Location: USA – Page 85 – Disability Day of Mourning

Bertha Anderson and Lisa Nave

Portrait photos of Bertha Anderson and Lisa Nave. They are both light-skinned, light-haired women. Name: Bertha Maxine Anderson.
Age at death: 68.
Disability: “Breast cancer survivor, brain damage, trembling, panic attacks, hot flashes and cataracts”.
Location: Canyon Country, California, USA.

Name: Lisa Florence Nave.
Age at death: 58.
Disability: Heart disease; “Bedridden”; nursing home resident.
Location: North Hills, California, USA.

Died: December 11, 2013.
Cause of death: Gunshot.

Details:
Bertha’s husband shot her because she was sick. Then he drove to his sister Lisa’s nursing home and shot her, too. The police called them “mercy killings”.

Case status:
Lance Hoger Anderson (Husband, brother), found guilty of murder, sentenced to 100 years to life.

Source:
Canyon Country man found guilty of murders
Lance Anderson of Santa Clarita charged in double mercy killing of wife and sister
2nd woman shot in purported mercy killings identified
‘I hope… I can be forgiven’: Man gets 100 years for ‘mercy killings’ of wife, sister
Double-murder conviction holds for traumatic shock disorder vet who killed ailing wife, sister

Skyler Craighead

No Photo
Name: Skyler Craighead.
Died: November 18, 2013.
Age at death: 5 months.
Cause of death: Starvation/dehydration.
Location: La Vergne, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: DiGeorge syndrome, feeding tube, heart defect.

Details:
Skyler died of starvation and dehydration while in the care of her parents.

Case status:
Sinead Omer (Mother) and Terry Craighead (Father), both charged with aggravated child neglect, felony murder in perpetration of aggravated child neglect, aggravated child abuse and felony murder in perpetration of aggravated child abuse. First trial ended in mistrial; second trial proceeding.

Source:
Sinead Omer, mother accused of killing infant in 2013, faces new child abuse charges
Mother Charged with Starvation Death of Baby in 2013 Accused of Faking Illness in Infant in 2018
La Vergne parents face trial in infant’s starvation death
La Vergne Parents Charged In Baby’s Death Go To Trial

Dameian Gulley

Photo of Dameian Gulley, an adolescent boy with fair skin and curly brown hair, standing in front of some leafy branches. Name: Dameian “Luke” Gulley.
Died: November 18, 2013.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Visalia, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Luke’s stepfather strangled him.

His obituary says that he often “volunteered his time at a nursing home in Tulare, CA where he would call out Bingo and paint fingernails.”

Case status:
Miguel Angel Villegas Pacheco (Stepfather), convicted of murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Dameian “Luke” Gulley
Tulare County judge sentences Visalia man to 25 years to life for murder of stepson
Dameian Gulley: Obituary
Stepfather arrested in Gulley’s death
‘We knew we had foul play’
Visalia step-father arrested for the murder of 14-year-old Damiean “Luke” Gulley
Stepfather Left Voice Mail Asking for Help
Central California man arrested in stepson’s death

Shirley Neumann

Photo of Shirley Neumann, an elderly woman with short gray hair and fair, wrinkled skin. She is wearing a white blouse and pearl earrings. Name: Shirley Neumann.
Died: October 31, 2013.
Age at death: 77.
Cause of death: Fall.
Location: Fenton, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Shirley Neumann’s death was initially thought to be an accident. Her daughter, who visited her at her retirement home, was the last person to see her alive; when her daughter left, she told staff that Shirley would not be down for dinner. In the morning, Shirley was found dead beneath her broken fourth-floor balcony, having fallen to her death. Her daughter was the beneficiary of her $500,000 life insurance policy.

Shirley’s death was initially ruled an accident, but her daughter is under investigation for two other murders, also of disabled people: Betsy Faria, her friend, whose death was disguised as a suicide and for which Shirley’s daughter is charged with murder; and Lewis Gumpenberger, her ex-boyfriend, in whose shooting death Shirley’s daughter pleaded no contest to murder.

Investigators tested the railing and found that someone of Shirley’s weight should not have been able to break the railing by falling into it. Shirley Neumann’s manner of death has been officially changed from “accidental” to “undetermined”.

Case status:
Pamela Hupp (Daughter); sentenced to life without parole for the murder of Lewis Gumpenberger; charged with the murder of Betsy Faria. The investigation into Shirley’s death was not re-opened.

Source:
‘It’s puzzling’: Pam Hupp waives preliminary hearing in murder trial
In ‘The Thing About Pam,’ We Learn Pam Hupp Is a Killer — Did She Also Murder Her Own Mother?
Shirley Neumann Murder: How Did Pam Hupp’s Mom Die? Who Killed Her?
The Real Truth about Pam Hupp: 3 deaths, 2 questionable investigations, 1 woman at the center
Pam Hupp
In her own words: Pam Hupp on her mother`s fatal fall
Woman, 77, dies after falling from third-floor balcony of Fenton-area retirement home
Shirley Neumann Obituary
Police seek new information on death of Pamela Hupp’s mother
Police reviewing death of Pamela Hupp’s mother
Police reviewing death of Pamela Hupp’s mother
Loved ones of man killed by Pamela Hupp speak out
Pam Hupp could still be collecting government disability checks in jail
Medical examiner changes manner of death for Pamela Hupp’s mother
Mom’s Death Not to Be Discussed at Pamela Hupp’s Trial

Antonio Brooks

Photo: A young African-American boy wearing a white shirt. He has large brown eyes and a turned-up nose; his hair is very short. Name: Antonio Brooks.
Died: October 28, 2013.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Peritonitis.
Location: Hampton, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Antonio’s father kicked him in the stomach, and then neglected to take him to the doctor. Antonio died two days later from his injuries.

Case status:
Anthony Brooks (Father), pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter. Due to be released Sept. 2026.

Source:
Hampton man pleads in autistic son’s death
Father arrested after son’s death ruled a homicide
Documents: Hampton father did not get medical attention for son
Testimony: Hampton boy’s death could have been prevented
Autism Memorial: Antonio Brooks

Tamiyah Audain

Name: Tamiyah Audain.
Died: September 25, 2013.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Malnutrition, infection.
Location: Lauderhill, Florida, USA.
Disability: Autism, tuberous sclerosis.

Details:
Tamiyah was neglected by her aunt; she died of starvation and infection. When she died after nine months with her aunt, Tamiyah weighed only 56 pounds–less than half of the 115 pounds she had weighed when she first came to live there.

Tamiyah always greeted family members with a hug.

Case status:
Latoya Patterson (Cousin), convicted of child neglect, sentenced to 3 years probation.
Jabeth Moye (Child care worker), pleaded no contest to aggravated child abuse, sentenced to five years probation.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Tamiyah Audain
Caregiver charged in autistic girl’s death seeks bond
Supervised Population Information Detail
While agencies bickered, Broward girl died horrible death
Report: Questions Arise For Child Welfare Workers After Death Of 12-Year-Old
State records show pattern of neglect in death of Lauderhill girl
Florida child welfare worker, 3 others charged in girl’s starvation death

Robert Meredith Jr.

Gravestone reading, Meredith, Robert L Sr, SP4 USA, 1935 2012, Mary Ann, 1938 2012, Robert L Jr,1694, 2013, forever in our hearts. Name: Robert Meredith Jr.
Died: September 22, 2013.
Age at death: 55.
Cause of death: Blunt force injury.
Location: Joliet, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Robert’s brother punched him and hit him with a stick. He died of his injuries.

Case status:
Francis Zabala (Brother-in-law), charged with murder, convicted of involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 4-8 years in prison.

Source:
Joliet man gets 8-year sentence for fatal beating
Joliet murder trial testimony: Broken ribs led to man’s death
2013 Joliet murder trial to begin
Joliet murder trial: Wife saw husband beat victim
Update: Murder Victim ID’d, Died from ‘Blunt Force Injuries’: Coroner
Defendant testifies in Joliet murder trial
Joliet man found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in beating of mentally disabled brother-in-law
Joliet man guilty of involuntary manslaughter: jury

Jaelen Edge

A photo of a brown-skinned boy with a buzz cut, wearing a T-shirt, sitting on a deck chair, looking to the side, frowning. Inset: Photo of a brown-skinned young girl with brown skin and black hair pulled back, chin in her hand, smiling, wearing a coral blouse. Name: Jaelen Edge.
Died: September 14, 2013.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Santa Ana, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Jaelen was poisoned and then drowned by his mother, who also killed his ten-year-old sister Faith.

Case status:
Marilyn Edge (Mother); pleaded guilty to murder; sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Jaelen Edge
Ariz. Mother Allegedly Kills Children To Prevent Father From Getting Custody
Marilyn Edge Update: Ariz. mom accused of poisoning daughter, autistic son, charged with murder
Mother Accused of Poisoning Children in OC Asks Judge for Death
Marilyn Edge update: Documents shed light on what murder suspect was going through
Arraignment postponed for Marilyn Edge, mother charged in children’s deaths
Grand jury testimony: Mom’s plot to kill children involved sleeping pills, drowning
Mother pleads guilty
Mother sentenced to life in prison for murder of 2 kids in Santa Ana

Nathalyz Rivera

Photo of Nathalyz Rivera, a baby with light-tan skin and black hair, wearing a big white hair ribbon. She has her eyes wide open and her tongue poking out of her mouth a little. Name: Nathalyz Rivera.
Died: September 9, 2013.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome (visually impaired, unable to walk or talk).

Details:
Nathalyz and her siblings were starved and neglected by their parents, fed only once a day. Nathalyz, the youngest, could not hold a bottle to feed herself. When she died of starvation, her parents were arrested.

Her two brothers and two sisters survived and were moved to foster homes.

Case status:
Carmen Ramirez (Mother), convicted of 3rd-degree murder, manslaughter, negligence; sentenced to 30-60 years in prison.
Carlos Rivera (Father), convicted of 3rd-degree murder, manslaughter, negligence; sentenced to 30-60 years in prison.

Source:
Mother ‘used daughter’s disability checks to party at casinos months before her 3-year-old starved to death on filthy floor’
Parents of fatally starved girl get long prison terms

Edward O’Brien Jr.

Gravestone of Edward J. O'brien Jr. Name: Edward J. O’Brien Jr.
Died: September 8, 2013.
Age at death: 92.
Cause of death: Heart failure
Location: West Whiteland, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Heart condition.

Details:
Edward’s son kept him from getting medical treatment for his heart condition and neglected him. When he died of heart failure, he was starving and covered in bedsores.

Mr. O’Brien was a World War II veteran.

Case status:
Edward J. O’Brien III (Son), found guilty of third-degree murder, involuntary murder, aggravated assault, and recklessly endangering another person, sentenced to 5-10 years.

Source:
Prelimnary hearing set in death of West Whiteland man
In murder trial, Chesco lawyer says father died as he wanted
Chester County Man Convicted Of Murder In Death Of Elderly Father
West Whiteland man guilty of murder in his father’s death
Judge gives O’Brien 5 to 10 years for death of father
Chesco attorney guilty of letting father die ordered to state prison