tells 911 dispatcher
Ohio dad admits killing autistic 5-year-old son with baseball bat

Kayla Estevez

Photo of a woman with red hair, light-brown skin, and light make-up, wearing a black dress and holding a rose.Name: Kayla Estevez.
Died: March 24, 2021.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Bipolar disorder.

Details:
Kayla died from strangulation while staying in a hotel with her boyfriend. Police charged her boyfriend with second-degree murder, noting that her body was covered in bruises. Her family says that Kayla had been in a long-term abusive relationship with her boyfriend, who took advantage of her using her bipolar disorder.

Kayla took ballet lessons and enjoyed drawing and expressing herself in poetry.

Case Status:
Ernest Wright (Boyfriend), charged with second-degree murder and drug possession.

Source:
‘Defies all logic and reason’: Homeless man accused of strangling girlfriend in Times Square hotel claimed she ‘did this to herself,’ prosecutors say
‘My best friend’: Brother of woman strangled by homeless boyfriend in Times Square hotel saw the tragedy coming

John Miklaucic

Photo of a white marble gravestone that reads, "John M. Miklaucic Jr., 1st Lt US Army, April 20, 1937 to March 16, 2021, forever in our hearts."Name: John Miklaucic.
Died: March 16, 2021.
Age at death: 83.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: New Sewickley, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Frail elder; dementia.

Details:
John was allegedly strangled by his son. According to a police officer who arrested John’s son, he killed John because John had fallen victim to a scam and he wanted to “save [John] from humiliation”.

Case Status:
Michael Miklaucic (Son), pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and strangulation, sentenced to 20-50 years.

Source:
Lozier announces plea deals in cases against Krisinda Bright, Michael Miklaucic
Man held for trial in strangulation killing of his father in New Sewickley
Police: Plymouth man admitted to killing father who fell victim to financial scam

68-year-old man

No PhotoName Unknown.
Died: March 16, 2021.
Age at death: 68.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Kazincbarcika, Hungary.
Disability: Parkinson’s disease.

Details:
This man’s son called emergency services, claiming that he had fallen down the stairs. However, when they arrived, they found the man dead. Suspicious, medics called the authorities because they did not believe the man had fallen down the stairs; autopsy determined that he had in fact been strangled. Investigators who interviewed neighbors found that nobody in the apartment building had heard a fall on the staircase. After a six-month investigation, the man’s son was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Case Status:
His son, age 37; charged with murder.

Sources:
Megölte súlyosan beteg édesapját egy kazincbarcikai férfi
BOON – Gyanús haláleset Kazincbarcikán – a baleset valójában emberölés volt
Szörnyű családi tragédia, kádba fojtotta apját egy 37 éves férfi Kazincbarcikán | BorsOnline
Megölte súlyos beteg apját egy kazincbarcikai férfi

16-year-old boy

No PhotoName Unknown.
Died: March 16, 2021.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
This 16-year-old boy was sleeping in his home when his cousin, who had come to visit, got high on meth and strangled him to death. Prosecutors at the trial, where he was convicted of murder, say he knew he tended to become psychotic while he was high and took the drug anyway.

Case Status:
Chadley Sheridan (Cousin), convicted of murder, sentenced to 17-25 years.

Source:
Man who strangled schoolboy in his bedroom after injecting ice learns fate
Autism Memorial: 16-year-old boy
Man arrested in a KFC carpark and charged with the alleged murder of his severely autistic cousin
Cousin charged with murder after teen’s body found
‘Fear and terror’: Killer Chadley Sheridan apologises to family of 16-year-old autistic boy
Australian man who strangled sleeping teenager believed he was being chased by the Chinese government
Charges laid after teen found dead in Charlestown apartment complex