Location: USA – Page 55 – Disability Day of Mourning

Samuel Murrell

No Photo Name: Samuel Murrell.
Died: February 2, 2017.
Age at death: 87.
Cause of death: Blunt and sharp trauma, strangulation.
Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Frail elderly.

Details:
Samuel was murdered by his nephew, who stabbed and strangled him in front of his wife. She survived to testify at the trial.

Case status:
Greg Shields (Nephew), convicted of first-degree manslaughter, sentenced to 25 years, to be served after he finishes an 8-year sentence for an unrelated assault.

Source:
Shields receives 25-year sentence for death of elderly uncle
Multiple injuries lead to death of man in murder case
Samuel Murrell Obituary – Bowling Green, Kentucky

James Smith

No Photo Name: James Smith.
Died: February 1, 2017.
Age at death: 68.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: San Diego, California, USA.
Disability: TBI from car accident; wheelchair user.

Details:
James was shot by his wife in a murder-suicide.

Case status:
Candace Smith (Wife), deceased.

Source:
Wife, Husband Die in Murder-Suicide Shooting in San Carlos
Caretaker kills disabled husband, self at San Carlos home
Lake Murray Couple Die in Murder-Suicide
Wife, Husband Killed in Murder-Suicide Shooting ID’d

Ellen McKenzie

Name: Ellen McKenzie.
Died: January 30, 2017.
Age at death: 48.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness, depression.

Details:
Ellen was shot in the head by her boyfriend in a murder-suicide.

Case status:
Joseph Yates (Boyfriend), deceased.

Source:
East Ridge couple who died in apparent murder-suicide remembered as very close
Police confirm murder-suicide in East Ridge
Medical examiner: East Ridge man killed girlfriend, self in murder-suicide
UPDATE: East Ridge PD identifies 2 people killed in murder-suicide on Shelby Circle

Jose Gomez

No Photo Name: Jose Breydi Gomez.
Died: January 28, 2017.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Blunt head trauma.
Location: Owensboro, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Jose was found beaten to death, his body under a tarp behind a vacant house. His mother’s boyfriend was arrested on suspicion of having hit him with a piece of wood, and his mother was arrested on suspicion of helping him hide the body.

Neighbors remember Jose as a friendly man who could often be seen rolling around the neighborhood in his wheelchair on sunny days.

Case status:
Yolanda Gomez (Mother), charged with tampering with evidence.
Salvador Avila-Navarrete (mother’s boyfriend), convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to 12-15 years.

Source:
Man Admits to Hitting Jose Gomez with Two-by-Four
Owensboro Man Found Dead, Mother Connected to Death
Police Arrest Mother After Son’s Body Is Found In Backyard
Body Discovered in Owensboro, Victim’s Mother, Another Man Arrested
Offender information

Michael Guzman

Name: Michael Guzman.
Died: January 22, 2017.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Phenobarbital overdose.
Location: New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Epilepsy.

Details:
Michael was found unresponsive in his 9-year-old sister’s bed; at the time, he had been dead for about twelve hours and his mother had not checked on him for longer than that.
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Medical examiners determined that Michael had died of a phenobarbital overdose. Considered suspicious from the beginning, his death was ruled a homicide after six months, but his mother evaded capture for another half a year before she was tracked down and charged.

Case status:
Phyllis Reinoso (Mother), pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, sentenced to 1-3 years.

Source:
Mother sentenced in Guzman’s death
Child welfare workers made 13 visits before death of Queens boy
Source: ACS opened 13 cases with family before death of son, 5
Child found dead had history of epilepsy; Parents questioned
Police Investigate Death of 5-Year-Old Queens Boy
City launches probe into death of 5-year-old Queens boy
ACS couldn’t save tot after missing every red flag
Queens boy subject to ACS probe may have died from health issue
How ACS failed to save this 5-year-old boy from a house of horrors
Death of 5-year-old Queens boy deemed a homicide
Death of 5-year-old Queens boy ruled a homicide
Mom charged in death of 5-year-old found dead in Queens

Alex Santiago

Name: Alex Santiago.
Died: January 17, 2017.
Age at death: 21.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Berryville, Arkansas, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Alex had already survived one murder attempt by his brother, who had locked him in a gasoline-drenched bedroom and lit a match. Alex was airlifted to a hospital, where he spent three days before going home. Eight months later, his brother finally succeeded in killing him by bludgeoning him with a baseball bat and stabbing him with a sword.

Case status:
Joseph Santiago (Brother), convicted of murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Alex Santiago
17-year-old arrested after killing autistic brother with baseball bat, sword
17-Year-Old Accused Of Killing Autistic Brother With Bat And Sword
Carroll County murder victim was suspect’s autistic brother; Bat, sword were weapons
House Fire Victims by Taylor Santiago
Arkansas teen pleads innocent in brother’s death
Juvenile, for now, pleads not guilty in death of autistic brother
Murder suspect identified: Enters ‘not guilty’ plea in brother’s slaying
Carroll County teen pleads not guilty to capital murder, other charges
Mental evaluation Judge orders exam for Santiago, accused of slaying brother
Carroll Co. Murder Suspect to Undergo Mental Exam Carroll Co. Murder Suspect to Undergo Mental Exam
Arkansas Teen Sentenced to Life for Killing Brother

Mercedes Witterman

No Photo Name: Mercedes “Bunny” Witterman.
Died: January 16, 2017.
Age at death: 69.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Sylmar, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Mercedes was shot by her husband, who then shot himself.

She was a retired nurse who like crafting.

Case status:
Rubin Witterman (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Mercedes S. Witterman’s Obituary on Los Angeles Daily News
Death of Sylmar couple investigated as possible murder-suicide
Mercedes Witterman, 69 – The Homicide Report

Marilyn Miller

Name: Marilyn Miller.
Died: January 14, 2017.
Age at death: 83.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Waterloo, Iowa, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness.

Details:
Marilyn’s husband took her to the park, where he shot her before killing himself. Friends said he might have done it because he didn’t want them to go to a nursing home.

Marilyn grew a garden in her backyard. She liked collecting seashells.

Case status:
Neil Miller (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Murder-Suicide couple wanted to avoid nursing home
Autopsies: Iowa murder-suicide couple suffered health issues
Autopsies confirm murder-suicide in park deaths of couple

Irene McLean

Photo of Irene McLean, an elderly woman with curly white hair and fair skin, wearing an embroidered sweater. Name: Irene McLean.
Died: January 10, 2017.
Age at death: 96.
Cause of death: Malnutrition, failure to thrive.
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease.

Details:
Irene died from malnutrition and multiple rib fractures, after being removed from her home by adult protective services in terrible shape.

Irene visited over 100 countries during her lifetime. She liked swimming, yoga, and dance, and could still do the splits in her late 80s.

Case status:
Cause of death ruled undetermined. Autopsy findings included skin ulcers from abuse or neglect and multiple rib fractures.
Police are questioning family, especially a caregiver who would have been an heir to her estate.

Source:
Malnutrition, Alzheimer’s and broken ribs cause of death for elderly woman taken from Virginia Beach home
A 96-year-old Virginia Beach woman was found with bruises and skin tears. Her friends want to know why.
Death of elderly Virginia Beach woman found with bruises, skin tears spurs police probe
96-year-old woman dies after being removed from horrific condition
Friends search for answers after death of 96-year-old woman found with bruises, torn skin
Friends want to know what happened to Irene McLean

Barbara Martone

Photo of Barbara Martone. She is a woman with auburn hair and fair skin, wearig pink lipstick and nail polish, gold earrings, and a black and gray blouse. Name: Barbara Martone.
Died: January 9, 2017.
Age at death: 81.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Wayne, New Jersey, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness (Cancer); disabled elder.

Details:
Barbara’s husband shot her in a murder-suicide.

She was retired from her job fundraising for Easter Seals; she had two sons, a grandson, and a granddaughter. She liked lobster dinners, dancing, gambling at Atlantic City, and crossword puzzles. She always carried photos of her children and grandchildren, and would show them to anyone she met.

Case status:
Daniel Martone (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Few answers in murder/suicide of Wayne couple
Barbara Martone’s Obituary on The Record
Health problems plagued couple prior to shooting deaths
Wayne Man, 80, Kills Self, 81-Year-Old Wife In Murder-Suicide: Prosecutor