Status – Page 19 – Disability Day of Mourning

Timothy Ferguson

Name: Timothy Ferguson.
Died: July 6, 2022.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Malnutrition, hypothermia.
Location: Norton Shores, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Autism with speech and motor impairment.

Details:
Timothy died from a combination of starvation and hypothermia. His mother had been feeding him very little, often just bread soaked in hot sauce, and had been forcing him to take ice baths. His mother insisted that he was “faking” his disability.

Case Status:
Shanda Vander Ark (Mother), convicted of murder and first-degree child abuse; sentenced to 50-100 years for child abuse and life without parole for murder.
Paul Ferguson (Brother), pleaded guilty to first-degree child abuse, sentenced to 30-100 years.

Sources:
Man who helped mum torture disabled brother to death begs mercy at sentencing
Killer jailed for disabled younger brother’s death after tearful ‘mercy’ plea
Michigan man faces up to 100 years in jail for torturing and starving autistic brother to death
Muskegon Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Starvation Death of Disabled Brother in Michigan
3 things to know before mom is sentenced for torturing son to death
Michigan law clerk is jailed for life for torturing her disabled son
Mum who tortured and starved disabled son expressionless as jailed for life
Michigan woman sentenced to life in prison in starvation death of 15-year-old son – CBS Detroit
‘We know who you are’: Judge and victim’s siblings call out mom who fatally tortured son
MI v. Shanda Vander Ark: Tortured Son Murder Trial
Tortured Son Murder Trial: Shanda Vander Ark Cross-Examination
Testimony begins in trial of Norton Shores mom accused of killing her teen with special needs
Hot sauce, ice baths, motion sensors | What prosecutors accuse a Norton Shores mom of doing to slain son
Michigan mom found guilty of starving her disabled son to death
Michigan woman found guilty of murder and child abuse in starvation death of son
Michigan mother found guilty of murder in starvation death of her disabled 15-year-old son – CBS News
Norton Shores mother heads to trial for murder, child abuse of teenage son
Norton Shores mom accused of torturing, killing son faced ‘similar allegations’ in custody case
Woman charged with homicide, child abuse of teenage son in Norton Shores
43-year-old woman arrested for open murder of teen in Norton Shores
Woman charged with murder, abuse in death of underfed teen
MI Woman Charged After Son Dies, Tortured With Ice Baths and More
A mother charged with the death of her child
Autism Memorial: Timothy Ferguson
‘Sadistic’: Mother charged with abuse, murder of teen

Pamela Gordon

No Photo Name: Pamela Gordon.
Died: July 4, 2022.
Age at death: 67.
Cause of death: Throat cut.
Location: Lionel Town, Clarendon, Jamaica.
Disability: Unspecified; bedridden.

Details:
Pamela’s grandson found her with her throat cut. She was taken to the hospital, but pronounced dead on arrival.

Case Status:
Her husband, arrested.

Sources:
Lionel Town reels from murder of 67-y-o woman

Pamelia Gregory

No Photo Name: Pamelia Gregory.
Died: July 4, 2022.
Age at death: 67.
Cause of death: Throat cut.
Location: Clarendon, Jamaica.
Disability: Unspecified; bedridden.

Details:
Pamelia’s grandson found her dead with a knife wound to her neck. Pamelia’s husband, who allegedly also attacked her grandson when he found her, was arrested and charged with her murder.

Case Status:
Thadius Gregory (Husband), charged with murder.

Sources:
Husband charged with murder after 67-y-o bedridden wife found dead
Husband charged for murder of bedridden wife in Clarendon
Clarendon man charged after confessing to murdering bedridden wife

Katherine Sokolich

No Photo Name: Katherine Sokolich.
Died: July 3, 2022.
Age at death: 63.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Ballwin, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
Katherine’s brother, who was her court-appointed guardian and responsible for taking care of her, beat her because he was frustrated with taking care of her. After he called 911 and reported that she was injured, Katherine was hospitalized, but later died of a brain bleed due to head trauma.

Case Status:
Anthony Sokolich (Brother, guardian), pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, sentenced to probation.

Sources:
Police say 70-year-old Missouri man killed disabled sister
Man accused of beating disabled sister to death
70-Year-Old Missouri Man Beat His Disabled Sister to Death: Authorities
Disabled woman dies after attack by ‘frustrated’ caretaker brother near Ballwin, police say

72-year-old man

No Photo Name Unknown.
Died: June 30, 2022.
Age at death: 72.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Brooklyn, New York, New York, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
This 72-year-old man was found dead from a head injury, allegedly after a fight with his 60-year-old cousin, with whom he lived.

Case Status:
His cousin, arrested.

Sources:
Man, 72, beaten to death by cousin during wild fight in their Brooklyn apartment

John Hoover

No Photo Name: John V. Hoover.
Died: June 29, 2022.
Age at death: 44.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Hixson, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
John was taken to the hospital, severely malnourished and with pressure sores on his body. A week later, he died. Neighbors said John had been rummaging in the trash and asking for food; allegedly, his parents withheld food to force him to take showers, and tied him to the bed at night to keep him from taking food.

Case Status:
John Hoover (Father), charged with felony murder and aggravated neglect of a vulnerable adult.
Jacqueline Hoover (Mother), charged with felony murder and aggravated neglect of a vulnerable adult.

Sources:
Hixson Couple Facing First-Degree Murder Charges In Starving Death Of Their Adult Son
‘Severe malnutrition:’ Tennessee parents charged with starving adult son to death
A Hixson couple is facing first-degree murder and neglect charges.
Tennessee Couple Accused Of Starving Developmentally Disabled Adult Son To Death
‘Tied Him To A Bed At Night’: Tennessee Parents Face First-Degree Murder Charges For Starving Disabled Son To Death
‘That’s disgraceful:’ Neighbor says Hixson man who died of starvation rummaged for food

Chase Allen

Name: Chase Allen; also spelled “Chayse”.
Died: June 24, 2022; last seen March 2022.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Head trauma.
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Blind, other unspecified disabilities.

Details:
Chase’s body was found in a freezer. His mother, who had a history with child protective services, was arrested on suspicion of having caused his death. Relatives, who called Chase “the sweetest”, said they had offered to take Chase off his mother’s hands if she couldn’t deal with his disabilities, but had been rebuffed.

Case Status:
Azuradee France (Mother), charged with felony murder, first-degree child abuse, torture, and concealing a death.

Sources:
Here’s what we learned during hearing about 3-year-old found in freezer in Detroit home
Detroit mom told police she kicked 3-year-old, put body in freezer when he wouldn’t wake up
Detroit neighbors say 3-year-old boy found dead in freezer was blind; family called CPS 13 times this year
Detroit mom charged after 3-year-old son found in freezer
Mum charged with murder and torture after blind son, 3, found dead in freezer
Family says mother charged with killing 3-year-old has history of abuse
Detroit mom arrested after 3-year-old boy found dead in basement freezer

Donna Mayfield

Name: Donna Mayfield.
Died: June 23, 2022.
Age at death: 87.
Cause of death: Shooting.
Location: Overland Park, Kansas, USA.
Disability: Disabled elder; bedridden.

Details:
Donna was shot by her husband, who then killed himself.

Case Status:
Frank Mayfield (Husband).

Sources:
87-Year-Old Man Emailed His Children His Plans Before Killing Wife and Himself: Authorities
Neighborhood in shock after suspected murder-suicide of elderly couple
Overland Park police identify elderly couple killed in suspected murder-suicide
‘This is a tragedy’: Elderly Overland Park couple dies in possible murder-suicide
Two people killed in Overland Park murder-suicide

Vaishnavi Pattyane

No Photo Name: Vaishnavi Suresh Pattyane.
Died: June 15, 2022.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Andheri, Mumbai, India.
Disability: Intellectual disability, mobility impaired.

Details:
Vaishnavi’s mother reported her death as a natural death; however, authorities who examined the young woman’s body found ligature marks on her neck. After questioning Vaishnavi’s mother, police say she confessed to killing her daughter because she had become tired of caring for her.

Case Status:
Shraddha Pattyane (Mother), arrested on suspicion of murder.

Sources:
Mumbai: Woman booked for murder of daughter with intellectual disability, denied bail
Woman from Mumbai suburb ‘kills’ disabled teen daughter out of ‘frustration’
Mumbai: Mom held for mentally ill girl’s murder
Woman arrested for killing differently abled 19-year-old daughter
Mumbai: Mom held for killing mentally disabled daughter in Andheri

Luis Benítez

No Photo Name: Luis Benítez.
Died: June 12, 2022.
Age at death: 38.
Cause of death: Head trauma.
Location: Posadas, Misiones, Argentina.
Disability: Schizophrenia, anemia, breathing problems.

Details:
Luis lived with his sister and her husband, who did not want him to leave the house. One night, when he tried to do so, his brother-in-law allegedly slammed his head against the doorway. Luis was found dead in his home the next day.

Case Status:
Pedro Walter E. (Brother-in-law), arrested on suspicion of murder.

Sources:
From natural death to homicide after autopsy
De muerte natural a homicidio luego de la autopsia