Location: USA – Page 88 – Disability Day of Mourning

Richard Davenport Jr.

Name: Richard Baxter Davenport Jr.
Died: April 16, 2013.
Age at death: 59.
Cause of death: Blood loss.
Location: North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Leg amputee; used a wheelchair.

Details:
Richard’s neighbor, who served as his caregiver, entered his home and cut his throat, leaving him to die.

He was a military veteran who had been in the Marines.

Case status:
Coy Edward Pack (Neighbor), pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter, sentenced to three years and six months to five years and four months in prison
April Pack (Neighbor; Caregiver), pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder, burglary, and armed robbery, sentenced to 5 years, 6 months to 7 years, 8 months in prison.

Source:
Coy Pack murder trial set
Husband of woman arrested earlier is also charged with murder
Davenport, Richard Baxter, Jr.
Arrest made for murder
Richard Davenport Jr., Marine veteran, dies on April 16
North Wilkesboro man found dead in his home
Eddie Pack pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter
April Pack is sentenced for being accessory in man’s death

Adrian and Alexis Colon

Portrait photo of three children, a girl in a pink dress, with brown skin, curly black hair, and brown eyes; and twin toddler boys in blue-striped shirts, with pale skin and dark-brown hair and eyes. Name: Adrian Colon.
Disability: Autism.

Name: Alexis Colon.
Disability: Cerebral Palsy.

Died: April 11, 2013.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Fire.
Location: West Allis, Wisconsin, USA.

Details:
Adrian and Alexis, twin brothers, and their sister Nayeli, were left locked into their room by their mother while she went out. While they were alone, a fire started and killed the three siblings. Their mother had received prior warnings about her neglect of the children.

Case status:
Angelica Belen (Mother), pleaded guilty to neglect, sentenced to 18 years in prison and 18 years of probation.

Source:
Three young children die in West Allis house fire, mother in custody
Mother of victims in fatal West Allis fire faced previous neglect charges
Couple wishes they would have done more for children killed in fire
Find a Grave: Adrian Colon
Autism Memorial: Adrian Colon

Brian Daniels

Photo: A young man with brown hair and blue eyes; he has fair skin, a mustache, and a goatee. The photo is overexposed. Scars are visible on his chin, causing his lower lip to be asymmetrical. Name: Brian Daniels.
Died: April 9-10, 2013.
Age at death: 46.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Columbia, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Scars from third-degree burns over 2/3rds of his skin.

Details:
Brian’s boyfriend wanted the $5 million settlement Brian had received after he was burned in an apartment fire, so he hired a hit man to shoot Brian. They forged Brian’s will and power of attorney, and two other men helped provide false alibis. The hit man fatally shot Brian in the head. Despite an attempt to stage a burglary scene, all four were arrested.

Brian loved to study ancient religious rituals. He bought and sold ancient Egyptian art online.

Case status:
James Thompson (Caretaker/Boyfriend), first-degree murder, life without parole.
Casey Lewis (Hit man), first degree murder, life without parole.
Christopher Hurt (Accessory), pleaded guilty to hindering the prosecution of a felony, sentenced to 5 years probation.
Glen Anderson (Accessory), pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution, five years probation.

Source:
Columbia man gets probation in connection with death of Brian Daniels
Shooter in murder-for-hire case sentenced to life in prison
A SURPRISING LIGHT: Appears in the dark, strange world of CoMo murder victim Brian Daniels

Victoria Hines

No Photo Name: Victoria Hines.
Died: April 5, 2013.
Age at death: 58.
Cause of death: Malnutrition, infection.
Location: Florence, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
Victoria’s died of starvation and untreated bedsores; police say she was left in her recliner for more than two weeks.

Case status:
Harold W. Reed Jr. (Boyfriend), charged with neglect of a disabled person.

Source:
Victoria Marie Muha Hines
Police ID neglected woman who died
Police ID neglected woman who died

Terrilynn Dennis

Photo of a young girl with dark skin and dark braided hair, wearing a pink skirt and a pink T-shirt with a cupcake on it. Name: Terrilynn Destiny Julz Dennis.
Died: April 4, 2013.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Peritonitis.
Location: Newport News, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Spina bifida.

Details:
Terrilynn died of peritonitis from blows to the stomach, complicated by physical and medical neglect. Her parents allegedly waited eight hours after she became unresponsive to take her to the hospital, and she died shortly thereafter.

From her obituary: “Terrilynn had a warm spirit; she enjoyed playing with her sisters and learning about the Bible.”

Case status:
Terri W. Dennis (Adoptive father), charged with murder.
Pamela T. Dennis (Adoptive mother), charged with murder.

Source:
Girl adopted by Terri and Pamela Dennis
Terrilyn Destiny Julz Dennis

Michael Stevens

No Photo
Name: Michael Stevens.
Died: April 1, 2013.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Choking.
Location: Lakeland, Florida, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability, epilepsy.

Details:
Michael’s mother neglected him. She didn’t keep him clean, and she often locked him into his room or tied him to a chair. She hadn’t filled his seizure medication prescription in over a year when Michael had a seizure, choked on his vomit, and died.

Case status:
Janet Wade Stevens (Mother), convicted of manslaughter, obstruction of justice, and aggravated abuse; sentenced to 20 years.

Source:
Lakeland Woman Jailed in Death of Her Disabled Son

Heidi Good-Swiacki

Name: Heidi Good-Swiacki.
Died: March 25, 2013.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Asphyxiation.
Location: Solvang, California, USA.
Disability: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Details:
Heidi died when her ventilator failed. At the time, she was in the care of her mother and a hired caregiver. The caregiver left to go shopping, and in the meantime, the ventilator failed. Her mother and caregiver were charged with deliberately sedating her and disconnecting the ventilator, but the jury deadlocked on her mother’s trial, and the caregiver’s conviction was overturned.

Heidi wrote a blog using an eye-based input device. In the introduction to her blog, she said, “I will share my ALS story which will hopefully encourage others. It will show that quality of life comes in many forms… Since I have had ALS I have seen many miracles.”

She was a deeply spiritual woman with two children, and she started a company to set up accounting systems for new wineries. Although non-verbal and ventilator-dependent, Heidi saw her life as “filled with laughter, trust and love”.

Case status:
Marjorie Good (Mother); jury deadlocked on involuntary manslaughter charge; charges dropped.
Wanda Nelson (Caregiver), convicted of involuntary manslaughter; conviction overturned because conspiracy could not be proved.

Source:
Case dismissed for caretaker convicted of involuntary manslaughter of ALS patient Heidi Good
Solvang woman acquitted of murdering her daughter
Case dismissed for caretaker convicted of involuntary manslaughter of ALS patient Heidi Good
Tragic Tale of ALS Patient Heidi Good Swiacki’s Death Emerges in Criminal Grand Jury Transcripts
Good Times

Robert Gensiak

Granite gravestone with a brass plaque reading, "In memory of Robert Gensiak, 2013. Every voice shall be heard." Name: Robert Gensiak.
Died: March 20, 2013.
Age at death: 32.
Cause of death: Sepsis.
Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Robert was severely neglected by his family; he died of blood poisoning from an untreated skin rash his body could not fight because he was so malnourished.

Case status:
Susan Gensiak (Mother), pled to third-degree murder, sentenced to 10-20 years in prison
Joan Gensiak (Sister), convicted of neglect, sentenced to 6 years.
Rebekah Gensiak (Sister), convicted of misdemeanor neglect, sentenced to 6-23 months in jail.

Source:
Susan Gensiak And 2 Daughters Charged With Murder Of Robert Gensiak, Disabled Man
Lackawanna County woman’s sentence overturned in disabled brother’s neglect death
Joan Gensiak re-sentenced to same term for starvation death of brother

Gerald Lakes

No Photo Name: Gerald Lee Lakes.
Died: March 13, 2013.
Age at death: 24.
Cause of death: Starvation, dehydration.
Location: Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Gerald was neglected and starved to death by his parents.

Case status:
Jerry Lakes (Father), pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, two counts of knowing abuse or neglect of an adult, three counts of exploitation, and three counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of property, sentenced to 20 years.
Peggy Whitlock (Mother), guilty to two counts of knowing abuse and neglect, sentenced to 10 years.

Source:
Lexington couple sentenced for neglect in death of mentally handicapped son
Detectives: Father of man who starved to death spent thousands in a casino

Marci Garvin

Name: Marci Garvin.
Died: March 11, 2013.
Age at death: 39.
Cause of death: Pneumonia, dehydration.
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, epilepsy.

Details:
Marci’s father and sister neglected her so badly that she died of infection, pneumonia, and dehydration.

Marci had spent 18 years working part-time for the Star-Telegram human resources office. Sadly, the same newspaper was later to publish the report on her death.

Case status:
Mike Garvin (Father), convicted of injury to the disabled and sentenced to 10-20 years in prison.
Tabby Martinjak (Sister), convicted of injury to the disabled and sentenced to 10-20 years in prison.

Source:
Father, daughter sentenced to 20 years in prison in death of disabled woman
Failing Marci: A disabled woman’s story of triumph and tragedy | Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Failing Marci: Investigation raises questions about care and oversight for disabled woman – Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX), 3/1/2015 Bexar County, Texas