Location: USA – Page 9 – Disability Day of Mourning

Bernadette, Lisa, and Matthew Steadman

Name: Bernadette A. Steadman.
Age at death: 92.
Disability: Chronic illness; wheelchair user.

Name: Lisa B. Steadman.
Age at death: 60.
Disability: Chronic illness.

Name: Matthew Steadman.
Age at death: 34.
Disability: Autism.

Died: October 15, 2022.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Elyria, Ohio, USA.

Details:
After a man called 911, saying he had killed his family and was going to kill himself, police responded to his address and found the whole family shot dead. Matthew, the youngest at 34, was autistic; his mother Lisa, 60, and grandmother Bernadette, had chronic illness. They had all been killed by their caregiver, who died by suicide before police arrived.

The family lived in a quiet mobile home park, well-liked by their neighbors, one of whom says she used to call Bernadette “Grandma”. The family had recently added a ramp to their home so that Bernadette and Lisa could maneuver in and out of the home more easily.

Case Status:
James Steadman (Son/Husband/Father), deceased.

Photo of an elderly woman with wispy white chin-length hair and pale skin.

Photo of a middle-aged woman with brown hair growing out into gray roots, wearing glasses; she has pale skin, and is smiling for the camera.

Portrait photo of a young man smiling for the camera; he has curly brown hair and is wearing glasses.

Sources:
‘I’m in shock’: Police release identities, details in the murder-suicide of Elyria family
Family of 4 found dead in Elyria home after apparent murder-suicide – cleveland.com
Elyria police identify victims of murder-suicide
Autism Memorial: Matthew Steadman

Mae Brown

No Photo Name: Mae Brown.
Died: October 15, 2022.
Age at death: 87.
Cause of death: Beating.
Location: Bronzeville, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Disabled elder, wheelchair user.

Details:
Mae was found beaten to death in her apartment. Earlier the same day, police had been called to her apartment twice, first by her daughter who accused her of stealing her disability payments, and then by Mae, who told police her daughter would not leave her apartment. Police arrested Mae’s daughter, who had returned after being forced to leave and beat her mother to death.

Case Status:
Shearly Gaines (Daughter), pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, sentenced to 20 years and must serve 100% of that sentence.

Sources:
Woman pleads guilty to killing 87-year-old mother found dead in wheelchair in Bronzeville apartment
Woman pleads guilty to killing 87-year-old mother found dead in wheelchair in Bronzeville apartment
Death investigation: 87-year-old woman found dead in Bronzeville apartment ruled homicide, ME says
87-year-old woman beaten to death at senior living apartment building on South Side
‘It’s scary’: Woman, 87, found beaten to death in wheelchair at senior home complex, officials say
Woman Charged In Murder Of 87-Year-Old Woman In Douglas Apartment Complex
Garfield Park woman charged with murder of 87-year-old in Bronzeville senior complex
Woman charged with killing 87-year-old mother in CHA senior apartment on South Side
Bond denied for woman charged with killing 87-year-old mother on Chicago’s South Side
No bail for 69-year-old woman accused of murdering her 87-year-old mother at South Side senior apartments
Woman accused mom of stealing disability money before 87-year-old was found beaten to death: court

Shanice Watts

No Photo Name: Shanice Nicole Watts.
Died: October 5, 2022.
Age at death: 34.
Cause of death: Unspecified.
Location: Laurel, Mississippi, USA.
Disability: Unspecified special needs.

Details:
Shanice’s body was found in her home; she had been dead for six months or more. Her mother was arrested and charged with murder.

Case Status:
Phyllis Watts-Tiller (Mother), charged with murder.

Sources:
Body ID’d as murder suspect’s daughter
Woman’s body found in Laurel identified, mother charged with murder
Police: Victim found in Mississippi house more than six months after she died has been identified. Mother charged with her murder.

Andreas Huertas

No Photo Name: Andreas Huertas.
Died: September 25, 2022.
Age at death: 37.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma; beating.
Location: Bronx, New York, New York, USA.
Disability: Diabetes; received disability assistance.

Details:
Andreas, who lived with his boyfriend, was beaten to death in his own apartment, possibly with a hammer. His boyfriend was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Neighbors remember him as a “good community man”–kind, helpful, and willing to pitch in to keep their building clean.

Case Status:
Felix Perez (Boyfriend), charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Sources:
Bronx man allegedly kills partner with hammer, said it felt ‘like a dream’
Bronx man found dead in his NYCHA apartment; fatal beating suspected
Boyfriend of man beaten to death in NYCHA apartment arrested for his murder

Michael Bruno

No Photo Name: Michael John Bruno.
Died: September 17, 2022.
Age at death: 74.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Boardman, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Depression, PTSD, frail elder.

Details:
Michael’s son fatally shot him as he lay in bed; he was angry that Michael had decided to sell his home.

He was a Vietnam veteran who had served in the Air Force.

Case Status:
Michael N. Bruno (Son), convicted of murder, sentenced to 18 years to life.

Sources:
Man who killed his father gets 18 to life
Man sentenced in shooting death of father in Boardman
Obituary for Michael John Bruno | Funeral Services by Gary Silvat
Former Sheriff’s Deputy sentenced to 18 years to life in shooting death of father

Jonathan Runion

No Photo Name: Jonathan Runion.
Died: September 12, 2022.
Age at death: 48.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Boone County, West Virginia, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; bedridden.

Details:
Jonathan was shot by his mother in a murder-suicide.

Case Status:
Tammy Runion (Mother), deceased.

Sources:
West Virginia mother allegedly fatally shoots 48-year-old bedridden son and self
Victims identified in Boone County murder-suicide
Deputies | Mother kills son in apparent murder-suicide

Ernest Sena Sr.

No Photo Name: Ernest Sena Sr.
Died: September 4, 2022.
Age at death: 62.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Disability: Mobility impaired; one arm paralyzed.

Details:
Ernest’s son allegedly shot him in the chest while visiting him to help him shop for groceries. Police say Ernest’s son, after he was arrested, admitted that this wasn’t the first time he had pointed a gun at his father.

Case Status:
Ernest A. Sena, Jr. (Son), charged with murder.

Sources:
Man charged in shooting death of disabled father in South Valley
Man arrested for shooting his own father

Mary Kelting

Black and white photo of a smiling, light-skinned woman with her dark hair in a bob, held back by a hair band. Name: Mary Kathryn Kelting.
Died: September 1, 2022 (Declared dead; died approx. August 28-29).
Age at death: 73.
Cause of death: Pneumonia, malnutrition, heart disease.
Location: Davenport, Iowa, USA.
Disability: Stroke.

Details:
Mary died from neglect.

She enjoyed scrapbooking and painting ceramics. Her favorite movie was “Guardians of the Galaxy” and she loved Groot. She was a retired medical transcriber who had also worked as a dental hygienist and X-ray tech.

Case Status:
Jason B. Kelting (Son), charged with involuntary manslaughter, dependent abuse, and neglect or abandonment of a dependent person.

Sources:
Davenport man charged with neglecting bedridden mother causing death
Mary Kelting Obituary – Davenport, IA

Amora Milbourne

Name: Amora Lou Milbourne.
Died: August 27, 2022.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Heat stroke.
Location: Cary, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Chromosome deletion; prematurity, developmental delay, congenital heart disease, feeding difficulty, stroke.

Details:
Amora’s mother allegedly left her and her little sister Trinity in her car parked outside a gambling establishment, while she spent six hours gaming inside. The sisters died from hyperthermia; when their mother returned to find them unresponsive, she reportedly took 30-45 minutes to get them to the hospital, where they were declared dead. Their mother had been previously investigated by child protective services, who sent social workers to make sure that Amora and Trinity were being taken to medical appointments and properly supervised. The family was getting 40 hours of home health services per week for Amora.

Case Status:
Launice Shanique Battle (Mother), charged with two counts of murder.

Sources:
Cary mom admitted to leaving girls in hot car while gambling; autopsy reveals death by hyperthermia with decaying present
Cary mother charged with murdering 2 children had multiple previous reports of neglect
NC mother charged with murder after children die in hot car, police say
North Carolina mom admitted to leaving girls in hot car at play; Autopsy shows death from hyperthermia with decomposing gift – North Carolina News
Autopsies released on two Cary toddlers found in hot car. Mother charged with murder.
‘Something ain’t right’: Family of mother accused of killing daughters hadn’t heard from her in weeks

Joanna Parker

No Photo Name: Joanna Parker.
Died: August 22, 2022.
Age at death: 72.
Cause of death: Burns.
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Wheelchair user.

Details:
Joanna’s son allegedly poured gasoline on her and set her on fire. Emergency responders were able to extinguish the fire, but she died at the hospital.

Case Status:
James Parker (Son), charged with murder.

Sources:
Woman dies after being set on fire in Winston-Salem by son, police say