Type: Fatal Neglect – Page 8 – Disability Day of Mourning

Lacey Fletcher

Name: Lacey Fletcher.
Died: January 3, 2022.
Age at death: 36.
Cause of death: Medical neglect; pressure sores.
Location: Slaughter, Louisiana, USA.
Disability: Autism; catatonia or locked-in syndrome.

Details:
Lacey’s body was found sitting on a filthy couch at home. She had multiple pressure sores and infections, and was underweight. According to the coroner who ruled her death a homicide, she had suffered “at least a decade of neglect”.

Case Status:
Sheila Fletcher (Mother), pleaded no contest to manslaughter, sentenced to 40 years with 20 years suspended.
Clay Fletcher (Father), pleaded no contest to manslaughter, sentenced to 40 years with 20 years suspended.

Sources:
Parents of Woman With Autism Found Dead and ‘Melted’ Into Sofa Sentenced
Parents of autistic woman found dead in own waste, sentenced to 20 years
Louisiana parents accused of letting autistic daughter die plead no contest to manslaughter
Parents expected to plea to manslaughter after daughter died on couch
Parents re-indicted for murder of daughter found ‘melted’ to couch.
Charges against parents accused of letting daughter die on fetid couch thrown out — for now
Photos expose Lacey Ellen Fletcher’s AGONY, despite parents’ home stocked with cleaning products
Pictured: Parents of neglected daughter found dead and fused to family sofa
Parents to be hit with murder charges after daughter ‘melted into couch’
Grand jury to decide parents’ fate after coroner finds daughter’s body sitting on couch with feces around it
After ‘horrific’ death at home, parents of Louisiana woman may soon face murder charges
‘Worst case of neglect’: Parents face murder charges after neglect of disabled child
‘Something you make HORROR movies about’: Parents face murder charges after disabled daughter’s gruesome death
Autism Memorial: Lacey Fletcher
Woman, 36, with Locked-in Syndrome was found dead FUSED to a living room couch | Daily Mail Online
Neglected woman who died on parents’ sofa starved to death, had not seen doctor in 20 years

5-month-old girl

No Photo Name Unknown.
Died: December 27, 2021.
Age at death: 5 months.
Cause of death: Acute kidney failure.
Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Disability: Ventral septal defect.

Details:
This 5-month-old girl was left alone at home by her mother for two days with no one to care for her, even though her heart defect meant it was extremely important to keep her fed and give her medicine. When her mother returned, the baby girl had died from kidney failure.

Case Status:
Ms. Yang (Mother), convicted of abandonment resulting in death, sentenced to 7 years 6 months.

Sources:
Mother’s appeal rejected
Supreme Court upholds 7.5-year sentence given to mother of dead infant
Jail term extended for mother who abandoned child – Taipei Times
Mother receives 7.5 year sentence for death of infant left home alone

Maura Flores

No Photo Name: Maura Nava Flores.
Died: December 18, 2021.
Age at death: 79.
Cause of death: Hypothermia.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia.

Details:
Maura’s body was found by the side of the road where she had died from exposure. When police questioned her niece, she reportedly admitted to dropping Maura at the side of the road because she was having incontinence issues and the Salvation Army shelter looked full.

Case Status:
Rosamaria Moreno (Niece), charged with murder.

Sources:
Police: Woman caretaker faces murder charge, didn’t notice aunt was missing for 4 days
Nevada Woman Charged With Murder After Allegedly Dumping 79-Year-OId Aunt on the Road at Night and Not Noticing She Was Missing Until 4 Days Later
Las Vegas Woman Charged With Murder After Elderly Aunt Found Dead On Side Of Road
Las Vegas caretaker accused of dumping elderly aunt’s body on the side of the road

Bobby Laws

No Photo Name: Bobby Laws.
Died: December 15, 2021.
Age at death: 62.
Cause of death: Pressure ulcers, malnutrition.
Location: Augusta, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
Bobby was brought to the emergency room emaciated with severe pressure sores and lacerations. He died 10 days later in the hospital. After a coroner’s investigation, police arrested Bobby’s daughter on charges of having neglected him and denied him adequate food and medical care.

Case Status:
Dianna Laws (Daughter), charged with neglect and exploitation.

Sources:
Woman arrested for elder abuse, coroner investigating death of father
Death of disabled Augusta man being investigated by coroner’s office for neglect

Jane Stone

Gravestone of Susan Jane Neely Stone and Ralph Raymond Stone. Name: Jane Neely Stone.
Died: November 27, 2021.
Age at death: 75.
Cause of death: Sepsis.
Location: Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; bedridden.

Details:
Jane was left alone without care in her bed for several months. She was found alive but in bad shape in a home police described as “unlivable”, and died of sepsis in the hospital several days later.

Jane’s obituary says she was “a home maker and loved to do ceramics, crochet, knit and needle point.”

Case Status:
Mary Elizabeth Stone (Daughter), charged with abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult causing death.

Sources:
Rock Hill woman, 75, died from neglect, police say. Her daughter has been charged.
Jane Stone Obituary (1946 – 2021) – Rock Hill, SC – The Herald

Richard Wix Jr.

No Photo Name: Richard B. Wix Jr.
Died: September 23, 2021.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Medical neglect.
Location: Glasgow, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Richard’s body was found in his home, where he lived with his father, about a week after his death. The home itself was in such bad shape that it was condemned; Richard’s father was arrested on suspicion of having fatally neglected or abused him. Officials say he “did not seek appropriate medical attention” for Richard.

Case Status:
Richard Len Wix (Father), convicted of abusing/neglecting an adult, sentenced to 5 years.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Richard Wix Jr.
New details released in Glasgow reckless homicide case
Nonverbal, autistic man dies; father charged with reckless homicide
Father charged after death of son with autism
Police: Barren Co. father culpable in death of special needs son | K105

Maria Huerta

No Photo Name: Maria Huerta.
Died: September 4, 2021.
Age at death: 74.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Elmendorf, Texas, USA.
Disability: Mobility impaired; frail elder.

Details:
Maria’s body was found in her home by police. She had bedsores, and police say she was neglected to death by her son, who allegedly took payments for caring for her, but went off to work as a trucker, leaving her without care.

Case Status:
Juan Santos Huerta (Son), charged with health care fraud and serious bodily injury to the elderly by omission.

Source:
Bexar County man indicted in connection to mother’s murder, charges upgraded
Son cashed healthcare provider checks as bedridden, wounded mother lied in filth for months, BCSO says
Man, 50, accused of neglecting bedridden mother to work as trucker, Bexar County sheriff says

Chelsea and Connor Hill

Name: Chelsea Hill.
Name: Connor Hill.

Died: August 5, 2021.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Silverdale, Washington, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Twin siblings Chelsea and Connor’s mother presented herself at an emergency room and said she was suicidal, and that there were two people dead at her home. When investigators checked the home, they found Chelsea and Connor dead, and police arrested their mother, who told them that she had “lost track of time” and forgotten to feed Chelsea and Connor.

Case Status:
Sherrie Lynn Hill (Mother), charged with second-degree murder.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Chelsea and Connor Hill.
Kitsap County mom accused of murdering, possibly starving her twin children
Silverdale woman charged with murder after her autistic twins found dead in her home
Suicidal Washington mother charged with murder of her autistic twins

Kaysen Blackshear

Name: Kaysen Blackshear.
Died: July 19, 2021.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Medical neglect.
Location: Springdale, Ohio, USA.
Disability: A genetic disorder that causes seizures and developmental delay.

Details:
Kaysen was brought to the hospital with brain swelling, injuries to her face and back, and a chipped tooth. Her mother allegedly delayed seeking medical help for her for some time before she finally called for an ambulance. Kaysen died in the hospital. Police say her mother admitted to withholding food, water, and medical care in the hope that Kaysen would die.

Kaysen was active and inquisitive and would chew on anything she could get her hands on.

Case Status:
Bryce Foster (Mother), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 3 years.

Source:
Woman sentenced for involuntary manslaughter in 5-year-old daughter’s death
Springdale mom charged in 5-year-old daughter’s death
Wish List: Single mother seeks car for daughter’s medical needs.
Police: Charges filed against mother in death of Springdale 5-year-old
Coroner: 5-year-old girl dies of apparent homicide, Springdale police investigating
Police investigating after 5-year-old girl dies from injuries
Wish List: Mother seeks vehicle to ease travel to daughter’s medical appointments
Springdale 5-year-old arrived ‘non-responsive’ and injured to hospital before death

Aaliyah Artis

Name: Aaliyah Nicole Artis.
Died: June 8, 2021.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Lung injury, malnutrition, poor living conditions.
Location: Xenia, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Aaliyah’s body was found in her house, which was in such poor condition it was condemned. She died from a lung injury, complicated by poor nutrition and poor living conditions.

According to Aaliyah’s obituary, she “enjoyed watching cartoons, coloring, riding her bike, playing outside, and dancing with her sisters.”

Case Status:
Mary Artis (Mother), convicted of child endangerment; sentenced to 2 1/2 years.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Aaliyah Artis
Ohio mom charged after 12-year-old girl dies from living in ‘deplorable’ conditions
Police: No evidence 12-year-old Greene County girl’s death purposeful; mother indicted for child endangering
Xenia police investigating 12-year-old girl’s death
Aaliyah Nicole Artis Obituary – Visitation & Funeral Information
12-year-old girl found dead at Xenia home in ‘filthy condition’
Police investigating death of 12-year-old girl
Aaliyah Artis: Reforms called for in wake of Xenia child’s death