Location: USA – Page 67 – Disability Day of Mourning

Sophia Mahaffey

Photo of Sophia Mahaffey, a baby girl wearing a pink and gray checked dress and floppy pink hat. She is holding the hat on her head with one hand. Her wispy dark brown hair is short. She has fair skin. Name: Sophia Rose Mahaffey.
Died: January 5, 2016.
Age at death: 19 months.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Cottonwood Heights, Utah, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy due to prematurity.

Details:
Sophia was allegedly beaten to death by her mother’s boyfriend.

Case status:
Jake Don Jensen (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with child abuse and child abuse homicide.

Source:
Cottonwood Heights man accused of abusing, killing wife’s infant daughter
Man charged in 2016 death of disabled 19-month-old girl – Story
Cottonwood Heights man charged with abusing and killing girlfriend’s daughter
Man Charged With Killing Disabled Toddler Before Marrying Her Mother
Utah man accused of abuse in 19-month-old girl’s death appears in court
Utah man, 29, is charged with killing girlfriend’s disabled daughter

Mark Fulgham

Photo of Mark Fulgham, an African-American man. He has a short mustache and beard, and is wearing a red baseball cap sideways. Name: Mark Fulgham.
Died: December 31, 2015.
Age at death: 36.
Cause of death: Sepsis.
Location: Concord, California, USA.
Disability: Paraplegic.

Details:
Mark’s wife neglected him until he was dying of malnutrition, dehydration, and infection from untreated bedsores. By the time she finally called for an ambulance, Mark was in such bad shape that he died after a day at the hospital.

Mark’s two children, a 19-year-old autistic boy and an 11-year-old, survived and were rescued from their uninhabitable apartment when Mark was taken to the hospital. The apartment was “red-tagged” by authorities, marking it as too dangerous to for anyone but professionals to enter.

Mark’s wife was charged with neglect of a dependent and child abuse in addition to murder, so it is likely that Mark’s children were also in danger. Mark’s death may have saved the lives of his children by bringing their situation to the attention of authorities.

Case status:
Dormanicia Lawson (Wife), charged with murder, neglect of a dependent, and child abuse; convicted of child abuse and neglect of a dependent; hung jury on murder charge; pleaded guilty to abuse, sentenced to 2-4 years in jail.

Source:
Wife faces charges after paraplegic husband’s ‘horrific’ death
‘Maggots Eating His Body’: Woman Charged in Death of Paraplegic Husband
Murder Charges For Concord Woman Accused Of Neglecting Paraplegic Husband
Wikipedia: Color-tagging
Concord husband neglect case: Jury appears split on murder charge
Concord: Jury hangs on murder charge for woman whose husband rotted to death
Paralysed husband is eaten alive by maggots and rots to death
California Woman Lets Paralyzed Husband Get Eaten Alive By Maggots

Nada Bodholdt

Name: Nada Colleen Bodholdt.
Died: December 31, 2015.
Age at death: 92.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Bend, Oregon, USA.
Disability: Congestive heart failure.

Details:
Nada’s granddaughter went to her nursing home, put a pillow over her face, and smothered her. Nada’s family thought she had died a natural death–until her killer confessed the murder to a counselor and was arrested.

Nada Bodholdt was a professional violinist who played her first solo concerto at age 15; during World War 2, she played in nightclubs to make ends meet. After the war, she married a sailor, played her violin in church, and lived to see her great-grandchildren.

Case status:
Angela Christine Judd (Granddaughter), pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, sentenced to 75 months in prison; conviction overturned; pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 5 years, released on time served.

Source:
Bend woman to be released from prison after 2nd guilty plea in grandmother’s smothering
Bend woman who smothered her grandmother to death has conviction overturned
Bend woman pleads guilty to manslaughter in grandma’s death
Nada Colleen Bodholdt Obituary
Bend woman accused of smothering grandmother, 92
Bend woman accused of murdering grandmother
Woman confessed to smothering grandmother, police say
Bend Woman Confessed to Smothering Grandmother, Police Say
Woman charged with killing grandmother at retirement community
Former Klamath Falls nurse charged with murder
Reported confession to counselor is admissible, judge rules in death of suspect’s grandmother
Bend woman pleads guilty to manslaughter in grandma’s death
Former Sky Lakes nurse could get 75 months for manslaughter

Donald Nieman

No Photo Name: Donald Robert Edward Otto Nieman.
Died: December 27, 2015.
Age at death: 89.
Cause of death: Manual strangulation.
Location: Macomb Township, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Donald’s son beat and strangled him to death.

Case status:
Gregory Lynn Nieman (Son), convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
VIDEO: Son sentenced to life in murder of father in Macomb Township, claims innocence
Macomb Township murder defendant wants father’s body exhumed
Son in custody in elderly Macomb Township man’s death (UPDATED)
Macomb Township Man Accused Of Strangling Elderly Dad
UPDATE: Macomb Township slaying suspect was victim’s caregiver, police say
Murder case heading to circuit court
Donald Robert Edward Otto Nieman
Macomb Township man guilty of murder for strangling his father
Combative murder defendant denies he killed elderly father

Evan Hemsley

No Photo Name: Evan Hemsley.
Died: December 16, 2015.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Cecal volvulus, malnutrition.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Disability: Joubert’s syndrome.

Details:
Evan’s parents did not get him medical care. Weakened by malnutrition, Evan died from a twisted intestine, weighing 22 pounds.

Case Status:
Kristin Bush (Mother), convicted of child abuse and neglect, sentenced to 28 months to 10 years.
James Bush (Stepfather), convicted of child abuse and neglect, sentenced to 28 months to 10 years.

Sources:
Bush v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Court , No. 73808-COA
Couple sentenced to prison in death of 13-year-old son
Bush v. Wolfson, Case No. 2:19-cv-1096-RFB-VCF
The judge sentenced the Las Vegas couple to jail for the death of their disabled child

Gregory Cortis

Photo of Carley, Gregory Cortis's Labrador. She is an elderly dog, lying in a pile of leaves on a grassy lawn. Name: Gregory Alan Cortis.
Died: December 12, 2015.
Age at death: 68.
Cause of death: Blunt force trauma.
Location: Milford, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Alzheimer’s; stroke, causing memory loss and speech impairment.

Details:
Gregory’s wife beat him and his dog Carley with a crowbar, believing that they were both old and ill and it was “time for them to pass on”.

Gregory died after some time in the hospital. Carley, 11 years old and severely injured, recovered and was adopted by a new owner, but died of old age early in 2016.

Gregory’s wife claimed she had killed her husband and beaten the dog to “end their suffering”.

Case status:
Yvonne Cortis (Wife), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and torturing an animal, sentenced to 22-50 years in prison.

Source:
Milford man dies of injuries from crowbar attack
Man Beaten with Crowbar Dies; Murder Charges Expected
Milford woman charged with beating husband, dog with crowbar
Carly the Labrador – An Update
Woman pleads guilty to beating husband and dog to death with metal rod

Richard Brichacek

Photo of Richard Brichacek. He is an elder wearing a black T-shirt. He has fair skin with some age spots, and is bald with a bushy white mustache and beard. There is a beer bottle with a straw in it on the table in front of him. Name: Richard Brichacek.
Died: December 12, 2015.
Age at death: 63.
Cause of death: Multiple organ failure.
Location: Euclid, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Details:
Richard’s family neglected him, leaving him lying in bed and not taking him to medical appointments. He died of multiple organ failure caused by starvation and infected bedsores, weighing 93 pounds at death.

Case status:
Debora Brichacek (Wife), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and failure to provide for a functionally impaired person, sentenced to seven years in prison.
Brian Brichacek (Son), pleaded guilty to attempted felonious assault, sentenced to 18 months probation.
Wendi Brichacek (Daughter), pleaded guilty to attempted felonious assault, sentenced to 12 months probation.
Debbie Brichacek (Daughter), pleaded guilty to attempted felonious assault, sentenced to 12 months probation.

Source:
Family charged with murder neglected father with multiple sclerosis, prosecutors say
RICHARD BRICHACEK Obituary – Strongsville, OH
Euclid family pleads guilty in death of bedridden husband, father
Wife, children plead guilty to charges in bedridden Cleveland man’s death
Wife, children plead guilty in death of bedridden Ohio man
Woman gets prison in neglect death of disabled husband
Wife, children sentenced in 2015 death of bedridden Euclid man
Euclid Family Who Neglected Bedridden, 97-Pound Husband and Father Receive Sentences
Woman gets prison in neglect death of disabled husband

Tyler Bryan

Name: Tyler W. Bryan.
Died: December 11, 2015.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Rolesville, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Either Tyler or his twin brother had “special needs”.

Details:
Tyler’s mother strangled him before setting her bedroom on fire and killing herself. Tyler’s twin brother, left alive in another room, survived the fire.

Case status:
Kristy Bryan (Mother), deceased.

Source:
Rolesville police: Fire was murder-suicide
Tyler William “TyBry” Bryan

Carmina Brown

Black and white photo of Carmina Brown, a young woman with straight, dark hair and pale skin. She is squinting into the sun. Name: Carmina Brown.
Died: December 11, 2015.
Age at death: 27.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Kennewick, Washington, USA.
Disability: Developmental disability.

Details:
Carmina was shot by her father in a homicide-suicide. He also killed her mother, Elena.

Carmina worked at Goodwill and was on a Special Olympics swim team. She enjoyed cycling and went to camp every summer.

Case status:
Doug Brown (Father), deceased.

Source:
Neighbors, friends reeling after apparent murder-suicide in Kennewick
Carmina, Elena, Douglas Brown Obituary
Non profit honors murder victim
New project honors disabled Tri-Cities woman killed by her father

Violet Barker

No Photo Name: Violet Barker.
Died: December 9, 2015.
Age at death: 92.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Boynton Beach, Florida, USA.
Disability: Mobility impaired; used walker.

Details:
Violet’s son left her alone in her room. She usually used a walker to get around her home, but her son didn’t check on her when she didn’t come out to eat. Only weeks later did he report her death, which medical examiners determined had been from starvation.

Case status:
Robert C. Hart (Son), convicted of aggravated manslaughter of an elderly person or disabled adult, sentenced to 3-5 years; paroled after 3 years.

Source:
Man accused of starving mother to death
Partially mummified woman seen as spry, solitary, struggling
Cops: Florida man let elderly mother starve to death, body decomposed in home
PBSO: Mom, 92, found ‘mummified’ in mobile home; son arrested
Man let 92-year-old mother starve, decompose in her room, investigators say