Type: Fatal Neglect – Disability Day of Mourning

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

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:
Charleston man charged with murder after bedridden mother dies at hospital
Son’s charges upgraded to murder after bedridden woman dies at Charleston hospital

Kinsley James

Name: “Princess” Kinsley Armani James.
Died: May 20, 2024.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Darlington County, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Kinsley’s mother left her with relatives who were supposed to watch her; but they allegedly left her alone, and she left the house, fell into a creek, and drowned. At their bail hearing, Kinsley’s mother told the judge that her relatives had been so inattentive that 45 minutes passed before they even realized the toddler was gone.

Kinsley was a big fan of Cocomelon and loved anything that made music.

Case Status:
Christian Deon James (Uncle), charged with homicide by child abuse.
Nashanti McCollugh (Family member), charged with homicide by child abuse.

Sources:
2 charged in Darlington Co. drowning of nonverbal, autistic 3-year-old child
Caretakers charged after child was left unattended, drowned in nearby creek
‘My child was innocent’: Darlington Co. mom of 3-year-old who drowned demands justice
Autism Memorial: Kinsley James
Princess Kinsley James Obituary | May 20, 2024 | Florence, SC

Sheryl Seitz

No Photo Name: Sheryl Seitz.
Died: April 30, 2024.
Age at death: 58.
Cause of death: Septic shock, two broken hips, pressure sores.
Location: Arvada, Colorado, USA.
Disability: Mobility impaired, required caregiver.

Details:
Emergency services were called to Sheryl’s home, where they found her dying on a filthy air mattress. She had been kept in an RV without running water or a proper bed, and was suffering from two broken hips and badly infected pressure sores. Sheryl died the next day, and her caregivers were arrested.

Case Status:
Brian Seitz (Son), charged with crimes against an at-risk person resulting in death and tampering with evidence.
Laura Prats (Son’s girlfriend), charged with crimes against an at-risk person resulting in death.

Sources:
Jeffco man, his girlfriend arrested in death of mother found with two broken hips
JCSO Arrests Two Suspects for Crimes Against At-Risk Person Resulting in Death

Jeremy Thompson

No Photo Name: Jeremy Hall Thompson.
Died: April 15, 2024.
Age at death: 32.
Cause of death: Sepsis; bedsores.
Location: Woodbridge, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Paramedics responding to Jeremy’s home found him unconscious on the floor, emaciated and with open wounds. At the hospital, he was diagnosed with sepsis, and lived thirteen days before dying from what the autopsy determined to be “sepsis in the context of cerebral palsy and severe neglect”.

Case Status:
Katharine Mary Thompson (Mother), charged with felony homicide and abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult.
Jonathan Lee Thompson (Brother), charged with felony homicide and abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult.

Sources:
Mother and brother charged in Woodbridge homicide after neglect leads to death of man with cerebral palsy
Immobile man dies, now his family members are being charged with homicide and neglect
Mother, Brother Charged In Death Of Neglected Woodbridge Man With Cerebral Palsy: Police
Death Of Man With Cerebral Palsy Prompts Charges For 2 Relatives: Police
A man with cerebral palsy was neglected and died, police said. His family is being blamed.
A man with cerebral palsy was neglected and died, police said. His family is being blamed.
Jeremy Hall Thompson Obituary & Service Information

Christiana Blake

No Photo Name: Christiana Blake.
Died: February 21, 2024.
Age at death: 77.
Cause of death: Sepsis, pneumonia; pressure sores.
Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Stroke; mobility impaired, nonspeaking.

Details:
Christiana’s daughter allegedly left her home alone repeatedly for long periods of time and neglected her care. Untended pressure sores in Christiana’s legs progressed to the point of requiring amputation, but she went without medical help for several more months until the state finally took over guardianship of Christiana. But it was too late; she was too sick to survive. Christiana died in the hospital from widespread infection.

Case Status:
Yeawah Sanu (Daughter), charged with criminal homicide and neglect of a care-dependent person.
Minkailu Sanu (Son-in-law), wanted on suspicion of homicide and neglect.

Sources:
Harrisburg woman charged with homicide, neglect of care-dependent person after death of her mother
Disabled woman’s legs went black from neglect, disease before she died in homicide: police

Jeremiah Moore

No Photo Name: Jeremiah Moore.
Died: February 6, 2024.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Springfield Township, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Jeremiah was found dead in his home. He had been chained to a cot in a basement closet and had no food in his system when he died from malnutrition and dehydration.

Case Status:
Tamara Moore (Adoptive mother), charged with murder, endangering a child, involuntary manslaughter and failure to report a crime.
William Turnage (Adoptive mother’s boyfriend), charged with murder, endangering a child, involuntary manslaughter and failure to report a crime.

Sources:
Man wanted for murder of autistic teen arrested, police say
Autistic teen found starved, chained to cot in Ohio
Autistic teen was treated ‘worse than an animal,’ prosecutor says
Autistic teen found starved, chained to cot, Ohio officials say. Adoptive mom arrested
Police: Springfield Twp. mother arrested in connection to death of teenager with autism
Neighborhood shocked over murder of autistic teenager
Springfield Township woman charged in murder of adopted son, who was autistic
Police: Springfield Township man wanted in murder of autistic child in custody
Mom arrested, murder warrant issued for man in autistic teen’s death: Police
Autistic teen found starved, chained to cot, Ohio officials say. Adoptive mom arrested
Mistreatment of special needs teen leads to murder charges
‘Justice for J.J.’: Adoptive mother and man indicted in 16-year-old’s death

Geanna Bradley

Name: Geanna Bradley.
Died: January 18, 2024.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Starvation, blunt trauma, pneumonia.
Location: Wahiawa, Hawaii, USA.
Disability: ADHD; foster parents suspected schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Details:
Gianna was found dead in her home, the victim of a suspicious death that investigators soon realized had come from repeated abuse. She had died from multiple blunt force injuries, starvation, and pneumonia.

Case Status:
Brandy Blas (Foster mother), charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, second-degree murder, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment.
Thomas Blas (Foster father), charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, second-degree murder, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment.

Sources:
Legal Guardians Accused Of ‘Prolonged Abuse’ In 10-Year-Old’s Death
Birth father of Geanna Bradley shares his final memories of his daughter