Main List – Page 21 – Disability Day of Mourning

Kaiya Kapahu

Photo of a small girl with light-tan skin, big brown eyes, and straight, long, black hair. Name: Kaiya Kalora Kapahu.
Died: February 18, 2010.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Disability: Rett syndrome.

Details:
Kaiya was deliberately starved to death by her uncle.

Case status:
Leonard “Sonny” Orta Jr. (Uncle); pled guilty to second-degree murder; sentenced to 18 years.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Kaiya Kapahu
Hawaii dad trusted his brother, but Kaiya instead was starved
Father of special-needs girl found dead had planned to bring her home
Family, friends still struggling as they say farewell to Kaiya
Find a Grave: Kaiya Kalora Kapahu
GCC student honors the memory of Kaiya Kapahu

Thoretta Miller

Portrait photo of a woman with dark-brown skin and curly black hair, wearing a pink blouse and turquoise scarf. Name: Thoretta Miller.
Died: February 12, 2010.
Age at death: 57.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Texas City, Texas, USA.
Disability: “Legally blind and disabled”.

Details:
Thoretta’s granddaughter beat and stabbed her to death.

Case status:
Cheretta Smith (granddaughter), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 42-84 years.

Source:
Texas City woman who killed blind grandmother gets 84 years
Texas City woman admits to murdering blind grandmother
Cheretta Andurnique Smith v. The State of Texas

Ajit Singh

Name: Ajit Singh-Mahal.
Died: February 9, 2010.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Multiple organ failure.
Location: London, England, UK.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Ajit’s mother, facing a social services investigation for neglect, forced him to drink bleach. He died of multiple organ failure.

Case status:
Satpal Kaur-Singh (Mother); pled guilty to manslaughter; sentenced to 7 years.

Source:
Mother kills autistic son by forcing him to drink bleach
Mother killed her autistic son, 12, by forcing him to drink bleach as she ‘feared that social services would take him away’
Woman jailed for killing autistic son, 12, with bleach
Autism Memorial: Ajit Singh

Jude Mirra

Photo of Jude Mirra, a boy wearing a blue-and-orange shirt and blue visor. His skin is light, and his cheeks are pink. He is smiling, mouth closed, and looking up at the camera. Name: Jude Mirra
Died: February 4, 2010.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Poisoning.
Location: New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Jude’s mother allegedly poisoned him with prescription drugs.

Case status:
Gigi Jordan (Mother), convicted of first-degree manslaughter, sentenced to 18 years. Conviction overturned because of a violation of her right to a public trial. New trial granted; decision reversed. Died by suicide after being told she would return to prison.

Source:
NYC pharma exec who killed son dies in Brooklyn
Ruling ordering new trial in death of 8-year-old is reversed
Autism Memorial: Jude Mirra
Gigi Jordan Convicted Of Killing Son Now Freed On Bond In SDNY For Closed Courtroom
Millionaire pharma exec who fatally poisoned her son, 8, granted bail
NY Socialite Who Killed Autistic Son With Lethal Combo Of Pills In 2010 Could Be Freed
Millionaire mom convicted of killing autistic son may be retried
Mother Held in Death of Boy, 8, at Luxury Hotel
Mother Facing Murder Charges in Death of Autistic Boy, 8, in Peninsula Hotel
‘Socialite’ Kills Autistic Son, 9, in New York Hotel, Attempts Suicide
Poor health of autistic son Jude Mirra led mother Gigi Jordan to kill him: pal
Mom murdered her autistic son after seeking help from therapist who believes in ‘Satanic mind control’

Laura Cummings

Photo of Laura Cummings, a woman with fair skin and light-brown hair in a pageboy cut, wearing large glasses and a red sweater with a white lace collar. Name: Laura Cummings.
Died: January 21, 2010.
Age at death: 23.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Buffalo, New York, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Laura was raped, tortured, and finally smothered by her mother and half-brother.

Friends remember her as shy, quiet, and kind.

Case status:
Eva Cummings (Mother), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, assault, unlawful imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a disabled person as a hate crime, and was sentenced to 57 years to life.
Luke Wright (half-brother), was found guilty of assault, rape, incest, sodomy, endangering the welfare of an incompetent person, and unlawful imprisonment as a hate crime, and sentenced to 50 years to life.

Source:
Laura Cummings
Angel of Hope: Remembering Laura Cummings
Six years after her horrific death, North Collins woman is laid to rest
N.Y. mom gets prison for killing disabled daughter
Prosecutor: NY man raped, scalded disabled sister
Authorities: Mom, son raped, killed disabled woman

Kelsey Moore

No Photo Name: Kelsey Moore.
Died: December 13, 2009.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Location: Madison County, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Angelman syndrome.

Details:
Kelsey’s father shut her in their garage and poisoned Kelsey and himself with carbon monoxide.

Kelsey liked music. Her favorite instrument was the trumpet.

Case status:
Richard Moore (Father), deceased.

Source:
Father let truck run to kill self, daughter

Betty Anne Gagnon

Photo of Betty Anne Gagnon, a middle-aged woman with short brown hair and light skin; her hair is parted messily and her expression is sad. Name: Betty Anne “BA” Gagnon.
Died: November 20, 2009.
Age at death: 48.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
BA was beaten and starved by her sister and sister’s husband. Eventually she died from a blow to the head, weighing 65 pounds.

Case status:
Denise Scriven (Sister), convicted of “failing to provide the necessities of life” and sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Michael Scriven (Brother-in-law), convicted of “failing to provide the necessities of life” and sentenced to 20 months in jail.

Source
Betty Anne Gagnon’s caregivers get jail terms in death
Inquiry into mentally disabled woman’s death likely to raise uncomfortable questions
Betty Anne Gagnon death inquiry hears of caregivers’ descent into drugs, depression
Paula Simons: Who killed Betty Anne Gagnon? We may not like the answers
Denise Scriven testifies that break down prevented her from caring for her disabled sister
Woman who served time for death of sister testifies that breakdown prevented her from caring for sibling
Betty Anne Gagnon’s sister testifies about suicide plan, drug use
Fatality inquiry into disabled woman’s death makes 13 recommendations
Report into death of mentally disabled woman in Alberta calls for better programs

Marie-Nicole Rainville

Black and white photo of Marie-Nicole Rainville, a middle-aged woman. She has light skin and dark hair cut short; she is smiling broadly. Name: Marie-Nicole Rainville.
Died: November 12, 2009.
Age at death: 71.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Quebec City, Canada.
Disability: Stroke.

Details:
Marie-Nicole was shot by her husband.

Case status:
Jacques Delisle (Husband), first-degree murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
Jacques Delisle | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers
‘Destroyed, but not guilty,’ says judge accused of murdering his wife
Bail denied for ex-judge waiting for ministerial review of murder conviction

Fabian Duque

No Photo Name: Fabian Duque.
Died: November 9, 2009.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Fabian was shot by his father.

Case status:
Segundo Duque (Father), deceased.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Fabian Duque
Report on the Fatality of Fabian Duque, Jr.
Segundo Duque shot his 16 year old autistic son in the head
Dad shoots and kills 16-year-old disabled son
Two Deaths, One Gun: Father Kills Autistic Son

Walter Hildebrand Jr.

No Photo Name: Walter Knox Hildebrand Jr.
Died: November 2009.
Age at death: 20.
Cause of death: Fatal seizure.
Location: Willows, California, USA.
Disability: Autism, epilepsy.

Details:
Walter was beaten and starved by his brother. He died from a seizure because his epilepsy was aggravated by his brother’s abuse.

Case status:
Stuart Allen Hildebrand (Brother), pled guilty to abuse, served 59 days in jail.

Source:
Willows, California: Man jailed for abuse and neglect in connection with the death of his brother, Walter Knox Hildebrand Jr.
Beating not cause of death
Autism Memorial: Walter Hildebrand Jr.