Type: Fatal Neglect – Disability Day of Mourning

Jerome Brown

No Photo Name: Jerome Brown.
Died: February 14, 2021.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Starvation or untreated epilepsy.
Location: Paynesville, Greater Monrovia, Liberia.
Disability: Epilepsy.

Details:
Jerome was born with epilepsy, and when she could not find a cure for him in the spiritual treatments she sought, his mother left him to his father to raise. A neighbor reported finding him close to death in his father’s home; shortly after being found, Jerome died.

Jerome’s mother says that his father starved him to death, and that photos of his body in an extremely emaciated condition corroborate her claims. Police initially declared that he had died of epilepsy; but they are now investigating whether Jerome’s death was murder, manslaughter, or negligent homicide.

Case Status:
Emmanuel Brown (Father), detained.

Source:
“No Foul Play in Little Jerome’s Death” (Caution: graphic images of starvation)
Child, 11, Starved to Death (Caution: graphic images of starvation)

Manu Savaliya

No Photo Name: Manu Savaliya.
Died: January 27, 2021.
Age at death: 75.
Cause of death: Mauled by a leopard.
Location: Amrutpur, Gujarat, India.
Disability: Blind, intellectual disability.

Details:
Manu’s family allegedly chained him to his bed because he had fallen into a well when unattended, because he had bitten people, and because he “bothered the neighbors”. One night, Manu’s family had gone to a wedding, and the one relative left behind went with their domestic helper to go water their fields in the early morning. Manu, a strong man even at the age of 75, was attacked and killed by a leopard, unable to escape or fight back because of the chain.

Case status:
Police are investigating a complaint of wrongful confinement against Manu’s family.

Source:
Gujarat: Chained at farm for attacking villagers, 75-year-old blind man killed, eaten by leopard
Blind man chained to bed killed by leopard in Gujarat (Caution: graphic image of body)
Leopard mauls to death 75-year-old chained by family in Gujarat’s Amreli

Vincent Avellino

Name: Vincent C. Avellino.
Died: November 2, 2020.
Age at death: 83.
Cause of death: Infection.
Location: Ranshaw, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Vincent died because he developed a massive pressure sore that ultimately killed him; reportedly, he had been left in place in his chair for over a month. His wife, with whom he lived, was trained as a home health aide. Home health aides like Vincent’s wife are are trained in bedsore prevention and taught how dangerous it is not to move a patient for extended periods of time.

Vincent was a retired factory worker who loved the outdoors. He liked hunting, fishing, crabbing, mushroom and berry picking, and grew a garden. He was a good baker and wine maker. He liked antiques and going to yard sales, and collected coins. He loved long car rides and milkshakes. He had nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Case status:
Debora Avelino (Wife), charged with involuntary manslaughter and neglect.

Source:
Vincent Avellino Obituary (2020)
Woman charged with neglect and involuntary manslaughter for husband’s death
Pa. wife charged with causing death of husband with dementia

46-year-old man

No Photo Name Unknown.
Died: October 28, 2020.
Age at death: 46.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Racine, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: TBI and physical injuries from childhood motor vehicle accident.

Details:
This 46-year-old man lived with his mother, who cared for him. When he fell, she did not call for help; instead, she dragged him to the bathroom and waited for days without calling for help. Concerned family members had been unable to reach him or his mother, and finally asked the police to do a welfare check. He was found dead on his bathroom floor, and his mother was arrested. She said that she didn’t want to take him to the hospital even though she knew he probably had broken bones, and wanted him to “die a peaceful death”.

Perpetrator: Cheryl Christensen (Mother), charged with negligently subject an individual at risk to abuse causing death, obstructing an officer, and disorderly conduct.

Source:
Caretaker faces charges in disabled man’s death
Racine woman charged for allegedly allowing son to die on bathroom floor of home she thought had ‘mad energy’
Racine woman facing charges after leaving son to ‘die a peaceful death’ on bathroom floor

Pauline Lankford

No Photo Name: Pauline Lankford.
Died: September 15, 2020.
Age at death: 87.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Blythe, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Pauline’s family left her sitting on a chair in the living room. They did not feed her, bathe her, or give her medication. She died from dehydration, malnutrition, and multiple infected pressure sores.

Perpetrator: Clifton Brady (Son-in-law), charged with neglect of a disabled adult; Cynthia Brady (Daughter).

Source:
Blythe couple accused of murder in death of elderly relative granted bond
UPDATE: Man arrested suspicious death of elderly woman in Blythe
Coroner investigating death of 87-year-old woman in Blythe
Warrant: Man withheld food, medication from 87-year-old Blythe woman found dead

Kylie Larson

Name: Kylie Larson.
Died: June 21, 2020.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Medical neglect.
Location: Paynesville, Minnesota, USA.
Disability: Perinatal hypoxic brain injury.

Details:
Kylie’s mother, alone with her because her stepfather was on a fishing trip and her brother was staying with friends, ignored alarms from her blood oxygen and heart rate monitor, repeatedly turning off the alarms, reducing the sensitivity, and eventually removing it altogether. Kylie died of respiratory failure.

Kylie was a middle-school student whose schoolmates often pushed her around the halls to hear her laugh. She liked going outside, especially to new places. She enjoyed boat rides and spinning around in her wheelchair.

Perpetrator: Elise Nelson (Mother), charged with with second-degree intentional murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Source:
Disabled girl, 13, died ‘after mother turned her pulse alarm off for some peace’
Murder charges: Stearns County mom silenced disabled child’s medical device alarm
Charges: Paynesville mom deprived care, killing her daughter with disabilities
Kylie Christine Larson
Mother kills disabled daughter, silences her medical device alarm while stepdad is away fishing: Police
Woman charged in death of her disabled daughter
Paynesville mom charged with murder for tampering with child’s medical equipment, warrant issued

Kylie Mickens

Name: Kylie L. Mickens.
Died: June 8, 2020.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Buford, Georgia, USA.
Disability: 1p36 deletion syndrome.

Details:
Kylie died from malnutrition and dehydration due to medical neglect. Her disability made it difficult for her to swallow, but her parents did not take her to the doctor, and she starved to death weighing only 7 pounds.

Perpetrator: Jerrail Maurice Mickens (Father) and Porscha Danielle Mickens (Mother), both charged with felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children.

Source:
Girl, 5, who weighed seven pounds when died had a rare disorder
Georgia couple accused of starving daughter to death held without bond
Attorney denies murder allegations for clients, claims 5-year-old had short life expectancy from rare condition
Girl, 5, who weighed seven pounds when died had a rare disorder

India Martin

No Photo Name: India Martin.
Died: May 26, 2020.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Abuse.
Location: Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
Born prematurely at 26 weeks and addicted to cocaine, India survived a difficult start in life only to be found dead in a dresser drawer, having been abused or neglected by her mother and her boyfriend.

Perpetrator: Jackleen Mullen (Mother) and her boyfriend Audrevious Williams, both charged with homicide by child abuse or neglect.

Source: Mom, boyfriend charged after disabled 4-year-old found dead in dresser drawer

Willow Dunn

Name: Willow Dunn.
Died: May 25, 2020.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Willow’s father starved her to death. Her body was found covered in severe bedsores.

Perpetrator: Mark James Dunn (Father), charged with murder.

Source:
Heart-wrenching new detail on alleged murder of four-year-old Brisbane girl
Willow Dunn’s stepmum charged with killing disabled girl days after four-year-old’s dad accused of leaving her to starve
Girl who died in family home may have been dead inside for two days
More details emerge over death of Brisbane girl, four, as her dad is accused of murder
‘Senseless’ death of toddler Willow Dunn sparks outpouring of community grief
‘Big questions’ over what could have been done to save Willow Willow Dunn’s father and stepmum hit with more child cruelty charges

Asma Akter

No Photo Name: Asma Akter.
Died: April 26, 2020.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Gazipur, Bangladesh.
Disability: Developmental disability.

Details:
Asma’s family chained her up, then left her alone at home. An electrical fire destroyed the home, killing Asma.

Perpetrator: Abdul Kader (Family).

Source:
Mentally challenged woman burn to death in Gazipur house fire
Bangladesh: Mentally challenged woman charred to death