Type: Fatal Neglect – Disability Day of Mourning

Cristian Padilla

No Photo Name: Cristian Rodriguez Padilla.
Died: April 19, 2025.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Complications of cerebral palsy.
Location: Metairie, Louisiana, USA.
Disability: Quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

Details:
Cristian, who needed 24-hour monitoring due to his medical problems, died alone at home, according to police. His parents returned to find him unresponsive, but allegedly delayed calling emergency services. When paramedics finally arrived, far too late, Cristian was declared dead from natural causes. Police who arrested his mother and her boyfriend, said they had left him alone for “at least three hours.”

Case Status:
Karla Padilla Pavon (Mother), charged with negligent homicide.
Hovet Vela Espinoza (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with negligent homicide.

Sources:
Metairie mom booked with negligent homicide in quadriplegic 7-year-old son’s death
Two arrested for negligent homicide after child found dead in Metairie home, JPSO says
Metairie mom booked with negligent homicide in quadriplegic 7-year-old son’s death

Secrett Curtis

No Photo Name: Secrett T. Curtis.
Died: March 31, 2025.
Age at death: 23.
Cause of death: Unspecified neglect.
Location: Chesterfield, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Autism, cerebral palsy.

Details:
Secrett, who had CP and autism, lived with her aunt. She was declared dead shortly after she arrived at the hospital. Doctors called the authorities because she was severely malnourished. Police who searched her house say she had been kept in a mold-infested room, on filthy bedding.

Case Status:
Tina T. Curtis (Aunt), charged with abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult leading to their death.

Sources:
Chesterfield woman charged with neglect leading to niece’s death
Suspect Arrested in Death of Vulnerable Adult

LaVonne Hoff

Name: LaVonne Hoff.
Died: February 3, 2025.
Age at death: 76.
Cause of death: Blood loss.
Location: Colorado City, Colorado, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Medics who were called to LaVonne’s house found her unresponsive and badly injured, the victim of a dog attack; she was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Investigators searched the house and found 54 neglected dogs and seven birds, who had all been living crammed together in severely unsanitary conditions.

Police arrested LaVonne’s daughter, who allegedly neglected the animals and left her mother to fend for herself while she went out, even though LaVonne had severe dementia and needed someone with her around the clock.

Case Status:
Jessica Hoff (Daughter), charged with felony negligence and animal cruelty.

Sources:
Daughter Arrested After Mom, Who Has Dementia, Is Mauled To Death By 54 Dogs
Woman arrested after mother with dementia mauled to death by dogs
Colorado woman charged after mother found mauled to death among dozens of dogs
Daughter arrested after mother with dementia is mauled to death in home with 54 dogs
Cause of Death Revealed for Woman with Dementia Who Was Attacked by Dozens of Dogs In Her Home

Caterina Whitten

Name: Caterina Whitten.
Died: January 3, 2025.
Age at death: 29.
Cause of death: Unspecified neglect.
Location: Lowell, Arkansas, USA.
Disability: Fraser syndrome; blind, autism.

Details:
Caterina was found dead in a filthy home.

One of six adopted siblings, Caterina was born in Russia. As a child, she loved swimming and playing on her swing set. Her five siblings, who had also allegedly been neglected, were rescued when her father was arrested after Caterina’s death.

Case Status:
David Whitten (adoptive father), charged with negligent homicide and six counts of endangering the welfare of an incompetent person.

Sources:
Arkansas police arrest 72-year-old man for negligent homicide in disabled daughter’s death
Lowell man accused of negligent homicide, endangering welfare
Lowell man faces negligent homicide charge after death of disabled daughter
‘A really sad story’: Neighbors react to tragic death of Lowell woman
Horrifying way disabled woman died in Ozarks house of horrors she shared with ‘dad’ and 5 handicapped siblings

Gael

No Photo Name: Gael (Surname unknown).
Died: November 17, 2024.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Unspecified abuse and neglect.
Location: Sete Lagoas, Brazil.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
When Gael died, his mother called a funeral director to remove the body; but when the funeral home sent an employee, they saw the condition of Gael’s body and called police. He was lying in a damp room, on a dirty mattress; he had injuries on his body, was very malnourished and dirty, and had rotten teeth.

Case Status:
Gael’s mother and stepfather were arrested on suspicion of murder.

Sources:
Tragic Death of Child with Cerebral Palsy Reveals Shocking Signs of Violence
Criança com paralisia cerebral é encontrada morta e mãe e padrasto são presos em Sete Lagoas
Criança com paralisia cerebral é morta em MG; casal é preso por suspeita de maus-tratos
Casal é preso após criança com paralisia cerebral morrer com sinais de maus-tratos e desnutrição
Criança com paralisia morta em casa vivia em situação ‘lamentável’, diz tia

Selena Kellum

Name: Selena Kellum.
Died: November 15, 2024.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Unspecified abuse and neglect.
Location: Sebring, Florida, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Selena was found dead in her mother’s garage, wearing only a diaper. She was extremely malnourished and covered in injuries in multiple stages of healing, and had been tied to the garage door.

Case Status:
Diana Natasha Mack (Adoptive Mother), charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and destroying evidence.

Sources:
Hernando mother remains worried about 12-year-old daughter’s whereabouts after other daughter’s murder
Former DCF employee accused of abusing, killing adopted daughter in Sebring: ‘Horrific crime’
Birth mother of 13-year-old believed to be murdered shares concern for other child adopted by suspect
Woman charged with abuse and first-degree murder of adopted daughter

Tegan Fredericks

Name: Tegan Fredericks.
Died: October 28, 2024.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Severe pressure sores.
Location: Port Augusta, South Australia, Australia.
Disability: Physical and intellectual disability.

Details:
Medics were called to Tegan’s home, where she lived with her mother, because she had fallen and could not be put back into her chair. They found her in serious condition and rushed her to the hospital, but she died four days later from severe pressure sores. The home where Tegan had been living was “not fit for human habitation”; authorities say they have found “clear indicators of criminal neglect”.

Case Status:
Tegan’s death has been declared “a major crime”. She lived with her mother, who served as a caregiver, but police are still investigating who exactly was responsible for Tegan’s condition. No one has yet been charged.

Sources:
Death of disabled woman being investigated as major crime
Death of 26yo woman who lived with ‘significant’ disabilities in ‘squalid’ conditions declared a major crime
Woman with disability found dead was in home ‘not fit for humans’

Lalita Dubey

No Photo Name: Lalita Dubey.
Died: October 19, 2024.
Age at death: 80.
Cause of death: Malnutrition/dehydration.
Location: Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Disability: Disabled elder; bedridden.

Details:
Lalita lived with her son, who cared for her; but when her son left for vacation, he allegedly left her behind. Her other son, who went to her house to check on her when he learned what had happened, found her dead of hunger and thirst. She had been unable to get out of her bed to get water, food, or medication.

Case Status:
Arun (Son) was charged with unintentional murder and violation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act.

Sources:
Bhopal Shocker: Son Goes Out of City, Leaving Bedridden Mother Locked Inside House, She Dies Due to Hunger and Thirst
Elderly woman dies in Bhopal after son locks her inside home, goes out of city
MP: Man Locks Elderly Mother Inside Room Of House In Nishatpura To Head Outstation, Woman Dies

Jimmy Cardwell

No Photo Name: Jimmy Lamar Cardwell.
Died: August 28, 2024.
Age at death: 71.
Cause of death: Sepsis, osteomyelitis.
Location: Rockledge, Florida, USA.
Disability: Hemiparesis after stroke.

Details:
Paramedics responded to Jimmy’s house to find him thin, filthy, and with multiple infected wounds. He was taken to the hospital, where doctors tried to save his life with emergency surgery, but died later that day. Police say his son admitted to bathing him only every few months and not seeking help for his father’s medical conditions, including the pressure sores that eventually became infected and killed him.

Case Status:
Alton Cardwell (Son), charged with aggravated manslaughter.

Sources:
Brevard County man charged with manslaughter of his father, deputies say
Rockledge Man Arrested for Aggravated Manslaughter of Disabled Father
Son accused in death of elderly father, found smelling of rotting flesh

Consuelo Gonzalez

No Photo Name: Consuelo Gonzalez.
Died: August 21, 2024.
Age at death: 88.
Cause of death: Infected bedsores, untreated broken hip, dehydration/malnutrition.
Location: Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Disabled elder.

Details:
Consuelo was found at her home, having been badly neglected. She had severe, infected bedsores and a broken hip that had gone untreated for a long time. She was taken to the hospital, but died a day later.

Case Status:
Salvador Gonzalez Rivera (Son), charged with murder.

Sources:
Bond denied for Charleston man accused of murder after his mother was found bedridden, malnourished
Charleston man charged with murder after bedridden mother dies at hospital
Son’s charges upgraded to murder after bedridden woman dies at Charleston hospital