Relationship: Parent – Page 25 – Disability Day of Mourning

Andrew Freund Jr.

Photo of a small boy in a big blue baseball cap and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles T-shirt. He has pale skin and his ears stick out, and he is smiling, showing he still has all his baby teeth. Name: Andrew “AJ” Freund Jr.
Died: April 24, 2019.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Woodstock, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Parents claimed he had oppositional defiant disorder to justify abuse. Whether AJ had a disability is unknown.

Details:
AJ spent some time in a foster home before being returned to his parents. His foster parents and one of his grandmothers released a statement that said, “This smart little boy loved having books read to him, doing puzzles, his Thomas the Train, playing with his fire trucks, bulldozers, cement mixer and Ninja Turtles. He was very curious and always wanted to learn about everything.”

AJ was regularly abused by his parents. He died of head injuries after having been forced to take a cold shower and beaten because he had lied about having dirty underwear.

Case status:
Joann Cunningham (Mother), pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, sentenced to 35 years with no parole.
Andrew Freund Sr. (Father), pleaded guilty to aggravated battery to a child, involuntary manslaughter, and concealing a homicidal death; sentenced to 30 years.

Source:
AJ Freund’s mother sentenced to 35 years in his beating, cold shower murder
A.J. Freund’s Mom Allegedly Had Video of Beaten Kid on Her Phone, Which Helped Solve Case: Docs
Warrant: AJ’s father says his mother killed the boy
Newly released documents reveal graphic details about AJ Freund case
Video of beaten 5-year-old AJ Freund on mom’s phone helped crack case, search was made for ‘child cpr,’ authorities say
Andrew ‘AJ’ Freund’s foster family releases statement: ‘AJ was loved by us’
Photos of AJ Freund’s Crystal Lake home reveal filthy living conditions
Cell phone video led to father’s confession in the killing of 5-year-old AJ Freund, police say
Grand jury indicts parents of slain Crystal Lake 5-year-old AJ Freund; court hearing scheduled for Friday morning

Martina Ávila

No Photo
Name: Martina Ávila.
Died: April 13, 2019.
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Throat cut.
Location: Puerto Madryn, Argentina.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Martina was stabbed to death by her father.

“If she were here, she would hug you. She would hug everyone,” Martina’s aunt told the court.

Case Status:
Manuel Ávila (Father), pled guilty to murder; faces a mandatory life sentence.

Source:
“I wanted the two of us to leave, but I had no luck”: the aberrant confession of the man who killed his 6-year-old daughter with a disability
Culpable: Manuel Ávila condenado por el asesinato de su hija de seis años
Declaró la vecina de Martina: «la nena era hermosa, un ángel», recordó

Sarah Dubois-Gilbeau

Name: Sarah Dubois-Gilbeau.
Died: April 5, 2019.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Sarah’s father beat her to death because she refused to do her schoolwork. Her mother says that her father refused to accept she was autistic.

Sarah liked acting out movie scenes and reading Lego Ninjago comic books.

Case status:
Brandon Reynolds (Father), pled guilty to intentional child abuse resulting in the death of a child; sentenced to 30 years to life.

Source:
ABQ man gets life in beating death of daughter
Autism Memorial: Sarah Dubois-Gilbeau
Mom says 5-year-old allegedly killed by father had autism
New Mexico father beat daughter, 5, to death after she refused to do homework: cops
Mother of murdered little girl says she was autistic, claims dad who beat 5-year-old to death over homework ‘couldn’t deal’ with diagnosis
Dad ‘battered autistic girl, 5, to death with shoe for refusing to do homework’
Father is arrested for allegedly beating 5-year-old autistic daughter to death with shoe for refusing to do homework

Kylee Willis

Name: Kylee Willis.
Died: March 29, 2019.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Kylee’s mother’s boyfriend was babysitting for her. When she interrupted him, he allegedly beat her severely. She spent several days on life support before dying of her injuries.

Case status:
Adam Hughes (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with murder; convicted, sentenced to 15 years to life.
Corrine Blake (Mother), convicted of cruelty to a child, sentenced to probation.

Source:
Save Down Syndrome: Kylee Willis
Girl, 4, with Down Syndrome ‘beaten to death by mother’s boyfriend’
Calif. Man Allegedly Killed Girl with Down Syndrome, 4, Because He Was Mad She Interrupted Him

Sam Koets

Name: Sam Koets.
Died: March 28, 2019.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Drowning, hypothermia.
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Sam was made to live in the family’s unfinished basement, in horrible conditions. He died when his father left him alone, hands tied, near the family’s pool on a cold spring day. A little while later, he texted Sam’s thirteen-year-old sister, asking her to check on Sam. She sent back a photo of Sam, wading chest-deep in the pool, which was so cold it had ice floating on top. Sam’s father, however, did nothing to help Sam; he did not call emergency services, attempt to return home, or contact anyone but Sam’s thirteen-year-old sister who was watching Sam die in front of her eyes. Sam’s body was found floating in the icy pool; he had been dead at least an hour.

Case status:
Timothy Koets (Father), charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree child abuse, second-degree child abuse committed in the presence of another child and fourth-degree child abuse, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 2-15 years in prison.
Michelle Koets (Mother), sentenced to 21 days in jail for refilling Sam’s Ritalin prescriptions after he died.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Sam Koets
‘Sam had value’: Judge sentences father, former GRCC professor to 2-15 years for disabled son’s drowning
Father pleads guilty in drowning death of disabled son
GRCC fires man accused of manslaughter in son’s death
Mother enters plea for refilling dead son’s prescriptions
Michigan man charged with involuntary manslaughter in autistic son’s drowning death now accused of illegally filling teen’s prescriptions
GRCC professor headed to trial in son’s death
Haunting final photo shows disabled boy moments before he drowned in icy pool
Michigan dad charged after bound autistic son drowns in pool
‘It’s a nightmare:’ Professor’s arrest in death of son with severe autism rocks family
Former student shocked after professor charged in son’s death
Dad Charged in Death of Teen Son Who Has Autism
Local professor faces manslaughter charges in autistic son’s death
Michigan Professor Arraigned in Drowning Death of Autistic Teen Son Found in Icy Pool With Arms Bound
Father didn’t alert rescuers when son with autism waded into deep, cold pool, police report says
Father charged with manslaughter in son’s death
Teen with severe autism found dead in icy pool with arms bound; Michigan professor father charged
Professor facing charges in drowning death of son with special needs
Father charged with manslaughter in son’s death
Georgetown Township Father Arrested After Son’s Death
Professor facing charges in connection with drowning death of son with special needs

Rebecca Fogel

Name: Rebecca Fogel.
Died: March 26, 2019.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Fall injuries.
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
Disability: Unspecified special needs, wheelchair user.

Details:
Rebecca’s father took her to the top of a parking garage and jumped while holding her. Both died on impact.

Rebecca, an outgoing girl who liked to be around friends, was a long-standing member of the Friendship Circle of Michigan, a group for people with disabilities. Shosh Newman, a Friendship Circle member, says that Rebecca was “like a little sister” who “changed [her] life forever”; thanks to Rebecca, she decided to become a Special Education teacher.

Rebecca loved the color red. As a little girl, she wanted to name her little brother “Mr. Salt”, from Blue’s Clues. She grew up into an articulate young woman who talked non-stop and got standing ovations for her performances at the summer camp talent show.

Case status:
Andrew Fogel (Father), deceased.

Source:
Doctor, daughter with special needs die in apparent murder-suicide
Doctor, daughter with special needs die in apparent murder-suicide at Hard Rock casino

Ja’hir Gibbons

Photo of a small African-American boy, grinning with his teeth clenched. The photo is taken at an angle. Name: Ja’hir Gibbons.
Died: March 18, 2019.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; received speech and developmental therapy.

Details:
Ja’hir was allegedly beaten to death by his mother’s boyfriend, whom his mother had allegedly left to babysit him despite knowing he was abusing the boy. His body showed signs of chronic child abuse.

Ja’Hir was given the nickname “Tuga” by his big brother. His favorite superhero was The Hulk.

Case status:
Dejon Waters (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with first-degree murder.
Brittany Hyc (Mother), charged with child endangerment resulting in death.

Source:
Ja’hir Gibbons, Age 2, March 18, 2019, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Boy, 5, found covered in bruises in same apartment 2-year-old died from child abuse
Boy, 5, found ‘covered in bruises’ in home where 2-year-old boy was discovered dead from child abuse
Another 2-year-old’s death connected to DCFS, Gov. Pritzker weighs in
2 in custody in connection to death of 2-year-old boy on South Side
After toddler killed, DCFS investigating worker that said boy was ‘safe’ at home

Ashlyn Ellis

Name: Ashlyn Rayanne Ellis.
Died: March 17, 2019.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Smoke inhalation during house fire.
Location: St. James, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Physical disability, nonspeaking.

Details:
Ashlyn was neglected by her mother. She died when she was left alone at home and the house caught on fire. She could not escape because she was in her bed, which had been transformed into a makeshift cage that locked from the outside.

Case status:
Tracy Ellis (Mother), charged with second-degree murder and child endangerment; pled guilty to first-degree child endangerment, sentenced to 6 months to 14 years.

Source:
Ellis sentenced to 14 years in DOC
Document: Disabled teen who died in house fire was trapped in bed, mother charged
Mom charged with murder after disabled daughter killed in house fire
Maries County, Mo. mother faces murder charges in death of disabled daughter in house fire
Mother charged with daughter’s murder after Maries County fire
Mother Charged With Murder In Disabled Daughter’s Death
Deputies: Disabled teen was alone, locked in bed as house burned
Null & Son Funeral Home | Rolla, MO

Harish and Santosh

Name: Harish.
Age at death: 28.

Name: Santosh.
Age at death: 25.

Died: March 16, 2019.
Cause of death: Poisoning.
Location: Doddathoguru, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Disability: Unspecified; bedridden.

Details:
Harish and Santosh’s mother fed them poisoned food and killed them; she also ate some herself and died.

Case status:
Radhamma (Mother), deceased.

Source:
Woman poisons disabled sons, takes her own life
Bengaluru: Woman poisons differently abled sons, ends life

Kazuno Soeda

No Photo Name: Kazuno Soeda.
Died: March 13, 2019.
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, Japan.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Kazuno was allegedly strangled by her mother. Tokyo Reporter quotes her as having said, “My daughter had an intellectual disability, which caused unbearable trouble on a daily basis.”

Case status:
Mitsue Soeda (Mother), arrested on suspicion of murder.

Source:
6-year-old girl strangled to death by mother
Tokyo: Woman accused of fatally strangling disabled 6-year-old daughter