Remembering the Disabled Murdered by Caregivers
Sibling, half-sibling, adopted sibling, foster sibling.
Name: Pankaj.
Died: May 23, 2022.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Throat cut.
Location: Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Disability: Intellectual disability.
Details:
Pankaj’s brother allegedly cut his throat and tried to burn his body. Police say he confessed to the crime during interrogation.
Case Status:
Ashok (Brother), arrested on suspicion of murder.
Sources:
Man Kills Mentally Challenged Brother In Uttar Pradesh; Arrested: Police
Name: Jack McKenzie Ross.
Died: May 18, 2022.
Age at death: 35.
Cause of death: Arson fire.
Location: Tyler, Texas, USA.
Disability: Mental and physical disability.
Details:
When Jack’s home caught on fire, he was trapped inside and died. Fire investigators believe Jack’s brother deliberately set the fire, knowing that Jack’s physical and mental disabilities might keep him from escaping.
Jack loved to cook, clean, and help others, and did his share of the chores at home. Jack was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, watched wrestling every Friday, and is remembered for his loving personality.
In his obituary, Jack’s family says:
The news media referred to him a ‘man with special needs’. His ‘special needs’ were to always seek out those who needed a helping hand. They did not know our Jack. He never had a need, special or otherwise. His desire was to help others. He was an “extraordinarily special person”, but not for the reasons they gave.
Case Status:
Robert Harrison Johnson IV (Half-brother), charged with murder.
Sources:
Tyler man accused of causing house fire that killed half-brother with special needs indicted on arson
Man charged with starting Smith County house fire that killed his half-brother
Man arrested for murder after allegedly starting fatal fire that killed half-brother
OFFICIALS: East Texas man arrested for murder after setting house fire that killed half-brother with special needs
Smith County man accused of starting fire which killed disabled half-brother
Police: East Texas man blames ‘spirits’ for causing fire that killed his half-brother with special needs
Name: Cameron Paul Forrest.
Died: April 16, 2022.
Age at death: 24.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Gladstone, Queensland, Australia.
Disability: Autism, OCD.
Details:
Cameron’s mother and brother allegedly conspired to kill him–first by medication overdose, then by stabbing him with a knife. Cameron died from his injuries. After being treated for self-inflicted injuries and discharged from the hospital, Cameron’s mother and brother were arrested. Police say Cameron’s brother said Cameron would be better off dead because the family’s financial hardships were insurmountable.
Case Status:
Lee-Ann Rae Forrest (Mother), charged with murder.
Alex William Forrest (Brother), charged with murder.
Sources:
Disturbing details emerge of ‘horrific’ Gladstone death after murder charges laid against mother and son
Mother and brother charged over man’s stabbing murder
Name: Chen (Surname); given name unknown.
Died: April 15, 2022.
Age at death: 64.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Ershui, Changhua County, Taiwan.
Disability: Stroke.
Details:
Mr. Chen was strangled, and his brother was arrested for the crime. Police say he had killed Mr. Chen and attempted to kill himself because he was tired of caring for his brother.
Case Status:
Mr. Chen (Brother), arrested.
Sources:
Changhua man found dead, brother injured – Taipei Times
彰化二水凶殺案 老翁疑勒斃弟弟再割腕1死1傷
彰化命案！哥哥勒斃中風弟 兄弟檔1死1命危 ｜ 蘋果新聞網 ｜ 蘋果日報
Name: Salisu Surakatu.
Died: November 24, 2021.
Age at death: 94.
Cause of death: Machete injuries.
Location: Kara Ewumi Village, Mowe, Ogun, Nigeria.
Disability: Blind.
Details:
Salisu’s brother came to his house, and the two had an argument because Salisu had sold a piece of property and not given his brother some of the proceeds. Salisu was unable to defend himself, or even see that his brother was armed, when his brother allegedly killed him with a machete.
Case Status:
Moshood Habibu (Brother), charged with murder.
Sources:
78-year-old man kills blind brother over land dispute in Ogun
Name: Sermakani.
Died: July 12, 2021.
Age at death: 35.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India.
Disability: Learning disability.
Details:
Sermakani’s family found her a husband, but when they realized she was already five months pregnant, they allegedly killed her and reported it as a natural death. Neighbors suspected foul play and reported the death to the police, who say that, when arrested, Sermakan’s mother and sister admitted to strangling her to “end their misery and save their pride”.
Case Status:
Murder case registered.
Murugammal (Mother), arrested.
Selvi (Sister), arrested.
Source:
Unmarried Pregnant Woman With Learning Disability Murdered By Mother, Sister
Mother, sister held for murdering pregnant woman in Tamil Nadu | Madurai News – Times of India
Name: Brian Cotter.
Died: “A few days after” May 17, 2021.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Fresno, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.
Details:
Brian’s brother called 911 to report that Brian had shot his father and then himself. First responders arrived to find Brian’s father, Patrick, dead and Brian severely injured. Brian would die at the hospital several days later. However, police investigated Brian’s brother’s story, found that it did not match the evidence, and arrested him for the double murder. At trial, the prosecution would prove that Brian’s brother had set up the killings to look like a murder-suicide in order to pin the blame on his autistic brother.
Brian and his father used to go on walks, and Brian would carry a walkie-talkie to keep in touch with his neighbor. A natural with computers, he created his own cartoon character and made his own films.
Case Status:
Robert Cotter (Brother), convicted of murder, sentenced to life without parole.
Source:
Teen Who Killed Father & Tried to Pin Murder on Autistic Brother is Going to Prison: Reports
Teenager who killed his father and brother in Fresno last year on his way to prison
Teen accused of killing father, brother faces possible death penalty with family support
Detectives say murder-suicide in Fresno was really a double homicide
Victims’ family member arrested in Fresno mobile home park shooting that left 15-year-old autistic son and father dead
“It’s going to be a loss to us”: Neighbors react to alleged mobile home park murder
Autism Memorial: Brian Cotter
Name: Margarita “Maggie” Sandoval.
Died: May 13, 2021 (Body found; reported missing in 2018).
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Norman, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Mental illness, special needs.
Details:
Three years after she was reported missing, police received a tip that led them to Margarita’s body wrapped up in the basement of a home. When questioned, the homeowner said that a friend of his, Margarita’s brother, had asked to store some things in his basement; the homeowner was unaware that one of the items was Margarita’s body. Margarita had stayed with her brother and his wife around the time she vanished in 2018. She had reported that they were abusing her. Margarita’s brother and his wife had also been receiving Social Security money intended for Margarita.
Case Status:
Octavio Julian Sanchez (Brother), charged with first-degree murder and unlawful removal of a dead body; pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Desiree Sanchez (Sister-in-law), convicted of first-degree murder and unlawful removal of a dead body, sentenced to life in prison.
Source:
Man pleads guilty to manslaughter after murder of half-sister
Man Accused Of Killing His Sister Takes Blind Plea Deal To Avoid Trial
Oklahoma woman sentenced for killing disabled sister-in-law for social security checks
Couple who allegedly murdered relative sentenced for collecting her social security
2 suspects expected in court after being accused of leaving body in Norman basement
Norman Police arrest two in connection to 2018 homicide after body found in 2021
Couple arrested, charged with murder in death of Margarita Sandoval
Norman police conducting murder investigation after decomposed body found in basement
‘Everyone Let Her Down’: Relative Speaks Out After Woman’s Body Is Found In Norman Basement
Dead woman’s body wrapped in layers of plastic found in Norman home, court document reveals shocking new detailsO
Name: Helen Marie Miller.
Died: February 22, 2021.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Manheim Township, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.
Details:
Helen was stabbed to death in her sleep. According to a probable cause affidavit, her sister then called emergency services, admitted to stabbing her, and was found by police washing the blood off her hands.
Helen was an artistic young woman who made paintings and sculptures. She had won an award for her watercolor work.
Case Status:
Claire Miller (Sister), pleaded guilty but mentally ill to third-degree murder; sentenced to 12 1/2 to 40 years.
Source:
Teen Sentenced to 12½ to 40 Years for Stabbing Death of Sister
PA TikToker Who Admitted To Killing Her Wheelchair Bound Sister Learns Her Fate: DA
Lancaster County teen charged with stabbing sister to death pleads guilty but mentally ill
Lancaster County teen will serve up to 40 years in prison for stabbing her older sister to death in 2021
Lancaster County judge issues new ruling in Claire Miller trial
Lancaster teen to be tried as adult in sister’s murder
Prosecution: Lancaster County teen ‘had it all but was obsessed with homicide’
Judge to decide whether Claire Miller should be tried as adult or juvenile
Girl charged in sister’s death fantasized about killings: ‘I’m not evil. I’m just mentally ill’
Hearing will determine if Manheim Twp. girl charged with killing sister will be tried in adult or juvenile court
Who is Claire Miller and what is she accused of?
Claire Miller: Pennsylvania teen allegedly stabs sister with cerebral palsy to death, washes blood off in snow
Lancaster County 14-year-old accused of killing older sister
Claire Miller: Pennsylvania Teen Killed Disabled Sister in Sleep, Cops Say
Name: “Sonam.”
Died: January 17, 2021.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Disability: Mentally disabled.
Details:
“Sonam” (not her real name), a 22-year-old young woman, was found dead in a field, and her family claimed she had been raped. However, a postmortem discovered that she had not been raped, and police began investigating the family. According to police, Sonam’s family admitted that they wanted to “get rid of her” because she was mentally disabled, and they had heard that the families of rape victims were receiving large sums in compensation. After they lured her out to a nearby field, police say, her mother held her, her brother strangled her, and her father served as lookout.
Case status:
Her mother, arrested, legal action initiated.
Her father, arrested, legal action initiated.
Her brother, arrested, legal action initiated.
Source:
Body of young woman found in mustard field, investigation underway
Barabanki: Family wanted to get rid of mentally disabled girl, so killed her and created the story of rape and murder