Location: USA – Page 23 – Disability Day of Mourning

Mason Weston

No Photo
Name: Mason Joe Weston.
Died: August 7, 2021.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Homicide; battered child.
Location: Fergus Falls, Minnesota, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
When Mason was taken to the hospital with severe injuries, his attacker initially said he had fallen, but eventually told police that he had slammed Mason’s head against the wall and kicked him. Mason died in the hospital. His killer admitted that he had become angry at the boy for not washing the dishes.

Case Status:
Reggie Bethel (Mother’s boyfriend), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 8 years 4 months to 12 1/2 years.

Source:
Otter Tail County man sentenced for beating death of boy with autism
Mason Joe Weston
Fergus Falls man charged with murdering autistic boy by slamming head into wall numerous times

Lewis Lujan

Name: Lewis Lujan.
Died: August 7, 2021.
Age at death: 63.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Disability: Cancer survivor.

Details:
Lewis, his wife Irene, and his son Matthew were allegedly shot by his son.

Before his cancer diagnosis, Lewis worked as a plumber.

Case Status:
Brandon Lujan (Son), booked on three counts of first-degree murder.

Source:
‘They did not deserve this’: Relatives mourn Phoenix family killed in weekend shooting
Phoenix man says fight with brother led to deadly shooting of his family
Phoenix man details fatally shooting his brother and parents, report says

Chelsea and Connor Hill

Name: Chelsea Hill.
Name: Connor Hill.

Died: August 5, 2021.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Silverdale, Washington, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Twin siblings Chelsea and Connor’s mother presented herself at an emergency room and said she was suicidal, and that there were two people dead at her home. When investigators checked the home, they found Chelsea and Connor dead, and police arrested their mother, who told them that she had “lost track of time” and forgotten to feed Chelsea and Connor.

Case Status:
Sherrie Lynn Hill (Mother), charged with second-degree murder.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Chelsea and Connor Hill.
Kitsap County mom accused of murdering, possibly starving her twin children
Silverdale woman charged with murder after her autistic twins found dead in her home
Suicidal Washington mother charged with murder of her autistic twins

Zoey Chafer

Name: Zoey Elizabeth Chafer.
Died: July 28, 2021.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Ethanol poisoning.
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Zoey, who ate through a feeding tube, died from acute alcohol poisoning. Police, who arrested her mother and her mother’s boyfriend, say that Zoey was killed with alcohol administered through her feeding tube.

Zoey’s obituary says she “enjoyed watching Sponge Bob Square Pants; laying in the sun, going on walks, watching her sister play, and listening to music.”

Case Status:
Domenic Falkner (Mother’s partner), charged with first-degree intentional homicide, physical abuse of a child, and chronic neglect of a child.
Samantha Smith (Mother), charged with chronic neglect of a child and physical abuse of a child.

Sources:
Couple Charged in Death of Special Needs Child Whose Blood Alcohol Level Was More Than Seven Times the Legal Limit
Criminal Charges Filed Against Couple In Death Of 4-Year-Old | Recent News
Hayward couple charged with homicide, neglect, abuse in 4-year-old’s death; BAC at ‘lethal’ level
Hayward, WI couple charged with homicide in death of 4-year-old
Zoey Elizabeth Chafer Obituary

Joyce Jeffries

No Photo Name: Joyce Ann Jeffries.
Died: July 24, 2021.
Age at death: 84.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Spiegner, Alabama, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Joyce’s son fatally shot her and her daughter-in-law Susan. He told his daughter that he was killing his mother because she had been recently diagnosed with dementia, then shot himself and died soon afterwards in the hospital. His daughter and her children survived unhurt.

Case Status:
William Jeffries (Son), deceased.

Source:
Alabama man accused of killing wife, mother before shooting self
Alabama Man Shoots Wife, Mother, Then Himself, Leaves Daughter and Her Children Unharmed
Alleged gunman dies following Deatsville murder-suicide

Mark Pagan

Name: Mark Pagan.
Died: July 24, 2021.
Age at death: Adult.
Cause of death: Head trauma.
Location: Nashville, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Schizophrenia.

Details:
Mark lived with his sister, who cared for him. Mark and his sister were both allegedly attacked and battered by his nephew; Mark died from massive head injuries, and his sister Kris was hospitalized in serious condition.

Case Status:
Jared Dean Zisman (Nephew), charged with felony murder, felony aggravated battery-family violence, and two counts of felony aggravated assault family violence.

Source:
‘We were in shock’: Nashville homicide, assault victims’ family speaks out
Help for Kris Pagan & Her Younger Son, organized by Patti Pietroniro
Man charged in Nashville weekend killing, assaults

Kaysen Blackshear

Name: Kaysen Blackshear.
Died: July 19, 2021.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Medical neglect.
Location: Springdale, Ohio, USA.
Disability: A genetic disorder that causes seizures and developmental delay.

Details:
Kaysen was brought to the hospital with brain swelling, injuries to her face and back, and a chipped tooth. Her mother allegedly delayed seeking medical help for her for some time before she finally called for an ambulance. Kaysen died in the hospital. Police say her mother admitted to withholding food, water, and medical care in the hope that Kaysen would die.

Kaysen was active and inquisitive and would chew on anything she could get her hands on.

Case Status:
Bryce Foster (Mother), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 3 years.

Source:
Woman sentenced for involuntary manslaughter in 5-year-old daughter’s death
Springdale mom charged in 5-year-old daughter’s death
Wish List: Single mother seeks car for daughter’s medical needs.
Police: Charges filed against mother in death of Springdale 5-year-old
Coroner: 5-year-old girl dies of apparent homicide, Springdale police investigating
Police investigating after 5-year-old girl dies from injuries
Wish List: Mother seeks vehicle to ease travel to daughter’s medical appointments
Springdale 5-year-old arrived ‘non-responsive’ and injured to hospital before death

Jasmine Singletary

Name: Jasmine Singletary.
Died: July 13, 2021.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Internal injury.
Location: Pensacola, Florida, USA.
Disability: A neuromuscular disorder.

Details:
Jasmine had been admitted to the hospital for an infection, and was alone in her room with her mother and grandmother when she was found dying of massive injuries to her ribs and liver–injuries that had not been there at admission. Police, who questioned her mother, say her mother admitted to bludgeoning her with a table after Jasmine cursed at her.

Case Status:
Jessica Bortle (Mother), convicted of battery and child abuse, sentenced to 1 year and 1 day in prison.

Source:
Woman Gets One Year For Hospital Death Of Her Special Needs Daughter : NorthEscambia.com
Mother sentenced to 1 year in prison for Pensacola hospital death of special needs daughter
Mom sentenced to 1 year in prison in blunt force trauma death of special-needs daughter
Mom accused of ‘obliterating’ special needs daughter’s liver, killing child for ‘cussing’ and ‘throwing and breaking crayons’ while in hospital bed
Florida Woman Allegedly Kills Special Needs Daughter Inside Hospital Room, Rips Her Kidney Open
Mother charged with homicide of her daughter with special needs while in the hospital
Woman Killed Her Special Needs Daughter Insider Her Hospital Room, PPD Says : NorthEscambia.com
Pensacola Police: Bonifay woman killed daughter in hospital room
Mother killed special needs teen daughter inside Florida hospital room, police say

Zeus Cox

Name: Zeus Geovani Cox.
Died: July 5, 2021.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma; internal bleeding.
Location: Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Suspected autism.

Details:
A month after being returned to his mother and her boyfriend, Zeus was found dead from a severe beating. Prosecutors told the court that Zeus had been beaten by his mother’s boyfriend, then denied medical treatment for his injuries.

His obituary describes him as “very active and full of life”.

Case Status:
Crystal Cox (Mother), convicted of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, aggravated battery resulting in death, and battery resulting in death of a person younger than 14 years old; sentenced to 55 years in prison and 2 years probation.
Jermaine Garnes (Mother’s boyfriend), convicted of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, aggravated battery resulting in death, and battery resulting in death of a person younger than 14; sentenced to 65 years.

Sources:
Michigan man gets 65 years in boy’s Indiana beating death
Garnes receives 65 years for murder of girlfriend’s 3-year-old
Lafayette woman gets 55 years in 3-year-old’s beating death
Lafayette woman gets 55 years in 3-year-old’s beating death
Mom charged with murder called ‘unfit and abusive’
Lafayette couple charged with the murder of a toddler
Zeus Cox Obituary
Lafayette woman found guilty of murdering 3-year-old son
Mom charged with murder is set to stand trial
Mother guilty of murdering and neglecting her 3-year-old son
Autism Memorial: Zeus Cox

Deborah Diamond

No Photo Name: Deborah Diamond.
Died: June 30, 2021.
Age at death: 73.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Sheffield, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness, chronic pain.

Details:
Deborah’s husband shot her. She was hospitalized, but died 23 days later from her injuries.

Case Status:
Ronald Diamond (Husband), pleaded no contest to aggravated murder, murder, and felonious assault; sentenced to life without parole.

Sources:
Court rejects Sheffield man’s appeal in wife’s 2021 murder
Lorain County Safe Harbor: Silent Witnesses