Location: USA – Page 105 – Disability Day of Mourning

Laura Cummings

Photo of Laura Cummings, a woman with fair skin and light-brown hair in a pageboy cut, wearing large glasses and a red sweater with a white lace collar. Name: Laura Cummings.
Died: January 21, 2010.
Age at death: 23.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Buffalo, New York, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Laura was raped, tortured, and finally smothered by her mother and half-brother.

Friends remember her as shy, quiet, and kind.

Case status:
Eva Cummings (Mother), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, assault, unlawful imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a disabled person as a hate crime, and was sentenced to 57 years to life.
Luke Wright (half-brother), was found guilty of assault, rape, incest, sodomy, endangering the welfare of an incompetent person, and unlawful imprisonment as a hate crime, and sentenced to 50 years to life.

Source:
Laura Cummings
Angel of Hope: Remembering Laura Cummings
Six years after her horrific death, North Collins woman is laid to rest
N.Y. mom gets prison for killing disabled daughter
Prosecutor: NY man raped, scalded disabled sister
Authorities: Mom, son raped, killed disabled woman

Jimmy Phillips

No Photo Name: James “Jimmy” Phillips.
Died: January 11, 2010.
Age at death: 76.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Gulf Hills, Mississippi, USA.
Disability: Paraplegic.

Details:
Jimmy and his wife Joanne, 70, were both killed by their son in a double murder-suicide. Jimmy was shot four times in the face; Joanne was beaten to death.

They left behind one surviving daughter.

Case status:
Sammy Phillips (Son), deceased.

Source:
He killed his parents then took his own life. Neighbors want their property cleared.
Jackson County Sheriff: Alcohol, drugs factor in double homicide-suicide case in St. Martin
Murder/suicide case to be sent to grand jury

Clyde Bedford

Name: Clyde Edward “Eddie” Bedford.
Died: December 18, 2009.
Age at death: 57.
Cause of death: Bludgoned.
Location: Kennedale, Texas, USA.
Disability: Wheelchair user.

Details:
Clyde, his daughter Joy, and his granddaughter Jodi were attacked by his son-in-law. Clyde and his granddaughter died from being bludgeoned with a bat, and his daughter was fatally stabbed.

Clyde and his granddaughter Jodi were especially close.

Case Status:
John William Hummel (Son-in-law), convicted of murder, sentenced to death. Executed June 30, 2021.

Source:
What did John Hummel do and how did he die? ID’s Sins of the Father revisits 2009 triple murders
Texas inmate faces execution after killing 3 family members
Kennedale Man Faces Execution After Killing 3 Family Members
Clyde Edward “Zeke” Bedford (1952-2009) – Find A Grave
Texas execution: Man stabbed wife 30+ times, used bat to kill daughter and father-in-law
Texas executes inmate for killing his pregnant wife, father-in-law back in 2009

Kelsey Moore

No Photo Name: Kelsey Moore.
Died: December 13, 2009.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Location: Madison County, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Angelman syndrome.

Details:
Kelsey’s father shut her in their garage and poisoned Kelsey and himself with carbon monoxide.

Kelsey liked music. Her favorite instrument was the trumpet.

Case status:
Richard Moore (Father), deceased.

Source:
Father let truck run to kill self, daughter

Fabian Duque

No Photo Name: Fabian Duque.
Died: November 9, 2009.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Fabian was shot by his father.

Case status:
Segundo Duque (Father), deceased.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Fabian Duque
Report on the Fatality of Fabian Duque, Jr.
Segundo Duque shot his 16 year old autistic son in the head
Dad shoots and kills 16-year-old disabled son
Two Deaths, One Gun: Father Kills Autistic Son

Walter Hildebrand Jr.

No Photo Name: Walter Knox Hildebrand Jr.
Died: November 2009.
Age at death: 20.
Cause of death: Fatal seizure.
Location: Willows, California, USA.
Disability: Autism, epilepsy.

Details:
Walter was beaten and starved by his brother. He died from a seizure because his epilepsy was aggravated by his brother’s abuse.

Case status:
Stuart Allen Hildebrand (Brother), pled guilty to abuse, served 59 days in jail.

Source:
Willows, California: Man jailed for abuse and neglect in connection with the death of his brother, Walter Knox Hildebrand Jr.
Beating not cause of death
Autism Memorial: Walter Hildebrand Jr.

Helena Weinstein

No Photo Name: Helena Weinstein.
Died: September 23, 2009.
Age at death: 71.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: New Rochelle, New York, USA.
Disability: Dementia, chronic illness.

Details:
Helena’s husband tried to suffocate her with a pillow; when that didn’t work, he shot her instead.

Case status:
Paul Weinstein (Husband), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 7-8 years in prison. Died while incarcerated.

Source:
Husband kills ailing wife in mercy murder in New Rochelle, police say | ABC7 New York
Mercy killings: After Westchester Medical Center deaths, a look at similar deaths
78-Year-Old New Rochelle Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Wife
Westchester Man Gets Prison For Killing Wife
Westchester Man Gets Prison For Killing Wife

Phyllis Fish

No Photo Name: Phyllis Fish.
Died: September 20, 2009.
Age at death: 88.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Laguna Woods, California, USA.
Disability: Stroke, recent cancer diagnosis, dementia.

Details:
Phyllis’s husband drugged her with morphine, then shot her and himself in the head.

Case status:
James Fish (Husband); charged with manslaughter, but died before he could be tried.

Source:
Doctor, 90, kills wife, tries to commit suicide
“Mercy Killing”: When Love & Law Conflict
DA dismisses mercy killing case after husband dies
Retired doctor suspected of killing wife, shooting self, dies

Christopher Churchill

No Photo Name: Christopher Justin Churchill (First name sometimes spelled “Christophe”).
Died: September 18, 2009.
Age at death: 33.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
When Christopher died while in the care of his adoptive sister, weighing only 60 pounds, police could not find enough evidence to tell whether he had been neglected. His death, due to “protein calorie malnutrition”, was listed as natural.

Six years later, however, another sibling was found, alive but malnourished and dehydrated, locked in their sister’s closet. After she was rescued, Christopher’s death investigation was re-opened, but no charges were brought.

Case status:
Candy Lawson (Sister), charged with abuse-related offenses against Christopher’s sister; under investigation for Christopher’s murder; sentenced to 10-20 years in prison for abuse, false imprisonment, and embezzling.

Source:
Candy Lawson trial focuses on tiny closet, brother’s death in Kentucky
Abuse charge leads to new look at malnutrition death
Inside tiny closet where woman kept her disabled sister for seven years
Woman Found Guilty Of Locking Disabled Sister In 4×8 Closet With Just Bucket For 7 Years
Candy Lawson trial focuses on tiny closet, brother’s death in Kentucky
Candy Lawson receives maximum sentence for locking sister in closet
Abuse Charge Against Michigan Woman Leads To New Look At Man’s Malnutrition Death
Michigan Woman Faces Prison For Locking Disabled Sister In Closet For Years
Woman Who Locked Deaf Sister In Room For 7 Years Convicted
Not My Sister’s Keeper: Woman Locks Deaf/Mute Sister In 7′ X 4′ Closet For Years Until Hero Handyman Turns Her In
Mich. abuse charge leads to new look at malnutrition death
Police Searching For Abuse Suspect’s Missing Siblings

David Lauberts

No Photo Name: David Lauberts.
Died: September 15, 2009.
Age at death: 49.
Cause of death: Suspicious death.
Location: Greeley, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Disability: Mental and physical disabilities.

Details:
David’s brother allegedly burned down their home to try to hide David’s death. It is not known exactly how David died.

Case status:
James Thorpe Lauberts (Brother), charged with criminally negligent homicide, arson, and tampering with evidence.

Source:
Greeley man charged in brother’s death
Greeley man offered plea deal in death of developmentally disabled brother