Location: USA – Page 14 – Disability Day of Mourning

Zada Johnson

Photo of a girl with her head wrapped in striped bedclothes. She has pale skin and curly dark-blonde hair, and is sticking her tongue out slightly. Name: Zada Faith Johnson.
Died: April 10, 2022.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Suffocation; blocked tracheotomy tube.
Location: Lykens, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Details:
Zada needed a tracheotomy tube to breathe and had an oxygen monitor set up, with an alarm that sounded if she didn’t get enough air. According to police, her baby monitor cameras recorded that Zada’s alarm had been ignored for hours the night she died, despite being clearly audible to everyone in the house. Police also say that Zada’s parents regularly left her alone at home with her teenage brother and spent money meant for her medical care on themselves.

Case Status:
Kimberly A. Johnson (Mother), charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child.
Jacob K. Snyder (Mother’s partner), charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child.

Sources:
Police: Couple’s negligence caused 10-year-old girl’s death in 2022
Couple charged for death of disabled 10-year-old girl in Lykens, police say
Zada Faith Johnson Obituary (2022) – Klingerstown, PA – Minnich Family Funeral Homes, Inc. – Williamstown

Thomas Conley

No Photo Name: Thomas Conley.
Died: March 20, 2022.
Age at death: 63.
Cause of death: Head injury, blood loss.
Location: Sherman, Connecticut, USA.
Disability: Anemia, alcoholic liver disease.

Details:
Thomas’s husband hit him in the head. Already weakened by poor health, Thomas died from blood loss from several scalp wounds.

Case Status:
James Maharg (Husband), convicted of murder and evidence tampering, sentenced to 35 years in prison and 10 years special parole.

Sources:
Sherman man convicted in husband’s death sentenced to 35 years
Sherman man James Maharg found guilty in murder of his husband
Sherman man’s ‘compromised’ health contributed to his death, says expert for defense in murder trial
New details emerge in Sherman murder
Alcohol may have fueled Sherman murder

Kathryn Newhouse

Name: Kathryn “Katie” Newhouse.
Died: March 19, 2022.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Shooting.
Location: Canton, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Autism, mental illness.

Details:
Katie’s father shot her, and then killed himself. When she was sixteen, her father had been arrested and charged for holding her down on her bed by her throat.

Kathryn’s friends remember her as a kind young woman who was always smiling, even when life became difficult.

Case Status:
Howard Newhouse (Father), deceased.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Kathryn Newhouse
Candlelight Vigil April 4 for Kathryn Newhouse, Trans Teen Murdered by Her Father in Georgia
Autistic Asian-American Teen Trans Woman Kathryn Newhouse Murdered by Her Father in Georgia
Son reacts after Cherokee County dad kills his daughter before shooting himself

Tre-Shaun Brown

Name: Tre-Shaun Brown.
Died: March 18, 2022.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Beckley, West Virginia, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Tre-Shaun’s mother’s boyfriend attacked Tre-Shaun with a hammer and stabbed his mother. Tre-Shaun’s mother ran to a neighbor, who was able to save Tre-shaun’s little sister but couldn’t save Tre-Shaun.

Neighbors remember Tre-Shaun as a nice kid who used to ride his bike around the apartment building.

Case Status:
Rashad “Rico” Thompson (Mother’s boyfriend), convicted of first-degree murder, malicious wounding, child abuse resulting in death, and two counts of domestic battery; sentenced to 35 years to life.

Sources:
Beckley man sentenced to lengthy prison term after killing 7-year-old boy
Rashad Thompson found guilty of first degree murder after beating child to death
Mother testifies in Rashad Thompson murder trial
Jury visits scene of Beckley murder
Jury shown crime scene photos depicting child’s death
Neighbors mourn boy, show support for mom
TRE’SHAUN “BUBBY” BROWN
Autism Memorial: Tre-Shaun Brown

Rosemary Webster

No Photo Name: Rosemary Webster.
Died: March 16, 2022.
Age at death: 85.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: La Quinta, California, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Rosemary died from a severe beating. Police say her daughter called them and reported that Rosemary had wanted to go visit a relative, though it was no longer safe for her to drive, and that she had “snapped” and beaten Rosemary severely, tied her up, left her, and found her dead in the morning.

Case Status:
Sally Martha Webster (Daughter), charged with murder.

Sources:
Prosecutors say La Quinta woman, overwhelmed and angry over mother’s dementia, killed her

Bryleigh Klino

Name: Bryleigh Klino.
Died: February 25, 2022.
Age at death: 17.
Cause of death: Unspecified; death in the setting of neglect, severe bedsores.
Location: Auburn, New York, USA.
Disability: Rett syndrome.

Details:
When Bryleigh died, hospital personnel noticed that she had severe, untreated bedsores and called the authorities, who arrested Bryleigh’s parents.

Bryleigh leaves behind three younger brothers and two younger sisters. She loved the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants and would watch it as much as she could. Many of her things were SpongeBob-themed.

Case Status:
Jennifer M. Klino (Mother), charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
Brian T. Burns (Mother’s fiancé), charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

Sources:
Court docs detail what nurses discovered after Auburn teen’s death
Auburn man pleads not guilty in court after death of developmentally disabled teenager
Court Records: Auburn couple charged in 17-year-old’s death neglected health concerns
Two charged after investigation into disabled Auburn teen’s death
Autism Memorial: Bryleigh Klino
Couple charged in connection to death of 17-year-old with disabilities
Auburn couple charged in connection with death of disabled 17-year-old daughter
Bryleigh Klino Obituary (2022) – Auburn, NY – The Citizen

Amir Tabarzan

No Photo Name: Amir Tabarzan.
Died: February 20, 2022.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Smothered.
Location: Houston, Texas, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Amir was smothered by his father, who then took his own life.

He was a recent high school graduate.

Case Status:
Alireza Tabarzan (Father), deceased.

Sources:
Father suffocates teen son before using ‘edged weapon’ to take his own life at west Houston home, HPD says
Woman finds husband, son dead in apparent murder-suicide in west Houston
Mother Returned Home to Discover That Husband Suffocated Disabled Son, 19, Before Taking His Own Life: Cops

Melvin Weller

Name: Melvin Weller.
Died: February 11, 2022.
Age at death: 62.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Palm Springs, Florida, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; mobility impaired, poor grip strength.

Details:
Police were called to Melvin’s home and found him dead on his kitchen floor, having been stabbed more than 140 times. His wife was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The two were in the midst of divorce proceedings, and had been working out how to split up the couple’s real estate. After the divorce, Melvin planned to retire to Jamaica, where he had been born.

Case Status:
Joan Burke (Wife), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 35 years.

Sources:
Florida woman charged with murder after allegedly stabbing husband 140 times
FL woman, 61, is accused of stabbing her disabled husband to death
61-Year-Old Woman Stabbed Her Physically Disabled Husband More Than 140 Times: Police
Police: Palm Springs woman, 61, stabbed husband more than 140 times
Jamaica Observer Limited
Florida woman facing murder charges after allegedly stabbing her husband more than 140 times

Edward Kessler

No Photo Name: Edward Kessler.
Died: February 7, 2022.
Age at death: 64.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Elizaville, New York, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; vulnerable elder.

Details:
Ed had been living with a couple for more than twenty years when he was found dead. Police suspect the couple of abusing him, stealing from him, and ultimately causing his death by strangulation.

Case Status:
Cassandra Fischer (Housemate), pleaded guilty to attempted murder and grand larceny; sentenced to 15 years.
Ryan Woods (Housemate), pleaded guilty to attempted murder, sentenced to 15 years.

Sources:
Two Columbia County residents admit to strangling man to steal his money
Elizaville couple charged in death of elderly housemate
2 Elizaville residents plead not guilty to murder charges
Edward Kessler’s mysterious death in Columbia County is a homicide, official says
State police continue investigating February Columbia County death

Jamie Garcia III

Photo of a small, chubby boy with short brown hair and fair skin; he is wearing a blue T-shirt and khakis. He has his hands out in front of him, waving them or perhaps dancing. Name: Jamie Garcia III.
Died: February 6, 2022.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Jamie was stabbed to death, and police arrested his mother on suspicion of having killed him.

Case Status:
Carina Romero (Mother), charged with murder.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Jamie Garcia III
Woman arrested after dead child found inside southeast OKC home by police
‘He was beautiful’: Oklahoma family remembers 7-year-old boy found brutally stabbed to death
Child found dead inside Oklahoma City home identified by police
“He was beautiful,” Family remembers 7-year-old boy found brutally stabbed to death in OKC