Category: Relationship: Parent

Parents, foster parents, stepparents, parents’ significant others.

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

E. A.

No PhotoName: E. A. (Initials; full name unknown.)
Died: August 29, 2003.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Pneumonia and pyelonephritis.
Location: Mortdale, New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: Physical and intellectual disability; likely osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome.

Details:
EA was born disabled, but his parents did not seek medical attention for him because his father did not believe in modern medicine. EA’s neonatal jaundice and cataracts were only treated once child welfare services became involved. His parents did not respond to his failure to thrive, small size, and weakness, believing that God would heal the child without a doctor’s help. At four years old, he was the size of a fifteen-month-old when he died from infections in his lungs and kidneys.

Case Status:
J. A. (Father), charged with manslaughter, died before trial.
H. A. (Mother), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 2 years, suspended for 2 years; released.

Sources:
R v HA
Religious mother admits to son’s death

Terrance Cottrell, Jr.

School photo of a young boy with brown skin and short, curly black hair, wearing a black and white checked shirt.Name: Terrance Cottrell, Jr.
Died: Aug. 25, 2003.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Positional asphyxia.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Terrance’s mother took him to church for an exorcism, hoping to cure his autism. The boy was pinned to the ground by several adults, and died of suffocation while his mother watched.

Case status:
Patricia Cooper (Mother); not charged.
Ray Hemphill (Pastor); convicted of child abuse; sentenced to 2-and-a-half years.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Terrance Cottrell Jr.
Hemphill Sentenced Over Boy’s “Exorcism” Death
Minister Charged In Exorcism Death
Faith Healing Death
Exorcism Death Sparks Debate

Carry-Ann Brown

Photo of a teenage girl with short, curly brown hair and fair skin, wearing a teal-and-white sports jersey.Name: Carry-Ann Brown.
Died: August 17, 2003.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Cumbria, England, UK.
Disability: Developmental disability, epilepsy.

Details:
Carry-Anne’s abusive father hit her brothers and mother, but never her; instead, she was sexually abused. When she became pregnant with his baby, a judge ordered an abortion and a DNA test.

Carry-Anne’s father lured her away from her foster home, put her in the car, drugged her, and tried to kill them both in a deliberate car crash. She died of head injuries five days later; he survived.

Case status:
Sean Brown (Father), pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse and murder; sentenced to 19 years to life.

Source:
Brother speaks out about Dad who murdered and impregnated his sister
Life for man who killed daughter
Father crashed car to kill daughter
Carry Ann’s father jailed for 19 years
Foster home was in ‘her best interests’
‘Dad murdered my sister – but Jeremy Kyle Show made me feel like the criminal’

Raya Donagi

A gravestone reading: Raya Rakefet Donagi. Feb. 1, 2003 - Aug. 4, 2003. In the eternal embrace of her mother. Mine An Ener, July 14, 1965 - Aug. 30, 2003.Name: Raya Rakefet Donagi.
Died: August 4, 2003.
Age at death: 6 months.
Cause of death: Blood loss.
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Raya’s mother slit her throat because she was afraid Raya might have to get a feeding tube.

Case status:
Mine An Ener (Mother); charged with murder. Died by suicide before she could be tried.

Source:
Mine An ENER
Wife of U. prof commits suicide awaiting trial
College prof charged with killing baby
PROFESSOR JAILED IN BABY’S DEATH APPARENTLY SUFFOCATES HERSELF

Jason Dawes

Black and white photo of a smiling boy with light skin and short hair.Name: Jason Dawes.
Died: August 4, 2003.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Suffocated.
Location: New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Jason was suffocated by his mother, who believed there was “no hope for her son”.

Jason communicated by using sign boards.

Case status:
Daniela Dawes (Mother). Convicted of manslaughter; served no jail time.

Source:
Deadly Currents Beneath Calm Waters: Persons with Disability and the Right to Life in Australia
Child murder case highlights lack of services for carers of disabled
When Love is Not Enough
R v Daniella Dawes
Autism Memorial: Jason Dawes

Stephanie Ramos

No PhotoName: Stephanie Ramos.
Died: July 9, 2003.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Undetermined.
Location: Queens, New York, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability, blindness, cerebral palsy, diabetes.

Details:
Stephanie’s body was found in a garbage truck. Her foster mother had thrown the body in the trash and reported her missing.

Stephanie’s cause of death could not be exactly determined because the garbage truck crushed her body before it could be found. Because of the lack of evidence and Stephanie’s profound disabilities, her death was ruled natural and her mother was only charged with dumping the body. Stephanie’s foster home was filthy, and Stephanie herself weighed only 23 pounds at death. The most likely scenario is that Stephanie died of illness because her foster mother did not want anyone to know how dirty her house was, and so left the illness untreated.

Case status:
Renee Johnson (Foster mother), 60 days in jail for improper disposal of a body.

Source:
Girl Found in Trash Truck Lived in Filth, Officials Say

Christian Ferguson

Photo of a small boy with a buzz cut, wearing a basketball sweatshirt.Name: Christian Ferguson.
Died: June 11, 2003.
Age at death: 9.
Cause of death: Missing, presumed dead.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Citrullinemia, brain damage.

Details:
In 2003, Christian’s father reported that his car had been stolen with Christian inside. Christian, who was unable to survive without his medication, was declared dead, though his body was never found. Sixteen years later, new information came to light and his father was arrested for murder. How Christian died is unknown, but in the two years leading up to his death, he was allegedly neglected by his father, who did not provide him with proper medication or food. It is known that Christian would not have survived 72 hours without his medication.

Case status:
Dawan Ferguson (Father), convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
Byers’ Beat: What’s next for Christian Ferguson’s mother
Dawan Ferguson: Life sentence in murder of STL son
St. Louis County man convicted of killing disabled son now found guilty of molesting children
‘This Child’s Life was Punishment’: Dad of Missing Disabled Boy Convicted of Murder, Abuse
Nearly 20 years later, father convicted in death of boy
Closing arguments in Dawan Ferguson murder trial
Sibling of missing boy with special needs testifies during father’s murder trial
Murder trial begins for father of missing 9-year-old Christian Ferguson
Murder trial to begin for father of St. Louis County boy missing since 2003
19 years later, father of missing North County disabled boy heading to trial
Vanishing Act: Six Years After The Fact, The Disappearance Of Nine-Year-Old Christian Ferguson Remains A Mystery
Christian Ferguson case: Father’s murder charge dismissed but later refiled
Child abuse charge added against St. Louis County man accused of killing disabled son
St. Louis County prosecutor drops then refiles murder charge in death of 9-year-old boy
Bench trial granted for St. Louis County man accused of killing disabled son
Murder trial set for St. Louis County man accused of killing disabled son
Father accused of killing 9-year-old son backs down from speedy trial request
Father charged with son’s murder now facing child sex crime charges
St. Louis County man accused of killing disabled son in 2003 stays in jail; prosecutors plan more charges
Birthday memorial for missing, murdered Christian Ferguson
Disabled boy went missing 16 years ago, now father is charged with his murder
Missouri father charged with murder 16 years after disabled 9-year-old son disappeared
Disabled boy went missing 16 years ago, now father is charged with his murder
‘Justice for Christian’: 16 years later, police charge father for the murder of disabled little boy [Reports]
Man Charged With Son’s Death From 2003
Missouri father charged with murder of disabled boy who went missing 16 years ago

Deetrick Brown

Photo of Deetrick Brown. It is a photo of a TV screen, showing an African-American toddler with a solemn expression. Faint text along the bottom says, "Christmas. December 25." The rest of the text is indistinct.Name: Deetrick Brown.
Died: January 16, 2003.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Head trauma.
Location: La Quinta, California, USA.
Disability: Parents claimed “drug baby”, intellectual disability, autism. Seizures, possibly due to abuse.

Details:
Deetrick died of head trauma that caused repeated seizures in the months before his death. His parents argued that, rather than being abused, Deetrick was a “drug baby” who had an intellectual disability. When Deetrick died, a judge ruled there wasn’t enough evidence for the case to go to trial. But ten years later, the case was re-opened and reexamined, and his father and stepmother were arrested.

Case status:
Patricia Brown (Stepmother), convicted of second-degree murder, conviction overturned, retrial underway on charges of murder and assault.
Derrick Brown (Father), charges dropped.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Deetrick Brown
Prosecutors Drop Appeal Of Decision To Overturn Murder Conviction
Closing Arguments Scheduled in Trial of La Quinta Woman Accused in Toddler’s Murder
Husband acquitted, testimony continues for wife in toddler murder trial
New Trial Sought For La Quinta Woman Convicted In Toddler’s Death 13 Years After It Happened
New Trial Sought For RivCo Woman Convicted in Toddler’s Death 13 Years After It Happened