Location: USA – Page 34 – Disability Day of Mourning

Thomas Valva

Name: Thomas Valva.
Died: January 17, 2020.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Hypothermia.
Location: Long Island, New York, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Thomas lived with his father and his father’s fiancee. He and his brother were starved and made to sleep in the unheated garage. One freezing night, Thomas died, and medical examiners determined he had died from hypothermia.

Thomas was a friendly, well-liked second-grader who enjoyed playing outside. When he was two, he spoke his first words–“Ball” and “go”–while playing with a therapist, rolling a ball back and forth. He also liked puzzles.

Case status:
Michael Valva (Father), convicted of second-degree murder and child endangerment, sentenced to 25 years to life.
Angelina Pollana (Father’s girlfriend), convicted of second-degree murder and child endangerment, sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
‘Pure Evil’: Angela Pollina Found Guilty In Death Of Thomas Valva, 8
Stepmom Guilty of Murder in 8-Year-Old Long Island Boy’s Freezing Death
Thomas Valva: Ex-Cop’s Former Fiancée GUILTY in Death of His 8-Year-Old Son
Angela Pollina gets 25 years for murder in hypothermia death of 8-year-old autistic boy Thomas Valva
Thomas Valva Froze In Icy Garage ‘For The Sin Of Being Autistic’: ADA
Murder trial of woman accused in 8-year-old Thomas Valva’s hypothermia death begins
Ex-cop Michael Valva, found guilty of killing son with autism, sentenced
‘Truly sorry’: ex-NYPD cop Michael Valva WEEPS after 25-year sentence for killing autistic son Thomas Valva
Ex-cop Michael Valva gets maximum sentence for murder of son, 8, in freezing LI garage
Former New York Police Officer Convicted in Freezing Death of Son
Educators Testify In Trial Of Ex-NYPD Cop Accused Of Son’s Freezing Death: ‘He Told Me His Heart Was Pounding’
Thomas Valva: Detective Says Autopsy Results Changed Case from Non-criminal to Murder for Cop Dad Accused of Killing Autistic Son
Court Denies Immunity To Child Protection Workers Who Allowed An NYPD Officer To Abuse His Son To Death
Judge rules parts of $200M Thomas Valva death lawsuit can go forward
Thomas Valva’s Mother Can Press $200M Wrongful Death Suit
Autism Memorial: Thomas Valva
NYPD Officer Michael Valva, charged with murder after his autistic son froze to death in garage, quits police force
Thomas Valva’s brother details brutal life with NYPD cop dad accused of murder
A Dozen Calls to Child Abuse Hotline Did Not Save 8-Year-Old Boy
House of Horrors Boy ‘Made the Ultimate Sacrifice’
NYPD officer and fiancée charged with murder of cop’s 8-year-old autistic son who froze to death in garage
NYPD Dad Charged In Frigid-Garage Death Of Boy, 8: Cops
NYPD cop Michael Valva abused son Thomas Valva for years before his death, mom claims
‘I’m Not Surprised,’ Nanny Says Of 8-Year-Old’s Horrific Death
Child services ignored complaints about cop before his son died
NYPD officer Michael Valva, fiancée charged with murder in death of cop’s 8-year-old son
Father, His Fiancée Face Murder Charges In Death Of 8-Year-Old Long Island Boy
NYPD Cop & Fiancee Accused of Killing 8-Year-Old Boy

Megan Todt

Name: Megan Todt.
Died: January 13, 2020.
Age at death: 42.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Celebration, Florida, USA.
Disability: Lyme disease, depression.

Details:
Megan was found dead in her home, along with the bodies of her three children, Alek, 13; Tyler, 11; Zoe, 4; and her dog Breezy. Her husband was arrested and charged with murder. During trial, his defense was that Megan had committed the murders and then killed herself because she was tired of having chronic illness.

Case Status:
Anthony Todt (Husband), convicted of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of animal cruelty; sentenced to life without parole.

Sources:
Florida father Anthony Todt convicted of killing his wife and 3 kids
Florida Dad Convicted of Apocalypse-Fueled Murder Spree
Celebration man accused of killing family found guilty, sentenced to life in prison without parole
Father accused of killing his kids blames wife for their deaths
‘I came home and my kids were dead’: Celebration man accused of killing family testifies
Anthony Todt Claimed He and Wife Had Murder-Suicide Pact: Prosecutor
Trial begins for Florida man accused of killing wife, 3 children
Jury sees Anthony Todt’s confession in family’s killings: ‘I needed to save her soul’ – Orlando Sentinel
Anthony Todt trial: Celebration man accused of killing wife, 3 kids testifies
Dad Accused of Murdering Family, Dog in Florida Home Thought Apocalypse Was Coming: Prosecutors

Anthony Mitchell

No Photo Name: Anthony Franklin Mitchell.
Died: December 30, 2019 (Body found; missing August 22, 2018).
Age at death: 55.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma, asphyxia.
Location: Lake Panasoffkee, Florida, USA.
Disability: Physical disability.

Details:
Anthony’s girlfriend strangled and bludgeoned him to death, then tried to conceal his body as she stole his Social Security payments.

Case Status:
Penny Rebecca Pospisil (Girlfriend), pled guilty to second-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, and theft; sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years.

Sources:
Florida woman sentenced for murder and ‘workman-like dismemberment’ of boyfriend, whose remains she lived with for months
Woman murdered and dismembered physically disabled boyfriend, lived in RV with his decaying remains for months before arrest – TheBlaze
Woman arrested after boyfriend’s dismembered body found in her camper
Media Release-Arrest-Murder Investigation

Shirley Brewer

Name: Shirley Brewer.
Died: December 25, 2019.
Age at death: 48.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Cullom, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Depression.

Details:
Shirley’s husband shot and killed her, her son Christian, 27, and her neighbor, Norman Walker, age 51. In an attempt to cover up the murder, he pointed out Shirley’s history of depression and suicidal crisis, and claimed that she had killed everyone else before committing suicide. But when he called emergency services, responders found him washing bloody clothing, and the jury did not believe his assertion that he had slept through the gunshots, especially since he had gunpowder residue on his hands. Shirley’s husband was convicted of multiple murders.

Case Status:
Clifford Brewer (Husband), convicted of murder, sentenced to three life terms plus twenty years.

Sources:
Opening statements wrap up in triple murder case
Brewer sentenced to life in prison for 2019 triple murder in Livingston County

Joyce Judie

Name: Joyce Fox Judie.
Died: November 29, 2019.
Age at death: 60.
Cause of death: Cocaine poisoning.
Location: Macon, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
When Joyce was found dead in her bed, it was initially thought to be a natural death. However, an autopsy found that Joyce had died from a cocaine overdose. When police discovered that Joyce’s husband had bought cocaine on the night of her death, they arrested and charged him with her murder.

Joyce served 20 years in the military, then earned two master’s degrees and became a teacher.

Case Status:
Edward Judie (Husband), charged with murder.
Aliyah Danielle Walker, charged with murder.

Source:
Former Bibb Schools deputy superintendent, another woman indicted in his wife’s murder
Former Superintendent Accused Of Fatal Cocaine Poisoning Of His Wife Is Released On Bond
Prosecutor: Man accused in cocaine poisoning could flee
Former Georgia school leader charged with murder in wife’s death
Warrant: Former Bibb Schools deputy superintendent ‘poisoned’ wife who was suffering from dementia
Joyce Fox Judie Obituary (1959 – 2019) The Telegraph
Family wants answers on why Edward Judie, woman bailed out after wife’s alleged cocaine poisoning death

Donna Harris

Name: Donna Harris.
Died: November 24, 2019.
Age at death: 53.
Cause of death: Blunt head trauma.
Location: Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; on disability.

Details:
Donna’s boyfriend, who had apparently been maintaining a relationship for her because he wanted part of her disability claim, killed her by hitting her in the head.

Case Status:
Justin Eastman (Boyfriend), convicted of aggravated murder, sentenced to life without parole.

Sources:
Man who bludgeoned Columbus woman to death can’t crack murder conviction
Missing Columbus woman may be in danger; police say woman, person of interest are in Cincinnati area
Justin Eastman sentenced to life for murdering Donna Harris

Elmer Norris

No Photo Name: Elmer Norris.
Died: November 22, 2019.
Age at death: 91.
Cause of death: Pneumonia, pressure sores.
Location: Pasadena, Maryland, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; needed help with daily life activities.

Details:
Elmer lived with his son, who neglected him. When other family members tried to help him, his son refused to let them see Elmer and even changed the locks on the doors. Elmer died of pneumonia and pressure ulcers from being left alone on his bed with no care.

Case status:
Danny Norris (Son), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 25 years, all but 12 years in prison and 5 years probation suspended.

Source:
Pasadena man pleads guilty to 91-year-old father’s murder
Man arrested on charges including second degree murder, adult abuse of family member

Sharon Theleman

No Photo Name: Sharon Theleman.
Died: November 19, 2019.
Age at death: 51.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Fenton, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability, visually impaired, mobility impaired.

Details:
Sharon lived at an assisted living facility. Her mother, who was worried about developing dementia, took her out of the facility and to a hotel, where she stabbed Sharon to death and attempted suicide. Police found a note that said she was doing it as a favor to Sharon’s brothers, so they would not be “burdened” with caring for her.

Case status:
Marjorie Theleman (Mother), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder; sentenced to 2-10 years.

Source:
St. Louis County woman sentenced in death of disabled daughter
Missouri woman who killed disabled daughter sentenced
Webster Groves woman gets 10-year term for fatally stabbing disabled daughter at hotel
Missouri woman who killed disabled daughter sentenced
Mother charged with stabbing daughter in attempted murder-suicide in Fenton hotel
Missouri woman, 78, accused of killing daughter in hotel in attempted murder-suicide
St. Louis Police: Mother took daughter from care facility, killed her
Police: Mother took daughter from care facility, killed her

Ben Thompson

Name: Ben Edward Thompson.
Died: November 3, 2019.
Age at death: 72.
Cause of death: House fire.
Location: Watertown, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: Wheelchair user.

Details:
Ben died in a house fire, unable to escape the house because of his mobility impairment. Authorities suspect his nephew of setting the fire.

Case status:
Christophe Sean Tillison (Nephew), charged with reckless homicide.

Source:
Tennessee man charged in 72-year-old uncle’s fire death
TBI: Nephew charged in fatal fire that killed wheelchair-bound uncle in Wilson County

Jacqueline Juhlin

White gravestone reading, Jacqueline G Juhlin, Sep 14 1939, Oct 14 2019, Loving wife, We are together forever.

Name: Jacqueline Ghislaine Juhlin.
Died: October 14, 2019.
Age at death: 80.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Venice, Florida, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Jacqueline was allegedly shot by her husband because she had dementia.

Case status:
Wayne Juhlin (Husband), charged with first-degree murder, died before trial.

Source:
94-year-old Florida man charged with killing elderly wife who reportedly had dementia
94-year-old shoots, kills his wife because she had dementia
94-year-old Venice man killed his wife, who was suffering from dementia, police say