Location: USA – Page 92 – Disability Day of Mourning

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

Jake Harkins

Photo of a boy with fair skin and sandy hair, wearing a white shirt. Name: Jake Harkins.
Died: September 6, 2013.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Jake’s father shot him to death in a murder suicide.

Case status:
Jake Harkins Sr. (Father), deceased.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Jake Harkins
Domestic incident leaves two dead, 1 injured
Dad Kills Son, Self, Shoots Wife in “Gruesome” Murder-Suicide: Police
Memorial Dedicated at NE Phila. School to Autistic Boy Who Died

Madison Garcia

Photo of Madison Garcia, a fair-skinned baby strapped into a car seat. She has a big white bow on her head. There are lots of dangle toys hanging all around her. Name: Madison McKenzie Garcia.
Died: September 2, 2013.
Age at death: 13 months.
Cause of death: Malnutrition, dehydration.
Location: West Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Madison’s parents starved her to death.

Case status:
Tracy Roach (Mother), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to life without parole.
Filiberto Garcia Campos (Father), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
Pair charged after infant daughter dies from malnutrition, dehydration
Father gets life in prison after infant with Down syndrome starved to death
Lexington dad gets life sentence after infant daughter dies from malnutrition, dehydration

Virginia Chumbley

Name: Virginia “Jenny” Chumbley.
Died: August 28, 2013.
Age at death: 44.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: London, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Breast cancer.

Details:
Jenny’s husband shot her in the head as she slept. He claimed he had done it to “stop her suffering”.

Case status:
Ernest Christ Chumbley (Husband), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 13-15 years.

Source:
Man who says he killed wife to stop suffering given 15 years

Mary Bowers

Name: Mary Bowers.
Died: August 25, 2013.
Age at death: 83.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Orange City, Florida, USA.
Disability: Stroke, Alzheimer’s; recently moved to assisted living facility.

Details:
Mary was shot to death by her husband, who then shot himself.

Case status:
Gary Bowers (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Caregivers who kill their spouses share traits, experts say
Police: Man kills wife, self at assisted living facility
Murder-suicides among elderly driven by illness, depression
Mary Emma Willoughby Bowers (1930 – 2013) – Find A Grave Memorial

Marian Roberts

No Photo Name: Marian Roberts.
Died: August 17, 2013.
Age at death: 57.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Oakland, California, USA.
Disability: Quadriplegic, TBI.

Details:
Marian was shot by her father in a murder-suicide.

Case status:
William K. Roberts (Father), deceased.

Source:
Oakland father, daughter shot to death in murder-suicide
Oakland man kills disabled daughter, self
Elderly Oakland man kills disabled daughter, self
Oakland father, daughter shot to death in murder-suicide

Melissa Torres

Photo of Melissa Torres, a woman with light brown skin, dark brown hair, and glasses. She wears large earrings and a maroon-and-gray sweater; in the foreground is a joystick for controlling her power wheelchair. Name: Melissa Torres.
Died: August 4, 2013.
Age at death: 32.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Quadriplegic.

Details:
Melissa’s boyfriend strangled or suffocated her.

Melissa had a two-year-old son who was in the apartment at the time. Though he was alone for most of the next day, the little boy was found safe and now lives with his grandmother.

Case status:
Angelo Sanchez (Boyfriend), convicted of and sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
Quadriplegic Woman Found Dead In Her Williamsburg Bathroom, Boyfriend Charged
Boy left with murdered mom’s body still thinks she’s just sleeping
NYC man gets 25 years to life for suffocating quadriplegic girlfriend, leaving son with body

Matthew Hafer

No Photo Name: Matthew Hafer.
Died: Several days before July 27, 2013.
Age at death: 28.
Cause of death: Prescription drug overdose.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Matthew’s mother poisoned him with an overdose of prescription drugs.

Case status:
Joann Hafer (Mother), pled guilty to second-degree murder; sentenced to 10 years to life.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Matthew Hafer
Woman accused of killing son who had autism set for court
Police: Vegas woman drugged adult son to death
Mom accused of fatally drugging son appears in court
Police: Woman survives suicide attempt, arrested in death of disabled son
Court case

Melinda Pace

Photo of Mindy Pace, a young woman with short brown hair. She is wrapped in a paisley blanket, with her head bent forward, smiling and peeking at the camera through her bangs. Name: Melinda ‘Mindy’ Pace.
Died: July 22, 2013.
Age at death: 58.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Jackson, Mississipi, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Mindy’s sister fatally shot Mindy and her dog before committing suicide.

Case status:
Nancy Pace (Sister), deceased.

Source:
Murder/Suicide – Killed – Melinda Pace (Jackson, MS)
Jackson woman who killed sister dies

Lola Mae Stout

No Photo Name: Lola Mae Stout.
Died: July 14, 2013.
Age at death: 73.
Cause of death: Heat stroke.
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Disability: Stroke, goiter, schizophrenia.

Details:
Instead of getting medical care for their ailing mother, Lola Mae’s sons and husband loaded her in the back of the van where they all lived along with 35 starving animals. As they loaded her in, she collapsed, but they ignored her and went on a two-hour drive to Phoenix. The van had no air conditioning; when they arrived, they found her dead.

Case status:
Alan Stout (Son), sentenced to 2 years probation for vulnerable adult abuse and animal cruelty.
Gregory Stout (Son), sentenced to 2 years probation for vulnerable adult abuse and animal cruelty.
Alva Stout (Husband), sentenced to 2 years probation for vulnerable adult abuse and animal cruelty.

Source:
Men get probation for abuse in mother’s death
AZ woman found dead in van carrying 35 animals