Type: Homicide – Page 79 – Disability Day of Mourning

Kaiya Kapahu

Photo of a small girl with light-tan skin, big brown eyes, and straight, long, black hair. Name: Kaiya Kalora Kapahu.
Died: February 18, 2010.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Disability: Rett syndrome.

Details:
Kaiya was deliberately starved to death by her uncle.

Case status:
Leonard “Sonny” Orta Jr. (Uncle); pled guilty to second-degree murder; sentenced to 18 years.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Kaiya Kapahu
Hawaii dad trusted his brother, but Kaiya instead was starved
Father of special-needs girl found dead had planned to bring her home
Family, friends still struggling as they say farewell to Kaiya
Find a Grave: Kaiya Kalora Kapahu
GCC student honors the memory of Kaiya Kapahu

Thoretta Miller

Portrait photo of a woman with dark-brown skin and curly black hair, wearing a pink blouse and turquoise scarf. Name: Thoretta Miller.
Died: February 12, 2010.
Age at death: 57.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Texas City, Texas, USA.
Disability: “Legally blind and disabled”.

Details:
Thoretta’s granddaughter beat and stabbed her to death.

Case status:
Cheretta Smith (granddaughter), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 42-84 years.

Source:
Texas City woman who killed blind grandmother gets 84 years
Texas City woman admits to murdering blind grandmother
Cheretta Andurnique Smith v. The State of Texas

Dominique J.

Name: Dominique J.
Died: February 10, 2010.
Age at death: 47.
Cause of death: Wrists and throat cut.
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Dominique’s mother was afraid that her daughter would need institutional care; so she cut her daughter’s throat and wrists, killing her.

Dominique’s mother reported that her daughter had been assaulted and molested in an institution when she was younger. Dominique was supposed to go live with a sibling when her mother was no longer able to care for her.

Case Status:
Ronnie J. (Mother), convicted of murder, but not given a custodial sentence.

Source:
Ronnie J. toch veroordeeld
Dode vrouw in woning Korte Marnixkade
‘Moeder moet leven’ met de moord op dochter
Vrouw (84) doodde haar gehandicapte dochter: ‘Mijn Dootje is nu veilig’
Dominique Blank – Moordzaken.com

Ajit Singh

Name: Ajit Singh-Mahal.
Died: February 9, 2010.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Multiple organ failure.
Location: London, England, UK.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Ajit’s mother, facing a social services investigation for neglect, forced him to drink bleach. He died of multiple organ failure.

Case status:
Satpal Kaur-Singh (Mother); pled guilty to manslaughter; sentenced to 7 years.

Source:
Mother kills autistic son by forcing him to drink bleach
Mother killed her autistic son, 12, by forcing him to drink bleach as she ‘feared that social services would take him away’
Woman jailed for killing autistic son, 12, with bleach
Autism Memorial: Ajit Singh

Jude Mirra

Photo of Jude Mirra, a boy wearing a blue-and-orange shirt and blue visor. His skin is light, and his cheeks are pink. He is smiling, mouth closed, and looking up at the camera. Name: Jude Mirra
Died: February 4, 2010.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Poisoning.
Location: New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Jude’s mother allegedly poisoned him with prescription drugs.

Case status:
Gigi Jordan (Mother), convicted of first-degree manslaughter, sentenced to 18 years. Conviction overturned because of a violation of her right to a public trial. New trial granted; decision reversed. Died by suicide after being told she would return to prison.

Source:
NYC pharma exec who killed son dies in Brooklyn
Ruling ordering new trial in death of 8-year-old is reversed
Autism Memorial: Jude Mirra
Gigi Jordan Convicted Of Killing Son Now Freed On Bond In SDNY For Closed Courtroom
Millionaire pharma exec who fatally poisoned her son, 8, granted bail
NY Socialite Who Killed Autistic Son With Lethal Combo Of Pills In 2010 Could Be Freed
Millionaire mom convicted of killing autistic son may be retried
Mother Held in Death of Boy, 8, at Luxury Hotel
Mother Facing Murder Charges in Death of Autistic Boy, 8, in Peninsula Hotel
‘Socialite’ Kills Autistic Son, 9, in New York Hotel, Attempts Suicide
Poor health of autistic son Jude Mirra led mother Gigi Jordan to kill him: pal
Mom murdered her autistic son after seeking help from therapist who believes in ‘Satanic mind control’

Willie Henderson

Name: Willie Henderson.
Died: January 22, 2010.
Age at death: 60.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: North Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Disability: Blind, mobility impaired.

Details:
When Willie Henderson needed help around the house, his godson used to act as a handyman.

Willie’s godson shot him in the back of the head. In court, he claimed that it had been self-defense, even though there were no signs of a struggle.

Willie Henderson was a Vietnam war veteran.

Case status:
Billy Ray James (Godson), pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter; spent six years in prison before release.

Source:
Willie Henderson Obituary
Handyman to stand trial in North Las Vegas shooting death
Ex-felon found guilty of 2010 slaying of North Las Vegas man
Hung jury in re-trial of North Las Vegas murder case
Murder case tried three times headed for mistrial, judge says
Judge declares mistrial after man’s third trial in North Las Vegas murder case
Man waits for release in Vegas killing after 3 trials, 1 plea deal, 6 years in prison

Laura Cummings

Photo of Laura Cummings, a woman with fair skin and light-brown hair in a pageboy cut, wearing large glasses and a red sweater with a white lace collar. Name: Laura Cummings.
Died: January 21, 2010.
Age at death: 23.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Buffalo, New York, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Laura was raped, tortured, and finally smothered by her mother and half-brother.

Friends remember her as shy, quiet, and kind.

Case status:
Eva Cummings (Mother), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, assault, unlawful imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a disabled person as a hate crime, and was sentenced to 57 years to life.
Luke Wright (half-brother), was found guilty of assault, rape, incest, sodomy, endangering the welfare of an incompetent person, and unlawful imprisonment as a hate crime, and sentenced to 50 years to life.

Source:
Laura Cummings
Angel of Hope: Remembering Laura Cummings
Six years after her horrific death, North Collins woman is laid to rest
N.Y. mom gets prison for killing disabled daughter
Prosecutor: NY man raped, scalded disabled sister
Authorities: Mom, son raped, killed disabled woman

Clyde Bedford

Name: Clyde Edward “Eddie” Bedford.
Died: December 18, 2009.
Age at death: 57.
Cause of death: Bludgoned.
Location: Kennedale, Texas, USA.
Disability: Wheelchair user.

Details:
Clyde, his daughter Joy, and his granddaughter Jodi were attacked by his son-in-law. Clyde and his granddaughter died from being bludgeoned with a bat, and his daughter was fatally stabbed.

Clyde and his granddaughter Jodi were especially close.

Case Status:
John William Hummel (Son-in-law), convicted of murder, sentenced to death. Executed June 30, 2021.

Source:
What did John Hummel do and how did he die? ID’s Sins of the Father revisits 2009 triple murders
Texas inmate faces execution after killing 3 family members
Kennedale Man Faces Execution After Killing 3 Family Members
Clyde Edward “Zeke” Bedford (1952-2009) – Find A Grave
Texas execution: Man stabbed wife 30+ times, used bat to kill daughter and father-in-law
Texas executes inmate for killing his pregnant wife, father-in-law back in 2009

Marie-Nicole Rainville

Black and white photo of Marie-Nicole Rainville, a middle-aged woman. She has light skin and dark hair cut short; she is smiling broadly. Name: Marie-Nicole Rainville.
Died: November 12, 2009.
Age at death: 71.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Quebec City, Canada.
Disability: Stroke.

Details:
Marie-Nicole was shot by her husband.

Case status:
Jacques Delisle (Husband), first-degree murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
Jacques Delisle | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers
‘Destroyed, but not guilty,’ says judge accused of murdering his wife
Bail denied for ex-judge waiting for ministerial review of murder conviction

Tony Khor

Name: Tony Khor.
Died: October 25, 2009.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Mississauga, Canada.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Tony was strangled by his mother after an argument about whether to put him in residential care.

Case status:
Seow Cheng Sim (Mother); pled guilty to manslaughter; sentenced to 6-10 years. With credit for pre-trial custody, she served 2 more years before her release.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Tony Khor
Filicide: Boy with Autism Dead by Mother’s Hand
Mother charged with autistic son’s death
Mother Charged in Murder of Her Autistic Son