Remembering the Disabled Murdered by Caregivers
Suspect arrested and/or charged; trial pending or no trial information.
Name: Carolyn Key.
Died: April 1, 2024.
Age at death: 57.
Cause of death: Shooting.
Location: Tallahassee, Florida, USA.
Disability: Kidney failure, chronic pain.
Details:
Carolyn’s husband allegedly shot her because he “wanted to end her pain.”
Case Status:
James Key (Husband), charged with homicide.
Sources:
‘I killed Carolyn’: Tallahassee man faces charges for allegedly shooting, killing wife
Carolyn Key Obituary
Name: Edward Cheng Kin-wong.
Died: March 27, 2024.
Age at death: 84.
Cause of death: Suffocation.
Location: Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Disability: Dementia, muscular dystrophy.
Details:
Mr. Cheng’s domestic help entered his bedroom to find him dead on his bed, and his wife hurt, apparently having tried to take her own life. Mr. Cheng had his nose and mouth covered with tape. Police suspect that his wife, worried about her ability to care for him, had smothered him.
Case Status:
Cheng Ying-lee (Wife), charged with murder.
Sources:
Hong Kong woman, 71, charged with murder after husband, 84, found dead in bed
Hong Kong woman, 71, charged with murder after dementia-suffering husband, 84, found dead in bed
Elderly woman charged with husband’s murder in Kowloon City tragedy to appear in court on 30th March
Elderly couple in grim murder-suicide case
April court date for woman charged with murder of husband, 84, in Hong Kong
Name: Olayode Morenike.
Died: March 27, 2024.
Age at death: Adult.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Akure, Ondo, Nigeria.
Disability: Unspecified.
Details:
Olayode was stabbed to death with a pair of scissors. Police say her husband was angry at her for visiting her child from a previous marriage.
Case Status:
Fatai Abdullahai (Husband), arrested on suspicion of murder.
Sources:
Police take action as husband stabs disabled wife to death in Ondo
Husband stabs wife to death in Ondo
Name: Paula Lombardo.
Died: March 15, 2024.
Age at death: 69.
Cause of death: Smothered.
Location: Clearfield, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Parkinson’s disease.
Details:
Paula’s son reported her dead; emergency responders found her dead on her bed, and her son reportedly asked police when he could claim life insurance money. An autopsy concluded that she had died from asphyxia, likely strangulation.
Case Status:
David Michael Lombardo (Son), charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, strangulation, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and recklessly endangering another person.
Sources:
Clearfield Man Headed to County Court for Mother’s Alleged Murder
Paula Lombardo Obituary (2024) – Clearfield, PA – Gant Daily
Clearfield man accused of smothering his disabled mother
Man kills mom and asks police when he can collect life insurance, Pennsylvania cops say
Clearfield Man Jailed for Mother’s Alleged Murder
Name: Lawanda Mitchell.
Died: March 13, 2024.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Assault.
Location: Dallas, Texas, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.
Details:
In response to a welfare check, police responded to Lawanda’s home and found her in critical condition. She had been assaulted two days before, allegedly by her son, who was arrested. Lawanda died from her injuries some weeks after the assault.
Case Status:
Barron Wallace (Son), charged with injury to an Elderly and/or Disabled Person; charges upgraded to murder after Lawanda’s death.
Sources:
Man faces murder charge in mom’s death weeks after he assaulted her, Dallas police say
Man faces murder charge in Dallas woman’s death, weeks after alleged assault, police say
Dallas Man Barron Wallace Charged with Murder Following Victim’s Death Weeks After Assault
Dallas woman dies weeks after violent assault, suspect arrested
Name: Hannah Mathura.
Died: March 12, 2024 (Body found; died seven years previously).
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Valsayn, Trinidad and Tobago.
Disability: Autism.
Details:
Hannah had not been seen for seven years, but had not been reported missing, when her brother finally reported her death to the police. When they investigated, authorities found Hannah’s bones in a shallow grave on her family’s property. An autopsy established that Hannah had been shot in the head. Police believe that Hannah’s eight siblings were also abused, and were too afraid to come forward until recently. Family and neighbors say the children had been isolated and not allowed to socialize with anyone outside the house, or even to receive Christmas presents from relatives.
Case Status:
Hannah’s parents, age 66 and 62, were arrested.
Sources:
Autopsy shows Hannah was shot in the head – Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Autopsy confirms Hannah Mathura died unnaturally
Two arrested as police investigate Hannah’s homicide
Hannah shot in the head
Autism Memorial: Hannah Mathura
Couple in custody: Suspects in Hannah Mathura case assisting police
Teen’s body found buried at Valsayn House of Horrors – Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Name: William Thomas Anderson Jr.
Died: February 22, 2024.
Age at death: 83.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Dementia.
Details:
William was found dead in his front yard, having been fatally beaten. His son was arrested and charged with his murder.
Case Status:
Marshall Anderson (Son), charged with first-degree murder.
Sources:
Obituary for William Thomas Anderson, Jr. at Valley Chapel
Wilmington man charged with murder in connection with father’s death
Man accused of murder in his father’s death in New Hanover County
Name: Christiana Blake.
Died: February 21, 2024.
Age at death: 77.
Cause of death: Sepsis, pneumonia; pressure sores.
Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Stroke; mobility impaired, nonspeaking.
Details:
Christiana’s daughter allegedly left her home alone repeatedly for long periods of time and neglected her care. Untended pressure sores in Christiana’s legs progressed to the point of requiring amputation, but she went without medical help for several more months until the state finally took over guardianship of Christiana. But it was too late; she was too sick to survive. Christiana died in the hospital from widespread infection.
Case Status:
Yeawah Sanu (Daughter), charged with criminal homicide and neglect of a care-dependent person.
Minkailu Sanu (Son-in-law), wanted on suspicion of homicide and neglect.
Sources:
Harrisburg woman charged with homicide, neglect of care-dependent person after death of her mother
Disabled woman’s legs went black from neglect, disease before she died in homicide: police
Name: David Jacques Hernandez.
Died: February 20, 2024.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Cut to the neck.
Location: Lancaster, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.
Details:
David was allegedly killed by his mother’s boyfriend.
Case Status:
Rena Naulls (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with murder and assault on a child causing death.
Sources:
Autism Memorial: David Hernandez
Father of 3-year-old boy killed in Lancaster speaks out: ‘I need answers for every question’
District Attorney Gascón Announces Charges Against a Man Who Allegedly Killed a Three-Year-Old Boy in Lancaster
Name: Hrishikesk Haloi.
Died: February 19, 2024.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Poisoning.
Location: Barsarkuchi village, Nalbari, Assam, India.
Disability: ADHD, autism.
Details:
Hrishikesk and his mother were found dead in their beds. Police say that his father confessed to killing them both, saying that he had done it because of Hrishikesk’s autism and ADHD.
Case Status:
Jagadish Haloi (Father), charged with murder.
Sources:
Autism Memorial: Hrishikesk Haloi
Assam: Father Confesses to Double Murder; Blames Son’s Hyperactivity Disorder
Mother son duo found dead in Nalbari : ৰহস্যৰ আৱৰ্তত নলবাৰীৰ মাতৃ-পুত্ৰৰ মৃত্যুৰ ঘটনা
Mother-son duo found dead, son had celebrated 15th birthday yesterday
Assam Tragedy: Man Arrested for Suspected Murder of Wife, Son in Nalbari