Location: USA – Disability Day of Mourning

Ralph Taylor III

Name: Ralph “RJ” Taylor III.
Died: July 10, 2025.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
RJ was allegedly shot by his father with a gun purchased by his mother. The couple claimed the bullet had come from outside through a window, but police found the gun and empty cartridge inside the house.

RJ’s neighbors remember him as a sweet, happy child. He communicated mostly by singing.

Case Status:
Ralph Taylor (Father), charged with first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Casandra Taylor (Mother), charged with neglecting a child (consequence is death) and straw purchasing of a firearm.

Sources:
‘If allegations are true, you are a baby killer,’ commissioner tells father
Neighbors say they tried to save 4-year-old who died in shooting
Parents charged in shooting death of Milwaukee 4-year-old

Patricia Kachinko

Name: Patricia Kachinko.
Died: June 24, 2025.
Age at death: 73.
Cause of death: Assault; blow to chest.
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: COPD.

Details:
Patricia’s daughter allegedly punched her in the chest during an argument. Patricia, frail and requiring oxygen to breathe, began to have even more difficulty breathing and was taken to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a fractured sternum. She died 22 days later.

Two days before the injury, Patricia had called police to her house, reporting that her daughter had punched her boyfriend in the face. At that time, the police left without pressing charges.

Patricia is remembered as a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with family.

Case Status:
Krystal Slepski (Daughter) is charged with simple assault, robbery, and homicide.

Sources:
Death of Troy Hill woman who died weeks after fight with daughter ruled a homicide
North Side woman jailed for assaulting mother now faces homicide charge in her death
Obituary for Patricia Ann Kachinko

Karen Pautler

No Photo Name: Karen Pautler.
Died: April 25, 2025.
Age at death: 75.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Fenton, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Frail elder, mental illness.

Details:
Karen’s husband allegedly shot her because he “was exhausted from taking care of her, but did not want her to die in a nursing home.”

Case Status:
Kenneth Pautler (Husband), charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Sources:
Man accused of killing wife says he didn’t want her to die in a nursing home
Jefferson County man charged with wife’s murder; says he didn’t want her to die in a nursing home
Fenton-area man allegedly shoots, kills wife
Jefferson County man kills wife, says he didn’t want her to die in a nursing home

Cristian Padilla

No Photo Name: Cristian Rodriguez Padilla.
Died: April 19, 2025.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Complications of cerebral palsy.
Location: Metairie, Louisiana, USA.
Disability: Quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

Details:
Cristian, who needed 24-hour monitoring due to his medical problems, died alone at home, according to police. His parents returned to find him unresponsive, but allegedly delayed calling emergency services. When paramedics finally arrived, far too late, Cristian was declared dead from natural causes. Police who arrested his mother and her boyfriend, said they had left him alone for “at least three hours.”

Case Status:
Karla Padilla Pavon (Mother), charged with negligent homicide.
Hovet Vela Espinoza (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with negligent homicide.

Sources:
Metairie mom booked with negligent homicide in quadriplegic 7-year-old son’s death
Two arrested for negligent homicide after child found dead in Metairie home, JPSO says
Metairie mom booked with negligent homicide in quadriplegic 7-year-old son’s death

Secrett Curtis

No Photo Name: Secrett T. Curtis.
Died: March 31, 2025.
Age at death: 23.
Cause of death: Unspecified neglect.
Location: Chesterfield, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Autism, cerebral palsy.

Details:
Secrett, who had CP and autism, lived with her aunt. She was declared dead shortly after she arrived at the hospital. Doctors called the authorities because she was severely malnourished. Police who searched her house say she had been kept in a mold-infested room, on filthy bedding.

Case Status:
Tina T. Curtis (Aunt), charged with abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult leading to their death.

Sources:
Chesterfield woman charged with neglect leading to niece’s death
Suspect Arrested in Death of Vulnerable Adult

Jean Hoesing

Name: Jean Ann Hoesing.
Died: March 16, 2025.
Age at death: 74.
Cause of death: Blood loss.
Location: Perry, Iowa, USA.
Disability: Bipolar disorder, multiple sclerosis.

Details:
Jean’s husband called emergency services and reported that he had killed her to “put her out of her misery.” Responders arrived to find Jean dead in her bedroom with her throat cut.

Case Status:
Richard Hoesing (Husband), charged with first-degree murder.

Sources:
Perry man killed his wife ‘to put her out of her misery,’ suspect tells police
Jean Anne Hoesing – View Obituary & Service Information
Husband, 75, tells cops he killed his sick wife ‘to put her out of her misery’

Benjamin Murphy

Name: Benjamin David Murphy.
Died: March 6, 2025.
Age at death: 33.
Cause of death: Abuse, medical neglect.
Location: Scappoose, Oregon, USA.
Disability: Autism, wheelchair user.

Details:
Benjamin’s death was reported to the police three days after the fact. Upon investigating, police arrested his mother and sibling; court documents stated that his death was “in the course of or as a result of intentional torture” and “by neglect and maltreatment consisting of neglect of medically necessary services,” but did not elaborate further.

Case Status:
Katherine Raina (Mother), charged with first-degree murder, murder by abuse, criminally negligent homicide, criminal mistreatment, and abuse of a corpse.
Hillary Murphy (Sibling), charged with first-degree murder, murder by abuse, criminally negligent homicide, criminal mistreatment, and abuse of a corpse.

Sources:
Mother and daughter arrested in Scappoose for murder and abuse of family member
Scappoose duo faces murder charges after man’s death of ‘neglect and maltreatment’
Mom, sibling accused of murdering family member in Scappoose denied bail

LaVonne Hoff

Name: LaVonne Hoff.
Died: February 3, 2025.
Age at death: 76.
Cause of death: Blood loss.
Location: Colorado City, Colorado, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Medics who were called to LaVonne’s house found her unresponsive and badly injured, the victim of a dog attack; she was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Investigators searched the house and found 54 neglected dogs and seven birds, who had all been living crammed together in severely unsanitary conditions.

Police arrested LaVonne’s daughter, who allegedly neglected the animals and left her mother to fend for herself while she went out, even though LaVonne had severe dementia and needed someone with her around the clock.

Case Status:
Jessica Hoff (Daughter), charged with felony negligence and animal cruelty.

Sources:
Daughter Arrested After Mom, Who Has Dementia, Is Mauled To Death By 54 Dogs
Woman arrested after mother with dementia mauled to death by dogs
Colorado woman charged after mother found mauled to death among dozens of dogs
Daughter arrested after mother with dementia is mauled to death in home with 54 dogs
Cause of Death Revealed for Woman with Dementia Who Was Attacked by Dozens of Dogs In Her Home

Melony Granados

No Photo Name: Melony Granados.
Died: January 23, 2025.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Tempe, Arizona, USA.
Disability: Myoclonic atonic epilepsy, intellectual disability.

Details:
Medics responded to Melony’s house to find her unresponsive, covered in bruises and sores. Her grandmother told the doctors that Melony had fallen down the stairs. Melony was taken to the hospital but died the next morning.

Further investigation revealed a makeshift cage made from a bunk bed. Police say her family admitted to keeping Melony in the cage, which was extremely dirty.

Case Status:
Virginia Lujan (Grandmother), charged with felony child abuse.
Jami Hodges (Mother), charged with felony child abuse.

Sources:
Grandmother Charged In Disabled Teen’s Death After 13-Year-Old Was Kept In A Cage
Mother, grandmother arrested in connection to death of 13-year-old girl
Teen with mental age of toddler dies after being forced to live in cage
Grandmother Charged In Disabled Teen’s Death After 13-Year-Old Was Kept In A Cage
Tempe 13-year-old dead after being found in cage; grandmother suspected in death
Police probe caged Tempe teen’s death

Helen Witter

Name: Helen Kay Witter.
Died: January 17, 2025.
Age at death: 80.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Lombard, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Helen died from a gunshot; police say her husband called 911, admitting to having shot his wife, and was arrested. Her husband’s lawyer is arguing that Helen’s husband shot her because her dementia made her irritable.

As a young woman, Helen was a business secretary; then she became a homemaker to raise her four children. She is survived by seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Case Status:
Charles Witter (Husband), charged with murder.

Sources:
Lombard man accused of murdering wife says he ‘went nuts’
Helen Witter Obituary (1944 – 2025) – Evansville, IL
81-year-old husband accused of shooting his wife to death in their bed