Preetika Venkatesh

No PhotoName: 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
Bengaluru woman kills autistic daughter in fit of rage, arrested
Bengaluru mother kills young autistic daughter, surrenders
Bengaluru mother kills autistic child, surrenders before police
Mother Strangles Autistic Toddler to Death in Bengaluru, Held
Bengaluru Shocker: Woman Strangles Three-Year-Old Autistic Daughter to Death, Leaves Confession Note at Crime Scene; Arrested
Bengaluru Shocker: Fearing autism, woman murders 3-year-old speech-impaired daughter, rushes her to hospital later
Mother strangles speech-impaired toddler daughter to death in Bengaluru, surrenders
In Bengaluru, mom kills 3-year-old autistic girl

57-year-old woman

No PhotoName Unknown.
Died: June 5, 2024.
Age at death: 57.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Nommay, Doubs, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
This woman’s mother found her lying on the ground, unresponsive, head covered with a plastic bag and a ligature. Her husband was trying to hang himself nearby; she reacted quickly, cut the rope, and called emergency services. Authorities say that when they questioned the father, he admitted to having already tried to strangle his daughter two days before because he thought that she was too much of a burden for him and his wife.

Case Status:
Her father, age 87, was charged with murder.

Sources:
Doubs : un homme de 87 ans mis en examen pour l’assassinat de sa fille autiste
France: Inculpé à 87 ans pour l’«assassinat» de sa fille autiste
Doubs : un homme de 87 ans mis en examen pour l’« assassinat » de sa fille autiste
Autism Memorial: 57-year-old woman

Dimple Meena

Photo of a young girl with light-brown skin, wavy dark hair, and dark-brown eyes, with a solemn expression on her face.Name: Dimple Meena.
Died: May 20, 2024.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Poisoned.
Location: Hindaun, Rajasthan, India.
Disability: Deaf.

Details:
Dimple was brought in to the hospital with severe burns. She had been doused with gasoline, her family said, by two strange men. After some days, Dimple died; but an autopsy established she had not died from her burns–she had been poisoned. Police believe that, after an argument with her mother, her parents set Dimple on fire, and then forced her to take poison as she lay helpless in her hospital bed.

Case Status:
Karan Singh (Father), charged with murder.
Kamlesh (Mother), charged with murder.
Rajesh Meena (Uncle), charged with murder.

Sources:
Dimple Meena Murder Case: Was the 10-Year-Old Deaf and Mute Girl Killed by Her Parents? Activists Suspect Foul Play, Demand CBI Investigation
Family held for brutal murder of deaf-mute girl

Priyanka Narsaiah

Photo of a woman with light brown skin and straight black hair pulled back in a ponytail. She has dark-brown eyes, and is wearing pearl earrings, a silver bindi, and a flowered purple top. Just to the side of the photo is the arm of a toddler that she is holding.Name: Priyanka Narsaiah.
Died: May 14, 2024.
Age at death: 24.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Karimnagar, Telangana, India.
Disability: Mental disorder.

Details:
Priyanka had a mental illness, which had been treated and was in remission. She had been married and had a 13-month-old son when the mental illness came back, and a visit to a place of worship did no good. Her parents allegedly strangled her when they found out she was sick again and claimed it was a natural death, but Priyanka’s neighbors were suspicious and contacted the police, who arrested her parents.

Case Status:
Chepyala Narsaiah (Father), charged with murder.
Yellavva Narsaiah (Mother), charged with murder.

Sources:
Parents Murder Daughter After Recurrence Of Mental Disorder In Telangana’s Karimnagar, Arrested
Telangana Couple Arrested For 24-year-Old Daughter’s Murder
Sircilla Parents kill mentally affected daughter, held

Mr. Chan

No PhotoName: Chan (given name or surname; other names unknown).
Died: May 12, 2024.
Age at death: 32.
Cause of death: Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Location: Kwai Chung, Hong Kong, China.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Mr. Chan’s aunt was worried about him and his mother because she had found out that he was absent from work. Using a spare key to enter his apartment, she found him and his mother dead, with a burned-out charcoal cooker and suicide note. She was reportedly depressed because she had been diagnosed with heart disease and thought she could not take care of her son.

Mr. Chan worked in a sheltered workshop.

Case Status:
Ms. Wong (Mother), deceased.

Sources:
Depressed mother kills intellectually challenged son in murder-suicide
Murder and suicide in Kwai Chung
Parental stress linked to Kwai Fong murder-suicide

Khomotso Mose

Photo of a boy sitting in a wheelchair. He is wearing a black and white T-shirt and black baseball cap, and has his chin propped on the fingers of one hand. His skin is brown and his eyes are dark-brown.Name: Khomotso Mose.
Died: May 3, 2024.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Decapitated.
Location: Leshikishiki, Limpopo, South Africa.
Disability: Wheelchair user.

Details:
Khomotso was found decapitated near a local tavern. His mother was arrested on suspicion of having killed him.

Case Status:
Stephina Sefekwane Chuene (Mother), charged with murder.

Sources:
“This is insane”: Woman arrested over gruesome murder wheelchair-bound son
Limpopo mother up for murder of wheelchair-bound son
Mother arrested after disabled son found with his head chopped off
Limpopo mother arrested for son’s gruesome murder
Woman arrested for ‘decapitating’ her wheelchair-bound son to apply for bail
Mum ‘chops off’ son’s head: Family speaks!
Mother who allegedly cut her disabled son’s head off remains in custody

Noah Landon

Photo of a young man with fair skin and short black hair. A scar on his head creates a bald line running from front to back. He has a wispy mustache, and is wearing a tank top.Name: Noah Ryan Landon.
Died: March 12, 2024.
Age at death: 37.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Sebring, Florida, USA.
Disability: Unspecified special needs.

Details:
Noah’s father brought him to the hospital, saying that he was having trouble with his son. Staff put Noah in a “mental health room”, where he lay on a bed. Noah’s father than pulled a handgun, ordered everyone out of the room, and fatally shot Noah and himself.

Case Status:
Joe Landon (Father), deceased.

Sources:
Friend of man involved in murder-suicide at hospital says he’d been struggling for weeks
Sebring hospital shooting: Father, son killed at AdventHealth Sebring, deputies say

Hannah Mathura

No PhotoName: Hannah Mathura.
Died: March 12, 2024 (Body found; died seven years previously).
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Valsayn, Trinidad and Tobago.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Hannah had not been seen for seven years, but had not been reported missing, when her brother finally reported her death to the police. When they investigated, authorities found Hannah’s bones in a shallow grave on her family’s property. An autopsy established that Hannah had been shot in the head. Police believe that Hannah’s eight siblings were also abused, and were too afraid to come forward until recently. Family and neighbors say the children had been isolated and not allowed to socialize with anyone outside the house, or even to receive Christmas presents from relatives.

Case Status:
Hannah’s parents, age 66 and 62, were arrested.

Sources:
Autopsy shows Hannah was shot in the head – Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Autopsy confirms Hannah Mathura died unnaturally
Two arrested as police investigate Hannah’s homicide
Hannah shot in the head
Autism Memorial: Hannah Mathura
Couple in custody: Suspects in Hannah Mathura case assisting police
Teen’s body found buried at Valsayn House of Horrors – Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

David Hernandez

Photo of a child in a blue graduation gown and mortarboard, holding a diploma. He has dark hair and light-brown skin.Name: David Jacques Hernandez.
Died: February 20, 2024.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Cut to the neck.
Location: Lancaster, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
David was allegedly killed by his mother’s boyfriend.

Case Status:
Rena Naulls (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with murder and assault on a child causing death.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: David Hernandez
Father of 3-year-old boy killed in Lancaster speaks out: ‘I need answers for every question’
District Attorney Gascón Announces Charges Against a Man Who Allegedly Killed a Three-Year-Old Boy in Lancaster

Hrishikesk Haloi

Photo of a young boy with a censor bar across his eyes. He has short black hair and tan skin.Name: Hrishikesk Haloi.
Died: February 19, 2024.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Poisoning.
Location: Barsarkuchi village, Nalbari, Assam, India.
Disability: ADHD, autism.

Details:
Hrishikesk and his mother were found dead in their beds. Police say that his father confessed to killing them both, saying that he had done it because of Hrishikesk’s autism and ADHD.

Case Status:
Jagadish Haloi (Father), charged with murder.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Hrishikesk Haloi
Assam: Father Confesses to Double Murder; Blames Son’s Hyperactivity Disorder
Mother son duo found dead in Nalbari : ৰহস্যৰ আৱৰ্তত নলবাৰীৰ মাতৃ-পুত্ৰৰ মৃত্যুৰ ঘটনা
Mother-son duo found dead, son had celebrated 15th birthday yesterday
Assam Tragedy: Man Arrested for Suspected Murder of Wife, Son in Nalbari