Location: UK – Disability Day of Mourning

Hope McGrath

Name: Hope McGrath.
Died: July 30, 2025.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Unspecified homicide.
Location: Leeds, England, UK.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Hope was found dead in her home. Her mother was arrested on suspicion of having caused her death.

Case Status:
Pippa McGrath (Mother), charged with murder.

Sources:
Mum sobs as she appears in court charged with murdering daughter, 3, at home
Woman in court charged with murdering three-year-old daughter
Woman in court accused of murdering three-year-old daughter in Leeds
Leeds Murder Investigation: Photograph Released of Hope McGrath

Lincoln Button

Name: Lincoln Button.
Died: December 15, 2024.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Smothered.
Location: South Ockendon, England, UK.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Lincoln’s mother smothered him. She left a note saying, “He does not fit in the world and where he doesn’t fit I don’t either,” and attempted suicide. When Lincoln’s father found them, she was taken to the hospital and treated; but Lincoln was dead at the scene.

Lincoln loved trains, riding his scooter, and going to school. On the last day of his life, CCTV cameras caught him playing with the automatic doors at the supermarket.

Case Status:
Claire Button (Mother) was convicted of murder and sentenced to life with a minimum of nine years.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Lincoln Button
Mom ‘decided to murder autistic son, 5, after challenges of caring for him’
Essex mum accused of murdering son ‘going through hell’ – husband
UK Shocker: Woman Suffering From Depression Smothers Autistic Son to Death, Leaves ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ Note Before Attempting Suicide in Essex; Arrested
Depressed mom ‘decides to murder autistic son’ after challenges of caring for him
Mum jailed for life after smothering five-year-old autistic son to death
Mother jailed for murder of autistic son, five, after struggling to cope
Mother, 35, who murdered autistic son, five, jailed for life
Mum Claire Button jailed for murdering son Lincoln in Essex
Mum who smothered autistic son, 5, to death before leaving note claiming he ‘does not fit in the world’ is jailed
Mum who smothered five-year-old autistic son guilty of murder
South Ockendon mum guilty of murdering son who had autism
Judge slams Essex mental health care after boy’s ‘avoidable’ murder

Eleni Edwards

Name: Eleni “Laney” Edwards.
Died: September 23, 2024.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Unspecified homicide.
Location: Salford, England, UK.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Laney’s mother killed her, then herself.

Neighbors remember seeing her walk down the street, supported by a walking frame. A bus picked her up each day to attend a special school.

Case Status:
Martina Karos (Mother), deceased.

Sources:
Mother and eight year-old girl found dead in suspected murder-suicide pictured
Police name mother and daughter found dead in house in Salford
Woman found dead with disabled daughter, 8, in ‘murder-suicide’
Deaths of mother and disabled eight year-old daughter treated as murder-suicide
‘Devoted’ mum and disabled daughter at centre of ‘murder-suicide’ probe named
Tributes paid to mother and disabled daughter at centre of ‘murder-suicide’
Woman believed to have killed herself and her child ‘not a monster’, says friend

Sonia Parker

Name: Sonia Parker.
Died: May 5, 2024.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Blunt-force head and torso injuries from assault.
Location: Edenbridge, Kent, England, UK.
Disability: Brain injury from perinatal hypoxia; brain cyst.

Details:
Sonia’s boyfriend was abusive and jealous. He had repeatedly assaulted her for doing things like using social media and talking to friends. The final assault caused multiple fractures and internal injuries, leaving Sonia unconscious. Paramedics were unable to revive her and she was declared dead.

Sonia worked as a cleaner and takeaway driver. Her friends remember her as generous, friendly, and kind.

Case Status:
Huseyin Kalyoncu (Partner), convicted of murder, sentenced to 19 years to life.

Sources:
Thug who killed disabled girlfriend told police ‘I know it’s not good’
‘I know it’s not good’: Moment takeaway driver arrested after ‘torturing and beating’ disabled girlfriend to death
Killer’s chilling six-word admission to police after beating disabled girlfriend to death
Takeaway worker accused of murdering disabled partner after ‘punching and stamping’ on her
Edenbridge man found guilty of beating woman to death
Man found guilty of beating woman to death in Edenbridge
Takeaway worker found guilty of murdering his girlfriend

Paul Lavery

No Photo Name: Paul Lavery.
Died: January 31, 2024.
Age at death: 58.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Liverpool, England, UK.
Disability: Mobility impaired, agoraphobia.

Details:
Paul had recently had brain surgery and was recovering at home when his nephew, who was caring for him, got drunk and became angry at him about a missing watch. Paul’s nephew choked him, dragged him down the stairs, left him outside on the sidewalk on a stormy night, and mocked him from the upstairs window. When emergency workers arrived, summoned by a concerned neighbor, Paul’s nephew attacked them and was arrested. Paul was taken to the hospital, where he died after two weeks from head injuries received while he was being dragged down the stairs.

Case Status:
Liam Elms (Nephew), sentenced to 14 years in prison and 4 years parole.

Sources:
Liverpool man jailed for killing disabled uncle in drunken rage and attacking emergency workers who came to help him
‘I can’t justify it, what I done. I loved him’
Man charged with murder after victim dies of his injuries

Maureen Potter

No Photo Name: Maureen Potter.
Died: December 8, 2023.
Age at death: 80.
Cause of death: Unspecified homicide.
Location: Droitwich, Worcestershire, England, UK.
Disability: Cancer.

Details:
Maureen’s husband allegedly killed her and tried to kill their son, who also has a disability.

Case Status:
Ivan Potter (Husband), charged with murder and attempted murder.

Sources:
Pensioner, 81, being quizzed by police after woman, 80, found dead
Man, 81, arrested after woman, 80, ‘murdered’ with second man in hospital
Suspect aged 81 arrested on suspicion of murder after woman found dead
A town in shock – the latest on the Droitwich murder investigation
Man, 81, charged with attempted murder after police called to medical emergency
Maureen Potter (née Bourne)

John and Lois McCullough

Name: John McCullough.
Age at death: 70.
Cause of death: Poisoned.
Disability: Possible autism, hypertension, type II diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia and glaucoma.

Name: Lois McCullough.
Age at death: 71.
Cause of death: Bludgeoned, stabbed.
Disability: Agoraphobia, OCD traits.

Died: September 13, 2023 (Body found; died June 18, 2019).
Location: Great Baddow, Essex, England, UK.

Details:
John and Lois lived with their daughter, who decided to kill them. She saved up prescription medicine and drugged them both, and in the morning, John was dead. Lois survived, so their daughter bludgeoned and stabbed her to death instead. She concealed the bodies for several years before a welfare check revealed that the two were dead.

John and Lois were old-fashioned, private people. John was a retired business studies lecturer who enjoyed golf; Lois loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Case Status:
Virginia McCullough (Daughter), convicted of murder, sentenced to 36 years to life.

Sources:
How Virginia McCullough murdered her parents – and lived with their bodies for four years
Virginia McCullough jailed for 36 years for murdering parents
Why Did a ‘Manipulative’ Daughter Kill Her Parents, Then Live with Their Bodies for the Next 4 Years?
Why Virginia McCullough killed her parents and lived with their bodies
Virginia McCullough case
Autism Memorial: John McCullough

Sara Bateman

Name: Sara Bateman.
Died: March 30, 2023.
Age at death: 50.
Cause of death: Broken neck; strangled.
Location: Willenhall, England, UK.
Disability: Leg amputee, wheelchair user.

Details:
Sara’s boyfriend strangled her with a dog leash.

Case Status:
Matthew Hyde (Boyfriend), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 16 years to life.

Sources:
Sara Bateman: Man who strangled disabled girlfriend with dog lead jailed for life
Willenhall man jailed for life for murdering disabled partner
Police boss issues statement over murder of disabled Willenhall grandmother as new image released
Killer strangled amputee girlfriend to death with a dog lead
‘Caring’ woman murdered by partner who left body for son to find

Sarah Albone

Name: Sarah Albone.
Died: February 25, 2023.
Age at death: 38.
Cause of death: Head injury, airway obstruction.
Location: Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England, UK.
Disability: Multiple sclerosis.

Details:
Sarah’s partner violently killed her and dumped her body in a trash bin; then he convinced her family she was still alive by claiming she was in a hospital for treatment and faking text messages. Even before the murder, he was known to be an abusive and controlling partner.

Case Status:
Matthew Waddell (Partner), convicted of murder, sentenced to a minimum of 32 years.

Sources:
Biggleswade murder trial hears man hid partner’s body in suitcase
Biggleswade: Matthew Waddell guilty of body-in-suitcase murder
Judge calls for Bedfordshire Police to review handling of domestic homicide case

Edna Berry

No Photo Name: Edna Berry.
Died: February 21, 2023.
Age at death: 80.
Cause of death: Bludgeoned with hammer and chisel.
Location: Clacton, Essex, England, UK.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease.

Details:
When Edna kicked and scratched her husband, he lost his temper and attacked her with a hammer and chisel, causing major head injuries. He called emergency services and confessed to the crime. He was arrested; she died at the hospital.

Case Status:
John Berry (Husband), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 10 years to life.

Sources:
Husband, 85, used hammer and chisel to murder wife with Alzheimer’s