Category: Type: Homicide

Death due to the actions of another human being.

William Anderson Jr.

No PhotoName: William Thomas Anderson Jr.
Died: February 22, 2024.
Age at death: 83.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
William was found dead in his front yard, having been fatally beaten. His son was arrested and charged with his murder.

Case Status:
Marshall Anderson (Son), charged with first-degree murder.

Sources:
Obituary for William Thomas Anderson, Jr. at Valley Chapel
Wilmington man charged with murder in connection with father’s death
Man accused of murder in his father’s death in New Hanover County

David Hernandez

Photo of a child in a blue graduation gown and mortarboard, holding a diploma. He has dark hair and light-brown skin.Name: David Jacques Hernandez.
Died: February 20, 2024.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Cut to the neck.
Location: Lancaster, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
David was allegedly killed by his mother’s boyfriend.

Case Status:
Rena Naulls (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with murder and assault on a child causing death.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: David Hernandez
Father of 3-year-old boy killed in Lancaster speaks out: ‘I need answers for every question’
District Attorney Gascón Announces Charges Against a Man Who Allegedly Killed a Three-Year-Old Boy in Lancaster

Hrishikesk Haloi

Photo of a young boy with a censor bar across his eyes. He has short black hair and tan skin.Name: Hrishikesk Haloi.
Died: February 19, 2024.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Poisoning.
Location: Barsarkuchi village, Nalbari, Assam, India.
Disability: ADHD, autism.

Details:
Hrishikesk and his mother were found dead in their beds. Police say that his father confessed to killing them both, saying that he had done it because of Hrishikesk’s autism and ADHD.

Case Status:
Jagadish Haloi (Father), charged with murder.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Hrishikesk Haloi
Assam: Father Confesses to Double Murder; Blames Son’s Hyperactivity Disorder
Mother son duo found dead in Nalbari : ৰহস্যৰ আৱৰ্তত নলবাৰীৰ মাতৃ-পুত্ৰৰ মৃত্যুৰ ঘটনা
Mother-son duo found dead, son had celebrated 15th birthday yesterday
Assam Tragedy: Man Arrested for Suspected Murder of Wife, Son in Nalbari

James Gaylor

Photo of an older man with brown skin and stubble on his chin. He is wearing a black jacket and knit cap with a white stripe at the brim. He is leaning his chin on his hands. Name: James Gaylor.
Died: February 10, 2024.
Age at death: 70.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Washington DC, USA.
Disability: Back injury; used cane.

Details:
According to police, James’s daughter stopped them on the street and said she’d stabbed her father. When they investigated, they found James fatally wounded; before he died, police say he told them that his daughter had attacked him. He had been stabbed 17 times.

James was a building engineer and drywall painter. Though he had no children of his own, he was a doting grandfather to his stepsons’ children.

Case Status:
Brittany Gaylor (Daughter), charged with second-degree murder.

Sources:
DC woman accused of killing disabled father
DC woman charged with murder of father, who reported her to police last week
Daughter Charged with Second-Degree Murder for Fatal Stabbing of Disabled Father

Janette Becraft

Photo of an older woman with pale skin and short, curly white hair, wearing a white suit jacket and smiling.Name: Janette Becraft.
Died: February 8, 2024.
Age at death: 85.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Police responded to Janette’s home and, after a standoff with her husband, found her shot dead inside. They arrested her husband.

Janette took pleasure in owning and driving her 1968 Mustang. Spending time with the ladies from the Red Hat Society was a joy for her. She also loved to travel and play games; Scrabble was one of her favorites. 

Case Status:
William Albert “Billy Jack” Haynes Jr. (Husband), charged with murder.

Sources:
Former WWE Wrestler Billy Jack Haynes Charged With Wife’s Murder
Former WWE Wrestler in Custody Over Wife’s Murder
Former WWF wrestler arrested in wife’s murder
Mercy Killings and CTE | WWF Star Billy Jack Haynes’ Alleged Murder Of His 85-Year-Old Wife With Dementia Leads To Deeper Questions
Former W.W.F. Wrestler Arrested in Wife’s Murder

Lalitha

Photo of an Indian woman with tan skin and dark hair drawn back from her face. She is wearing a necklace and earrings; the collar of a striped shirt can be seen at the edge of the picture.Name: Lalitha.
Died: January 13, 2024.
Age at death: 60.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Alappuzha, Kerala, India.
Disability: Diabetes, double leg amputee.

Details:
After Lalitha told her son off for drinking too much, he allegedly strangled her to death. Police say he was “fed up with taking care of his bedridden mother”.

Case Status:
Bineesh (Son), charged with murder.

Sources:
Alcoholic man strangles bedridden mother to death in Alappuzha
Alappuzha man strangles bed-ridden mother to death for questioning drinking habit

Otis Jones

Photo of an African American man with medium-brown skin, his hair in neat braids, wearing a brown polo shirt.Name: Otis Jones Jr.
Died: January 5, 2024.
Age at death: 44.
Cause of death: Burns.
Location: Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Disability: Spinal cord injury.

Details:
Otis was pulled out of his burning home by firefighters; but he died from his injuries eight days later. The fire was ruled arson, and Otis’s niece is suspected of setting the fire.

Case Status:
Keechaundra Deshay Cook (Niece), charged with murder.

Sources:
‘They wouldn’t help me’: Mother of paralyzed man who died from fire says she tried to get help for family member responsible
Birmingham woman charged after uncle dies in house fire
Woman charged after brother dies following Birmingham house fire
Man dies after house fire — now his niece is charged with murder, Alabama cops say

George and Gianna Kantanka

Two young African-american children, a girl wearing a pink dress and hair ribbon, and a boy wearing a red Mickey Mouse shirt.Name: George Kantanka.
Name: Gianna Kantanka.

Died: December 18, 2023.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Smothered.
Location: Bronx, New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
With their father away working the night shift, George and Gianna were alone with their mother when she called for an ambulance, saying they were unresponsive. The twins were found dead in their beds. Initially, it seemed they had died of natural causes, but an autopsy concluded they had both been smothered.

Case Status:
Gloria Asamoah (Mother), charged with murder.

Sources:
Mother Is Charged With Murder of Twins Found Dead in the Bronx
Bronx mom indicted for murder in deaths of 5-year-old twin children

Maureen Potter

No PhotoName: Maureen Potter.
Died: December 8, 2023.
Age at death: 80.
Cause of death: Unspecified homicide.
Location: Droitwich, Worcestershire, England, UK.
Disability: Cancer.

Details:
Maureen’s husband allegedly killed her and tried to kill their son, who also has a disability.

Case Status:
Ivan Potter (Husband), charged with murder and attempted murder.

Sources:
Pensioner, 81, being quizzed by police after woman, 80, found dead
Man, 81, arrested after woman, 80, ‘murdered’ with second man in hospital
Suspect aged 81 arrested on suspicion of murder after woman found dead
A town in shock – the latest on the Droitwich murder investigation
Man, 81, charged with attempted murder after police called to medical emergency
Maureen Potter (née Bourne)

Leon Perkins

No PhotoName: Leon Perkins.
Died: December 1, 2023.
Age at death: 66.
Cause of death: Unspecified homicide.
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness, wheelchair user.

Details:
Leon was found dead at his home, sitting in his wheelchair. His death was ruled a homicide, and a relative who lived with him to care for him was arrested as the primary suspect.

Case Status:
Charles Parker (Relative), arrested.

Sources:
Silver Spring man charged in death of disabled relative