Relationship: Parent – Page 68 – Disability Day of Mourning

Kairissa Mark

Photo of a young Chinese girl with tan skin and short black hair in a buzz cut; she is smiling, eyes squeezed shut; she is wearing a white T-shirt with black printing on it. Name: Kairissa XingJing Mark.
Died: July 1, 2010.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Abuse.
Location: Mount Juliet, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability, physical disability; recovering from malnutrition.

Details:
Kairissa’s parents beat her. She died because her mother threw her at a wall and left her to die.

Case status:
Deborah Mark (Adoptive mother), convicted of murder and child abuse, sentenced to life plus 80 years.
Steven Mark, pleaded guilty to abuse, sentenced to 10-32 years.

Source:
Pound Pup Legacy: Kairissa XingJing Mark
Another adoption tragedy taints Tennessee; woman accused of beating child to death

Deondray Ashe

Photo of a toddler in a baby seat. He has large brown eyes, brown skin, and wispy black hair. He is wearing an orange shirt. Name: Deondray “Dooley” Ashe.
Died: June 14, 2010.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Beating.
Location: Lakeland, Florida, USA.
Disability: Chronic bilateral subdural hematoma, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, tracheotomy.

Details:
Dooley’s stepfather beat him to death during potty training.

Case status:
Marcus Brown (Stepfather), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 12-and-a-half years.
Ina Brown, convicted of aggravated manslaughter, sentenced to 10 years.

Source:
Deondray Ashe Obituary (2010) Tampa Bay Times
Innocents Lost: In prison for manslaughter, a mom deals with regret, denial
Prosecutor Calls 2-Year-Old Deondray Ashe Beating ‘Horrifying’

Charles Poertner

Black and white photo of Charles Poertner, a boy with light skin and medium hair. Name: Charles Poertner.
Died: June 7, 2010.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Dehydration.
Location: Newport News, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, developmental delay, epilepsy.

Details:
Charles’s mother starved him to death.

Case status:
Heather Poertner (mother), convicted of child neglect and murder; sentenced to 50 years.

Source:
Newport News mother pleads guilty in death of disabled son
Mother charged in death of son with cerebral palsy

Christopher Melton

Name: Christopher Melton.
Died: June 4, 2010.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Location: Columbia, Maryland, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Christopher’s mother poisoned him and herself with carbon monoxide.

Case status:
Tracy Hawks (Mother), deceased.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Christopher Melton
Columbia, Maryland: Deaths of Tracy Hawks and Christopher Melton, mother and son, ruled murder-suicide
Deaths of mother and son remain a mystery
Columbia deaths of mom and son ruled murder-suicide

Rylan Rochester

Photo of Rylan Rochester, an infant. Name: Rylan Rochester.
Died: June 1, 2010.
Age at death: 6 months.
Cause of death: Smothered.
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA.
Disability: None, but Rylan’s mother believed he was autistic.

Details:
Rylan’s mother, convinced he was autistic, smothered him to death.

Case status:
Stephanie Rochester (Mother); ruled not guilty by reason of insanity.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Rylan Rochester

Leosha Barnett

Photo of Leosha Barnett, a young woman with brown skin and black hair pulled back from her face; she is smiling for the camera. Name: Leosha Barnett.
Died: May 21, 2010.
Age at death: 17.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Forth Worth, Texas, USA.
Disability: Epilepsy, intellectual disability.

Details:
Leosha was starved to death by her mother and sister.

Case status:
Tasca Kuniko Johnson (Mother), injury to a disabled person, 15 years.
Kyreshi Lynn Tara Stevenson (sister), injury to a disabled person, 5 years.

Source:
Fort Worth girl’s starvation death prompts arrests of her sister, mother
Charges in ‘starvation’ of Texas teen

Payton Ettinger

Name: Payton Ettinger.
Died: May 17, 2010.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Greensburg, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Brain injury.

Details:
Payton was starved to death by his mother, who neglected him so badly that he weighed less at four years old than he did at one year old.

Case status:
Courtney Tressler (Mother), pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent; sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Source:
Ind. mom charged with starving 4-year-old to death
Indiana mom charged with son’s death
Tressler Accused Of Starving Son, 4, To Death
10-year sentence in case involving neglect of dependent

Glen Freaney

Photo of a boy with fair skin and short brown hair, his glasses slipping down his nose. He is smiling, holding a watercolor painting and a small silver trophy. Name: Glen Freaney.
Died: May 13, 2010.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Penarth Vale, Glamorgan, Wales, UK.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Glen was strangled by his mother.

Case status:
Yvonne Freaney (Mother); pled guilty to manslaughter and walked free from court with a supervision order.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Glen Freaney
Mother killed autistic son with coat belt, court hears
‘He was laughing when I strangled him. Then I knew he was happy’: Mother ‘killed’ severely autistic son after facing lifetime of care
“Glen Freaney”, Find a Grave
“Despairing mother who strangled autistic son walks free from court”, Daily Mail

Benjamin McLatchie

No Photo Name: Benjamin McLatchie.
Died: April 27, 2010.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Gray, Maine, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Benjamin’s father shot him to death before committing suicide.

Benjamin was “a sweet and gentle boy. He loved Curious George, Winnie the Pooh, Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, listening to music, reading books, and swinging on his swing.”

Case status:
Daniel McLatchie (Father), deceased.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Benjamin McLatchie
Pondering a murder/suicide in Gray, Maine
Gray shooting done by ‘caring’ father
Daniel and Benjamin McLatchie

Aja Johnson

Name: Aja Danielle Johnson.
Died: March 29, 2010.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: ADHD, sleep disorder.

Details:
Aja’s abusive stepfather, after losing custody, killed her mother and kidnapped her. Two months later, he killed her and then himself.

Aja’s father called her “Punky.” She wanted to be a cheerleader.

Case status:
Lester Hobbs (Stepfather), deceased.

Source:
Amber Alert: 7-Year-Old Aja Johnson Believed to Be With Accused Murderer
Horrific abuse marked last three years of Aja Johnson’s life
New Info in Aja Johnson Case
Aja Danielle Johnson (2003-2010) – Find A Grave
Command center closing in search for 7-year-old