Category: Relationship: Sibling

Sibling, half-sibling, adopted sibling, foster sibling.

Bertha Anderson and Lisa Nave

Portrait photos of Bertha Anderson and Lisa Nave. They are both light-skinned, light-haired women.Name: Bertha Maxine Anderson.
Age at death: 68.
Disability: “Breast cancer survivor, brain damage, trembling, panic attacks, hot flashes and cataracts”.
Location: Canyon Country, California, USA.

Name: Lisa Florence Nave.
Age at death: 58.
Disability: Heart disease; “Bedridden”; nursing home resident.
Location: North Hills, California, USA.

Died: December 11, 2013.
Cause of death: Gunshot.

Details:
Bertha’s husband shot her because she was sick. Then he drove to his sister Lisa’s nursing home and shot her, too. The police called them “mercy killings”.

Case status:
Lance Hoger Anderson (Husband, brother), found guilty of murder, sentenced to 100 years to life.

Source:
Canyon Country man found guilty of murders
Lance Anderson of Santa Clarita charged in double mercy killing of wife and sister
2nd woman shot in purported mercy killings identified
‘I hope… I can be forgiven’: Man gets 100 years for ‘mercy killings’ of wife, sister
Double-murder conviction holds for traumatic shock disorder vet who killed ailing wife, sister

Robert Meredith Jr.

Gravestone reading, Meredith, Robert L Sr, SP4 USA, 1935 2012, Mary Ann, 1938 2012, Robert L Jr,1694, 2013, forever in our hearts.Name: Robert Meredith Jr.
Died: September 22, 2013.
Age at death: 55.
Cause of death: Blunt force injury.
Location: Joliet, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Robert’s brother punched him and hit him with a stick. He died of his injuries.

Case status:
Francis Zabala (Brother-in-law), charged with murder, convicted of involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 4-8 years in prison.

Source:
Joliet man gets 8-year sentence for fatal beating
Joliet murder trial testimony: Broken ribs led to man’s death
2013 Joliet murder trial to begin
Joliet murder trial: Wife saw husband beat victim
Update: Murder Victim ID’d, Died from ‘Blunt Force Injuries’: Coroner
Defendant testifies in Joliet murder trial
Joliet man found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in beating of mentally disabled brother-in-law
Joliet man guilty of involuntary manslaughter: jury

Melinda Pace

Photo of Mindy Pace, a young woman with short brown hair. She is wrapped in a paisley blanket, with her head bent forward, smiling and peeking at the camera through her bangs.Name: Melinda ‘Mindy’ Pace.
Died: July 22, 2013.
Age at death: 58.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Jackson, Mississipi, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Mindy’s sister fatally shot Mindy and her dog before committing suicide.

Case status:
Nancy Pace (Sister), deceased.

Source:
Murder/Suicide – Killed – Melinda Pace (Jackson, MS)
Jackson woman who killed sister dies

Terry Smith

Photo: A boy with brown hair and light-brown skin, smiling; he is wearing a blue striped shirt.Name: Terry “JuJu” Smith.
Died: July 5-6, 2013 (Exact day unknown).
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Menifee, California, USA.
Disability: ADHD; possibly autistic.

Details:
Terry was killed by his half-brother.

Terry loved picnics. His favorite color was blue.

Case status:
Skylor Atilano (Half-brother), pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter, sentenced to 12 years; spent 5 years in a juvenile detention center before being released.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Terry “JuJu” Smith
Teen Gets 12-Year Sentence for Half Brother’s Murder
Brother imprisoned for Terry Smith’s 2013 death is released
Terry Smith Murder
Terry Smith Jr. – The strange, sad story of a murdered 11 year old boy in Menifee, California
Terry Smith’s Brother: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Robert Gensiak

Granite gravestone with a brass plaque reading, "In memory of Robert Gensiak, 2013. Every voice shall be heard."Name: Robert Gensiak.
Died: March 20, 2013.
Age at death: 32.
Cause of death: Sepsis.
Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Robert was severely neglected by his family; he died of blood poisoning from an untreated skin rash his body could not fight because he was so malnourished.

Case status:
Susan Gensiak (Mother), pled to third-degree murder, sentenced to 10-20 years in prison
Joan Gensiak (Sister), convicted of neglect, sentenced to 6 years.
Rebekah Gensiak (Sister), convicted of misdemeanor neglect, sentenced to 6-23 months in jail.

Source:
Susan Gensiak And 2 Daughters Charged With Murder Of Robert Gensiak, Disabled Man
Lackawanna County woman’s sentence overturned in disabled brother’s neglect death
Joan Gensiak re-sentenced to same term for starvation death of brother

Marci Garvin

Photo of Marci Garvin. She is a woman with short, straight hair, sitting in a power chair. A name tag is clipped to her sweater and she is pushing a large button on the table in front of her.Name: Marci Garvin.
Died: March 11, 2013.
Age at death: 39.
Cause of death: Pneumonia, dehydration.
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, epilepsy.

Details:
Marci’s father and sister neglected her so badly that she died of infection, pneumonia, and dehydration.

Marci had spent 18 years working part-time for the Star-Telegram human resources office. Sadly, the same newspaper was later to publish the report on her death.

Case status:
Mike Garvin (Father), convicted of injury to the disabled and sentenced to 10-20 years in prison.
Tabby Martinjak (Sister), convicted of injury to the disabled and sentenced to 10-20 years in prison.

Source:
Father, daughter sentenced to 20 years in prison in death of disabled woman
Failing Marci: A disabled woman’s story of triumph and tragedy | Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Failing Marci: Investigation raises questions about care and oversight for disabled woman – Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX), 3/1/2015 Bexar County, Texas

Shamim Nalwoga

No PhotoName: Shamim Nalwoga.
Died: December 17, 2012.
Age at death: Minor.
Cause of death: Sharp force trauma.
Location: Lukuli-Makindye, Kampala, Uganda.
Disability: Paralysis in one hand and one leg.

Details:
Shamim’s grandmother and half-brother took her from her bed and kidnapped her to see a “traditional healer”, saying they would cure the girl’s disability. They fed Shamim soil and paraffin, and eventually killed her by slashing and cutting off parts of her body.

Case status:
Hanifa Namuyanja (Grandmother), convicted of murder, sentenced to 15 years in jail.
Hussein Lukenge (half-brother), convicted of murder, sentenced to 32 years in jail.
Hadijja Nasaka (Healer), acquitted.

Source:
Uganda v Namuyanja & Anor (Criminal Session Case-2013/292) [2016] UGHCCRD 95 (28 January 2016); | Ulii
82-year-old woman gets 15-years in jail over murder of grandchild
82-Year-Old Woman Found Guilty for Murdering Grandchild :
Hearing of Shamim ritual murder case to start

Robin Adams Jr.

No PhotoName: Robin Adams Jr.
Died: February 2012; body found October 12, 2012.
Age at death: 23.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Hephzibah, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Cri du chat syndrome.

Details:
Instead of taking Robin to the doctor to help him stay fed and hydrated, Robin’s mother neglected him and Robin starved to death. His family failed to report his death and kept collecting his disability payments for several months.

Case status:
Angela Mercer (Mother), convicted of murder, sentenced to 30 years to life; released after 6 years.
Deaidra Motley (Sister), charged with concealing a death.

Source:
Coroner calls mummified body case ‘one of the worst ones that we’ve ever seen’
$100,000 bond set for woman accused in disabled son’s death
Augusta mother sentenced to life in prison for death of disabled son

Antonio Mendez

Blurry, black and white photo of a young man with dark hair and light skin.Name: Antonio Mendez.
Died: August 7, 2012.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Trauma, malnutrition.
Location: Palm Springs, California, USA.
Disability: Developmental disability.

Details:
Antonio’s sister and her boyfriend are accused of neglecting, starving, and beating him to death.

Case status:
Ines Patrisia Mendez (Sister), charged with murder and dependent abuse.
Shanen Ryan Riley (Sister’s boyfriend), charged with murder.

Source:
Couple re-enter not guilty pleas to murder of her mentally disabled brother
Death Of Woman’s Developmentally Disabled Twin: Did She Kill Him?
Desert Hot Springs Couple Accused Of Killing Disabled Boy Appear in Court | MyNewsLA.com
Local couple accused of killing disabled twin brother granted continuation due to developments in case
Hearing Pushed Back For Couple Accused Of Killing Disabled Boy In 2012
Hearing Set For Tuesday For Couple Accused Of Killing Disabled Boy
Woman charged in murder of her mentally disabled twin brother who was living in repugnant conditions
COUPLE CHARGED AND ARRESTED IN 2012 DESERT HOT SPRINGS MURDER

Matthew Graville

Photo of a teenage boy with fair skin and short brown hair, smiling with his lips pressed together.Name: Matthew Graville.
Died: July 1, 2012.
Age at death: 27.
Cause of death: Fatal abuse.
Location: Mazomanie, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Matthew was tortured and beaten to death by his half-brother.

Case status:
Jeffrey Vogelsberg (half-brother); pled no contest to reckless homicide; sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Source:
Jeffrey Vogelsberg gets 15 years for death of autistic half-brother
Autism Memorial: Matthew Graville