Category: Type: Homicide

Death due to the actions of another human being.

Thérèse Brassard-Lévesque

No PhotoName: Thérèse Brassard-Lévesque.
Died: September 30, 2023.
Age at death: 79.
Cause of death: Unspecified homicide.
Location: Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease.

Details:
Thérèse and her partner were found unconscious in her room at her senior living home. Thérèse was declared dead at the scene, but her partner was taken to the hospital, where his condition improved. Police believe that Thérèse’s partner killed her and then tried to kill himself, but survived the attempt.

Case Status:
Gilles Brassard (Partner), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 10 1/2 years to life.

Sources:
Quebec man, 81, gets prison sentence after admitting to killing wife with Alzheimer’s disease
“I’m not an assassin” says Quebec man who killed his wife suffering from dementia
Police investigate homicide at Terrebonne, Que., seniors’ residence
Man, 81, charged in wife’s murder at Quebec seniors’ home
Woman, 79, killed at Quebec seniors residence; suspect, 81, under watch in hospital

Dana Morris

Black and white photo of a woman with light skin and moderately dark hair, smiling for the camera. Name: Dana Morris.
Died: September 30, 2023.
Age at death: 55.
Cause of death: Stabbed with screwdriver.
Location: Modesto, California, USA.
Disability: Double leg amputee.

Details:
Dana was stabbed to death with a screwdriver. Police detained her son, who was charged with the murder.

Dana was an artistic woman who created jewelry and beadwork. A creative and resourceful individual, she could often find ways to help others even when it seemed she didn’t have the means to do so.

Case Status:
Zachary Ray Morris (Son), charged with murder and abuse of a dependent adult.

Sources:
Dana Morris-Mears Obituary (1968 – 2023)
Man charged with stabbing his double-leg amputee mother to death with a screwdriver
Modesto man charged with inflicting torture while fatally stabbing his mother
Hearing for California man accused of killing mother delayed over competency questions

John and Lois McCullough

Photo of an elderly couple standing outdoors. On the left is a woman in a blue dress, with pale, somewhat sunburnt skin and curly blond hair; on the left is a balding man with a fringe of white hair, light skin, and glasses, wearing a blue dress shirt and black pants.Name: John McCullough.
Age at death: 70.
Cause of death: Poisoned.
Disability: Possible autism, hypertension, type II diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia and glaucoma.

Name: Lois McCullough.
Age at death: 71.
Cause of death: Bludgeoned, stabbed.
Disability: Agoraphobia, OCD traits.

Died: September 13, 2023 (Body found; died June 18, 2019).
Location: Great Baddow, Essex, England, UK.

Details:
John and Lois lived with their daughter, who decided to kill them. She saved up prescription medicine and drugged them both, and in the morning, John was dead. Lois survived, so their daughter bludgeoned and stabbed her to death instead. She concealed the bodies for several years before a welfare check revealed that the two were dead.

John and Lois were old-fashioned, private people. John was a retired business studies lecturer who enjoyed golf; Lois loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Case Status:
Virginia McCullough (Daughter), convicted of murder, sentenced to 36 years to life.

Sources:
How Virginia McCullough murdered her parents – and lived with their bodies for four years
Virginia McCullough jailed for 36 years for murdering parents
Why Did a ‘Manipulative’ Daughter Kill Her Parents, Then Live with Their Bodies for the Next 4 Years?
Why Virginia McCullough killed her parents and lived with their bodies
Virginia McCullough case
Autism Memorial: John McCullough

Philista St. John

Name: Philista Mae St. John.
Died: September 7, 2023.
Age at death: 86.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Polson, Montana, USA.
Disability: Dementia, diabetes.

Details:
When police were called to do a welfare check on Philista, they found that she had been stabbed to death and her body hidden. They arrested her son, since he had an outstanding warrant, and later charged him with the stabbing that had caused Philista’s death when they found a note which they believe was written by Philista’s son, in which he stated that he “couldn’t do it anymore” and admitted that he had killed her.

Case Status:
Garrett Edward Vaska (Son), charged with deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence.

Sources:
Polson man charged with stabbing his mother with dementia to death
Polson man charged with killing mother who had dementia
Man accused of killing mother in Polson pleads not guilty
Philista Mae St. John Obituary 2023

Baba Junior

Photo of a baby dressed in a pink-and-white sweater and hat. The baby has a black bar over his eyes for anonymity. His skin is brown; his expression is calm.Name: Baba Junior.
Died: September 5, 2023.
Age at death: 4 months.
Cause of death: Suffocation.
Location: Berekum, Bono, Ghana.
Disability: Suspected autism.

Details:
Suspecting that the little boy had autism, Baba’s father allegedly hired a fetish priest to suffocate the child. Baba’s parents went to the cemetery at night to bury the body. Neighbors who heard about the incident reported it to the police, who are now investigating.

Case Status:
Dj Poli (Father), wanted and at large.
Madam Paulina (Mother), arrested but later released.
Nana (Hired killer), status unspecified.

Sources:
Man allegedly pays fetish priest GHS800 to kill 4-month-old autistic son, buries him secretly
Man Allegedly Kills His 4-Month-Old Autistic Son
Man allegedly kills and secretly buries his 4-month-old son — Kasapa102.5FM
B/R: Level 200 Legon student allegedly kills four-month-old son for being autistic baby
Autism Memorial: Baba Junior

Cheryl Mansoff

Photo of a woman with short auburn hair and pale, sunburnt skin, wearing a flowered dress.Name: Cheryl Lee Mansoff.
Died: September 2, 2023.
Age at death: 63.
Cause of death: Beaten.
Location: Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.
Disability: Leg amputee, diabetes.

Details:
Cheryl lived with a man who helped her by doing errands and yardwork. When police were called to their home, they found her dead; she had been violently assaulted.

Cheryl was an avid reader. She leaves behind three children and three grandchildren.

Case Status:
Stephen Teetaert (Caregiver, tenant), charged with second-degree murder.

Sources:
Neighbours, uncle talk about homicide
Obituary of Cheryl Lee Mansoff | Brockie Donovan Funeral & Cremation Services

10-month-old girl

No PhotoName Unknown.
Died: August 21, 2023.
Age at death: 10 months.
Cause of death: Unspecified; homicide.
Location: Giyani, Limpopo, South Africa.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
This baby’s mother claimed that she had died of natural causes; but neighbors became suspicious, the child’s body was found buried in a shallow grave, and her mother was arrested for murder.

Case Status:
Her mother, charged with murder and obstruction of justice.

Sources:
Mother arrested after death of disabled baby
Heartless mother in the dock for murder of 10-month-old baby
Limpopo woman arrested for allegedly murdering her disabled daughter

Connie Smith

No PhotoName: Connie Smith.
Died: August 13, 2023.
Age at death: 76.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Frail elder.

Details:
Connie was fatally shot in her own home. Police say her son, who lived with her, confessed to killing her.

Case Status:
Shane Smith (Son), charged with first-degree murder.

Sources:
Update: Oklahoma City man charged with first-degree murder in mother’s shooting death
Man arrested after shooting, killing elderly mother in NW OKC, police say
OKC man booked for murder of elder mother
Man Arrested, Accused Of Shooting Mother To Death In NW Oklahoma City

Jean Morley

Photo of an older woman with curly light-brown hair and fair skin, wearing a blue print dress, smiling for the camera.Name: Jean Morley.
Died: July 31, 2023.
Age at death: 92.
Cause of death: Suffocation.
Location: Fisher, New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Jean’s husband suffocated her because he thought they had “lived too long”.

Case Status:
Donald Morley (Husband), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 9 years in prison and must serve at least half before parole. Expected to die in prison because of his age and health.

Sources:
Brit who suffocated his wife in ‘mercy killing’ is jailed for 9 years
Pensioner, 93, who suffocated dementia-stricken wife in ‘mercy killing’ jailed
Brit, 93, who killed wife, 92, is jailed for nine years in Australia
Brit who suffocated his wife in ‘mercy killing’ is jailed for 9 years
92-year-old Donald Morley will plead guilty to murder of his dementia-suffering wife, Jean
Murder accused withdraws bail application over alleged suffocation of Jean Morley
Elderly man charged with murder after allegedly suffocating wife

Ana Asencio

No PhotoName: Ana Asencio.
Died: July 17, 2023.
Age at death: 84.
Cause of death: Head and neck trauma.
Location: New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Dementia; pacemaker.

Details:
Police entered Ana’s apartment on a welfare check and discovered her dead, with bruising to her head and neck. It took six months for her death to be classified as a homicide, and another few months before her son was arrested on suspicion of having strangled her.

Ana was a retired schoolteacher.

Case Status:
Edward Asancio (Son), charged with manslaughter and second-degree assault.

Sources:
Death of Manhattan woman, 84, ruled homicide from elder abuse
July ‘23 Death of Retired School teacher in UWS Apt. Ruled a Homicide by M.E.
Edward Asencio charged strangling his mom Ana Asencio to death