Location: USA – Page 57 – Disability Day of Mourning

Riba Dewilde

Name: Riba Dewilde.
Died: November 26, 2016.
Age at death: 51.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Tok, Alaska, USA.
Disability: Mental illness.

Details:
Photo of "Athabaskan Male Doll with Accessories", artwork by Riba Dewilde. The doll is made of wood, bark, fur, and antler. It is dressed in traditional clothing, sitting in a canoe and holding a fishing spear.

Riba was an artist who would go out hunting and trapping to gather materials for her art.

Riba’s son shot her with a hunting rifle.

Case status:
Eli Simpson (Son), charged with first- and second-degree murder. Convicted; sentence unknown. Currently incarcerated.

Source:
Prisoners charged in riot, occupation of Fairbanks Correctional Center
21-year-old Tok man faces murder charges in Alaska artist’s death
Alaska artist Riba DeWilde shot and killed in Tok; son in custody
Artist Riba DeWilde Murdered; Emergency Fundraiser Planned

Brayson Price

Photo of Brayson Price, a young boy with short-cropped blond hair and fair skin, wearing jeans and a blue jacket. He is sitting outside on a grassy lawn. Name: Brayson Price.
Died: November 23, 2016.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Asphyxia, drug overdose.
Location: Mooresville, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Fragile X, autism, developmental disability.

Details:
Brayson was poisoned and strangled by his mother and her boyfriend, who planned the murder together because they didn’t want to care for Brayson. They had already been physically abusing him for some time.

From his obituary: A loving, sweet, rambunctious boy, he offered hugs to all and saw no one as a stranger. His pride and joy was his F-150 Power Wheels. He loved the color pink. This special little guy was known to eagerly greet everyone and say, “Have a Nice Day.” Some favorite treats included pizza, spaghetti, hot dogs and all kinds of candy. Bray enjoyed cuddling and asked for backrubs saying, “Picky my back.”

Case status:
Steven Ingalls Jr. (Mother’s boyfriend), convicted of neglect and conspiracy to commit murder, sentenced to 39 years in prison.
Meghan Price (Mother), convicted of neglect and conspiracy to commit murder, sentenced to 36 years in prison.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Brayson Price
Man accused of killing five-year-old boy searched for ‘most painful torture’ techniques, documents say
Man ‘searched for most painful torture techniques then killed disabled boy, 5’
Prosecutors: Man accused of overdosing child searched for ‘most painful’ torture techniques
Prosecutor: Mooresville Man Wanted To Torture 5-Year-Old Boy To Death
Court docs: Mooresville man searched online for ways to ‘kill autistic child’
Man accused of killing 5-year-old boy searched for ‘most painful torture’ techniques, documents say
Jury trial underway in death of 5-year-old child with special needs
Morgan County man guilty in death of special needs boy
Jury finds Mooresville man guilty in death of 5-year-old boy
Burns, broken bones, 11 warnings: The tragic death of Brayson Price
Father sues Indiana child services over son’s death
Mooresville Woman Found Guilty Of Neglect Causing Death Of Dependent
Morgan County jury finds woman guilty in conspiracy to kill 5-year-old son

Chance Vanderpool

Photo of Chance Vanderpool, a toddler boy wearing a plaid shirt. He has fair skin and light blond hair. Name: Chance Vanderpool.
Died: November 22, 2016.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Multiple traumatic injuries.
Location: Glen St. Mary, Florida, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Paramedics found Chance not breathing, covered in bruises. He was declared dead at the hospital. His mother said he had fallen down some stairs and hit his head in the shower; but the two eventually pleaded no contest to charges of fatally abusing the boy.

Case status:
Jonathan Register (Mother’s boyfriend), pleaded guilty to aggravated negligent homicide and aggravated child abuse, sentenced to 30 years.
Heather Naomi Stevenson (Mother), convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to commit manslaughter, sentenced to 25 years.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Chance Vanderpool
The Baker County press
Mother of deceased autistic boy faces child abuse charges
Baker Sheriff investigating death of 4-year-old autistic boy
Arrest made for the death of 4-year-old autistic boy in Baker
4-year-old child with autism dies; Baker County man charged with child abuse of sibling
4-year-old boy with autism dies in Baker County
Baker County child with autism dies; Man charged with abuse of sibling
Man accused of abusing 2-year-old after sibling dies
Aggravated manslaughter charges filed against autistic boy’s mother and her boyfriend
Police: Couple burns, bruises, beats autistic child to death, and abuse little brother found with ‘genital bruising’
Mother of autistic boy, her boyfriend charged with manslaughter
Baker County couple charged with manslaughter in autistic boy’s death

Albert Weaver Sr.

No Photo Name: Albert W. Weaver Sr.
Died: November 22, 2016.
Age at death: 84.
Cause of death: Sepsis, malnutrition.
Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease.

Details:
Albert was neglected by his family while they emptied his bank accounts and cashed his pension checks. He was taken to the hospital with a combination of malnutrition, septic shock, untended bedsores, and multiple infections, and survived for twelve days before dying from the effects of neglect.

Case status:
Albert W. Weaver Jr. (Son), pleaded guilty to neglect of a care-dependent person, sentenced to 15-48 months.
Virginia Weaver (Daughter-in-law), pleaded guilty to neglect of a care-dependent person and theft, sentenced to 2-5 years.
Amanda Weaver (Granddaughter), pleaded guilty to neglect of a care-dependent person and theft.
Anthony James Dorney (Granddaughter’s boyfriend), pleaded guilty to neglect of a care-dependent person and theft, sentenced to 2-5 years.

Source:
Family Members Plead Guilty in Elderly Man’s Neglect Death
DA: Family left Bucks County man to starve while they spent his money on cars, firearms
4 Charged In Deadly Bucks Co. Neglect Case Appear In Court
Four Held for Trial in Deadly Neglect of Elderly Man

Carol Simon and Brayden Otto

Name: Carol Simon.
Age at death: 48.
Disability: Unspecified skin condition.

Name: Brayden Robert-Emil Otto.
Age at death: 7.
Disability: Unspecified disability.

Died: November 20, 2016.
Cause of death: Strangled, throat cut.
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA.

Details:
Carol and her grandson Brayden were killed by her son, who strangled them and then slit their throats to make sure they were dead. Later, the killer claimed that he had done it as a “mercy killing”, because Carol was ill and wasn’t getting better and because Brayden was disabled.

Carol was an outgoing nurse who liked learning. Brayden was an elementary school student remembered for his big smile.

Case status:
Heath Allen Otto (Carol’s son, Brayden’s uncle), charged with first-degree murder, found not guilty by reason of insanity; committed to a mental institution.

Source:
Man who killed mother, nephew in 2016 not guilty by reason of insanity
Man told police he wanted to put mother, nephew out of their misery
7-year-old homicide victim was South Dakota suspect’s nephew
Name released of 7-year-old killed in double homicide
Accused killer makes amazing claim
Child in double killing also related to suspect
Child’s name released in double homicide
Brayden Otto, 7
Guestbook for Brayden Robert-Emil Otto
Brayden Otto’s Obituary
Carol L. Simon, 48
Monsters Among Us: Heath Otto charged with killing his mother, Carol Simon and a his 7-year-old nephew, Brayden Robert-Emil Otto
Trial on pause to evaluate competency of man charged with murder of mother, nephew

John Owings

Photo of John Owings against a background of leaves. He is a fair-skinned older man with graying hair and mustache. He has sunglasses propped up on his head. Name: John “Johnny Asia” W. Owings.
Died: November 19, 2016.
Age at death: 65.
Cause of death: Murder.
Location: Phoenicia, New York, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness, including Lyme disease.

Details:
Johnny’s wife poisoned him with prescription medication in a glass of wine.

He was a talented guitar player.

Case status:
Solane H. Verraine (Wife), pled guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to time served and released.

Source:
After more than a year in jail for assisting in her husband’s suicide, Solane Verraine reflects
Friends of Phoenicia couple shocked by murder charge
Phoenicia woman charged with murder after death in Route 214 apartment
Facebook: Johnny Asia
Johnny Asia Guitarist from the Future

Robert Libby

White marble gravestone reading, "Robert F Libby, AM2, US Navy, World War II, Jan 10, 1922 November 19 2016." Name: Robert Libby.
Died: November 19, 2016.
Age at death: 94.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: South Windsor, Connecticut, USA.
Disability: Dementia, frail elder.

Details:
Robert’s son was supposed to care for him; instead he neglected his father, depriving him of food, water, and medical care, while he spent Robert’s disability payments on himself. Robert died of starvation in a filthy house.

Robert was a military veteran.

Case status:
James Libby (Son), pleaded no contest to first-degree manslaughter, sentenced to seven years in prison and ten years of parole.

Source:
Connecticut man gets 7 years in neglect death of father
Connecticut man sentenced for neglecting 94-year-old father
Police: South Windsor Man Neglected Dad, 94, Then Left Body For Days
South Windsor Man Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter For Neglecting Father
His son was his caretaker. Police found insects eating the 94-year-old’s body.

Tevaun Williamson

Name: Tevaun Williamson.
Died: November 16, 2016.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma, dehydration, malnutrition.
Location: Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Tevaun was found unresponsive in his home by first responders and declared dead at the hospital. His mother and her boyfriend were arrested on suspicion of having beaten and starved him.

Case status:
Michelle Williamson (Mother), convicted of second-degree murder and aggravated child neglect; sentenced to 17 years.
Daryl Lee (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated child neglect.

Source:
Couple charged with murder in autistic 7-year-old’s death
Parents Charged in Boy’s Beating Death in Tennessee
Couple Indicted For Murder In Death Of Woman’s 7-Year-Old Son
Mother, boyfriend indicted in 2016 beating death of 7-year-old

Henrietta Belcher

Name: Henrietta “Retta” Green Belcher.
Died: November 5, 2016; bodies found November 15, 2016.
Age at death: 69.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Inman, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Stroke; communication impaired; chronic illness.

Details:
Retta was a homemaker whose husband William “Eddie” Belcher, an associate pastor, had retired to care for her after she had a stroke. The couple had five children and fourteen grandchildren.

Eddie and Retta were shot to death by their son, their bodies left in the house for ten days until a relative called police to ask for a welfare check.

Their killer claims that he shot his parents because his father asked him to do it. Whether or not Eddie Belcher asked to be killed, Retta Belcher, unable to communicate because of her stroke, could not have made such a request for herself.

Case status:
Stephen Linwood Belcher (son), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Source:
Boiling Springs man pleads guilty in ‘merciful’ killing of parents
Attorney: Stephen Belcher’s parents asked son to kill them
Community ‘shocked’ at son confessing to parents’ murders
Community ‘shocked’ at son confessing to killing parents
Deputies arrest son in parents’ killing after wife calls 911
Deputies: Son confessed to murdering parents in SC
Eddie and Rhetta Belcher’s Obituary
Lawyers: Spartanburg Parents Pleaded with Son to Kill Them
Laywer: Upstate murder suspect was asked to kill parents in poor health
Man confesses to killing parents, directs deputies to bodies, authorities say
SC Deputies: Son confessed to murdering parents
SC man charged with killing his parents
Sheriff’s Office: Man, 38, confesses to killing parents
Son confessed to murdering parents in Inman say Spartanburg Co. deputies
South Carolina deputies investigating after son admits to killing parents
South Carolina father begged son to shoot him, attorney says
South Carolina man who shot dead his parents claims his father begged him to shoot them

Tyler Caudill

Photo of Tyler Caudill, a young boy with fair skin and brown hair. He has a wide smile. He is wearing a magenta T-shirt. Name: Tyler Joseph “TJ” Caudill.
Died: Late August 2016; body found November 13, 2016.
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Portsmouth, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
TJ was abused and starved by his mother and her boyfriend; then he went missing. His body has been found, and his mother and her boyfriend charged with murder when it was found that TJ’s death was a homicide. He had been abused, forced to stand and walk for hours at a time, locked in a bathroom, and starved to death.

Case status:
Margarita L. White (Mother), pleaded guilty to murder and child endangerment, sentenced to 18 years to life.
Douglas Lee Hunt (Mother’s boyfriend), convicted of aggravated murder, child endangerment, torture, abuse, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse, sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
UPDATE: Mother, Boyfriend charged in death of 6-year-old boy
Mother, Boyfriend Arrested in 6 Year Old Boy’s Death
Portsmouth Police find body amidst search for missing 6-year-old
Scioto grand jury indicts couple in death of autistic boy
Appeals court upholds conviction/sentence