Location: USA – Page 28 – Disability Day of Mourning

Sayeed Neilson

Name: Sayeed Neilson.
Died: October 23, 2020.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Trauma.
Location: Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Sayeed’s stepbrother allegedly punched and kicked him in the head; his mother told his stepbrother to stop, but then walked away without actually checking to make sure he had stopped. They told investigators he had fallen in the shower; but police believed his injuries were “inconsistent with a fall” and brought them in for questioning.

Sayeed loved Star Wars and Halloween. He never missed a day walking his dog Chloe, rain or shine.

Case status:
Rebacca Greenwood (Mother), charged with criminal homicide, aggravated child abuse and evidence tampering.
David Matheny (Stepbrother), charged with criminal homicide, aggravated child abuse and evidence tampering.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Sayeed Neilson
Aunt mourns 14-year-old boy with Asperger’s beaten to death in Hermitage home
‘It Was Like Reign Of Terror’: Man Accused Of Beating His Autistic 14-Year-Old Brother To Death
Vigil for teen with Autism killed by family members
‘Reign of terror’: Slaying of Nashville 14-year-old involving brother, mother leaves relatives reeling
Aunt mourns 14-year-old boy with Asperger’s beaten to death in Tennessee home
Mother, stepbrother charged with homicide in death of autistic 14-year-old boy
Tenn. mother, stepbrother charged in death of autistic 14-year-old

David Almond

Name: David Almond.
Died: October 21, 2020.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Fall River, Massachusetts, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability, autism.

Details:
David and his two brothers, a set of triplets, were all neglected and abused by their father and his girlfriend. Child services was called, and the brothers spent time living outside their home; but eventually two of the boys were returned to their father. David died, malnourished and with fentanyl, a powerful opiate, in his system. His caregivers were arrested and his triplet brother and toddler half-brother were rescued.

At school, David had been a happy boy with a good sense of humor. His schoolmates described him as the “mayor” of the school. He was good at reading and took pride in this ability. He participated in school plays. He and his brothers had invented their own language to communicate between them. David liked cartoons, toys, and video games.

Case Status:
New Report Focuses on Concerns for Child Safety
John Michael Almond (Father), charged with second-degree murder and neglect of a disabled person resulting in serious bodily injury, reckless endangerment of a child, and drug possession; convicted, sentenced to 20 years to life.
Jaclyn Marie Coleman (Father’s girlfriend), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and neglect of a disabled person resulting in serious bodily injury, reckless endangerment of a child, and drug possession; sentenced to 20 years to life.

Source:
Fall River woman pleads guilty, sentenced to life in David Almond’s abuse and death
Fall River man pleads guilty in 14-year-old son’s 2020 death
Fall River man pleads guilty in teenage son’s death
State Rep. Fiola, State Senator Rodrigues host dedication ceremony for Fall River autistic teen who died of starvation, neglect
David Almond died nearly two years ago. A newly dedicated memorial grove will honor him.
Autism Memorial: David Almond
MA report: Sweeping changes made in wake of David Almond death, services for brothers monitored
‘I don’t want people to forget’: One year later, vigil will remember David Almond
Vigil planned to mark one year anniversary of death of 14-year-old Fall River autistic boy
Visible injuries, scrubbing floors with a toothbrush: Shocking details from the Almond report
DCF, School Could Have Done More to Prevent Fall River Teen’s Death: Report
Investigation into death of Mass. boy found living in filth finds ‘multi-system failure,’ serious errors from DCF
Mass. Child Advocate identifies multi-system failure prior to death of Fall River teen with special needs
Fall River couple indicted in teen’s death
Fall River couple accused in starvation death of 14-year-old autistic teen due in court Monday
Rep. Fiola calls for answers in death of autistic Fall River boy
Judge orders couple held for 120 days in death of autistic boy
Death of 14-year-old Fall River boy under investigation; couple faces neglect charges
Mass. Horror Home: Teen Dead, Brother ‘Alarmingly Emaciated,’ Prosecutors Say
Two charged with child abuse and neglect after death of autistic teen in Fall River
Father, girlfriend charged in death of special needs Fall River teen allegedly found with fentanyl in system
Death of 14-year-old boy under investigation; Evidence of drugs, neglect of teen’s brother, police say

Timothy Gramlich

Name: Timothy Gramlich.
Died: October 18, 2020.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Untreated urinary tract infection.
Location: Abington, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Timothy died from sepsis secondary to an untreated urinary tract infection. According to police, he was found uncared-for in filthy conditions, his brother was his sole caretaker, and he had not been to the doctor since the early 2000s.

Case Status:
Harry Gramlich (Brother), found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 6-12 months in jail and 5 years probation.
Elizabeth Anne Gramlich (Sister), pleaded guilty to neglect of a care-dependent person, sentenced to 10 years probation.
Joseph T. Gramlich (Brother), pleaded guilty to neglect of a care-dependent person, sentenced to 10 years probation and a $1,000 fine.

Source:
Montco Man Sentenced to Jail, Probation in Death of Disabled Brother
A Glenside man was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in his disabled brother’s death
Judge weighing fate of Abington man accused of manslaughter, neglect in death of brother with Down syndrome
Trial begins for Abington man accused of manslaughter and neglect in death of brother who had Down syndrome
Sister Of Neglected Man With Down Syndrome Who Died In Montco Pleads Guilty
Two more siblings of dead Abington man face charges of neglecting care dependent person
Police: Abington man with Down syndrome died after brother left him emaciated, neglected
Montgomery County man charged with murder and neglect in the death of his disabled brother
Brother Charged After Disabled Man Dies From Neglect: Montco DA
Timothy W. Gramlich Obituary – Visitation & Funeral Information

Callie Branch

Name: Callie Branch.
Died: October 17, 2020.
Age at death: 73.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: Partial paralysis after stroke.

Details:
Callie’s daughter allegedly stabbed her to death. Police say Callie’s daughter told them that Callie threatened to call the police, so her daughter stabbed her.

Before she retired, Callie owned a beauty shop.

Case Status:
Crystal Branch (Daughter), charged with first-degree murder.

Source:
Woman indicted for murder in stabbing death of 73-year-old disabled mother
Police: Woman found smoking cigarette after stabbing 73-year-old mother

Homer Piatt

Name: Homer “Dave” Piatt.
Died: October 15, 2020.
Age at death: 72.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Las Crucez, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness, mobility impaired.

Details:
Dave’s wife shot him. Three days later, she went to the police and explained she had killed him to “ease his suffering”.

He was the former Postmaster of Haydenville, a nearby town.

Case Status:
Gayle L. Piatt (Wife), pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter; sentenced to 11 to 16-1/2 years in prison.

Source:
Haydenville woman sentenced for husband’s death
Obituary for Homer David “Dave” Piatt at Cardaras Funeral Home – Logan

Enedina Sohlke

Photo of a woman with brown hair and olive-tone skin, wearing a white sweater and sitting at a table with food in front of her. She is wearing glasses. Name: Enedina “Nina” Sohlke.
Died: October 11, 2020.
Age at death: 47.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: South Bend, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Leg amputee, kidney transplant.

Details:
Nina began living with her caregiver and romantic partner, but he prevented her from seeing her family, kept her from her medical appointments, and finally beat her to death.

Nina was known for helping children from bad homes.

Case Status:
Mark Coleman (Caregiver, partner), convicted of murder, sentenced to 65 years.

Sources:
‘In the most heinous way possible:’ Man given maximum sentence in Webster Street murder
Family honoring SB woman murdered in Oct. 2020

Karen Gillen

Name: Karen Gillen.
Died: September 23, 2020.
Age at death: 68.
Cause of death: Brain injury; beating.
Location: Waxahachie, Texas, USA.
Disability: Stroke.

Details:
Karen, a widow who depended on her only son to care for her, was brought to the emergency room dead from a beating, with bruises all over her body, a broken arm, and 21 rib fractures in different stages of healing. Her son had used the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic to neglect and abuse her for six months until she finally died from brain trauma.

Case Status:
Chad Gillen (Son), convicted of murder, sentenced to 70 years.

Sources:
Waxahachie man sentenced to 70 years for beating mother to death
Son Gets 70 Years For Killing His Mother
Karen Gillen Obituary 2020

Pauline Lankford

No Photo Name: Pauline Lankford.
Died: September 15, 2020.
Age at death: 87.
Cause of death: Dehydration, malnutrition, infection.
Location: Blythe, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Pauline’s family allegedly left her sitting on a chair in the living room. When she died from dehydration, malnutrition, and multiple infected pressure sores, she had not been fed, bathed, or given medication for a significant length of time.

Case status
Clifton Brady (Son-in-law), charged with murder, elder neglect, and neglect of a disabled adult.
Cynthia Brady (Daughter), charged with murder and elder neglect.

Source:
Murder indictment returned against couple in elderly Blythe woman’s death
Blythe couple accused of murder in death of elderly relative granted bond
UPDATE: Man arrested suspicious death of elderly woman in Blythe
Coroner investigating death of 87-year-old woman in Blythe
Warrant: Man withheld food, medication from 87-year-old Blythe woman found dead

Jonathan Lambert

No Photo Name: Jonathan Lambert.
Died: September 9, 2020.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Pearl River, Louisiana, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
When they found Jonathan unresponsive, his family members called emergency services. Responders arrived to find that he had died; he appeared “severely malnourished and neglected”. Investigating further, they found Jonathan’s adoptive father and two of his adopted siblings alive, but suffering from dehydration, starvation, and neglect. Jonathan’s adoptive mother was arrested; another caregiver, whom authorities said was equally responsible, died before trial.

Case Status:
Sharon Lambert (Adoptive mother), charged with manslaughter and three charges of cruelty to the infirm.
Dianne Hester (Caregiver), deceased.

Sources:
Slidell woman indicted, accused of neglecting disabled people
Pearl River Woman Arrested on Warrants Stemming from Son’s 2020 Death

Cameron Gordon

Photo of a small fair-skinned boy with short blond hair, smiling for the camera, wearing plastic-rimmed glasses and a flannel shirt over a white T-shirt. Name: Cameron Joseph Gordon.
Died: September 6, 2020.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Head trauma.
Location: Duluth, Minnesota, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Cameron’s mother went to work, leaving him with her fiancé. When she returned, she found him unresponsive and rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a brain injury, a broken rib, and extensive bruising. Cameron died two days later from his injuries.

Case Status:
Jordan William Carter (Mother’s fiancé), convicted of second-degree murder, sentenced to 15 years.

Sources:
‘Cameron will forever be 3’: Duluth man sentenced to 15 years for boy’s murder
Duluth man found guilty of second-degree murder in 2020 death of then-fiancee’s 3-year-old
Trial begins for Duluth man charged in toddler’s murder
Medical examiner rebuked for delay in Duluth murder trial
Trial in Lakeside boy’s death pushed back to 2023
Duluth Man Charged With Second-Degree Murder in Death of 3-Year-Old
Child advocates speak out after death of Duluth 3-year-old
Trial Involving The Death Of Three Year Old Duluth Boy Delayed By Defense Team Until 2023
Medical evidence awaited in Duluth child death
Autism Memorial: Cameron Gordon