Type: Homicide – Page 39 – Disability Day of Mourning

Amzin Shaw

Name: Amzin “Bibi Jasmin” Shaw.
Died: September 3, 2019.
Age at death: 63.
Cause of death: Smoke inhalation.
Location: Queens, New York, USA.
Disability: Stroke.

Details:
Bibi Jasmin died in a fire allegedly set by her niece’s boyfriend, who was staying rent-free with her and her niece. She had recently had a stroke, and used a cane and sometimes a wheelchair, and was unable to get out of the house. Apparently, she had attempted to evict the couple because they did not help her pay for rent or utilities and, when asked, her niece’s boyfriend threatened to kill her.

Bibi Jasmin was one of 17 siblings and had several grandchildren.

Case status:
Rampersaud Persaud (Boyfriend of niece), charged with murder and arson.

Source:
Murder charge in Queens Village fire
Queens Village Man Charged in Death of Wheelchair-bound Property Owner who Evicted Him
Former Tenant Accused Of Setting Deadly Fire Due In Court On Murder, Arson Charges
Man Charged With Murder As Woman Dies in Queens Fire: NYPD
Man charged with murder in Queens fire that killed woman: police
Ungrateful tenant charged in deadly arson that killed Queens homeowner: ‘Her kindness got her killed’

Janet Lewis

No Photo Name: Janet Lewis.
Died: September 1, 2019.
Age at death: 76.
Cause of death: Stabbing.
Location: Hullbridge, Essex, England, UK.
Disability: None; husband convinced she would have a stroke and need to go to a nursing home.

Details:
Janet’s husband was convinced that he was getting dementia and that Janet was going to have a stroke, and that he would need to put her in a nursing home and pay £800 a day for her care. He stabbed her to death and attempted to hang himself, but survived.

Janet’s husband does not have dementia; he was diagnosed with anxiety and “obsessive worrying”, declared competent to stand trial, and convicted of murder.

Case status:
Robert Lewis (Husband), convicted of murder, sentenced to 16 years.

Source:
Hullbridge murder trial: Robert Lewis jailed for murder of wife Janet
Hullbridge murder trial: Robert Lewis guilty of murdering wife Janet
Janet Lewis death: Husband ‘had abnormal mental functioning’
Hullbridge: Robert Lewis murdered wife Janet after ‘obsession’ with dementia

Polly Bahadoor

Name: Polly Kunti “Mama” Bahadoor.
Died: August 25, 2019.
Age at death: 83.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Charlieville, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago.
Disability: Arthritis; wheelchair user.

Details:
Polly was bludgeoned to death.

She was a quiet, helpful woman who made and sold food to the neighbors. Energetic and “always moving”, she liked to have her nails painted and “pretty up”.

Case status:
Devanand Bahadur (Grandson), charged with murder.

Source:
Teen charged with killing his enfeebled grandma
Wheelchair granny, 85, beaten to death
83-year-old woman murdered in Charlieville
Trinidad: ‘Quiet’ granny’s murder stuns family
Relatives in shock

Vanessa Mayfield

Selfie of a young woman with dark skin and very curly short black hair, big hoop earrings, and a T-shirt that looks like a sports jersey and spells out "SEXY". Name: Vanessa Faye Mayfield.
Died: August 17, 2019.
Age at death: 31.
Cause of death: Head trauma.
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
Disability: Unspecified, likely developmental disability or mental illness.

Details:
Vanessa was experiencing homelessness and was known among the homeless community in Fort Worth for her honesty, stubbornness, wild hair, and hearty laugh. She was the mother of a new baby.

Her fiance had a job at a restaurant and she hoped he’d be able to provide for her. Instead, he assaulted and killed her.

Case status:
Jared Seavey (Fiance), convicted of murder, sentenced to 30-99 years.

Source:
Man who murdered fiancee outside Fort Worth church sentenced to 99 years
Suspect in homeless woman’s murder was fiance who claimed to be ‘out of town,’ friend says
Woman found dead on stairwell outside a Fort Worth church; 21-year-old man arrested

Victor Villa

No Photo Name: Victor Villa.
Died: August 10, 2019.
Age at death: 75.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Oceanside, California, USA.
Disability: Hemiparesis after stroke.

Details:
Victor was scalded with hot liquid, then stabbed to death. His wife, who had told friends that she no longer wanted to care for him, was charged with his murder.

Case status:
Alcira Villa (Wife), charged with murder.

Source:
Oceanside woman, 78, accused of murder in disabled husband’s death

Sbusiso Mhlanga

No Photo Name: Sbusiso Quin Mhlanga.
Died: July 28, 2019 (Body found); missing November 20, 2014.
Age at death: Adult.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Disability: Unspecified, wheelchair user.

Details:
Sbusiso lived with his younger brother, who allegedly murdered him for “not using the correct dish to relieve himself”. Police say he buried his brother’s body, dumped his wheelchair in the river, and collected his brother’s disability pension for the next few years.

Case status:
His brother, charged with murder, theft, and obstruction of justice.

Source:
Brother arrested for killing his sibling

Brenda Venables

Old-fashioned photo of a woman with brown curly hair and fair skin, wearing a blue jacket, smiling for the camera. There are pink flowers in the foreground. Name: Brenda Venables.
Died: July 12, 2019 (Body found; died May 3 or 4, 1982).
Age at death: 48.
Cause of death: Unspecified homicide.
Location: Kempsey, England, UK.
Disability: Depression.

Details:
Brenda’s body was found hidden in a septic tank, where her husband had hidden it decades earlier. Her husband was convicted of her murder.

Relatives remember her as kind, hospitable, and friendly.

Case Status:
David Venables (Husband), convicted of murder, sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years.

Sources:
Farmer convicted of wife’s murder 40 years after hiding her body in septic tank
Retired pig farmer David Venables jailed for murdering his wife in 1982 and hiding body in septic tank

Kiyoko Otsuka

Name: Kiyoko Otsuka.
Died: July 7, 2019.
Age at death: 96.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Disability: Mobility impaired.

Details:
Ms. Otsuka had been unable to go outside because of problems with her leg for several months. She lived with her son and daughter-in-law.

Ms. Otsuka was reportedly strangled by her daughter-in-law. Police say she told them she had done it because she couldn’t sleep because she was taking care of Ms. Otsuka.

Case status:
Fumiko Otsuka (Daughter-in-law), charged with murder.

Source:
Aichi: Woman, 70, suspected of killing bedridden mother-in-law

Syamala

No Photo Name: Syamala.
Died: July 7, 2019.
Age at death: Adult.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Pedha Kothapalli, Nagarkurnool, India.
Disability: Mental illness.

Details:
Syamala was a married woman, but when she became mentally ill, her husband left her and she had to move back in with her parents. One night, her father allegedly killed her with a sickle.

Case status:
Eranna (Father), arrested.

Source:
Man hacks disabled daughter to death at Nagarkurnool

Ashamati

No Photo Name: Ashamati.
Died: July 6, 2019.
Age at death: 75.
Cause of death: Burns.
Location: Balangir, Odisha, India.
Disability: Unspecified; bedridden.

Details:
Witnesses reported to police that Ashamati’s son was arguing with her husband, and when her son picked up a piece of wood and started hitting her husband, Ashamati demanded he stop. According to the police, her son then poured kerosene on her and set her on fire. She died from her injuries.

Case status:
Santosh Kharsel (Son), charged with murder.

Source:
Man burns mother to death in Balangir
Man burns bedridden mother to death
Man sets bed-ridden mom on fire, arrested