Relationship: Offspring – Page 17 – Disability Day of Mourning

Beverly Nickerson

Photo of Beverly Nickerson, an elderly woman with shaggy gray hair and pale skin, wearing a nightshirt and sitting on the edge of a bed, eating from a plate on a bedside table. The photo has caught her in the middle of licking her lips. Name: Beverly Ann Nickerson.
Died: September 24, 2016.
Age at death: 74.
Cause of death: Drug overdose, blunt trauma.
Location: Spring Hill, Florida, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Beverly’s son abused and eventually killed her by beating her and overdosing her on her medication.

She had four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Case status:
Albert Henry Nickerson (Son), found guilty of aggravated Manslaughter of an elderly person and neglect of an elderly person, sentenced to 25 years.

Source:
SON OF SAM: Spring Hill Man Sentenced to 25-Years in Prison for Killing His Elderly Mother; Beat, Drugged, Stole from While In Cognitive Decline
Beverly Ann NICKERSON Obituary (2016) Tampa Bay Times
Spring Hill Man Sentenced to 25-Years in Prison for Killing his Mother
Man Faces First Degree Murder Charge in Death of his Own Mother
Deputies: Spring Hill Man Murdered Mother
Son charged with murdering elderly 74-year-old mother in Hernando County

Earl Coleman

No Photo Name: Earl Coleman.
Died: September 12, 2016.
Age at death: 81.
Cause of death: Burns.
Location: Jackson, Mississipi, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness, paralysis, wheelchair user.

Details:
Earl was brought to the hospital, having had boiling water poured over him. After nine days in the hospital, he died from his severe burns. His daughter was charged with murder.

Case status:
Diane Coleman (Daughter), charged with murder.

Source:
Woman charged with killing father with boiling water
Woman Charged With Murder After Pouring Boiling Water Over Her Paralyzed Elderly Father
Jackson woman charged in murder of disabled father
Daughter charged with murder after allegedly burning father with boiling water
Woman Charged With Father’s Murder
Woman charged with killing elderly father with boiling water

John Zdon

Name: John Emile Zdon.
Died: August 31, 2016.
Age at death: 72.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA.
Disability: Frail elder, needed 24-hour care.

Details:
John’s daughter knew his health was getting worse, but she would not take him to the doctor because she was afraid he would be put in a nursing home. He was found malnourished and unresponsive and brought to the hospital, where he died.

He was an Air Force veteran and a fan of the Atlanta Braves.

Case Status:
Tammy Zdon (Daughter), pleaded guilty to manslaughter and permitting abuse on an elderly or disabled person, sentenced to 6 months in jail.

Source:
John Zdon Obituary (1944 – 2016) The Berkshire Eagle
Massachusetts caregiver admits to causing father’s death
North Adams woman faces caretaker abuse, involuntary manslaughter charges in father’s death

Margaret Shelton

Name: Margaret “Pat” Patricia Shelton.
Died: August 31, 2016.
Age at death: 85.
Cause of death: Suffocation.
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
Disability: Early-stage Alzheimer’s.

Details:
Police say Pat’s son turned himself in just after smothering her with duct tape and his hand and breaking the neck of the family dog.

Pat was known by her neighbors for her friendly demeanor. She liked to do yard work and would mow their lawns for them.

Case status:
Kenneth Baker (Son), convicted of murder, sentenced to 12 to 25 years.

Source:
Man arrested for murdering elderly mother inside Fort Worth home
Fort Worth man who called police accused of killing his mother
Margaret Shelton Obituary
Elderly woman killed by son in her Fort Worth home
Fort Worth man said he suffocated mother with duct tape, then snapped barking dog’s neck, police say

Gerald Sohn

Name: Gerald Sohn.
Died: August 14, 2016.
Age at death: 84.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
Disability: Parkinson’s disease.

Details:
Gerald was drowned in a river, and his son is suspected of pushing him off the dock to his death.

He was an attorney for 50 years. He had a great deal of intellectual curiosity and always had a book with him.

Case status:
Gerry Sohn (Son), died before he was charged; case closed when he died.

Source:
JSO: Man in wheelchair who fell into river was murdered by son
Fraternity brother remembers man who fell into St. Johns River in wheelchair
Police identify drowning victim, 84, who fell off dock Sunday into St. Johns River
Crews responding to possible drowning in Mandarin
Gerald Sohn Obituary – JACKSONVILLE, FL
Case closed: Son killed millionaire father in 2016, himself in February

Catherine Purcell

No Photo Name: Catherine Purcell.
Died: July 24, 2016.
Age at death: 68.
Cause of death: Dehydration, sepsis.
Location: Kirkby, England, UK.
Disability: Korsakoff syndrome, emphysema.

Details:
Although they had four offers of help caring for her, Catherine’s husband and daughter refused them all. Instead, they left Catherine to starve on a filthy mattress. She died of dehydration, pneumonia, and infected bedsores.

Case Status:
Catherine Purcell Jr. (Daughter), found guilty of neglect, given a suspended 12-month sentence, 180 hours of community service, and a curfew for two months.
John Purcell (Husband), found guilty of neglect; given a suspended 18-month sentence, 270 hours of community service, and a curfew for three months.

Source:
Disabled mum ‘left to die in soiled bed while she was eaten by maggots’
Great-gran died in maggot-ridden “cesspit” due to “extreme neglect”
Dad and daughter guilty of neglecting Catherine Purcell who died while being eaten by maggots
Shocking details of ‘neglected’ gran; PROSECUTORS SAY NEGLECT DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO 68-YEAR-OLD’S DEATH
Shocking messages sisters sent as mum lay dying in maggot-infested bed
Dad and daughter spared jail for neglecting mum who died in maggot-infested bed

Rietje Willms

Photo of Rietje Willms, an elder woman. She has short white hair and fair skin, and is wearing a black turtleneck and white jacket. Her expression is solemn, and she is squinting slightly into the sun. Name: Rietje Willms.
Died: June 12, 2016.
Age at death: 80.
Cause of death: Morphine overdose.
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Rietje was the widow of a successful plumber and real estate dealer. She had inherited his money, and one of her four sons wanted it. When he saw that Rietje was getting dementia, he manipulated her into making him her sole heir. Then he locked her away in his house and neglected her; another of her sons said that sometimes, when he walked by the house, he could hear her in the house, crying to be let out. Rietje was eventually found dead with dangerous levels of morphine in her body and a morphine tablet under her tongue. When police questioned her son, he confessed to having poisoned her.

Case status:
Hans W. (Son), convicted of murder, sentenced to 15 years 9 months in prison.

Source:
Zoon definitief de cel in voor moord op Rietje Willms
Son held in senile mother’s death; Fight over inheritance alleged
Demente Rietje Willms (80) overleden door verwaarlozing eigen zoon
Man verdacht van bizarre moord op zijn eigen moeder om de erfenis
Vermoorde moeder over verdachte zoon: ‘We kunnen goed opschieten hoor’
‘Bejaarde vrouw vermoord om de erfenis’ – AT5: de nieuwszender van Amsterdam en omgeving
Bizarre moord om erfenis
Moord om de erfenis
‘Zoon vast wegens betrokkenheid bij dood moeder’

Gertrud Sigman

No Photo Name: Gertrud “Trudy” Sigman.
Died: May 7, 2016.
Age at death: 92.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Orange Park, Florida, USA.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease.

Details:
Gertrud, whom everyone called Trudy, was a retired professional ballet dancer who had graduated from the Vienna Conservatory. She liked to cook and garden.

Trudy was beaten and strangled to death by her son.

Case status:
Lawrence Sigman (Son), deceased.

Source:
Clay County Sheriff’s Office closes case as murder-suicide
Death investigation underway in wake of domestic dispute
Clay County Sheriff’s Office closes case as murder-suicide
Obituary | Trudy Sigman of Orange Park, Florida

Cecilia Madray

Name: Cecilia “Suzy” Madray.
Died: April 21, 2016.
Age at death: 76.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Mahaicony, Guyana.
Disability: Unspecified; bedridden following an accident.

Details:
Suzy’s son bludgeoned her to death with a piece of wood.

Case status:
Terrence Madray (Son), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 21 years.

Source:
Man gets 21 years for killing bedridden mother
21 years in jail

Jack May

No Photo
Name: Jack May.
Died: April 16, 2016.
Age at death: 89.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Lecanto, Florida, USA.
Disability: Wheelchair user.

Details:
Jack’s son shot him in the back as he sat in his wheelchair.

Case status:
James Troy May (Son), convicted of second-degree murder, sentenced to 25 years.

Source:
James May is accused of fatally shooting his 89-year-old father inside their Lecanto home
Florida Offender Search