Daniel Thomas

Photo of Daniel Thomas, a baby with dark hair and eyes. There is some bruising on his fair skin. He is wearing an orange and teal shirt.Name: Daniel Thomas.
Died: October 13, 2003.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Unknown suspicious death.
Location: Myrtleford, Victoria, Australia.
Disability: Asthma, speech delay, allergies, eczema.

Details:
How Daniel he died is not known because his body was not found for several years, but the coroner suggested he might have been killed through strangulation, drowning, or a head injury. Police suspect that he was abused by his babysitter, and his mother ignored the abuse.

Case status:
Mandy Martyn (Babysitter) and Donna Thomas (Mother). No charges.

Source:
Coroner finds babysitter Mandy Martyn killed toddler Daniel Thomas —but also blames his mother Donna Thomas for doing nothing to help the boy
Cackling babysitter Mandy Martyn denies killing toddler Daniel Thomas, gives reporters a spray

Amber Haigh

Photo of a young woman with brown eyes, dark-brown hair, and pale skin, smiling for the camera; she is holding a baby.Name: Amber Haigh.
Died: June 5, 2002 (Missing).
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Missing, presumed dead.
Location: Kingsvale, New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Amber, who lived with an older couple, vanished in June 2002, leaving her six-month-old baby behind. In 2011, a coronial inquest declared her dead as a result of “homicide or other misadventure”. It took until 2020 for the couple she had been living with to be arrested and charged with her murder.

Amber’s parents remember her as a kind, loving soul who would help anyone who needed her, and as a dedicated mother who would never have voluntarily left her son behind.

Case Status:
Robert Geeves, charged with aggravated sexual assault (victim with a serious intellectual disability) and murder.
Anne Geeves, charged with murder.

Sources:
Married couple accused of murdering teenage mother in 2002 plead not guilty
Wire tap caught cold case murder accused discussing young mum’s remains, court told
Couple charged over alleged murder of NSW teen who vanished nearly 20 years ago
Couple charged with murder of disabled teenage mum
Man and woman charged over the murder of Amber Haigh
Couple charged with murder 20 years after young mum Amber Haigh vanished
Two charged with missing NSW teen’s murder

Meridee Reynolds

A gravestone reading, "Meridee Kay Reynolds. Everlasting peace."Name: Meridee “Kay” Reynolds.
Died: September 9, 2000.
Age at death: 40.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Vancouver, Washington, USA.
Disability: Mobility impairment; sleep disorder.

Details:
Meridee’s friend and caregiver shot her, and claimed she had done it “to end the pain”.

Case status:
Melanie McDonald (Caregiver), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 8-30 years.

Source:
Caregiver Accused of Murder

Shannon Faichney

Photo: A thin teenage boy with light skin and curly light-brown hair, wearing large glasses and a baggy gray T-shirt.Name: Shannon John Faichney.
Died: June 6, 1998.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma; cerebral hemorrhage.
Location: Wauchope, New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Shannon was living with a couple and another teenager. The teenager beat him severely for ten days. On the last day of his life, he was beaten so severely that he fell unconscious; but, despite knowing of the situation, the adults in the house did not call for medical aid for ten hours, while Shannon slowly died.

Case Status:
BJT (Minor household member), status unknown.
Mark McDonald (Household member), sentenced to 4 years with an 18-month minimum and an additional term of 2 years 6 months.
Deborah Anne McDonald (Household member), pleaded guilty to manslaughter by gross negligence, sentenced to 5-7 years.

Sources:
R v McDonald [2001] NSWCCA 301 (2 August 2001)
Shannon John Faichney (1980-1998) – Find A Grave.

Jeanette Williams

No PhotoName: Jeanette Williams.
Died: March 24, 1997.
Age at death: 47.
Cause of death: Stabbing.
Location: Harris County, Texas, USA.
Disability: Paraplegic.

Details:
Jeanette lived with a couple she considered friends. They took out a life insurance policy on her and hired a man to kill her. They brought Jeanette to be ambushed by the hired killer, who stabbed Jeanette to death.

Case status:
Bruce Gillmore (Housemate), convicted of murder, sentenced to life.
Michelle Gillmore (Housemate), convicted of murder, sentenced to life.
Richard Williams (Hired killer), convicted of murder, sentenced to death, executed February 25, 2003.

Source:
Richard Head WILLIAMS

Gary Henderson

No PhotoName: Gary Henderson.
Died: August 28, 1996.
Age at death: 35.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury, asphyxia, possibly drowning.
Location: Lansvale, New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: Mobility impaired, intellectual disability.

Details:
Gary lived in a caravan with a couple who held his bank card and handled his finances; they were also intellectually disabled, but not as vulnerable as Gary. They were known to dislike him, and had been harassing him over his lack of hygiene and accusing him, sans evidence, of being a pedophile. When a friend of the family visited and beat Gary severely, no one called for help. Gary died either from the beating, from his injuries due to neglect, or from drowning when he was dumped at a boat dock.

Case Status:
Susan Hall (Household member), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, given suspended sentence.
Colin Simpson (Acquaintance), pleaded guilty to maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm, sentenced to time served.
Colin Hanslow (Household member), pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to the infliction of grievous bodily harm, released on good behavior bond.

Sources:
The Uncounted
Regina v Hall [1999] NSWSC 738 (23 July 1999)