Type: Fatal Neglect – Page 9 – Disability Day of Mourning

Larry Hawks

Photo of a man in a baseball cap printed with an eagle. He has dark hair, light skin, and a full beard. His shirt is red; he has his hands behind his head and is leaning back. Name: Larry Grey Hawks.
Died: November 4, 2020.
Age at death: 42.
Cause of death: Sepsis, thrombosis.
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Myelomeningocele spina bifida, Hirschsprung’s disease, brain malformation.

Details:
Larry was found at home, not breathing, and was pronounced dead. An autopsy determined he had died from blood poisoning from bedsores and blood clots from prolonged immobility, and his caregivers were arrested.

Case Status:
Sandra Oliver Hawks (Mother), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and neglect of a disabled adult by failing to provide care causing serious injury, sentenced to 13-25 months.
Crystal Dawn Hawks (Sister), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and neglect of a disabled adult by failing to provide care causing serious injury, sentenced to 13-25 months.

Source:
Mother, sister sentenced after disabled man dies of neglect, Forsyth County District Attorney says
Autopsy: Winston-Salem man died from complications from bedsores and other issues. Mother and sister accused of neglect.
Winston-Salem mother, daughter face charges in homicide investigation after death of relative who was ‘severely disabled’
The mother and sister of a Winston-Salem homicide victim face charges in the man’s death
Winston-Salem mother, daughter charged with involuntary manslaughter, neglect in death of disabled man
Larry Hawks Obituary (1978 – 2020) – Forsyth, NC – Winston-Salem Journal

Joseph Hammond

Name: Joseph “JJ” Hammond.
Died: November 3, 2020.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Dehydration, malnutrition.
Location: Moline, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
JJ was found dead in his home. An autopsy concluded he had died of dehydration and malnutrition, with several untended large wounds on his body.

Case Status:
Jennifer Keim (Mother), pleaded guilty to criminal abuse, sentenced to 4 years probation.
Justin M Keim (Stepfather), pleaded guilty to child endangerment, sentenced to 2 years probation.

Source:
Man pleads guilty in death of disabled 15-year-old stepson
Moline woman sentenced in 2020 death of disabled son
Moline woman pleads guilty in 2020 death of disabled son
Moline mother charged with her son’s murder is out on bond
Moline woman charged with murder in death of disabled 15-year-old son
Moline Mother Arrested On Murder Charges
Woman arrested in connection with murder of 15-year-old disabled son
Additional person charged in relation to Moline first-degree murder case
Two arrested in connection with death of 15-year-old boy with disabilities from Moline
Friends defend Moline woman charged with murder of 15-year-old son

Vincent Avellino

Name: Vincent C. Avellino.
Died: November 2, 2020.
Age at death: 83.
Cause of death: Infection.
Location: Ranshaw, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Vincent died because he developed a massive pressure sore that ultimately killed him; reportedly, he had been left in place in his chair for over a month. His wife, with whom he lived, was trained as a home health aide. Home health aides like Vincent’s wife are are trained in bedsore prevention and taught how dangerous it is not to move a patient for extended periods of time.

Vincent was a retired factory worker who loved the outdoors. He liked hunting, fishing, crabbing, mushroom and berry picking, and grew a garden. He was a good baker and wine maker. He liked antiques and going to yard sales, and collected coins. He loved long car rides and milkshakes. He had nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Case status:
Debora Avelino (Wife), charged with involuntary manslaughter and neglect.

Source:
Vincent Avellino Obituary (2020)
Woman charged with neglect and involuntary manslaughter for husband’s death
Pa. wife charged with causing death of husband with dementia

Shannon Lloyd

Name: Shannon Lloyd.
Died: October 28, 2020.
Age at death: 46.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Racine, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: TBI and physical injuries from childhood motor vehicle accident.

Details:
Shannon lived with his mother, who cared for him. When he fell, she allegedly did not call for help; instead, she dragged him to the bathroom and waited for days. Concerned family members had been unable to reach him or his mother, and finally asked the police to do a welfare check. Shannon was found dead on his bathroom floor, and his mother was arrested. Police say that she said she didn’t want to take him to the hospital even though she knew he probably had broken bones, and wanted him to “die a peaceful death”.

Shannon loved animals, especially his “fur baby”, Bella. He enjoyed reading, sports, and classic rock music

Case status:
Cheryl Christensen (Mother), charged with negligently subjecting an individual at risk to abuse causing death, obstructing an officer, and disorderly conduct. Currently hospitalized pending restoration of competency to stand trial.

Source:
Racine woman facing charges after leaving son to ‘die a peaceful death’ on bathroom floor
63-year-old Racine woman charged in the death of her son found incompetent a second time
Shannon Robert Lloyd Obituary (1974 – 2020) Racine Journal Times
Caretaker faces charges in disabled man’s death
Racine woman charged for allegedly allowing son to die on bathroom floor of home she thought had ‘mad energy’
Racine woman facing charges after leaving son to ‘die a peaceful death’ on bathroom floor
Competency determination delayed for woman accused of allowing disabled son to die

David Almond

Name: David Almond.
Died: October 21, 2020.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Fall River, Massachusetts, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability, autism.

Details:
David and his two brothers, a set of triplets, were all neglected and abused by their father and his girlfriend. Child services was called, and the brothers spent time living outside their home; but eventually two of the boys were returned to their father. David died, malnourished and with fentanyl, a powerful opiate, in his system. His caregivers were arrested and his triplet brother and toddler half-brother were rescued.

At school, David had been a happy boy with a good sense of humor. His schoolmates described him as the “mayor” of the school. He was good at reading and took pride in this ability. He participated in school plays. He and his brothers had invented their own language to communicate between them. David liked cartoons, toys, and video games.

Case Status:
New Report Focuses on Concerns for Child Safety
John Michael Almond (Father), charged with second-degree murder and neglect of a disabled person resulting in serious bodily injury, reckless endangerment of a child, and drug possession; convicted, sentenced to 20 years to life.
Jaclyn Marie Coleman (Father’s girlfriend), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and neglect of a disabled person resulting in serious bodily injury, reckless endangerment of a child, and drug possession; sentenced to 20 years to life.

Source:
Fall River woman pleads guilty, sentenced to life in David Almond’s abuse and death
Fall River man pleads guilty in 14-year-old son’s 2020 death
Fall River man pleads guilty in teenage son’s death
State Rep. Fiola, State Senator Rodrigues host dedication ceremony for Fall River autistic teen who died of starvation, neglect
David Almond died nearly two years ago. A newly dedicated memorial grove will honor him.
Autism Memorial: David Almond
MA report: Sweeping changes made in wake of David Almond death, services for brothers monitored
‘I don’t want people to forget’: One year later, vigil will remember David Almond
Vigil planned to mark one year anniversary of death of 14-year-old Fall River autistic boy
Visible injuries, scrubbing floors with a toothbrush: Shocking details from the Almond report
DCF, School Could Have Done More to Prevent Fall River Teen’s Death: Report
Investigation into death of Mass. boy found living in filth finds ‘multi-system failure,’ serious errors from DCF
Mass. Child Advocate identifies multi-system failure prior to death of Fall River teen with special needs
Fall River couple indicted in teen’s death
Fall River couple accused in starvation death of 14-year-old autistic teen due in court Monday
Rep. Fiola calls for answers in death of autistic Fall River boy
Judge orders couple held for 120 days in death of autistic boy
Death of 14-year-old Fall River boy under investigation; couple faces neglect charges
Mass. Horror Home: Teen Dead, Brother ‘Alarmingly Emaciated,’ Prosecutors Say
Two charged with child abuse and neglect after death of autistic teen in Fall River
Father, girlfriend charged in death of special needs Fall River teen allegedly found with fentanyl in system
Death of 14-year-old boy under investigation; Evidence of drugs, neglect of teen’s brother, police say

Timothy Gramlich

Name: Timothy Gramlich.
Died: October 18, 2020.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Untreated urinary tract infection.
Location: Abington, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Timothy died from sepsis secondary to an untreated urinary tract infection. According to police, he was found uncared-for in filthy conditions, his brother was his sole caretaker, and he had not been to the doctor since the early 2000s.

Case Status:
Harry Gramlich (Brother), found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 6-12 months in jail and 5 years probation.
Elizabeth Anne Gramlich (Sister), pleaded guilty to neglect of a care-dependent person, sentenced to 10 years probation.
Joseph T. Gramlich (Brother), pleaded guilty to neglect of a care-dependent person, sentenced to 10 years probation and a $1,000 fine.

Source:
Montco Man Sentenced to Jail, Probation in Death of Disabled Brother
A Glenside man was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in his disabled brother’s death
Judge weighing fate of Abington man accused of manslaughter, neglect in death of brother with Down syndrome
Trial begins for Abington man accused of manslaughter and neglect in death of brother who had Down syndrome
Sister Of Neglected Man With Down Syndrome Who Died In Montco Pleads Guilty
Two more siblings of dead Abington man face charges of neglecting care dependent person
Police: Abington man with Down syndrome died after brother left him emaciated, neglected
Montgomery County man charged with murder and neglect in the death of his disabled brother
Brother Charged After Disabled Man Dies From Neglect: Montco DA
Timothy W. Gramlich Obituary – Visitation & Funeral Information

Kaylea Titford

Name: Kaylea Titford.
Died: October 11, 2020.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Infected bedsores.
Location: Newtown, Powys, Wales, UK.
Disability: Spina bifida, hydrocephalus.

Details:
Kaylea died from “inflammation and infection in extensive areas of ulceration arising from obesity and its complications in a girl with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.” Kaylea’s parents kept her in her room, in filthy conditions. They fed her take-out, and did not help her into her wheelchair, so that she was forced to remain immobile and stranded in her bedroom. Kaylea gained weight steadily, and her parents then did not address the pressure sores that resulted when she was left for a long time in the same position.

Kaylea was a talented wheelchair basketball player. Friends remember her as “fiercely independent”.

Case Status:
Alun Titford (Father), found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person, sentenced to 10 years.
Sarah Lloyd-Jones (Mother), pleaded guilty to gross negligence manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person, sentenced to 8 years.

Sources:
Parents’ jail terms for manslaughter of disabled teenage daughter increased
Parents jailed for killing disabled teenage daughter
Inside the filthy home where disabled 23st girl was left to die
Kaylea Titford’s parents jailed for manslaughter after disabled girl’s death
Kaylea Titford: Father jailed for more than 7 years over obese daughter’s manslaughter – as mother gets 6 years
Parents sentenced for gross negligence manslaughter of their teenage daughter | The Crown Prosecution Service
Father found guilty of killing disabled daughter (16) by letting her become obese
Father of obese teen found dead in ‘misery’ guilty of manslaughter
How the abhorrent neglect of a vulnerable teen was hidden from the outside world
Obese teenager’s father guilty of her death in squalid family home
Father guilty of manslaughter after vulnerable daughter dies from obesity
Tragic teenager’s dad found guilty over her death in squalid conditions
Kaylea Titford: how ‘fiercely independent’ Welsh teenager ended up dying in bed
Father of obese teenager found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence
Father let daughter down because he was lazy, court hears
A disabled teenager found dead with maggots and flies on her body was the victim of alleged parental neglect, court hears
Parents ‘killed girl, 16, found dead in squalor by letting her weight hit 23st’
Kaylea Titford: Morbidly obese teen died in conditions ‘unfit for any animal’ after parents ‘seriously neglected her’, court hears
Mum admits killing daughter, 16, by allowing her to become severely overweight
Welsh parents deny being responsible for their disabled daughter’s death
Parents accused of killing disabled daughter to go on trial next year
Parents accused of killing disabled girl who became morbidly obese to face trial
Trial for parents accused of killing daughter by allowing her to become obese
Trial date given for parents accused of killing disabled teen daughter
Mum faces court over death of disabled daughter ‘after letting her become obese’
Man and woman charged with manslaughter after death of 16-year-old girl
Parents charged with killing disabled teen by letting her become morbidly obese
Kaylea Titford: Parents of obese girl charged with causing her death
Police investigating after teen girl found dead at home
Mum found daughter, 16, dead in bed as two people arrested in police probe

Pauline Lankford

No Photo Name: Pauline Lankford.
Died: September 15, 2020.
Age at death: 87.
Cause of death: Dehydration, malnutrition, infection.
Location: Blythe, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Pauline’s family allegedly left her sitting on a chair in the living room. When she died from dehydration, malnutrition, and multiple infected pressure sores, she had not been fed, bathed, or given medication for a significant length of time.

Case status
Clifton Brady (Son-in-law), charged with murder, elder neglect, and neglect of a disabled adult.
Cynthia Brady (Daughter), charged with murder and elder neglect.

Source:
Murder indictment returned against couple in elderly Blythe woman’s death
Blythe couple accused of murder in death of elderly relative granted bond
UPDATE: Man arrested suspicious death of elderly woman in Blythe
Coroner investigating death of 87-year-old woman in Blythe
Warrant: Man withheld food, medication from 87-year-old Blythe woman found dead

Jonathan Lambert

No Photo Name: Jonathan Lambert.
Died: September 9, 2020.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Pearl River, Louisiana, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
When they found Jonathan unresponsive, his family members called emergency services. Responders arrived to find that he had died; he appeared “severely malnourished and neglected”. Investigating further, they found Jonathan’s adoptive father and two of his adopted siblings alive, but suffering from dehydration, starvation, and neglect. Jonathan’s adoptive mother was arrested; another caregiver, whom authorities said was equally responsible, died before trial.

Case Status:
Sharon Lambert (Adoptive mother), charged with manslaughter and three charges of cruelty to the infirm.
Dianne Hester (Caregiver), deceased.

Sources:
Slidell woman indicted, accused of neglecting disabled people
Pearl River Woman Arrested on Warrants Stemming from Son’s 2020 Death

Kelli’Rae Woods

Name: Kelli’Rae N. Woods.
Died: July 25, 2020.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Medical neglect, malnutrition.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Disability: TBI, developmental delay.

Details:
Kelli’Rae, disabled after her father beat her when she was only two months old, was in and out of the hospital during her short life. Whenever she was in the hospital, she gained weight; but at home, she lost weight. She died from malnutrition and medical neglect associated with a cyst in her brain.

Case Status:
Tiaerra Woods (Mother), charged with murder.

Sources:
Woman accused of murder and child abuse in St. Louis, Georgia
Kelli’Rae’s surgery
Princess Kelli’Rae N. Woods Obituary (2020) | Saint Louis, Missouri