Location: USA – Page 24 – Disability Day of Mourning

Jallen McConnie

Photo of a young Black teenage boy, wearing jeans, black T-shirt, and baseball cap, sitting in a lawn chair. In the background is a neatly mown lawn and some parked cars. Name: Jallen McConnie.
Died: June 28, 2021.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Beaten.
Location: New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: PTSD, ADHD, oppositional-defiant disorder, possible autism.

Details:
Jallen lived in Georgia, but he was visiting his cousins in New York City’s Upper West Side. An ambulance was called to the apartment; medics found Jallen unresponsive, his body battered, and brought him to the hospital where he was declared dead. His cousin–who had allegedly beaten him for interrupting him while he was watching TV–was arrested. Further investigation revealed that Jallen had been abused while staying with his cousins.

Case Status:
Johnette Booker (Cousin), convicted of first-degree manslaughter and gang assault, sentenced to 20 years.
Mitcaux Booker (Cousin or brother), charged with assault, endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, and acting in a manner injurious to a child.
Joevon McConnie (Relative), pleaded guilty to assault, sentenced to 3 1/2 years.

Sources:
NYC woman ges 20 years for merciless murder of teen cousin with special needs
Autism Memorial: Jallen McConnie
Johnette Booker Found Guilty for Death of Special Needs Teen Cousin
Disabled teen’s cousin guilty of brutally killing him in her Manhattan apartment
Woman convicted of beating special needs cousin to death in Upper West Side apartment
Cousin Tortured Autistic Teen To Death, DA Says | NYC Top Stories
Autistic Teen Tortured To Death By UWS Cousin, DA Says
Shocking crime: New York woman found guilty in murder of autistic teen cousin
NYC Man Allegedly Beat His Teen Cousin to Death for Interrupting Netflix
Jallen Terrell McConnie | The Wilson Times
15-year-old boy found dead in Manhattan apartment a homicide; man arrested
Disabled teen mercilessly beaten to death in Upper West Side apartment for interrupting cousin’s Netflix time, police say
Man Charged With Assault In Death Of 15-Year-Old Boy On UWS: NYPD

Janet Kotopka

Gravestone reading, "Janet R Kotopka, 1943 to 2021." Name: Janet Kotopka.
Died: June 23, 2021.
Age at death: 78.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease.

Details:
When he was arrested for shooting her, Janet’s husband told investigators he was “exhausted and couldn’t take care of her any longer,” and that he worried about the cost of moving her to a nursing home.

Case Status:
John Kotopka (Husband), charged with first-degree murder; died before trial.

Source:
Lincoln man accused of killing his wife with Alzheimer’s dies in hospital
Lincoln man accused of fatally shooting his wife who had Alzheimer’s pleads not guilty to murder
Lincoln man accused of killing wife who had Alzheimer’s charged with first-degree murder
80-Year-Old Resented Taking Care Of Wife Who Suffered From Alzheimer’s. So He Killed Her
80-year-old kills wife of 57 years because she had Alzheimer’s, Nebraska cops say
Lincoln man accused of killing ailing wife now charged with murder
Husband Who Shot His Elderly Wife Now Faces Murder Charge | Nebraska News | US News
Nebraska man charged in fatal shooting of wife of 57 years

Lauri Deatherage

Photo of a smiling woman with straight auburn hair and fair skin. Name: Lauri Anne Deatherage.
Died: June 18, 2021.
Age at death: 48.
Cause of death: Shot.
Location: Robbinsdale, Minnesota, USA.
Disability: Disabled veteran.

Details:
Less than a week after her second marriage, Lauri was allegedly shot and killed by her ex-husband.

Lauri made custom cards and dresses for the Renaissance fair.

Case Status:
Robert D. McCloud (Ex-husband), charged with second-degree intentional murder, died before trial.

Source:
Brooklyn Center man suspected of killing ex-wife dies
Air Force vet allegedly killed by ex-husband just days into new marriage
Minn. Woman Allegedly Shot and Killed by Ex-Husband Less Than a Week After Getting Remarried
Obituary for Lauri Anne Deatherage (Winkelman) at Gearty-Delmore – Robbinsdale Chapel
Man Allegedly Murders His Ex-Wife Days After Attending Her Wedding to New Husband

Aaliyah Artis

Name: Aaliyah Nicole Artis.
Died: June 8, 2021.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Lung injury, malnutrition, poor living conditions.
Location: Xenia, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Aaliyah’s body was found in her house, which was in such poor condition it was condemned. She died from a lung injury, complicated by poor nutrition and poor living conditions.

According to Aaliyah’s obituary, she “enjoyed watching cartoons, coloring, riding her bike, playing outside, and dancing with her sisters.”

Case Status:
Mary Artis (Mother), convicted of child endangerment; sentenced to 2 1/2 years.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Aaliyah Artis
Ohio mom charged after 12-year-old girl dies from living in ‘deplorable’ conditions
Police: No evidence 12-year-old Greene County girl’s death purposeful; mother indicted for child endangering
Xenia police investigating 12-year-old girl’s death
Aaliyah Nicole Artis Obituary – Visitation & Funeral Information
12-year-old girl found dead at Xenia home in ‘filthy condition’
Police investigating death of 12-year-old girl
Aaliyah Artis: Reforms called for in wake of Xenia child’s death

72-year-old woman

No Photo Name Unknown.
Died: June 7, 2021.
Age at death: 72.
Cause of death: Suffocation.
Location: Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Parkinson’s disease, diabetes.

Details:
The 72-year-old woman was found in her burning house; she had been dead for several days. Her granddaughter was arrested on suspicion of smothering her and setting the house on fire.

She enjoyed listening to music from the 1950’s; on TV she watched the evening news, the Price is Right, Law and Order, Forensic Files and Jeopardy.

Case Status:
Elizabeth M. Durkee (granddaughter), pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide and arson; sentenced to 22 years to life.

Source:
Fort Atkinson woman sentenced to life in prison for killing grandmother, setting fire to house
Homicide defendant alleges grandmother’s death was mercy killing
Homicide charges filed against Fort woman accused of killing grandmother in fatal house fire
Homicide charges filed against Fort Atkinson woman after fatal house fire
Woman facing murder, arson charges in connection to fatal Fort Atkinson fire
Fort Atkinson woman charged with arson and homicide in grandmother’s death, discovered after fire

Bonnie Kornhaber

Name: Bonnie Kornhaber.
Died: June 4, 2021.
Age at death: 66.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Wheelchair user.

Details:
Bonnie returned from the hospital in a wheelchair, with her husband to care for her; but he neglected her. When she fell out of her wheelchair, he left her on the floor for months, until she eventually died; paramedics found multiple severe bedsores. During his trial, her husband said he had not called for help because he was embarrassed about the state of their cluttered and dirty house.

Case Status:
Louis Kornhaber (Husband), guilty of second-degree murder and neglect of a disabled or elder adult resulting in serious physical injury; sentenced to 94 to 125 months.

Sources:
Man sentenced for killing wife inside Mecklenburg County home
Wife Slipped Out of Wheelchair and Couldn’t Move on Floor. Husband Left Her There for Months to Die
Man left disabled wife to die on floor for 6 months despite ‘insect activity’
Man sentenced after his wheelchair-bound wife was found dead on pile of trash in ‘hoarder house’
Hoarder Louis Kornhaber convicted of murdering his wife

Joseph Barney

Name: Joseph Barney.
Died: June 1, 2021.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Malnutrition, battered child syndrome.
Location: Bronx, New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Joseph, who lived with his mother and her boyfriend, was brought to the hospital and declared dead there. His body weighed 30 pounds, less than two-thirds of what a child his age should have weighed, and showed signs of battered child syndrome.

Joseph liked watching videos of subway trains. Monkeys were his favorite animal, and his favorite foods were pizza, ice cream, candy, fruit snacks, and Capri Suns.

Case Status:
Michael Ransom (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with murder, and aggravated manslaughter of a person under 11.
Sharay Barney (Mother), charged with murder, and aggravated manslaughter of a person under 11.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Joseph Barney
Parents Indicted on Murder, Manslaughter Charges in Alleged Starvation Death of NYC Boy
Woman and Boyfriend Charged for Death of 8-year-old Autistic Son
Bronx parents indicted in starvation death of 8-year-old boy
Mom, Boyfriend Charged in Death of 8-Year-Old Autistic Boy in the Bronx
Autism Memorial: Joseph Barney
Parents charged with murder in malnourished 8-year-old son’s death
Death of 8-year-old autistic boy in the Bronx ruled a homicide, cops say
Malnutrition probed in death of 8-year-old Bronx boy
Autistic 8-year-old Bronx boy’s death ruled a homicide, was victim of repeated beatings
Autistic NYC boy, 8, dies — possibly from severe malnutrition

Liam Husted

Name: Liam Husted.
Died: May 28, 2021.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Liam’s body was found by hikers. Initially unidentified, he was called “Little Zion” until a family friend recognized his photo as that of Liam, who had gone missing along with his mother. Less than a day later, police found her and arrested her on suspicion of murder.

Liam loved to swim. He attended a school for autistic children and had a therapist to visit him at home for “behavioral issues,” but these services were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Case Status:
Samantha Moreno Rodriguez (Mother), pleaded guilty to murder, child abuse, neglect, or endangerment resulting in substantial bodily harm, sentenced to 28 years to life.

Source:
Samantha Moreno-Rodriguez: sentenced to life in prison for murdering 7-year-old autistic son
California woman accused of killing 7-year-old son near Las Vegas sentenced to life in prison
Mom who killed 7-year-old autistic son on hike outside Las Vegas sentenced to minimum of 28 years in prison
Mother guilty of strangling 7-year-old son, dumping body in desert receives sentencing
Sentencing date set for mother charged in 7-year-old son’s murder
The murder of Liam Husted: Mother, 36, pleads guilty to strangling autistic son, 7, to death
Mom accused of strangling 7-year-old agrees to plead guilty
Mother Strangles 7-Year-Old Autistic Son, Dumps His Body In Desert
Autism Memorial: Liam Husted
Prosecutor: California mother admitted strangling special-needs son found dead in Nevada desert
California woman arrested after special-needs son’s body found in remote Nevada area
Samantha Moreno Rodriguez arrested in special needs 7 yr old son murder
Body Of John ‘Little Zion’ Doe Found Near Las Vegas Identified As Missing San Jose 7-Year-Old; Mother Wanted For Murder
California mom suspected in son’s death arrested after nationwide manhunt
Mother arrested in Denver in connection with San Jose boy’s death near Las Vegas
Mother arrested for death of son found dumped on Las Vegas hike trail
San Jose Mother Suspected of Killing 7-Year-Old Son Arrested in Denver
California mom jailed in Denver following son’s Vegas death

Brian Cotter

Name: Brian Cotter.
Died: “A few days after” May 17, 2021.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Fresno, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Brian’s brother called 911 to report that Brian had shot his father and then himself. First responders arrived to find Brian’s father, Patrick, dead and Brian severely injured. Brian would die at the hospital several days later. However, police investigated Brian’s brother’s story, found that it did not match the evidence, and arrested him for the double murder. At trial, the prosecution would prove that Brian’s brother had set up the killings to look like a murder-suicide in order to pin the blame on his autistic brother.

Brian and his father used to go on walks, and Brian would carry a walkie-talkie to keep in touch with his neighbor. A natural with computers, he created his own cartoon character and made his own films.

Case Status:
Robert Cotter (Brother), convicted of murder, sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
Teen Who Killed Father & Tried to Pin Murder on Autistic Brother is Going to Prison: Reports
Teenager who killed his father and brother in Fresno last year on his way to prison
Teen accused of killing father, brother faces possible death penalty with family support
Detectives say murder-suicide in Fresno was really a double homicide
Victims’ family member arrested in Fresno mobile home park shooting that left 15-year-old autistic son and father dead
“It’s going to be a loss to us”: Neighbors react to alleged mobile home park murder
Autism Memorial: Brian Cotter

Margarita Sandoval

Name: Margarita “Maggie” Sandoval.
Died: May 13, 2021 (Body found; reported missing in 2018).
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Norman, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Mental illness, special needs.

Details:
Three years after she was reported missing, police received a tip that led them to Margarita’s body wrapped up in the basement of a home. When questioned, the homeowner said that a friend of his, Margarita’s brother, had asked to store some things in his basement; the homeowner was unaware that one of the items was Margarita’s body. Margarita had stayed with her brother and his wife around the time she vanished in 2018. She had reported that they were abusing her. Margarita’s brother and his wife had also been receiving Social Security money intended for Margarita.

Case Status:
Octavio Julian Sanchez (Brother), charged with first-degree murder and unlawful removal of a dead body; pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 4 years in prison and 3 years probation.
Desiree Sanchez (Sister-in-law), convicted of first-degree murder and unlawful removal of a dead body, sentenced to life in prison.

Source:
Man pleads guilty to manslaughter after murder of half-sister
Man Accused Of Killing His Sister Takes Blind Plea Deal To Avoid Trial
Oklahoma woman sentenced for killing disabled sister-in-law for social security checks
Couple who allegedly murdered relative sentenced for collecting her social security
2 suspects expected in court after being accused of leaving body in Norman basement
Norman Police arrest two in connection to 2018 homicide after body found in 2021
Couple arrested, charged with murder in death of Margarita Sandoval
Norman police conducting murder investigation after decomposed body found in basement
‘Everyone Let Her Down’: Relative Speaks Out After Woman’s Body Is Found In Norman Basement
Dead woman’s body wrapped in layers of plastic found in Norman home, court document reveals shocking new detailsO