Gerald Lakes

No PhotoName: Gerald Lee Lakes.
Died: March 13, 2013.
Age at death: 24.
Cause of death: Starvation, dehydration.
Location: Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Gerald was neglected and starved to death by his parents.

Case status:
Jerry Lakes (Father), pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, two counts of knowing abuse or neglect of an adult, three counts of exploitation, and three counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of property, sentenced to 20 years.
Peggy Whitlock (Mother), guilty to two counts of knowing abuse and neglect, sentenced to 10 years.

Source:
Lexington couple sentenced for neglect in death of mentally handicapped son
Detectives: Father of man who starved to death spent thousands in a casino

Marci Garvin

Photo of Marci Garvin. She is a woman with short, straight hair, sitting in a power chair. A name tag is clipped to her sweater and she is pushing a large button on the table in front of her.Name: Marci Garvin.
Died: March 11, 2013.
Age at death: 39.
Cause of death: Pneumonia, dehydration.
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, epilepsy.

Details:
Marci’s father and sister neglected her so badly that she died of infection, pneumonia, and dehydration.

Marci had spent 18 years working part-time for the Star-Telegram human resources office. Sadly, the same newspaper was later to publish the report on her death.

Case status:
Mike Garvin (Father), convicted of injury to the disabled and sentenced to 10-20 years in prison.
Tabby Martinjak (Sister), convicted of injury to the disabled and sentenced to 10-20 years in prison.

Source:
Father, daughter sentenced to 20 years in prison in death of disabled woman
Failing Marci: A disabled woman’s story of triumph and tragedy | Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Failing Marci: Investigation raises questions about care and oversight for disabled woman – Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX), 3/1/2015 Bexar County, Texas

Jessie Dziomba

Photo of a teenage boy with light skin and a buzz cut. He is wearing a striped shirt and has a solemn expression.Name: Jessie James Dziomba, born Jessie Palmer.
Died: March 4, 2013.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Influenza, infection.
Location: Lockport, New York, USA.
Disability: Developmental disability.

Details:
Police who investigated the home after Jessie was found dead say that Jessie and his brothers were routinely locked into their rooms by their adoptive parents. When Jessie got sick, his adoptive parents allegedly did not care for him nor take him to the doctor. Jessie died of his illness. His two brothers survived and were removed from the home.

Jessie liked playing sports and video games.

Case status:
Joy and John Dziomba (Adoptive parents). Case status unknown.

Source:
Guardian appointed for brothers of disabled Lockport man who died in March
How did Jessie die?
Jessie James Dzombia AKA Palmer

Darnell Hunter Jr.

Black and white photo of an African-American teenage boy with neat, short hair and a light-colored T-shirt, smiling for the camera.Name: Darnell “DJ” Lamount Hunter Jr.
Died: February 20, 2013.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Peoria, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
DJ was neglected and starved to death by his father.

He was a Dragon Ball Z fan who also liked reading, video games, and basketball.

Case status:
Darnell Hunter Sr. (Father); pled guilty to manslaughter and neglect; sentenced to 12 years.

Source:
Darnell Hunter sentenced to 12 years for fatally neglecting his impaired son
Darnell Lamount Hunter Jr. – View Obituary & Service Information

Tia Jones

Photo: A girl with brown skin and black hair in braids, wearing a turquoise long-sleeved shirt, standing in front of a Christmas tree. Name: Tia Ann Jones.
Died: February 18, 2013.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Infection.
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Autism, ADHD.

Details:
Tia Ann’s parents neglected an infection in her feet until it spread and killed her.

Case status:
Randy D. Jones (Father), found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; sentenced to 10 years.
Carissa Jones (Mother), found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; sentenced to 10 years.

Source:
Tia Jones
Ohio Supreme Court will decide if 10-year prison sentence too long for parents convicted of letting sick child die
10-year prison sentence reinstated for Richmond Heights couple in daughter’s death

Quinten Wood

Photo of a teenage boy with pale skin and messy brown hair; he has his head tilted back. He is wearing a flannel shirt.Name: Quinten “Q-Man” Wood.
Died: January 4, 2013.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Pneumonia.
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Chromosome 9 Ring.

Details:
Quinten’s father neglected him; he died of pneumonia related to starvation.

Quinten was a fan of Star Wars and Daft Punk.

Case status:
Michael Wood (Father), pleaded guilty to neglect, given a suspended sentence and one year of probation.

Source:
Valerie Wood-Harber Got Justice for Her Brother – and Other Disabled Kids
Justice for Quinten
Father, DHS Employees Facing Charges In Quinten Wood Death
How a disabled boy’s heartbreaking story inspired real legislation

Andrea Ruth

Portrait photo of Andrea Ruth, a girl with brown skin and short, curly hair in a hairband.Name: Andrea Ruth.
Died: November 24, 2012.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Sepsis.
Location: Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: Multiple medical problems.

Details:
Andrea had been neglected so badly that her legs were scheduled to be amputated because of gangrene. However, her father did not take her for surgery and did not take her to the doctor. She eventually died of blood poisoning.

Case status:
Errol Johnson (Father), convicted of aggravated child neglect and criminally negligent homicide; sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Raven Ruth (Mother), pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse and second degree murder; sentenced to 25 years.
Chasara Jones (Health care worker), pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse, sentenced to 13 years 6 months.

Source:
Home Health Care Worker Sentenced In Death Of Bedridden 12-Year-Old
Father and caregiver of disabled Tenn. girl who died from gangrene, bedsores charged with murder
Mother indicted in 12-year-old daughter’s death

Isaac Brothers-Bartholomew

Photo of Isaac Brothers-Bartholomew, an infant boy swaddled in a floral blanket, with a feeding tube in his nose.Name: Isaac Brothers-Bartholomew.
Died: November 6, 2012.
Age at death: 18 months.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Vermilion, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Tube fed; multiple medical problems.

Details:
Isaac’s parents starved him to death. He and his other disabled siblings were often left in the care of an 11-year-old boy, who could only give them bottles to drink from; but because they could not swallow well, the children starved. After Isaac’s death, his siblings were rescued and placed in foster care.

Case status:
Adrienne Bartholomew (Mother), pleaded guilty to child endangerment and patient endangerment, sentenced to 5 years.
James Brothers (Father), pleaded guilty to child endangerment and patient endangerment, sentenced to 6 years.
Isaac’s estate is suing the state.

Source:
Baby Isaac’s family pleads guilty in malnutrition death
Starved Vermilion boy’s estate, siblings file suit
Parents of malnourished Ohio boy get prison time
Baby Isaac’s family pleads guilty in malnutrition death
‘He’s stiff as a board’: The 18-month-old boy who ‘starved to death’ as mother called 911 to claim he died suddenly… and four of her other children were found malnourished

Herman Ritchey Jr.

No PhotoName: Herman Ritchey Jr.
Died: October 24, 2012.
Age at death: 70.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Mio, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease.

Details:
Herman’s daughter and son-in-law took his social security payments while they left Herman locked in his bedroom and denied him the medication and care he needed. He eventually died from starvation.

Case status:
Rachel Bruce (Daughter), convicted of felony murder and vulnerable adult abuse and sentenced to life without parole.
Carl Bruce (Son-in-law), convicted of felony murder and vulnerable adult abuse and sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
Oscoda County woman charged alongside husband with murder in father’s death
Herman Ray Ritchey, Jr ( – 2012) – Find A Grave Memorial
Couple charged with murdering woman’s father through abuse and neglect
Mio couple sentenced to life in prison after murder conviction
Mio Michigan Couple Charged with Relatives Murder
Couple Arrested in Oscoda County for Elderly Father’s Death
Couple convicted of killing parent to face new trial after appeal

Yolanda Reese-Brooks

Photo of Yolanda Brooks, an African-American woman. The photo is very blurry.Name: Yolanda Reese-Brooks.
Died: October 22, 2012.
Age at death: 40.
Cause of death: Obesity and “unspecified injuries”.
Location: Warren, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Injuries from car accident; obesity.

Details:
In 2011, Yolanda had been in a car accident that crushed her pelvis and ruptured her bladder, and was thereafter unable to leave her bed.

Her husband did not keep her clean or care for her, and by the time he called the hospital for help, she was already dying.

Yolanda was the mother of four children, who were two to thirteen years old when she died.

Case status:
Michael Brooks (Husband), pleaded guilty to neglect, sentenced to 2 years probation.

Source:
Man pleads guilty to neglect in death of obese wife
Michigan man charged with abusing his bedridden 400-pound wife and letting her rot in squalor until she died
Michael Brooks, Husband Of Obese Woman Yolanda Reese-Brooks, Avoids Jail Time In Wife’s Death