Type: Fatal Neglect – Page 28 – Disability Day of Mourning

Susan Simonetti

Photo of Susan Simonetti, a woman with curly dark hair and olive-toned skin, smiling for the camera. The photo has a faint watermark or stamp on it. Name: Susan Simonetti.
Died: January 18, 2014.
Age at death: 56.
Cause of death: Neglect-related.
Location: New Britain, Connecticut, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
Susan’s brother was under investigation for her death when her mother also died from neglect in similar circumstances.

Case status:
Frank Simonetti (Brother), no charges; charged later for a similar neglect death of his mother, Michaelina Simonetti.

Source:
New Britain Man Charged With Manslaughter In 93-Year-Old Mother’s Death

Aidan Bossingham

Photo of a young boy with light olive-toned skin, wearing a sweatshirt and a Cardinals baseball cap. Name: Aidan Edward Bossingham.
Died: January 12, 2014.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Kenmare, North Dakota, USA.
Disability: Growth hormone deficiency.

Details:
Aidan’s mother refused him treatment for his growth hormone deficiency and starved him until he died.

Case status:
Jessica Lee Jensen (Mother); pled guilty to murder and child neglect; sentenced to 40 years in prison with 15 years suspended.

Source:
North Dakota woman sentenced in child starvation case
N.D. 13-year-old weighed 21 pounds; mom accused in his starvation death

Bruce Simmons

School photo of Bruce Simmons, a young man with pale skin and brown hair gelled into a neat side-parted style. He is wearing a brown flannel shirt. Name: Bruce Simmons.
Died: January 12, 2014.
Age at death: 58.
Cause of death: Hypothermia.
Location: Kindred, North Dakota, USA.
Disability: Mental illness.

Details:
Bruce’s brother neglected him, letting him starve and freeze to death.

Case status:
Ronald Simmons (Brother), pleaded guilty to one count of endangering a vulnerable person, sentenced to 1 year of parole.

Source:
Plea deal disgusts sister-in-law of brothers in frozen farmhouse case
North Dakota man let mentally ill brother freeze to death: charges

Arthur Pelham

Photo: An older man, balding, with brown hair, wearing a jacket and red shirt. Name: Arthur “Gary” Pelham.
Died: January 5, 2014.
Age at death: 66.
Cause of death: Hypothermia.
Location: Jonesboro, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia.

Details:
Gary’s caregiver locked him outside the house during a January ice storm and would not let him back inside. In ten hours, he was dead.

Mr. Pelham was a military veteran.

Case status:
Dale El Smith (Paid caregiver), convicted of murder, sentenced to life.

Source:
Murder conviction stands for woman who left veteran outside to freeze
Ex-caregiver gets life for murder in freezing death of man
Murder conviction stands for woman who left veteran outside to freeze
Murder conviction upheld for woman who let veteran freeze to death

John Clark

No Photo Name: John Wyatt Clark.
Died: November 29, 2013.
Age at death: 14 months.
Cause of death: Staph infection.
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Disability: Unknown; developmental delays.

Details:
Through his entire life, John’s parents never took him to the doctor, even though he was very small for his age and had obvious developmental delays. They also fed him an extreme diet that did not include all the nutrients he needed. When he was 14 months old, he died from malnutrition and a staph infection that overwhelmed his weakened body.

Case status:
Jennifer Clark (Mother), convicted of criminal negligence causing death and failure to provide the necessaries of life, sentenced to 32 months in prison.
Jeromie Clark (Father), convicted of criminal negligence causing death and failure to provide the necessaries of life, sentenced to 32 months in prison.

Source:
Religious Vegan Parents Convicted in Starvation Death of Son
Calgary parents found guilty in connection with death of 14-month-old son
Clark trial hears how gravely ill son was when sent to ICU

Skyler Craighead

No Photo
Name: Skyler Craighead.
Died: November 18, 2013.
Age at death: 5 months.
Cause of death: Starvation/dehydration.
Location: La Vergne, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: DiGeorge syndrome, feeding tube, heart defect.

Details:
Skyler died of starvation and dehydration while in the care of her parents.

Case status:
Sinead Omer (Mother) and Terry Craighead (Father), both charged with aggravated child neglect, felony murder in perpetration of aggravated child neglect, aggravated child abuse and felony murder in perpetration of aggravated child abuse. First trial ended in mistrial; second trial proceeding.

Source:
Sinead Omer, mother accused of killing infant in 2013, faces new child abuse charges
Mother Charged with Starvation Death of Baby in 2013 Accused of Faking Illness in Infant in 2018
La Vergne parents face trial in infant’s starvation death
La Vergne Parents Charged In Baby’s Death Go To Trial

83-year-old woman

No Photo Name Unknown.
Died: October 2013.
Age at death: 83.
Cause of death: Pneumonia.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Disability: Stroke, dementia, mental illness, epilepsy.

Details:
This 83-year-old woman was neglected by her son and daughter-in-law, who were receiving government payments to care for her. She was denied her medication, starved, and left uncared for on a filthy mattress. She was severely malnourished and filthy, and had been fed by mouth even though her stroke had made it difficult for her to swallow. When she cried for help, her son bought everyone earplugs. She died of untreated bronchopneumonia.

Three of her grandchildren testified against their parents for the abuse that ended in their grandmother’s death.

Case status:
Her son, age 52, convicted of reckless conduct endangering life, sentenced to 12-18 months in jail.
Her daughter-in-law, age 46, convicted of reckless conduct endangering life, given a 12-month suspended sentence.

Source:
Son bought family ear plugs so they couldn’t hear grandmother’s cries
Judge considering tougher penalties for neglect couple
Man jailed for letting his mother die over 16 months without medicine
Man jailed for ‘inhumane’ neglect of elderly mum
Grandmother left to die in own filth
Australian man bought earplugs to drown out his elderly mother’s cries of pain
Son and his wife to stand trial on neglect charges after elderly mother’s death
Son and daughter-in-law to stand trial for mother’s horrific death
Dead woman’s grandchildren to give evidence in their parents’ neglect trial

Tamiyah Audain

Name: Tamiyah Audain.
Died: September 25, 2013.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Malnutrition, infection.
Location: Lauderhill, Florida, USA.
Disability: Autism, tuberous sclerosis.

Details:
Tamiyah was neglected by her aunt; she died of starvation and infection. When she died after nine months with her aunt, Tamiyah weighed only 56 pounds–less than half of the 115 pounds she had weighed when she first came to live there.

Tamiyah always greeted family members with a hug.

Case status:
Latoya Patterson (Cousin), convicted of child neglect, sentenced to 3 years probation.
Jabeth Moye (Child care worker), pleaded no contest to aggravated child abuse, sentenced to five years probation.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Tamiyah Audain
Caregiver charged in autistic girl’s death seeks bond
Supervised Population Information Detail
While agencies bickered, Broward girl died horrible death
Report: Questions Arise For Child Welfare Workers After Death Of 12-Year-Old
State records show pattern of neglect in death of Lauderhill girl
Florida child welfare worker, 3 others charged in girl’s starvation death

Nathalyz Rivera

Photo of Nathalyz Rivera, a baby with light-tan skin and black hair, wearing a big white hair ribbon. She has her eyes wide open and her tongue poking out of her mouth a little. Name: Nathalyz Rivera.
Died: September 9, 2013.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome (visually impaired, unable to walk or talk).

Details:
Nathalyz and her siblings were starved and neglected by their parents, fed only once a day. Nathalyz, the youngest, could not hold a bottle to feed herself. When she died of starvation, her parents were arrested.

Her two brothers and two sisters survived and were moved to foster homes.

Case status:
Carmen Ramirez (Mother), convicted of 3rd-degree murder, manslaughter, negligence; sentenced to 30-60 years in prison.
Carlos Rivera (Father), convicted of 3rd-degree murder, manslaughter, negligence; sentenced to 30-60 years in prison.

Source:
Mother ‘used daughter’s disability checks to party at casinos months before her 3-year-old starved to death on filthy floor’
Parents of fatally starved girl get long prison terms

Edward O’Brien Jr.

Gravestone of Edward J. O'brien Jr. Name: Edward J. O’Brien Jr.
Died: September 8, 2013.
Age at death: 92.
Cause of death: Heart failure
Location: West Whiteland, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Heart condition.

Details:
Edward’s son kept him from getting medical treatment for his heart condition and neglected him. When he died of heart failure, he was starving and covered in bedsores.

Mr. O’Brien was a World War II veteran.

Case status:
Edward J. O’Brien III (Son), found guilty of third-degree murder, involuntary murder, aggravated assault, and recklessly endangering another person, sentenced to 5-10 years.

Source:
Prelimnary hearing set in death of West Whiteland man
In murder trial, Chesco lawyer says father died as he wanted
Chester County Man Convicted Of Murder In Death Of Elderly Father
West Whiteland man guilty of murder in his father’s death
Judge gives O’Brien 5 to 10 years for death of father
Chesco attorney guilty of letting father die ordered to state prison