Remembering the Disabled Murdered by Caregivers
Suspect arrested and/or charged; trial pending or no trial information.
Name: Wieslawa Zofia Pytlinski.
Died: October 4, 2010
Age at death: 57.
Cause of death: Multiple blunt force trauma to the upper body.
Location: Knox County, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; confidential.
Details:
Wieslawa was allegedly beaten to death by her boyfriend.
Case status:
Michael Dunn (Boyfriend), charged with second-degree murder.
Name: Rohit Singh.
Died: September 10, 2010.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Fatal abuse.
Location: Bthinda, India.
Disability: Visual impairment and injured leg from previous abuse.
Details:
When he soiled his bed, Rohit’s father allegedly beat him to death with a hammer.
Case status:
Gurmeet Singh (Father), accused of murder.
Name: Jeffrey Bishop.
Died: Late August 2010.
Age at death: 53.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Unknown; was receiving disability checks.
Details:
Jeffrey’s body was found in the basement of the house where he had been staying with his caregivers, who received his disability checks in exchange for caring for him. Police say that one of his caregivers strangled Jeffrey, and when he was dead, they hid his body and continued spending his money.
Case status:
Dennis Mitchell Hall (Caregiver), convicted of murder, tampering with evidence, forgery, and fraud; sentenced to 35-50 years.
Heather Lynn Baringer (Caregiver), charged with murder and tampering with evidence.
Source:
Offender Information – Kentucky Department of Corrections – Offender Online Lookup System
Two charged with murder after body found wrapped in bags in basement
Name: Wendy Garland.
Died: July 8, 2010.
Age at death: 33.
Cause of death: Pending autopsy.
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome, cerebral palsy.
Details:
Wendy died when her family left her in a filthy room that, in midsummer, had heated up to 100 degrees. When they found her dead, they moved her out of her room, but when police saw where Wendy had been staying, they arrested her family. It was discovered that she had not seen a doctor in three years.
Case status:
Florence Garland (Mother), charged with neglect of an elderly or disabled person; died in 2017.
Helene Hutchinson (sister), charged with neglect of an elderly or disabled person.
Source:
Inspectors visit building where disabled Jersey City woman died
Family of disabled woman found dead in Jersey City appear in court
Disabled Woman Left in 100 Degree Room Dies; Mother, Sister Charged
Bed-ridden, disabled Jersey City woman found dead in 100-degree room, cops say; sister and mom charged
Death of disabled Jersey City woman who died in squalor requires more investigation: officials
Name: David Lauberts.
Died: September 15, 2009.
Age at death: 49.
Cause of death: Suspicious death.
Location: Greeley, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Disability: Mental and physical disabilities.
Details:
David’s brother allegedly burned down their home to try to hide David’s death. It is not known exactly how David died.
Case status:
James Thorpe Lauberts (Brother), charged with criminally negligent homicide, arson, and tampering with evidence.
Source:
Greeley man charged in brother’s death
Greeley man offered plea deal in death of developmentally disabled brother
Name: Parion Williams.
Died: July 9, 2009.
Age at death: 16 months.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, congenital syphillis.
Details:
Parion was losing weight, and his doctor told his mother that he needed to see a specialist. Parion never saw the specialist, and died of starvation.
Case status:
Mandisa Z. Randolph (Mother), charged with child neglect.
Source:
Investigators tried to visit home of baby who later died
Woman failed to seek treatment for baby who died, complaint says
Name: D’Amber Myles.
Died: June 30, 2009.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Disability: Cerebral Palsy.
Details:
D’Amber’s mother allegedly put her in the bathtub and turned the water on, then closed the door and left her there with the water running as the bathtub filled. Because she could not hold her head out of the water, D’Amber drowned.
Case status:
Raven Gibbons (Mother), charged with second-degree murder.
Source:
Woman arrested, charged in drowning of daughter
Mother charged in drowning of 5-year-old daughter – Las Vegas Sun Newspaper
Mother charged with murder
Name: Daniel Ndayiragije.
Died: 2009.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Burundi.
Disability: Albinism.
Details:
Daniel’s older brother and sister-in-law agreed to sell him to a gang of albino hunters for the equivalent of $250. His killers shot him, then cut off his limbs for sale as ingredients in ritual magic.
Case status:
Omari Ndayiragije (brother), wanted fugitive.
Victoria Nkuizikiye (Sister-in-law), charged with murder.
A gang of three men, unnamed, wanted.
Source:
The ‘genocide’ of Burundi’s albinos
Una tragedia olvidada
Albinos under Burundi police protection welcome Napoleon
Name: Aleksi Morgan Pressey Toledo.
Died: May 13, 2008.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: San Bernardino County, California, USA.
Disability: Autism, juvenile diabetes.
Details:
Aleksi’s diabetes treatment was withheld and he was starved and dehydrated. He died of diabetic ketoacidosis with no fat left on his body. It is alleged that his mother chose not to seek medical attention, even though she could have saved his life had she done so.
Case status:
Father, D. T., no charges
Mother, unnamed, charged with child endangerment.
Source:
Autism Memorial: Aleksi Toledo
D.T. v. Superior Court
Death Record
Name: Lakesha Victor.
Died: August 20, 2006.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Hinckley, Minnesota, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy.
Details:
Lakesha, who was supposed to be given formula through her feeding tube, was not fed often enough. She lost weight rapidly and soon starved to death.
Case status:
Ludusky Sue Hotchkiss (Mother), pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, sentenced to 32 months.
Ti-Heim Darrien Coston (Caregiver, mother’s boyfriend), charged with neglect, theft, and failure to report.
Source:
Arrest in girl’s starving death
“I didn’t notice. I wish I had.” Hotchkiss pleads guilty to manslaughter in daughter’s death
MN: Lakesha Victor – Disabled, Abused, Neglected, Dead
Autism Memorial: Lakeisha Victor
Mom Starved Disabled Daughter to Death, Say Cops