Type: Fatal Neglect – Page 4 – Disability Day of Mourning

2-year-old girl

No Photo Name Unknown.
Died: May 10, 2022.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Davenport, Florida, USA.
Disability: Failure to thrive; possible muscular dystrophy, possible cystic fibrosis.

Details:
This girl, two months short of three years old, died weighing 9 pounds, with no food in her stomach. Although the girl’s doctors were worried about both cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy at her six-month checkup, her parents allegedly did not take her to the doctor until they found her dead.

Case Status:
Regis Johnson (Father), charged with Negligent Child Abuse causing Great Harm.
Arhonda Tillman (Mother), charged with Negligent Child Abuse causing Great Harm.
Frank Robinson (Uncle), charged with Negligent Child Abuse causing Great Harm.

Sources:
2-year-old starved to death, parents arrested, Polk sheriff says
Polk toddler weighed 9 pounds, 5 ounces at death. Couple charged with felony child neglect
Couple Charged In Death Of 34 Month Old Who Starved To Death Weighing 9.5 Pounds
Couple charged for starving toddler to death, sheriff says
Davenport couple arrested for negligent child abuse resulting in death of 34-month-old toddler

Morgan Moore

Photo of a teenage boy with curly black hair and brown skin, wearing a neon-yellow jacket and gray baseball cap. He has a broad nose and very dark brown eyes, and is smiling slightly. Name: Morgan Moore.
Died: May 10, 2022.
Age at death: 17.
Cause of death: Homicide, complications of neurological disorder.
Location: Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA.
Disability: Multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Long COVID.

Details:
Medics were called to Morgan’s house, where they found him dead, weighing only 79 pounds. His family told emergency responders that he had not seen a doctor in two years. Police believe Morgan’s health declined over a matter of months; he lost the ability to walk and developed an abscess on his back. He was allegedly made to live in poor conditions, in a filthy house.

One of Morgan’s siblings remembers that they planned to go to Japan together; but instead, Morgan became increasingly isolated; his parents kept him home and “home-schooled” him, and he rarely went anywhere besides the movie theater or the local playground. As a transgender boy, he managed to find an outlet in online interaction, but he never did get to visit Japan. “I just want my brother to be remembered as the artist and the person he was. He was a good person,” Morgan’s sibling says. “I want people who are transphobic and not accepting of their children to accept their kids for who they are and love them no matter what.”

On an online tribute page, a relative writes that Morgan was “a celebrated artist, self taught guitarist, cook, keyboard player, gamer and all around great person.”

Six minor children were removed from the home when Morgan died. None of the children had ever been to school or received vaccinations.

Case Status:
Cynthia Moore (Mother), charged with second-degree murder and neglect of a minor.
Dominique Moore (Father), charged with second-degree murder and neglect of a minor.

Sources:
Remembering Morgan Moore
Maryland Parents Charged With Murder Over Death of Transgender Teenager
Montgomery Co. parents facing murder charges, accused of not addressing ‘emaciated’ teen’s medical needs
17-Year-Old Girl With Health Problems Dies, Didn’t See Doctor For 2 Years, Police Said
Parents accused of murdering disabled child struggled with mental illness and practiced dark religion, grandmother says
Parents Charged With Murder Of 17-Year-Old Daughter In Montgomery County | WFMD-AM
Parents charged with murder, neglect in death of 17-year-old child
Parents charged with murder of daughter in Montgomery County

M. E.

No Photo Name: M. E. (Initials; full name unknown).
Died: May 3, 2022.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; blind, non-verbal.

Details:
This 16-year-old girl, known only by her initials as “ME”, was brought to the hospital in full cardiac arrest, very underweight and poorly cared-for. Police say her mother had been leaving her in the case of minor siblings, and that she had died from medical neglect and malnutrition.

Case Status:
Doraelia Loera Espinoza (Mother), charged with reckless child abuse.

Sources:
EDITORIAL: CYFD absent, again, in gruesome death of disabled child
CYFD investigated mother before daughter’s death
Mother arrested in teenage daughter’s death
BCSO: Teen that died lived in ‘shocking conditions’

Jaxson Morrow

Photo of a toddler with fine, straight brown hair, dark-brown eyes, and light skin, smiling. He is wearing a green T-shirt that reads, Kiss me, I'm Irish. Name: Jaxson Morrow.
Died: May 2, 2022.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Unspecified neglect.
Location: St. Joseph, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Jaxson was found dead on his family’s couch, weighing 31 pounds. His parents are accused of neglecting him for a long time; he had been locked in his room, where he had broken the bottom of the door so he could stick his hand out.

Case Status:
Brian Morrow (Father), pleaded no contest to second-degree murder, sentenced to 22-50 years.
Mia Morrow (Mother), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 25-50 years.

Sources:
Dad who was ‘sick of’ school calling CPS joins wife in prison for starving 8-year-old son to death
St. Joseph man sentenced to 22-50 years for 8-year-old son’s death
Mom who was ‘sick’ of being reported to CPS sentenced to prison for killing 8-year-old with autism who weighed only 31 pounds
Mother sentenced to 25 to 50 years for son’s death
St. Joseph man charged in death of 8-year-old son takes plea deal
Report: St. Joseph parents had eight CPS visits prior to son’s death
Autism Memorial: Jackson Morrow
Mother of 8-year-old boy pleads guilty to murder
Berrien County woman pleads guilty in death of her 8-year-old son
Berrien County man pleads not guilty in death of his 8-year-old son
LOGAN releases statement on death of Berrien County boy
Parents accused of murdering their son, 8, were ‘sick of having CPS’ called on them
Michigan Parents Who Were Allegedly ‘Sick of’ Being Reported to CPS Are Now Charged with Murdering 8-Year-Old Autistic Son
West MI parents charged with murder after 8-year-old son with autism found dead on family couch

Braelyn’ Hines

Photo: Toddler girl with wispy blond hair and pale skin, sticking out her tongue at the camera. A filter has been applied, giving her sparkly freckles across the brdige of her nose and cheeks. Name: Braelyn’ Hines.
Died: May 1, 2022.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Untreated cystic fibrosis.
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Cystic fibrosis.

Details:
Braelyn’ was found dead by paramedics called to her parents’ home, where Braelyn’ and her siblings had been living in poor conditions. Braelyn’ had not been getting treatment for her cystic fibrosis; without treatment, she had been found unconscious on the floor and could not be revived. The family was known to children’s services, and had received instructions on how to properly care for Braelyn’.

Braelyn’ liked to play with her siblings and watch Cocomelon and Super Jojo, and her favorite foods were pizza and Starbucks. Her cousin was her best friend; she loved her two kittens, Yoda and Lucy.

Case Status:
Madyson Conley (Mother), charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, and neglect of a dependent.
Byron Hynes (Father), charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, and neglect of a dependent.

Sources:
Fort Wayne woman charged with neglect, causing death
Man, woman charged with neglect in child’s death
Court docs: Couple charged with neglect in child’s death at filthy home
Infant Braelyn’ Nicole Hynes

Baili Cowell

No Photo Name: Baili Cowell.
Died: April 24, 2022.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Unspecified caretaker neglect.
Location: Toledo, Ohio, USA.
Disability: “Functionally impaired”.

Details:
Baili was found dead in her home. Police, who arrested her mother, say she had been left immobile, allowing pressure sores to develop, that she was dehydrated, and that she had not been taken to medical appointments.

Case Status:
Shelly Gantka (Mother), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 6 months in jail and 5 years probation.

Sources:
Woman who neglected bedridden daughter gets jail time, 5 years’ probation for death
Toledo woman sentenced to probation in connection to her daughter’s death
Mother charged in April death of daughter in Toledo
Mother arrested, charged with involuntary manslaughter in death of her teenage child
Woman pleads not guilty to involuntary manslaughter of daughter

Heather Baynard

Name: Heather Leigh-Anne Baynard.
Died: April 11, 2022.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Gaffney, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Heather arrived at the hospital unresponsive and was soon declared dead. Police who examined her home discovered that she had been kept in filthy conditions; on autopsy, the coroner reported that she had been severely neglected for many months, causing her medical condition to worsen and eventually become fatal.

Heather loved music, especially Mikey Mason and Disney Jr. She liked pretty lights, bright colors, and traveling.

Case Status:
David Eugene Baynard (Father), charged with murder.
Bobbie Jo Baynard (Mother), charged with murder.
Edward Baynard (Brother), charged with murder.

Sources:
Parents, son charged in Upstate girl’s death after she suffered in ‘deplorable conditions,’ warrants say
Family of 14-year-old speaks out after her death, murder charges filed against parents
Girl’s death called ‘horrible,’ ‘worst case’ neglect Upstate officials have ever seen; parents charged
Heather Leigh-Anne Baynard Obituary (2022)

Bryleigh Klino

Name: Bryleigh Klino.
Died: February 25, 2022.
Age at death: 17.
Cause of death: Unspecified; death in the setting of neglect, severe bedsores.
Location: Auburn, New York, USA.
Disability: Rett syndrome.

Details:
When Bryleigh died, hospital personnel noticed that she had severe, untreated bedsores and called the authorities, who arrested Bryleigh’s parents.

Bryleigh leaves behind three younger brothers and two younger sisters. She loved the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants and would watch it as much as she could. Many of her things were SpongeBob-themed.

Case Status:
Jennifer M. Klino (Mother), charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
Brian T. Burns (Mother’s fiancé), charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

Sources:
Court docs detail what nurses discovered after Auburn teen’s death
Auburn man pleads not guilty in court after death of developmentally disabled teenager
Court Records: Auburn couple charged in 17-year-old’s death neglected health concerns
Two charged after investigation into disabled Auburn teen’s death
Autism Memorial: Bryleigh Klino
Couple charged in connection to death of 17-year-old with disabilities
Auburn couple charged in connection with death of disabled 17-year-old daughter
Bryleigh Klino Obituary (2022) – Auburn, NY – The Citizen

Jason Wilke

No Photo Name: Jason Wilke.
Died: February 1, 2022.
Age at death: 34.
Cause of death: Sepsis; bedsores.
Location: Michigan City, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Mental disability; mobility impaired.

Details:
Jason was brought to the hospital in terrible condition, with multiple untreated and badly contaminated pressure sores. He died several days later in the hospital from sepsis; his mother was arrested.

Case Status:
Mary Lee Wilke (Mother), charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death.

Sources:
Elderly woman charged with neglect in death of disabled son
Jason M. Wilke Obituary
Mom Charged in Death of Bedridden Son
Elderly woman faces neglect charge after disabled son dies

Brenda Raines

No Photo Name: Brenda Raines.
Died: January 29, 2022.
Age at death: 53.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Odessa, Texas, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Brenda’s family allegedly left her alone for days at a time without feeding her or keeping her clean. She was found dead, severely underweight, having died from starvation.

Case Status:
Christine Raines Claros (Family member, caregiver), charged with murder and injury to a disabled person.
Justin Raines (Family member, caregiver), charged with murder and injury to a disabled person.
Elvira Luera (Family member, caregiver), charged with murder and injury to a disabled person.

Sources:
Texas trio indicted in starvation death of woman with Down Syndrome, now charged with murder
3 arrested in January death of woman with Down Syndrome
3 suspected in starvation death of Odessan
3 arrested for their involvement in January death of woman with Down Syndrome