Status – Page 31 – Disability Day of Mourning

Joyce Jeffries

No Photo Name: Joyce Ann Jeffries.
Died: July 24, 2021.
Age at death: 84.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Spiegner, Alabama, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Joyce’s son fatally shot her and her daughter-in-law Susan. He told his daughter that he was killing his mother because she had been recently diagnosed with dementia, then shot himself and died soon afterwards in the hospital. His daughter and her children survived unhurt.

Case Status:
William Jeffries (Son), deceased.

Source:
Alabama man accused of killing wife, mother before shooting self
Alabama Man Shoots Wife, Mother, Then Himself, Leaves Daughter and Her Children Unharmed
Alleged gunman dies following Deatsville murder-suicide

Mark Pagan

Name: Mark Pagan.
Died: July 24, 2021.
Age at death: Adult.
Cause of death: Head trauma.
Location: Nashville, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Schizophrenia.

Details:
Mark lived with his sister, who cared for him. Mark and his sister were both allegedly attacked and battered by his nephew; Mark died from massive head injuries, and his sister Kris was hospitalized in serious condition.

Case Status:
Jared Dean Zisman (Nephew), charged with felony murder, felony aggravated battery-family violence, and two counts of felony aggravated assault family violence.

Source:
‘We were in shock’: Nashville homicide, assault victims’ family speaks out
Help for Kris Pagan & Her Younger Son, organized by Patti Pietroniro
Man charged in Nashville weekend killing, assaults

Kaysen Blackshear

Name: Kaysen Blackshear.
Died: July 19, 2021.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Medical neglect.
Location: Springdale, Ohio, USA.
Disability: A genetic disorder that causes seizures and developmental delay.

Details:
Kaysen was brought to the hospital with brain swelling, injuries to her face and back, and a chipped tooth. Her mother allegedly delayed seeking medical help for her for some time before she finally called for an ambulance. Kaysen died in the hospital. Police say her mother admitted to withholding food, water, and medical care in the hope that Kaysen would die.

Kaysen was active and inquisitive and would chew on anything she could get her hands on.

Case Status:
Bryce Foster (Mother), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 3 years.

Source:
Woman sentenced for involuntary manslaughter in 5-year-old daughter’s death
Springdale mom charged in 5-year-old daughter’s death
Wish List: Single mother seeks car for daughter’s medical needs.
Police: Charges filed against mother in death of Springdale 5-year-old
Coroner: 5-year-old girl dies of apparent homicide, Springdale police investigating
Police investigating after 5-year-old girl dies from injuries
Wish List: Mother seeks vehicle to ease travel to daughter’s medical appointments
Springdale 5-year-old arrived ‘non-responsive’ and injured to hospital before death

Unknown Elder Man

No Photo Name Unknown.
Died: July 15, 2021.
Age at death: 60s.
Cause of death: Beating.
Location: Draubuta Village, Navosa, Fiji.
Disability: Unspecified; bedridden.

Details:
This man’s son allegedly got drunk and beat him to death.

Case Status:
Korotolu Tasere (Son), charged with murder.

Source:
State Serves Disclosures To Accused Person In Remand Facing Murder Charge
Police hunt for man alleged to have assaulted bedridden dad to his death
Draubuta Villager Dead: Police Search For Suspect

Jasmine Singletary

Name: Jasmine Singletary.
Died: July 13, 2021.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Internal injury.
Location: Pensacola, Florida, USA.
Disability: A neuromuscular disorder.

Details:
Jasmine had been admitted to the hospital for an infection, and was alone in her room with her mother and grandmother when she was found dying of massive injuries to her ribs and liver–injuries that had not been there at admission. Police, who questioned her mother, say her mother admitted to bludgeoning her with a table after Jasmine cursed at her.

Case Status:
Jessica Bortle (Mother), convicted of battery and child abuse, sentenced to 1 year and 1 day in prison.

Source:
Woman Gets One Year For Hospital Death Of Her Special Needs Daughter : NorthEscambia.com
Mother sentenced to 1 year in prison for Pensacola hospital death of special needs daughter
Mom sentenced to 1 year in prison in blunt force trauma death of special-needs daughter
Mom accused of ‘obliterating’ special needs daughter’s liver, killing child for ‘cussing’ and ‘throwing and breaking crayons’ while in hospital bed
Florida Woman Allegedly Kills Special Needs Daughter Inside Hospital Room, Rips Her Kidney Open
Mother charged with homicide of her daughter with special needs while in the hospital
Woman Killed Her Special Needs Daughter Insider Her Hospital Room, PPD Says : NorthEscambia.com
Pensacola Police: Bonifay woman killed daughter in hospital room
Mother killed special needs teen daughter inside Florida hospital room, police say

Sermakani

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

Shuji Sugisawa

No Photo Name: Shuji Sugisawa.
Died: July 7, 2021.
Age at death: 93.
Cause of death: Broken neck.
Location: Hekinan, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Disability: Wheelchair user.

Details:
Mr. Sugisawa died of a broken neck. Police say his son admitted to them that he had grabbed his father and shaken him violently, and that he had abused his father before by deliberately burning him.

Case Status:
Tatsuya Sugisawa (Son), arrested.

Sources:
Man arrested over death of 93-year-old father in 2021

Zeus Cox

Name: Zeus Geovani Cox.
Died: July 5, 2021.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma; internal bleeding.
Location: Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Suspected autism.

Details:
A month after being returned to his mother and her boyfriend, Zeus was found dead from a severe beating. Prosecutors told the court that Zeus had been beaten by his mother’s boyfriend, then denied medical treatment for his injuries.

His obituary describes him as “very active and full of life”.

Case Status:
Crystal Cox (Mother), convicted of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, aggravated battery resulting in death, and battery resulting in death of a person younger than 14 years old; sentenced to 55 years in prison and 2 years probation.
Jermaine Garnes (Mother’s boyfriend), convicted of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, aggravated battery resulting in death, and battery resulting in death of a person younger than 14; sentenced to 65 years.

Sources:
Michigan man gets 65 years in boy’s Indiana beating death
Garnes receives 65 years for murder of girlfriend’s 3-year-old
Lafayette woman gets 55 years in 3-year-old’s beating death
Lafayette woman gets 55 years in 3-year-old’s beating death
Mom charged with murder called ‘unfit and abusive’
Lafayette couple charged with the murder of a toddler
Zeus Cox Obituary
Lafayette woman found guilty of murdering 3-year-old son
Mom charged with murder is set to stand trial
Mother guilty of murdering and neglecting her 3-year-old son
Autism Memorial: Zeus Cox

Ekadashi Swain

No Photo Name: Ekadashi Swain.
Died: July 4, 2021.
Age at death: 38.
Cause of death: Beaten.
Location: Khasadi village, Kendrapara, Odisha, India.
Disability: Unspecified; physically challenged.

Details:
Ekadashi was on his way home from the field when his cousin and some accomplices allegedly ambushed him and bludgeoned him to death with a plank. Police say the motive was a property dispute.

Case Status:
Santosh Swain (Cousin), wanted for murder.
Nidhiram Swain (Relative), wanted for murder.
Unnamed woman, wanted for murder.

Source:
Disabled Person Beaten To Death By ‘Cousin’ In Kendrapada | Odisha (Caution: Censored graphic image.)
Differently-abled man stoned to death over land dispute

Elsie Pinder

Name: Elsie Pinder.
Died: July 3, 2021.
Age at death: 66.
Cause of death: Fire.
Location: Southend, Essex, England, UK.
Disability: Stroke; mobility impaired.

Details:
Elsie died in a house fire started by her son deliberately in order to kill her. Her son, also her sole caretaker, knew that she would be unable to escape a burning house. Firefighters were able to rescue Elsie from the house, but she died from her injuries at the hospital.

Her other son, Paul, describes Elsie as kind-hearted, generous, loving, and witty, a “bottle of champagne waiting to pop”.

Case Status:
Andrew Wilding (Son), found guilty of murder and arson with intent to endanger life, sentenced to 27 years to life.

Sources:
Carer who left disabled mum to die in fire jailed for 27 years
Carer son started fire to kill disabled mother – then went for a milkshake
Son ‘murdered disabled mum in fire after watching Jeffrey Dahmer video’
Accused murderer texted boyfriend he ‘fancied McDonalds’ as mum died in fire
Man appears in court charged with murdering woman in fire
Everything we heard during first week of Southend arson and murder trial