Relationship: Parent – Page 89 – Disability Day of Mourning

Samuel Linares

Name: Samuel Linares.
Died: April 26, 1989.
Age at death: 16 months.
Cause of death: Hypoxia; ventilator disconnected.
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Disability: PVS due to hypoxic brain damage.

Details:
Samuel had choked on a balloon and, eight months later, was still on life support in the hospital. His father went to the hospital, pulled a gun on the staff, shut off the ventilator, and held the staff at gunpoint until Samuel died.

Case status:
Rudy Linares (Father), pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon, sentenced to 1 year probation. Grand jury refused to indict for first-degree murder.

Source:
When life is a fate worse than death
Questions of Law Live On After Father Helps Son Die
FATHER IS CLEARED IN ILL BABY’s DEATH
Grand Jury Rejects Murder Count : Teary Father Not Charged in Death of Comatose Boy
GRAND JURY REFUSES TO INDICT DAD WHO PULLED PLUG ON SON
Samuel Linares (1988 – 1989)

Patricia McNeely

Name: Patricia McNeely.
Died: April 14, 1989.
Age at death: 32.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Clearwater, Florida, USA.
Disability: Visually impaired.

Details:
Patricia’s father killed her and her mother Flora before committing suicide.

Case status:
Warren McNeely (Father), deceased.

Source:
Man kills ex-wife, child, himself
Slayings continue to haunt family

Anginetta Clayton

No Photo Name: Anginetta Clayton.
Died: January 17, 1989.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Oxford, Mississippi, USA.
Disability: Microcephaly.

Details:
Anginetta’s mother starved her to death.

Case status:
Bessie Marie Clayton (Mother); convicted of “depraved heart” murder; sentenced to life.

Source:
Bessie Marie CLAYTON, v. STATE of Mississippi.

Gail Terrell

A gravestone made for a married couple, decorated with an urn for flowers. It reads: Terrell. Bernie Lee, Gail Melody. The death date for Bernie Lee is blank; the death date for Gail Melody is filled in. The dates are too small to make out. Name: Gail Terrell.
Died: November 13, 1988.
Age at death: 32.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Smyrna, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Epilepsy, cerebral palsy.

Details:
Gail’s mother shot her.

Case status:
Barbara Monroe (Mother); offered to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was ordered to serve 5 years of a 20-year sentence.

Source:
Mother wants year of home confinement in slaying plea

Rishonda Jones

Name: Rishonda “Nickie” Jones.
Died: February 8, 1988.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Arthritis, scoliosis.

Details:
Rishonda died of starvation and infected bedsores.

She was an honor student who liked to write poetry and short stories.

Case status:
Michelle Jones (Mother); charged with manslaughter and child cruelty.

Source:
Woman pays to bury starvation victim
Probe starvation of disabled teen

Aaron Norman

A gravestone. It says: Precious. Aaron John Norman, April 7, 1977 to December 20, 1987. Name: Aaron Norman.
Died: December 20, 1987.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Diabetes.
Location: Mead, Washington, USA.
Disability: Juvenile diabetes.

Details:
Aaron’s parents abused him and denied him medical treatment. He died of untreated diabetes, aggravated by being beaten with a board.

Case status:
Bob Norman (Father), manslaughter, 41 months.
Judith Norman (Mother), charged with homicide.
Doug Kleber (Leader, No-Name Fellowship), convicted of second-degree criminal mistreatment, sentenced to 3 years.
Four elders in the No-Name Fellowship were charged with criminal mistreatment; one convicted.

Source:
Sect Leader Gets Three Years
Faith Gone Awry

Brian Myers

No Photo
Name: Brian Myers.
Died: November 27, 1987.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Skull fracture.
Location: Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Brian was beaten by his foster parents until he died of a skull fracture. Before Brian died they had been able to escape suspicion for their abuse despite the baby’s bruises because they blamed his injuries on Brian’s disability, claiming he hurt himself.

Case status:
Janet Portman (foster mother), pled guilty to second-degree criminal abuse, sentenced to 6 months in jail and 5 years probation.
Michael Portman (foster father), not guilty of child abuse.

Source:
Misplaced Mercy
Board rules cabinet was negligent in death of child, orders award
Agency found negligent in death of toddler; state to pay $100,000

Frédéric Ratier

No Photo Name: Frédéric Ratier.
Died: November 2, 1987.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Neuroleptic overdose.
Location: France.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, epilepsy.

Details:
32 years after his death, Frédéric’s mother wrote a book in which she confessed to poisoning him with a bottle of neuroleptic medicine. The boy lingered in a coma for three days before dying on his third birthday.

In her book, Frédéric’s mother says she spent the first three years of Frédéric’s life trying to cure him; that lack of support was not a factor; and that she had “given death” to her son because she believed his life was not worth living.

Case Status:
Anne Ratier (Mother), no charges. Statute of limitations on murder in France is 30 years.

Sources:
Anne Ratier
Ratier, A. (2019). J’ai offert la mort à mon fils. City.
“J’ai offert la mort à mon fils” handicapé : le témoignage d’une mère ne passe pas
Anne Ratier a ‘offert la mort à son fils’ : son livre choc

Eric Bernstein

No Photo Name: Eric Bernstein.
Died: May 11, 1987.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Broomall, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Hypoxic brain injury at birth, causing cerebral palsy.

Details:
After putting her son through months of intensive, 15-hour-a-day therapy to try to cure him, Eric’s mother, seeing that he wasn’t going to be cured, shot him to death.

Case status:
Irene Torres Bernstein (Mother), pleaded no contest to third-degree murder, sentenced to a $1000 fine and 5 years probation.

Source:
Mom Pleads No Contest In Son’s Killing
Mom Given Probation Didn’t Ask For Mercy In Tot’s Death

Dominic Diehl

A gravestone. It reads: Andrew Joseph Diehl. July 20, 1973 to October 29, 1986. Your life was not lived in vain, my son. Inset: A poor-quality black-and-white newspaper photo of a dark-skinned boy in a white T-shirt. Name: Dominic J. “Andrew” Diehl.
Died: October 29, 1986.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Child abuse survivor; emotionally disturbed.

Details:
Andrew died of head injuries inflicted by his adoptive father; he was tied to the floor of the family bus and severely beaten.

Andrew liked to read Western novels.

Case status:
Michael Diehl (Adoptive father), first-degree murder, 41 years; eligible for parole after 7 years.
Karen Diehl (Adoptive mother), manslaughter, 31 years; released after 6 years.

Source:
Dominick J. (Andrew) Diehl
Parents of 17 Arrested In Fatal Beating of Son
Facing Charges, Father Wanted Life Support Continued : Brain-Dead Boy’s Death Ends Dispute
Dominick Joseph “Andrew” Diehl (1973-1986)