Location: USA – Page 59 – Disability Day of Mourning

Adam Snyder

No Photo Name: Adam J. Snyder.
Died: October 5, 2016.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Head injury, starvation, pneumonia.
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Unspecified special needs.

Details:
Adam died from a head injury, made worse by pneumonia and malnutrition. His adoptive parents are suspected of having starved Adam for the last month of his life.

Case Status:
Katherine Snyder (Adoptive mother), charged with aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, and endangering children.
John Snyder (Adoptive mother), charged with aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, and endangering children.

Sources:
Trial begins for Springfield Twp. couple accused of killing boy they adopted from China
Ohio Couple Arrested Near Canadian Border For Adopted Son’s 2016 Murder, Child Abuse
Mom and Dad Face Murder Charges in 8-Year-Old’s Death After Failed Civil Suit Claimed Ohio Coroner ‘Damaged and Sullied’ Their Reputations
Questions remain as Ohio couple faces murder charges 6 years after 8-yr-old special needs son’s death | MEAWW
Horror details emerge as couple ‘starved son before bludgeoning him to death’
Parents indicted for adopted child’s 2016 death; 5 other kids found severely malnourished, abused
Parents charged with murder 5 years after death of 8-year-old
Police Arrest Couple Wanted for Murder of Child in Ohio

Erica Parsons

Photo of Erica Parsons, a young girl with pale skin and dark-brown shoulder-length hair. Her nose is red. Name: Erica Parsons.
Died: Died December 19, 2011; reported missing July 30, 2013; body found September 27, 2016.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Learning disability, deaf from birth.

Details:
Erica was physically and emotionally abused by her adoptive parents. They locked her in a closet, hit her, and deliberately broke her fingers.

Sometime in 2011, she disappeared. Witnesses said she was “having trouble breathing” shortly beforehand. She was not reported missing for two years.

Until Erica’s body was found, her parents could only be convicted for fraud, since they had cashed Erica’s disability checks in the years between her disappearance and its reporting.

Five years after her likely death, Erica’s adoptive father led police to her body. Her bones revealed that she had been malnourished, and had suffered many fractures from abuse. Authorities could not find an exact cause of death, but determined she had died from “homicidal violence”, probably from being strangled or from injury from beatings.

Case status:
Sandy Parsons (Adoptive father), convicted of fraud, murder, obstruction of justice, and concealment of death, sentenced to 33 years to life.
Casey Parsons (Adoptive mother), convicted of fraud, murder, obstruction of justice, and concealment of death, sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
Erica Parsons’ adoptive dad to serve minimum of 33 years for murder, abuse, obstruction
Judge rips Parsonses for Erica’s life, death
Sheriff: Erica Parsons likely dead before reported missing
Girl missing since 2011 was tortured repeatedly before death, warrant says
Chesterfield ‘adoptive father tortured disabled daughter before discarding her body’
NC girl who lived in a house of horror died any of several torturous ways, autopsy finds
Erica Parsons Update: Autopsy Reveals Details About Missing Girl’s Life And Death
Autopsy reveals girl died brutal death, adoptive parents likely to face charges
Autopsy reveals girl died brutal death, had many broken bones
Erica Parsons was 12 or 13 when her parents killed her and cut up the body, cops say
Erica Parsons’ adoptive parents charged in girl’s death, dismemberment
Hidden Torture: Murder Victim Erica Parsons Homeschooled
Erica Parsons’ Parents To Face Death Penalty In Murder Trial

Beverly Nickerson

Photo of Beverly Nickerson, an elderly woman with shaggy gray hair and pale skin, wearing a nightshirt and sitting on the edge of a bed, eating from a plate on a bedside table. The photo has caught her in the middle of licking her lips. Name: Beverly Ann Nickerson.
Died: September 24, 2016.
Age at death: 74.
Cause of death: Drug overdose, blunt trauma.
Location: Spring Hill, Florida, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Beverly’s son abused and eventually killed her by beating her and overdosing her on her medication.

She had four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Case status:
Albert Henry Nickerson (Son), found guilty of aggravated Manslaughter of an elderly person and neglect of an elderly person, sentenced to 25 years.

Source:
SON OF SAM: Spring Hill Man Sentenced to 25-Years in Prison for Killing His Elderly Mother; Beat, Drugged, Stole from While In Cognitive Decline
Beverly Ann NICKERSON Obituary (2016) Tampa Bay Times
Spring Hill Man Sentenced to 25-Years in Prison for Killing his Mother
Man Faces First Degree Murder Charge in Death of his Own Mother
Deputies: Spring Hill Man Murdered Mother
Son charged with murdering elderly 74-year-old mother in Hernando County

Stephanie McGeough

Name: Stephanie McGeough.
Died: September 21, 2016 (Body found).
Age at death: 54.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: San Andreas, California, USA.
Disability: Depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, arthritis.

Details:
Only days after Stephanie’s brother moved in with her, he strangled her. Her body was found at her house a few weeks later, and her brother arrested after he went on the run.

Stephanie kept a very tidy house. She liked traveling and children and had one nephew. As a young woman, she played soccer in her school’s recreational league. She was a history buff and a fan of Queen Elizabeth I, and a music lover who liked rock-and-roll and the bands Rush and the Allman Brothers. She worked for Sprint.

Case status:
Sean McGeough (Brother), convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
McGeough gets life in prison for murder of sister
McGeough trial draws to a close; question of murder or suicide put before jury
Stephanie McGeough’s Obituary

Earl Coleman

No Photo Name: Earl Coleman.
Died: September 12, 2016.
Age at death: 81.
Cause of death: Burns.
Location: Jackson, Mississipi, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness, paralysis, wheelchair user.

Details:
Earl was brought to the hospital, having had boiling water poured over him. After nine days in the hospital, he died from his severe burns. His daughter was charged with murder.

Case status:
Diane Coleman (Daughter), charged with murder.

Source:
Woman charged with killing father with boiling water
Woman Charged With Murder After Pouring Boiling Water Over Her Paralyzed Elderly Father
Jackson woman charged in murder of disabled father
Daughter charged with murder after allegedly burning father with boiling water
Woman Charged With Father’s Murder
Woman charged with killing elderly father with boiling water

68-year-old woman

No Photo Name Unknown.
Died: September 2, 2016.
Age at death: 68.
Cause of death: Shooting.
Location: Spanaway, Washington, USA.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease.

Details:
This 68-year-old woman was shot to death by her husband, who then killed himself.

Case status:
Her husband, deceased.

Source:
Elderly couple found dead in suspected murder-suicide in Pierce County
Police: Elderly man kills wife suffering from dementia, turns gun on himself
Couple die in murder-suicide

John Zdon

Name: John Emile Zdon.
Died: August 31, 2016.
Age at death: 72.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA.
Disability: Frail elder, needed 24-hour care.

Details:
John’s daughter knew his health was getting worse, but she would not take him to the doctor because she was afraid he would be put in a nursing home. He was found malnourished and unresponsive and brought to the hospital, where he died.

He was an Air Force veteran and a fan of the Atlanta Braves.

Case Status:
Tammy Zdon (Daughter), pleaded guilty to manslaughter and permitting abuse on an elderly or disabled person, sentenced to 6 months in jail.

Source:
John Zdon Obituary (1944 – 2016) The Berkshire Eagle
Massachusetts caregiver admits to causing father’s death
North Adams woman faces caretaker abuse, involuntary manslaughter charges in father’s death

Margaret Shelton

Name: Margaret “Pat” Patricia Shelton.
Died: August 31, 2016.
Age at death: 85.
Cause of death: Suffocation.
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
Disability: Early-stage Alzheimer’s.

Details:
Police say Pat’s son turned himself in just after smothering her with duct tape and his hand and breaking the neck of the family dog.

Pat was known by her neighbors for her friendly demeanor. She liked to do yard work and would mow their lawns for them.

Case status:
Kenneth Baker (Son), convicted of murder, sentenced to 12 to 25 years.

Source:
Man arrested for murdering elderly mother inside Fort Worth home
Fort Worth man who called police accused of killing his mother
Margaret Shelton Obituary
Elderly woman killed by son in her Fort Worth home
Fort Worth man said he suffocated mother with duct tape, then snapped barking dog’s neck, police say

Austin Anderson

Name: Austin Anderson.
Died: August 29, 2016.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Dehydration, medical neglect.
Location: Aldrich, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Autism, blindness.

Details:
Austin’s mother took him out to a field in the middle of nowhere. For two days, she withheld his food, water, and medication in the summer heat while Austin begged for her help. He died from dehydration and from being refused the medication he needed to live.

Case status:
Kimberly R. Lightwine (Mother), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and elder abuse, sentenced to 7 years, served 2 1/2 years.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Austin Anderson
‘I killed my kid:’ Polk County mother charged after death of blind, autistic teen
‘Let God take you’: Woman said she left her blind, autistic son in field until he died, police say
Lightwine charged with two felonies in death of son
Mother Accused in Death of Disabled Son Returns to Court
Woman accused of son’s death in Polk County appears in court
Attorney releases video segments of police interview with mom accused of killing her son
Bench Trial in May for Mom of Disabled Victim
Polk County mom could be out in 120 days after guilty plea in blind, autistic son’s death
Polk County Woman Pleads Guilty in Connection with Death of Blind, Autistic Son
Mother pleads guilty to son’s death
Mother pleads guilty to letting her blind, autistic son die in a field
Woman claims innocence in son’s death despite guilty plea
Once charged with murder in autistic son’s death, Ozarks woman says she’s a victim

Leslie Ramirez

Photo of Leslie Ramirez. She is a small girl with tan skin and dark brown hair pulled into two ponytails. She is wearing a white shirt with a checked pinafore. Name: Leslie Ramirez.
Died: August 29, 2016.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Hyperthermia.
Location: Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Leslie’s mother left her in the family van at 3 p.m. on a summer day. At 7 p.m., Leslie’s father returned home to find her still in the van four hours later. She was dead.

Case status:
Rene Ramirez (Mother), charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse/neglect.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Leslie Ramirez
Autopsy: Heat exposure responsible for death of Durham girl left in van
Mother of autistic girl found dead in a hot van insists it was an accident
Mother charged in death of 3-year-old daughter in Durham