Remembering the Disabled Murdered by Caregivers
Relative other than parent, child, or sibling.
Name: Emily Jean Kaminski.
Died: October 14, 2015.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Prescription drug overdose.
Location: La Mesa, California, USA.
Disability: Multiple disabilities, including blindness.
Details:
Emily’s grandmother gave her a fatal overdose of prescription drugs, then killed herself.
Case status:
Marshelle Marie Newby (Grandmother), deceased.
Source:
Police: California Grandmother Gave Disabled Teen Fatal Overdose in Murder-Suicide
Name: Jason Corbett.
Died: August 2, 2015.
Age at death: 39.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Abbotts Creek, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Depression, thyroid disease.
Details:
Jason’s wife and father-in-law allegedly beat him to death with a baseball bat and a concrete brick.
Case status:
Molly Martens (Wife), convicted of second-degree murder, sentenced to 20-25 years. New trial granted.
Thomas Martens (Father-in-law), convicted of second-degree murder, sentenced to 20-25 years. New trial granted.
Source:
Thomas Martens, Molly Corbett retrial now scheduled for November
PHOTOS: Hearing for the retrial of Molly Corbett and Thomas Martens in the death of Jason Corbett
Thomas Martens, Molly Martens Corbett Found Guilty In Jason Corbett Trial
Molly Corbett, Tom Martens released on bond after hearing in Davidson County
Martens facing 20-25 years in jail for murder
Jason Corbett murder trial verdict: Guilty
Why was Limerick man Jason Corbett killed?
Name: Never named.
Died: July 15, 2015.
Age at death: 3 days.
Cause of death: Potassium chloride poisoning.
Location: Chongming, Shanghai, China.
Disability: Cleft lip.
Details:
This newborn boy, who may not have been given a name, was killed by his grandfather because he had a cleft lip. His grandfather went to a doctor to get potassium chloride and instructions on how to use it, and then injected the substance into the newborn boy’s head, killing him.
Case status:
The baby’s grandfather, surnamed Peng, sentenced to seven years.
A doctor surnamed Zhu, who supplied the potassium chloride, sentenced to five years.
Source:
Chinese man kills grandson for being born with a cleft lip
Cleft Lip Stigma Cost Infant His Life
Name: Thembisile Dlamini.
Died: May 23, 2015.
Age at death: 58.
Cause of death: Gunshot, fire.
Location: Amatikwe, Inanda, South Africa.
Disability: Diabetes, leg amputee, blind.
Details:
Thembisile was the caregiver for three of her grandchildren as well as three foster children.
Her granddaughter’s ex, had kidnapped one of the children, and her granddaughter called the police. When he found out, he attacked the family at their home. Two other women managed to escape out of the windows, but Thembisile could not escape, so she began yelling for help. Her grandson-in-law shot her in the mouth to silence her, then set the house on fire.
Thembisile’s family survived the incident, though they had to live with a neighbor for a year to get back on their feet.
Case status:
Bheki Khumalo (Grandson-in-law), sentenced to 20 years for murder and 10 years for arson.
Source:
KZN man given 30 year jail term for killing blind ‘defenseless’ elderly woman
Justice for blind, diabetic, amputee KZN gran who was shot in mouth by grandson-in-law
Name: Angel Goodwin.
Died: May 5, 2015.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Wheat Ridge, Colorado, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy; multiple disabilities.
Details:
Angel, who had severe disabilities, was abused by his grandmother and her boyfriends. Angel’s grandmother put him in a tub full of water and left him there for more than three hours. Unable to keep his head out of the water, Angel drowned.
Case status:
Onesia Najera (Grandmother), pleaded guilty to child abuse resulting in death, sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Source:
Wheat Ridge police investigating the death of a 10-year-old
Grandmother charged in death of 10-year-old in Wheat Ridge
Woman gets 20 years in prison for grandson’s drowning death
Grandmother sentenced in drowning death of boy with cerebral palsy
Jefferson County woman who drowned developmentally-disabled grandson sentenced to 20 years
Name: Gary Blanton III.
Died: April 18, 2015.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Fractured skull.
Location: Chattaroy, Washington, USA.
Disability: Developmental disability, possible autism.
Details:
Gary died from a fractured skull while in the custody of his aunt, who had custody of him after his parents died. Authorities discovered that his caseworker had been falsifying health-and-wellness visit reports.
Gary was a rambunctious child who ran up and down the hallways and even climbed into the washing machine.
Case status:
Cynthia Rose Khaleel (Aunt); charged with second-degree murder, acquitted.
Source:
Autism Memorial: Gary Blanton III
Jury acquits Chattaroy woman of killing 5-year-old nephew
Chattaroy woman arrested for five-year-old nephew’s death
Obituary
‘Everyone failed him’: Boy’s aunt accused of murder, DSHS accused of ‘critical errors’
Name: Barbara Anne Beam.
Died: January 2, 2015.
Age at death: 82.
Cause of death: Pulmonary embolism.
Location: Greeneville, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Mobility impairment.
Details:
Barbara’s caregivers allegedly left her sitting in her chair for six months, without moving her or cleaning her. Finally Barbara died from a blood clot, caused by sitting still for so long, that lodged in her lungs. She also had a severe untreated kidney infection.
Case status:
Carole Howell (Sister), charged with abuse and neglect resulting in the death of a vulnerable adult.
David Howell (Nephew), charged with abuse and neglect resulting in the death of a vulnerable adult.
Source:
Greenville mother, son indicted 2 years after elderly woman found dead
Woman charged in death of her sister who sat in chair for 6 months, warrants say
Name: Rosemary Vincent.
Died: December 24, 2014.
Age at death: 58.
Cause of death: Pneumonia.
Location: McConnelsville, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease.
Details:
Rosemary’s cousin, instead of caring for her or taking her to the doctor, stole her disability payments and neglected her. He would often tie her to a chair and put her in the closet. Weakened from lack of care, Rosemary was admitted to the hospital emaciated, with broken ribs and untended bedsores. She died of pneumonia.
Case status:
Jerry Campbell II (Cousin), pleaded guilty to theft from an elderly or disabled person, robbery, illegal use of food stamps, kidnapping, domestic violence, intimidation of a witness, and illegal manufacture of drugs; sentenced to 8 years.
Shannon Campbell (Cousin’s wife), pleaded guilty to neglect.
Linda Campbell (Jerry’s wife), charged with obstruction of justice/failure to report a crime, ruled incompetent to stand trial.
Source:
One pleads guilty in disabled person abuse case
Mother, son both remain in custody
Trial delayed in case involving Nelsonville woman’s death
Man accused of neglect in death of woman gets 8 years
Name: Alex Robinson.
Died: December 23, 2014.
Age at death: 9.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Lincoln, England, UK.
Disability: Autism.
Details:
Alex hated water, hated getting his face wet, and would only bathe while standing. His grandfather put him in the bathtub and held him underwater until he drowned.
Alex was fond of trains and wind turbines. He was particularly fascinated when his school visited a power plant, and asked such insightful questions that he amazed his teachers.
Case status:
Stewart Greene (Grandfather), convicted of murder, sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Source:
Mum shares poignant memories of murdered son Alex Robinson six years on
Autism Memorial: Alex Robinson
Alex Robinson murder trial: Grandfather drowned autistic grandson, 9, court told
“Vengeful” man drowns autistic grandson
Death of young boy murdered by grandfather ‘could not have been predicted or prevented’
Family hits out after review into murder of schoolboy by his granddad
Name: Pendo Emmanuelle Nundi.
Died: Missing December 2014.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Unknown (Missing).
Location: Mwanza, Tanzania.
Disability: Albinism.
Details:
Because Pendo was an albino, her body parts were considered valuable for ritual magic. With the alleged consent of her father and other relatives, she was kidnapped from her home. Her body has not been found, but she was almost certainly murdered, dismembered, and her body parts sold.
Case status:
Police arrested 15 people, including her father and two uncles.
Source:
Tanzania police offer reward for missing albino girl
Kidnapped Tanzanian albino boy found dead with limbs hacked off
Another Albino Child Is Murdered and Mutilated in Tanzania
Tanzania: Kidnapping of albino boy raises witchcraft fears – BBC News
1-Year-Old Albino Yohana Bahati Killed for Limbs in Tanzania
Mutilated Tanzanian albino baby body found: police