Status – Page 28 – Disability Day of Mourning

Summer Tatum

Name: Summer Knight Tatum.
Died: October 18, 2021.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Prattville, Alabama, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Summer’s husband shot her twice in the head. Prosecutors say he was angry because she had discovered he was having an affair. Rushed to the hospital in critical condition, Summer–who was five months pregnant–died soon afterwards. Her baby, a boy named Everett, was delivered dangerously premature and lived only a few hours.

Case Status:
Hunter James Tatum (Husband), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 198 years.

Sources:
Man Will Serve Nearly 200 Years in Prison After Guilty Plea in Shooting Death of Wife and Unborn Son
Alabama Man Indicted In Fatal Shooting Of Disabled Wife, Unborn Child Over Video Game Console
Prosecutor says text affair led to days of fighting, shooting deaths of pregnant woman, unborn son
Prosecutor: Man shot pregnant wife twice in head after she discovered affair

Violet Walcott

No Photo Name: Violet Walcott.
Died: October 17, 2021.
Age at death: 76.
Cause of death: Stabbing.
Location: Wait-a-Bit, Trelawny, Cornwall, Jamaica.
Disability: Mobility impaired after stroke.

Details:
Violet was discovered in her bed at home, dead from major wounds inflicted with a large knife.

She was a hardworking woman who had built her own house without help from anyone.

Case Status:
Jermaine “Man” Powell (Grandson), charged with murder.

Sources:
Young farmer charged with his elderly grandmother’s murder in Trelawny
Bedridden woman chopped to death
Bedridden 76-y-o woman brutally stabbed to death; grandson held | Loop Jamaica
Elderly female farmer chopped to death

Anthony Bronner

Name: Anthony Bronner.
Died: October 13, 2021.
Age at death: 48.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Police found Anthony shot to death in his apartment, and witnesses identified Anthony’s nephew leaving the apartment. The nephew’s ID and cell phone were found at the apartment.

Case Status:
Mikelynn Thomas (Nephew), arrested on suspicion of murder.

Sources:
OKC Man Arrested In Connection To The Shooting Death Of His Disabled Uncle
OKC Man Arrested In Connection With The Shooting Death Of His Uncle Who Used A Wheelchair
Oklahoma City police still searching for suspects, identify man shot to death at apartment complex
Man In Wheelchair Shot, Killed In SW OKC
1 killed in apartment shooting in southwest Oklahoma City

Kendrick Lee

Name: Kendrick Lee.
Died: October 4, 2021 (Body found; died November 20, 2020).
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Multiple blunt force injuries.
Location: Houston, Texas, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Kendrick lived in an apartment with his siblings, aged 7, 10, and 15, two of whom were also autistic. When his 15-year-old brother called emergency services, begging for help and saying that his brother was dead in the house with him, police arrived to find the children starving, the ten-year-old with broken bones, and Kendrick’s body, which had been there for nearly a year. Neighbors say they had been giving the 15-year-old food, but were not aware that he had apparently been living alone with his siblings. After Kendrick’s brothers told police that his stepfather had beaten Kendrick to death, Kendrick’s parents were arrested.

Case Status:
Brian W. Coulter (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with murder.
Gloria Y. Williams (Mother), charged with injury to a child by omission and tampering with evidence.

Sources:
Horror house investigators vow to get justice for 8-year-old whose skeletal remains were found
Family members said they had no idea children were living in apartment with their brother’s decaying body
Autism Memorial: Kendrick Lee
Houston mom and boyfriend indicted for murder of her 8-year-old son
As partner’s family speaks out, a shackled Brian Coulter is pictured in court after ‘beating autistic youngster to death in hell house.’ » Brinkwire
Gloria Williams silently watched Brian Coulter beat non-verbal, autistic son to death
PHOTOS: Adorable ‘Mostly Non-Verbal’ Boy Found Dead in Apartment with Siblings, Mom’s Boyfriend Charged with Murder
Mother of abandoned kids did not report death because she was afraid, court records say
Felony charges filed against a woman and her boyfriend in the death of the woman’s child
Mom Arrested, Boyfriend Charged With Murder for Abandoned Kids Living With Decomposing Body of 8-year-old Brother

James Lewis

Name: James Rashard Lewis.
Died: September 29, 2021.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Throat cut.
Location: Waco, Texas, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
James was found dead at home, with his throat cut. His father, who police say was covered in blood and attempted to evade arrest, was charged with murder.

Neighbors often saw James running back and forth in the hallways and up and down the steps of their apartment complex.

Case Status:
Bronchae Defraunce Lewis (Father), charged with capital murder.

Sources:
Waco man indicted in September death of 10-year-old son
Waco 10-year-old slain Wednesday identified
Affidavit details how Waco man allegedly murdered 10-year-old son
Waco man charged in brutal killing of autistic son regains competency to stand trial
Waco man charged in brutal killing of autistic son regains competency to stand trial

Richard Wix Jr.

No Photo Name: Richard B. Wix Jr.
Died: September 23, 2021.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Medical neglect.
Location: Glasgow, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Richard’s body was found in his home, where he lived with his father, about a week after his death. The home itself was in such bad shape that it was condemned; Richard’s father was arrested on suspicion of having fatally neglected or abused him. Officials say he “did not seek appropriate medical attention” for Richard.

Case Status:
Richard Len Wix (Father), convicted of abusing/neglecting an adult, sentenced to 5 years.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Richard Wix Jr.
New details released in Glasgow reckless homicide case
Nonverbal, autistic man dies; father charged with reckless homicide
Father charged after death of son with autism
Police: Barren Co. father culpable in death of special needs son | K105

Kyle Tiyo

Name: Kyle Tiyo.
Died: September 22, 2021.
Age at death: 10 months.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Bethelsdorp, South Africa.
Disability: Blind.

Details:
Kyle’s father, who his mother says had never accepted him ever since he learned Kyle had been born disabled, allegedly took him from his mother for the night, and when he gave the boy back, Kyle was limp and bruised all over. Kyle died from his injuries in the hospital.

Case Status:
Jason Mandeka (Father), charged with murder.

Sources:
Father of murdered blind baby appears in court
Baby’s murder, mother’s agony
Mother narrates pain about how her baby daddy brutally beat up her disabled baby – Opera News

Gabby Petito

Name: Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito.
Died: September 19, 2021 (Body found).
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA.
Disability: Potentially had a mental health condition, such as OCD or anxiety.

Details:
Gabby was a travel blogger who was on a trip with her boyfriend when she went missing.

Shortly before her disappearance on August 12th, police received a call from someone who said they saw Gabby’s boyfriend hitting her. When police stopped their van, Gabby’s boyfriend told them that they had been arguing about Gabby’s cleaning the van too thoroughly. Gabby was distressed at the time. Rather than a domestic violence incident, police interpreted the incident as a “mental health break.” According to the police report, both Gabby and her boyfriend said that she had “severe anxiety.” Whether or not she did have anxiety, the police dismissed concerns over domestic abuse because of their perception of her having a disability.

The next day, Gabby and her boyfriend continued their road trip. She was last seen alive August 24th.

Gabby’s body was found in Grand Teton National Park. She had been strangled, and her death was declared a homicide.

Case Status:
Brian Laundrie (Fiance), person of interest, police issued a warrant for using Gabby’s credit cards after she died. Body found during the police search; death ruled suicide.

Sources:
Top medical examiners lash Brian Laundrie claim that his murder of Gabby Petito was a mercy killing
FBI Denver Provides Final Investigative Update on Gabrielle Petito Case
Brian Laundrie: US blogger Gabby Petito’s fiancé ‘died by suicide’ – family lawyer
Gabby Petito died by strangulation ‘three to four weeks’ before body was found, Wyoming coroner says
Race, Disability and Coercive Control: One More Look at the Gabby Petito Case – Ms. Magazine
New Dispatch Audio Reveals Cops In Utah Were Told Brian Laundrie Hit Gabby Petito
Body Found in Gabby Petito Investigation
Authorities Have Issued a Warrant for Brian Laundrie’s Arrest
Mourners pay respects to Gabby Petito at New York funeral home
Gabby Petito case: Timeline of travel blogger’s disappearance

James Westcott

Name: James Westcott.
Died: September 17, 2021.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Taberg, New York, USA.
Disability: OCD, bipolar disorder, ADHD.

Details:
James was shot to death, allegedly by his brother. James’s family testified that James had unmedicated bipolar disorder and had threatened to burn down the house the day before James’s brother decided to “defend” his family by shooting the unarmed man.

Case Status:
Matthew Westcott (Brother), convicted of murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.
Micheal Westcott (Brother), charged with attempted murder, charges dropped; convicted of making a false statement.

Sources:
Taberg man who shot and killed brother in 2021 sentenced to 25 years to life in prison
Parents take the stand in murder trial of brother vs. brother
Westcott trial: accused killer couldn’t remember shooting
Science in the spotlight, focus on forensics during day 4 of Westcott murder trial
Brother of defendant and victim testifies in brother’s murder trial
Parents of defendant, victim, testify in Matthew Westcott murder trial
Man fatally shot in the face by younger brother was also stabbed by older brother, troopers say – syracuse.com
Second brother charged in Annsville homicide accused of stabbing sibling after he was shot
Man shot in face by younger brother was also stabbed by older brother, troopers say
Man Accused of Murdering Brother with a Shotgun in Annsville

Unknown Boy

No Photo Unknown Boy.
Died: September 15, 2021.
Age at death: Child.
Cause of death: Acetaminophen/dipenhydramine intoxication.
Location: Weston, Florida, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
This boy, whose name has not been released, was found emaciated, covered in bedsores, and unresponsive, and could not be revived. A post-mortem examination established that he had died from poisoning with over-the-counter medicines. Police believe the boy’s death was a deliberate act.

Case Status:
Lashawn Hampton (Caregiver), charged with first-degree murder.

Sources:
Woman Facing Murder Charge in Boy’s Death at Weston Home: BSO
Weston Woman Charged With First Degree Murder After Bedridden Neglected Juvenile Found Dead
Weston woman arrested months after child found dead in her home, deputies say
Florida Woman from Private Community Accused of Murdering ‘Bedridden’ Boy with Lethal Dose of Over-the-Counter Drugs
WESTON WOMAN ARRESTED FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER