Relationship: Parent – Page 66 – Disability Day of Mourning

Leosha Barnett

Photo of Leosha Barnett, a young woman with brown skin and black hair pulled back from her face; she is smiling for the camera. Name: Leosha Barnett.
Died: May 21, 2010.
Age at death: 17.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Forth Worth, Texas, USA.
Disability: Epilepsy, intellectual disability.

Details:
Leosha was starved to death by her mother and sister.

Case status:
Tasca Kuniko Johnson (Mother), injury to a disabled person, 15 years.
Kyreshi Lynn Tara Stevenson (sister), injury to a disabled person, 5 years.

Source:
Fort Worth girl’s starvation death prompts arrests of her sister, mother
Charges in ‘starvation’ of Texas teen

Payton Ettinger

Name: Payton Ettinger.
Died: May 17, 2010.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Greensburg, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Brain injury.

Details:
Payton was starved to death by his mother, who neglected him so badly that he weighed less at four years old than he did at one year old.

Case status:
Courtney Tressler (Mother), pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent; sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Source:
Ind. mom charged with starving 4-year-old to death
Indiana mom charged with son’s death
Tressler Accused Of Starving Son, 4, To Death
10-year sentence in case involving neglect of dependent

Glen Freaney

Photo of a boy with fair skin and short brown hair, his glasses slipping down his nose. He is smiling, holding a watercolor painting and a small silver trophy. Name: Glen Freaney.
Died: May 13, 2010.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Penarth Vale, Glamorgan, Wales, UK.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Glen was strangled by his mother.

Case status:
Yvonne Freaney (Mother); pled guilty to manslaughter and walked free from court with a supervision order.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Glen Freaney
Mother killed autistic son with coat belt, court hears
‘He was laughing when I strangled him. Then I knew he was happy’: Mother ‘killed’ severely autistic son after facing lifetime of care
“Glen Freaney”, Find a Grave
“Despairing mother who strangled autistic son walks free from court”, Daily Mail

Benjamin McLatchie

No Photo Name: Benjamin McLatchie.
Died: April 27, 2010.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Gray, Maine, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Benjamin’s father shot him to death before committing suicide.

Benjamin was “a sweet and gentle boy. He loved Curious George, Winnie the Pooh, Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, listening to music, reading books, and swinging on his swing.”

Case status:
Daniel McLatchie (Father), deceased.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Benjamin McLatchie
Pondering a murder/suicide in Gray, Maine
Gray shooting done by ‘caring’ father
Daniel and Benjamin McLatchie

Aja Johnson

Name: Aja Danielle Johnson.
Died: March 29, 2010.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: ADHD, sleep disorder.

Details:
Aja’s abusive stepfather, after losing custody, killed her mother and kidnapped her. Two months later, he killed her and then himself.

Aja’s father called her “Punky.” She wanted to be a cheerleader.

Case status:
Lester Hobbs (Stepfather), deceased.

Source:
Amber Alert: 7-Year-Old Aja Johnson Believed to Be With Accused Murderer
Horrific abuse marked last three years of Aja Johnson’s life
New Info in Aja Johnson Case
Aja Danielle Johnson (2003-2010) – Find A Grave
Command center closing in search for 7-year-old

Wesley Lawson

Name: Wesley Wayne Lawson.
Died: March 7, 2010.
Age at death: 39.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Lake Wales, Florida, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Wesley’s mother neglected him; he died of starvation weighing 55 pounds. When he died, his bedsores were so severe that his bones could be seen.

Wesley liked playing the harmonica and wheelchair dancing. He competed in the Special Olympics.

Case status:
Vernetta Lawson (Mother), pleaded no contest to aggravated manslaughter of a disabled adult, sentenced to five years probation.

Source:
Woman Spared Jail Time in Starvation Death of Her Disabled Son
Wesley Wayne Lawson Obituary

Dominique J.

Name: Dominique J.
Died: February 10, 2010.
Age at death: 47.
Cause of death: Wrists and throat cut.
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Dominique’s mother was afraid that her daughter would need institutional care; so she cut her daughter’s throat and wrists, killing her.

Dominique’s mother reported that her daughter had been assaulted and molested in an institution when she was younger. Dominique was supposed to go live with a sibling when her mother was no longer able to care for her.

Case Status:
Ronnie J. (Mother), convicted of murder, but not given a custodial sentence.

Source:
Ronnie J. toch veroordeeld
Dode vrouw in woning Korte Marnixkade
‘Moeder moet leven’ met de moord op dochter
Vrouw (84) doodde haar gehandicapte dochter: ‘Mijn Dootje is nu veilig’
Dominique Blank – Moordzaken.com

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