Type: Fatal Neglect – Disability Day of Mourning

Bryan Vasquez

Name: Bryan Vasquez.
Died: August 26, 2025.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Blunt force trauma, drowning.
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Disability: Traumatic brain injury; mother claimed autism.

Details:
After Bryan went missing, his body was found in a canal, his death the result of drowning and injuries from an alligator attack. Initially treated as an accidental death, Bryan’s death made authorities suspicious when they looked into his mother’s criminal history: After Bryan, as an infant, had suffered a fractured skull and broken legs, she pleaded guilty to cruelty to juveniles by negligence or neglect.

Police say that even though Bryan had a history of leaving home and getting lost, Bryan’s mother made no attempt to secure the window he climbed out through after the first time he climbed out of it, nor the second time; it was the third time he left the house that he became lost and died.

Case Status:
Hilda Vasquez (Mother) is charged with negligent homicide and second-degree cruelty to juveniles.

Sources:
Mother of 12-Year-Old New Orleans Boy Killed By Alligator was Previously Convicted for Abusing Him
Autism Memorial: Bryan Vasquez
Court records reveal new details about New Orleans mom’s alleged role in death of Bryan Vasquez
Mother charged with negligent homicide after autistic son killed in brutal alligator attack
Mother of 12-year-old boy asks for more time to find attorney after arrest
UPDATE: Mom Charged With Homicide After Autistic Son Found Killed by Alligators
Mom of boy, 12, killed by alligator charged with negligent homicide
Mother of autistic boy, 12, killed in alligator attack charged with homicide

Cecelia Cross

Name: Cecelia Cross.
Died: August 25, 2025.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Suffocation.
Location: Pine River, Minnesota, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Cecelia and her sister had allegedly been regularly confined to their beds during the day. Enclosed in netting stretched over a broken metal frame, the girls, both high-needs children, were left alone with only a tablet computer for company. They were forced to use bedpans, though they were both perfectly capable of using a toilet. The parents had been advised by social services that the beds were not meant to be used to confine children during the day, only to keep them safe at night. They had also been offered repairs for Cece’s bed, which was broken; but they refused to allow the repairperson in the house.

Cecelia was found dead, trapped in her “safety bed” with her head wedged between the metal frame and the mattress. She had been dead for several hours; her parents admitted to having left her alone for at least ten hours that day.

Cecelia’s sister was taken to safety by social services. Her parents were arrested.

Case Status:
Darcy Cross (Father) is charged with second-degree manslaughter.
Heather Cross (Mother) is charged with second-degree manslaughter.

Sources:
Pine River Couple Charged with Manslaughter in 10-Year-Old Daughter’s Death
Couple charged in death of autistic daughter in Crow Wing County
10-Year-Old Autistic Girl Crushed To Death In Broken Bed, Parents Arrested
Parents arrested as autistic daughter, 10, ‘crushed to death by her own bed’
Girl with Autism, 10, Allegedly Crushed to Death by Her Own Bed — and Now Parents Face Charges
Crow Wing County couple neglected daughter with autism who died while confined to bed, charges say – CBS Minnesota
Girl with Autism, 10, Allegedly Crushed to Death by Her Own Bed — and Now Parents Face Charges
Girl with Autism, 10, Allegedly Crushed to Death by Her Own Bed — and Now Parents Face Charges
10-Year-Old Autistic Girl Crushed To Death In Broken Bed, Parents Arrested
Parents charged after autistic girl, 10, crushed to death in home

Arlinda Taylor

No Photo Name: Arlinda Taylor.
Died: July 26, 2025.
Age at death: 75.
Cause of death: Septic shock.
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Frail elder.

Details:
When Arlinda was brought to the hospital, staff were immediately alarmed by her condition; she was filthy and had marks of strangulation on her neck, cuts all over her body, and hot-water burns on her skin. Doctors notified the police; Arlinda was transferred to the intensive care unit, where she died hours later from infection. Police who questioned Arlinda’s son and caregiver said that he told them that, although Arlinda was bedridden after a fall, he had quit taking care of her about a month ago.

Case Status:
Todd Taylor (son) is charged with first-degree murder.

Sources:
Police accuse man of failing to care for 75-year-old bedridden mother before her death
Police: Man arrested after mom who had signs of neglect and abuse dies at OKC hospital
OKC man arrested after mother dies with signs of abuse and neglect

Caleigh Lindsay

Name: Caleigh Anne Renee Lindsay.
Died: July 24, 2025.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Seizure.
Location: Richmond, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, autism.

Details:
Caleigh died of a seizure. Medics found her in filthy conditions, locked in a makeshift padded stall.

Case Status:
Liza Lindsay (Mother), charged with neglect of a dependent.
Darryl Grubbs (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with neglect of a dependent.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Caleigh Lindsay
Mom, Boyfriend Charged With Neglect After Death of Her Disabled 19-Year-Old Daughter
Obituary for Caleigh Anne Renee Lindsay at Community Family Funeral Home
Docs: Richmond woman found dead inside home covered in garbage and feces; caretakers facing neglect charges
Mother, caretaker charged after 19-year-old woman with disabilities found dead

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

Louis Massaquoi Jr.

Name: Louis Moinina Massaquoi Jr.
Died: January 27, 2025.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Malnutrition, lack of medical care.
Location: Lehigh Acres, Florida, USA.
Disability: Autism (Suspected).

Details:
Louis was found dead in his home, weighing only 58 pounds. His parents said that he had been sick, but that they had not taken him to the doctor because they did not believe in doctors. However, detectives say they found multiple videos of Louis’s parents taunting him and refusing him water, and that his parents had recently sought medical care for themselves.

Case Status:
Louis Massaquoi (Father) is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter and aggravated child abuse.
Qwentosha Massaquoi (Mother) is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter and aggravated child abuse.

Sources:
Lee County parents indicted for capital murder in death of 12-year-old son
Parents taunted and tormented 12-year-old who died ‘with all bones visible,’ police say
Report: Boy was malnourished, taunted before death; Lehigh parents face charges
‘Prolonged suffering’: Florida parents arrested for 12-year-old son’s death
Lehigh Acres couple arrested in death of 12-year-old son
Obituary for Louis Moinina Massaquoi Jr. at Anthony R. Manuel Funeral Home
Autism Memorial: Louis Massaquoi Jr.

Lillie Sapp

No Photo Name: Lillie Mae Sapp.
Died: January 21, 2025.
Age at death: 82.
Cause of death: Medical neglect, bedsores, malnutrition.
Location: Augusta, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Frail elder.

Details:
Emergency responders entered Lillie’s home on a welfare check and found her lying on a filthy bed in terrible condition, with severe, untreated bedsores. Medics freed Lillie from her bed by cutting part of the mattress away and took her to the hospital. Though initially stable, she died three weeks later from the effects of malnutrition and infection.

Case Status:
Tyrossale Peak (Daughter) is charged with felony murder and elder neglect.

Sources:
Daughter Indicted On Felony Murder After Elderly Mother Found ‘Fused’ To Bed In Georgia
Georgia Woman Accused Of Neglecting 82-Year-Old Mother Who Was Found Stuck To Bed And Later Died

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:

Father Leaves Disabled Daughter To Be Devoured By Roaches In Group Home
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