Alice Matheny

Photo of a smiling elderly woman, with deeply wrinkled fair skin and curly white hair, smiling for the camera. She is wearing wire-rimmed glasses and an orange blouse.Name: Alice Matheny.
Died: November 15, 2022.
Age at death: 93.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Eaton, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Disabled elder.

Details:
Alice’s granddaughter, who had just found out that Alice needed a nursing home and her insurance wouldn’t cover it, allegedly drowned her grandmother in the kitchen sink.

Case Status:
Heidi Matheny (Granddaughter), pleaded guilty to murder.

Sources:
Ohio woman drowns 93-year-old grandmother in sink
Ohio woman pleads guilty to drowning 93-year-old ‘perfect’ grandmother in kitchen sink
Ohio woman confesses to drowning grandmother who needed nursing home: reports
Ohio Woman Allegedly Drowned Her Grandmother In Kitchen Sink Over Cost Of Nursing Home Care
Woman charged with murder accused of drowning grandmother, 93, in Eaton
Eaton woman admits to killing grandma

Hayden Garreffa

Photo of a young man with short brown hair and fair skin, wearing a gray sweater, holding a large, fluffy tabby cat.Name: Hayden Robert Garreffa.
Died: October 22, 2022.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Stabbing.
Location: Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Hayden went missing and, two days later, was found dead in a wooded area near his home. Court documents state that he had gotten into a fight with his cousin over his cousin’s girlfriend, and his cousin told his sister that Hayden would be dead by the end of the day. Then, his cousin and eight other people allegedly kidnapped Hayden, took him to the woods, and beat and stabbed him to death.

Case Status:
Isaac Joel Buchkoski (Cousin), charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and first-degree kidnapping.
Summer Isabella Settlemyer, charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and first-degree kidnapping.
Mia Shai Catalfano, charged with first-degree kidnapping.
Taylyn Nashell Edwards, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to first-degree kidnapping.
Thomas Alan Rivera, charged with first-degree kidnapping.
Jesse Lee Wadsworth, charged with first-degree kidnapping.
Desean Garcia Alvarez, charged with first-degree kidnapping.
Unnamed 14-year-old girl, charged with first-degree kidnapping.

Sources:
Woman Pleads ‘Guilty But Mentally Ill’ To Kidnapping, Killing Autistic Teen
Defendant Pleads Guilty but Mentally Ill for Murder, Kidnapping in Indiana County
Eight individuals – 7 from Johnstown – to stand trial in Indiana County killing of teen
8 People Facing Homicide Charges
Eight people – 7 from Johnstown – accused of kidnapping, killing teenager over ‘personal grievance,’ police say
Eight charged in teenager’s killing
Police: 7 adults, 1 youth arrested in connection with Indiana County teen’s kidnapping, homicide
Missing 19-year-old man killed and left in woods, Pennsylvania cops say. Seven charged
Investigators working to sort out what happened before Ebensburg man’s stabbing death; 8 facing charges
8 charged in kidnapping of Pa. man found dead: ‘You won’t have to worry about him again’ – pennlive.com
Eight charged in teenager’s killing
Autism Memorial: Hayden Garreffa
Fundraiser for a memorial and funeral, organized by Helen Reed

15-year-old boy

No PhotoName Unknown.
Died: October 17, 2022.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Brownsville, Texas, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
This 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named because his parents have not been located, was staying with his aunt and uncle when he was found dead. When authorities saw the marks on his body, his aunt and uncle were arrested and charged with murder.

Case Status:
Julie Alexadria Brewington (Aunt), pleaded guilty to injury to child by omission.
Noe Garza (Uncle), charged with murder.
Rebecca Garza (Grandmother), charged with failing to report a felony.

Sources:
Woman pleads guilty to lesser charge in murder case for teen with autism
Autopsy report reveals cause of death of Brownsville teen with autism
Autism Memorial: 15-year-old boy
Before death, teen with autism was tied to mattress with dog collar, indictment says
Married couple charged in death of autistic teen in Brownsville
CPS, Brownsville police investigating death of teen boy
BPD: Teen with autism found dead, aunt and uncle charged with murder
Police await autopsy results on autistic teen allegedly killed by relatives
Third Person Charged In Connection With Killing Of Autistic Teen – 710am KURV
Police make third arrest in connection to teen’s death
Pareja es acusada por el presunto homicidio por su sobrino en Brownsville
Police made third arrest in case of teenager’s death

Patricia Bitters

No PhotoName: Patricia Bitters.
Died: September 3, 2022.
Age at death: 84.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Forres, Scotland, UK.
Disability: Mobility impaired.

Details:
Patricia lived with her grandson for the last five years of her life because she had trouble getting around and needed help. One night, her grandson came home drunk and beat her severely. She was taken to the hospital, but lived only six days before dying from her injuries.

Patricia had 13 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Case Status:
Scott McCulloch (Grandson), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 15 years to life.

Sources:
Killer beat his own gran to death when he was supposed to be looking after her
‘Please stay with me while I die’: Granny’s plea to nurse after killer grandson ‘lost it’

Man pleads guilty to murder of his 84-year-old grandmother

Man sentenced to life in prison for murdering grandmother

Sick brute jailed for life after brutally murdering frail grandmother

Prakash Thakur

No PhotoName: Prakash Thakur.
Died: July 12, 2022.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India.
Disability: Deaf.

Details:
Prakash and his cousin were drinking together when his cousin became angry at him and allegedly killed him by hitting him in the head with a rock.

Case Status:
Pradeep Thakur (Cousin), arrested.

Sources:
History-sheeter kills deaf-mute cousin in Bilaspur

Annette Boyle

No PhotoName: Annette Boyle.
Died: July 9, 2022.
Age at death: 83.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; nursing home resident.

Details:
Annette was found unresponsive at her nursing home and declared dead shortly thereafter. A relative was arrested on suspicion of having killed her.

Annette’s obituary says that she “received the Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2001 for her initiative, The I Vote Project. She enjoyed sculpting, the beach, and speaking her mind.”

Case Status:
Henry Galvin (Family member), charged with murder.

Sources:
Charleston Police make arrest after murder of elderly woman at assisted living facility

72-year-old man

No PhotoName Unknown.
Died: June 30, 2022.
Age at death: 72.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Brooklyn, New York, New York, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
This 72-year-old man was found dead from a head injury, allegedly after a fight with his 60-year-old cousin, with whom he lived.

Case Status:
His cousin, arrested.

Sources:
Man, 72, beaten to death by cousin during wild fight in their Brooklyn apartment

Luis Benítez

No PhotoName: Luis Benítez.
Died: June 12, 2022.
Age at death: 38.
Cause of death: Head trauma.
Location: Posadas, Misiones, Argentina.
Disability: Schizophrenia, anemia, breathing problems.

Details:
Luis lived with his sister and her husband, who did not want him to leave the house. One night, when he tried to do so, his brother-in-law allegedly slammed his head against the doorway. Luis was found dead in his home the next day.

Case Status:
Pedro Walter E. (Brother-in-law), arrested on suspicion of murder.

Sources:
From natural death to homicide after autopsy
De muerte natural a homicidio luego de la autopsia

2-year-old girl

No PhotoName 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

Nosipho Mfana

No PhotoName: Nosipho Mfana.
Died: April 30, 2022.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, South Africa.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Prosecutors say that Nosipho, who had been adopted at age 13 because her own mother was also intellectually disabled, was sleeping in her home when two men forced open the door and shot her 15 times, killing her. Police became suspicious because the men had used a flashlight to identify and target Nosipho specifically, hurting no one else and stealing nothing; and Nosipho’s father had taken out a large life insurance policy on her. After hearing testimony from one of the alleged hitmen, they believe that Nosipho’s father and his nephew had conspired with two other men to kill her for the insurance payout.

Case Status:
Mboneleli Msila (Adoptive father), charged with conspiracy to commit murder, murder, illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
Mbulelo Jack (Adoptive father’s nephew), arrested.
Lungisile Lucas, arrested.
Monde Tshemese, arrested.

Sources:
Plett father ‘masterminded’ hit on disabled daughter for R200 000 life policy
Man arrested for hiring hitman to kill crippled adoptive child
Plett man allegedly arranged hit on disabled adopted daughter