Name: Preetika Venkatesh.
Died: June 13, 2024.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Disability: Autism.
Details:
When Preetika was three years, ten months old, her mother brought her to the hospital, unresponsive, and Preetika was declared dead from strangulation. Police, who interviewed Preetika’s mother, said, “Upon questioning, the mother said she was worried about how her daughter would lead her life as she was autistic and hence, she decided to murder her.”
Preetika leaves behind her twin sister, who is also autistic, but with less pronounced autistic traits. Her death followed an incident in which Preetika’s sister was accepted to a preschool, but Preetika was rejected.
Case Status:
Ramya Venkatesh (Mother), charged with murder.
Sources:
Autism Memorial: Preetika Venkatesh
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