Remembering the Disabled Murdered by Caregivers
Sibling, half-sibling, adopted sibling, foster sibling.
Name: Shanelle Colquhoun.
Died: July 24, 2022.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA.
Disability: Wheelchair user.
Details:
Shanelle was stabbed to death; her brother was arrested on suspicion of having killed her.
Case Status:
Her brother, age 17, has been arrested.
Sources:
Emotionally disturbed teen stabs older sister to death at their Brooklyn home
Brooklyn stabbing: Woman killed at home, teen brother in custody
Name: Gulabi Kerketta.
Died: July 11, 2022.
Age at death: 23.
Cause of death: Beaten.
Location: Alipurduar, West Bengal, India.
Disability: Intellectual disability; Deaf.
Details:
Gulabi’s brother allegedly beat her to death because she couldn’t make it to the toilet and had an accident in her room.
Case Status:
Ajit Kerkatta (Brother), charged with murder.
Name: Katherine Sokolich.
Died: July 3, 2022.
Age at death: 63.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Ballwin, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.
Details:
Katherine’s brother, who was her court-appointed guardian and responsible for taking care of her, beat her because he was frustrated with taking care of her. After he called 911 and reported that she was injured, Katherine was hospitalized, but later died of a brain bleed due to head trauma.
Case Status:
Anthony Sokolich (Brother, guardian), pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, sentenced to probation.
Sources:
Police say 70-year-old Missouri man killed disabled sister
Man accused of beating disabled sister to death
70-Year-Old Missouri Man Beat His Disabled Sister to Death: Authorities
Disabled woman dies after attack by ‘frustrated’ caretaker brother near Ballwin, police say
Name: King Dewey.
Died: May 31, 2022.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Port Arthur, Texas, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome, suspected autism.
Details:
King was found dead in his home, weighing only 19 pounds. Police say he had been locked in a closet for some time.
Case Status:
Tina Louis (Mother), charged with injury to a child.
Kristen Louis (Sister), pleaded guilty to two counts of injury to a child, sentenced to 30 years.
Jaylin Jevon Lewis, found guilty on two counts of injury to a child.
Sources:
Third suspect arrested in connection with death of 4-year-old boy found in Port Arthur home
Mom and Aunt Charged in Death of Disabled Toddler Boy Found Emaciated
Mother, daughter charged in handicapped child’s death
Police release new details about death of 3-year-old emaciated special needs child
Police: Emaciated 3-year-old special needs child weighed 19 pounds at time of death
Third suspect sought in ’emaciated’ toddler’s death
Name: Pankaj.
Died: May 23, 2022.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Throat cut.
Location: Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Disability: Intellectual disability.
Details:
Pankaj’s brother allegedly cut his throat and tried to burn his body. Police say he confessed to the crime during interrogation.
Case Status:
Ashok (Brother), arrested on suspicion of murder.
Sources:
Man Kills Mentally Challenged Brother In Uttar Pradesh; Arrested: Police
Name: Jack McKenzie Ross.
Died: May 18, 2022.
Age at death: 35.
Cause of death: Arson fire.
Location: Tyler, Texas, USA.
Disability: Mental and physical disability.
Details:
When Jack’s home caught on fire, he was trapped inside and died. Fire investigators believe Jack’s brother deliberately set the fire, knowing that Jack’s physical and mental disabilities might keep him from escaping.
Jack loved to cook, clean, and help others, and did his share of the chores at home. Jack was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, watched wrestling every Friday, and is remembered for his loving personality.
In his obituary, Jack’s family says:
The news media referred to him a ‘man with special needs’. His ‘special needs’ were to always seek out those who needed a helping hand. They did not know our Jack. He never had a need, special or otherwise. His desire was to help others. He was an “extraordinarily special person”, but not for the reasons they gave.
Case Status:
Robert Harrison Johnson IV (Half-brother), charged with murder.
Sources:
Tyler man accused of causing house fire that killed half-brother with special needs indicted on arson
Man charged with starting Smith County house fire that killed his half-brother
Man arrested for murder after allegedly starting fatal fire that killed half-brother
OFFICIALS: East Texas man arrested for murder after setting house fire that killed half-brother with special needs
Smith County man accused of starting fire which killed disabled half-brother
Police: East Texas man blames ‘spirits’ for causing fire that killed his half-brother with special needs
Name: Cameron Paul Forrest.
Died: April 16, 2022.
Age at death: 24.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Gladstone, Queensland, Australia.
Disability: Autism, OCD.
Details:
Cameron’s mother and brother allegedly conspired to kill him–first by medication overdose, then by stabbing him with a knife. Cameron died from his injuries. After being treated for self-inflicted injuries and discharged from the hospital, Cameron’s mother and brother were arrested. Police say Cameron’s brother said Cameron would be better off dead because the family’s financial hardships were insurmountable.
Case Status:
Lee-Ann Rae Forrest (Mother), charged with murder.
Alex William Forrest (Brother), charged with murder.
Sources:
Disturbing details emerge of ‘horrific’ Gladstone death after murder charges laid against mother and son
Mother and brother charged over man’s stabbing murder
Name: Chen (Surname); given name unknown.
Died: April 15, 2022.
Age at death: 64.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Ershui, Changhua County, Taiwan.
Disability: Stroke.
Details:
Mr. Chen was strangled, and his brother was arrested for the crime. Police say he had killed Mr. Chen and attempted to kill himself because he was tired of caring for his brother.
Case Status:
Mr. Chen (Brother), arrested.
Sources:
Changhua man found dead, brother injured – Taipei Times
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Name: Salisu Surakatu.
Died: November 24, 2021.
Age at death: 94.
Cause of death: Machete injuries.
Location: Kara Ewumi Village, Mowe, Ogun, Nigeria.
Disability: Blind.
Details:
Salisu’s brother came to his house, and the two had an argument because Salisu had sold a piece of property and not given his brother some of the proceeds. Salisu was unable to defend himself, or even see that his brother was armed, when his brother allegedly killed him with a machete.
Case Status:
Moshood Habibu (Brother), charged with murder.
Sources:
78-year-old man kills blind brother over land dispute in Ogun
Name: Sermakani.
Died: July 12, 2021.
Age at death: 35.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India.
Disability: Learning disability.
Details:
Sermakani’s family found her a husband, but when they realized she was already five months pregnant, they allegedly killed her and reported it as a natural death. Neighbors suspected foul play and reported the death to the police, who say that, when arrested, Sermakan’s mother and sister admitted to strangling her to “end their misery and save their pride”.
Case Status:
Murder case registered.
Murugammal (Mother), arrested.
Selvi (Sister), arrested.
Source:
Unmarried Pregnant Woman With Learning Disability Murdered By Mother, Sister
Mother, sister held for murdering pregnant woman in Tamil Nadu | Madurai News – Times of India