Status: Convicted – Disability Day of Mourning

Zayn Matiin

Name: Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin.
Died: December 6, 2023.
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Head and neck injuries.
Location: Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Zayn’s mother reported that he had vanished when they were on the way home from the store. After an intensive search, Zayn’s body was found on the bank of a stream–a location that had already been searched multiple times. Marks on his neck and head led to the conclusion that he had been strangled. Inconsistencies in the statements made by Zayn’s parents led police to arrest them on suspicion of child neglect and murder.

Case Status:
Ismanira Abdul Manaf (Mother), convicted of child neglect.
Zaim Ikhwan Zahari (Father), charged with child neglect, acquitted.

Sources:
Zayn Rayyan case: Mother convicted of neglect following death of autistic son
Malaysian woman jailed 5 years over autistic son’s death due to neglect
Zayn Rayyan’s death classified as suspicious
Police tracking source of video showing mother of murdered boy Zayn Rayyan
At parents’ trial of Zayn Rayyan’s neglect, neighbour testifies never seeing autistic child at Damansara Damai playground before death
Autism stigmas prevent families from seeking help: Murder case of autistic boy spurs call for change
Investigation to continue until perpetrator of Zayn Rayyan’s murder is found
Zayn Rayyan’s parents being treated for depression, says lawyer
Autism stigmas prevent families from seeking help: Murder case of autistic boy spurs call for change
Grandparents of murdered autistic boy in M’sia arrested
Autism Memorial: Zayn Matiin
Parents Arrested, Lawyers Dropped: What’s Going On With The Zayn Rayyan Murder Case?
Zayn Rayyan’s parents remanded for 7 days
Autistic child’s murder in M’sia: Parents arrested » Borneo Bulletin Online
IGP: Give police space and time to investigate Zayn Rayyan’s murder
Zayn Rayyan murder: Extension of parents’ remand depends on probe results, says Selangor top cop
Zayn Rayyan’s murder: Police refute allegations of tardy investigation
Zayn Rayyan case: Bukit Aman won’t stop until murderer is brought to justice
As probe progresses to next stage, IGP says motive for Zayn Rayyan’s murder remains unknown
Police: Zayn Rayyan’s murder case not classified as ‘NFA’ yet
Day 11 of Zayn Rayyan’s murder probe shifts to Idaman Apartment vacant units
No new leads in Zayn Rayyan murder investigation – IGP
Selangor police: Stop commenting on autistic child Zayn Rayyan’s death
Selangor police chief: Autistic six-year-old Zayn Rayyan’s death classified as murder
ZAYN RAYYAN LAID TO REST
Zayn Rayyan’s murder: Chronology from when he first went missing
Cops say autistic boy Zayn Rayyan was murdered
Zayn Rayyan killed elsewhere before body dumped near stream [Updated]
Zayn Rayyan murder: Autopsy shows victim possibly struggled with murderer, says cops

Brandon Storie

Name: Brandon Storie.
Died: October 18, 2023.
Age at death: 33.
Cause of death: Unspecified neglect.
Location: Cortland, New York, USA.
Disability: Muscular dystrophy, schizophrenia.

Details:
Brandon was found dead in his bedroom in a filthy house, and his death ruled a homicide following an autopsy. His father and brothers, who served as caregivers, were charged in the case. In court, Brandon’s caregivers said that he did not want them to keep him or his room clean, that his health had been declining over the course of the last two years, and that he had become unable to shower or keep himself clean and eventually unable to leave his bed. A social worker who offered to help was turned down, and the family refused to call emergency services until Brandon died.

Brandon loved working on computers and playing with RC cars.

Case Status:
David H. Storie (Father), charged with manslaughter and endangering the welfare of an incompetent/physically disabled person; pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Michael S. Storie (Brother), pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of an incompetent/physically disabled person, sentenced to 1 year probation.
and Nicholas A. Storie (Brother), pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of an incompetent/physically disabled person, sentenced to 1 year probation.

Sources:
County Court: Brothers receive probation in connection to death of family member
Father pleads guilty in case involving death of disabled son
Suspicious Death Ruled a Homicide in Cortland – Three Arrested and Charged
Obituary of Brandon Storie
Father, brothers accused of allowing disabled Cortland man to die through extreme neglect
Individual accused of manslaughter released
Central NY father charged with causing son’s death; 2 siblings also arrested

Philista St. John

Name: Philista Mae St. John.
Died: September 7, 2023.
Age at death: 86.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Polson, Montana, USA.
Disability: Dementia, diabetes.

Details:
When police were called to do a welfare check on Philista, they found that she had been stabbed to death and her body hidden. They arrested her son, since he had an outstanding warrant, and later charged him with the stabbing that had caused Philista’s death when they found a note which they believe was written by Philista’s son, in which he stated that he “couldn’t do it anymore” and admitted that he had killed her.

Case Status:
Garrett Edward Vaska (Son), pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide.

Sources:
Polson man charged with stabbing his mother with dementia to death
Polson man charged with killing mother who had dementia
Man accused of killing mother in Polson pleads not guilty
Philista Mae St. John Obituary 2023

Jose Moreno

No Photo Name: Jose Luis Moreno.
Died: August 11, 2023.
Age at death: 45.
Cause of death: Beaten, strangled.
Location: Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Mobility impaired; used walker, weak ankles.

Details:
When Jose had no place to stay, he moved in with a couple who said they would take care of him. But they did not; instead, they beat him for not doing the chores and for speaking Spanish. By the next year, Jose was dead; his roommates had beaten and strangled him to death with a frying pan, a baseball bat, and a dog leash.

Case Status:
Kristie Marie Lynch (Housemate) was convicted of first-degree murder.
James Christian Lynch (Housemates) pleaded guilty to second-degree murder; sentenced to 25 years.

Sources:
Couple Invited Disabled Man from Church to Live with Them, Then Killed Him with Frying Pan & Dog Leash: Prosecutors

Ruth Maclaren

Photo of a girl with tan skin and straight, chin-length black hair, smiling fo the camera and squinting into the sun. She is wearing a white turtleneck sweater, and has pink barrettes in her hair. Name: Ruth Jennifer Maclaren.
Died: March 25, 2023.
Age at death: 35.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Englewood, Colorado, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, epilepsy, porencephaly.

Details:
Ruth and her mother Bethany were killed by her father with an axe; their bodies were found dismembered and stuffed into trash cans. Ruth’s father confessed to the crime, saying that he had lost his job, was worried the family was going to be homeless, and didn’t regret his actions because they were “in a better place”.

Case Status:
Reginald Mclaren (Father), convicted of two counts of murder.

Sources:
83-year-old man found guilty of killing his wife and daughter with an ax
Hearing undermines motive claimed by ax-murder suspect: Reginald Maclaren told police he feared homelessness for family, but circumstances don’t match
Victim in ax killings had cerebral palsy, autopsy shows
Obituary for Ruth J. Maclaren at Marshall’s Mortuary and Cremation Service
Reginald MacLaren charged with 2 counts of murder in deaths of wife and daughter
Elderly man tells police he killed family to avoid homelessness
Mother, daughter murdered in Englewood honored with a vigil

Alice Matheny

Name: Alice Matheny.
Died: November 15, 2022.
Age at death: 93.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Eaton, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Disabled elder.

Details:
Alice’s granddaughter, who had just found out that Alice needed a nursing home and her insurance wouldn’t cover it, allegedly drowned her grandmother in the kitchen sink.

Case Status:
Heidi Matheny (Granddaughter), pleaded guilty to murder.

Sources:
Ohio woman drowns 93-year-old grandmother in sink
Ohio woman pleads guilty to drowning 93-year-old ‘perfect’ grandmother in kitchen sink
Ohio woman confesses to drowning grandmother who needed nursing home: reports
Ohio Woman Allegedly Drowned Her Grandmother In Kitchen Sink Over Cost Of Nursing Home Care
Woman charged with murder accused of drowning grandmother, 93, in Eaton
Eaton woman admits to killing grandma

Cameron Brewington

Name: Cameron Brewington.
Died: October 17, 2022.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Brownsville, Texas, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Cameron was staying with his aunt and uncle when he was found dead. He had been tied down to a mattress with ropes and a dog collar on all four limbs and his neck, and died from blunt trauma and prolonged immobility.

When authorities saw the marks on his body, his aunt and uncle were arrested and charged with murder.

Case Status:
Julie Alexadria Brewington (Aunt), pleaded guilty to injury to child by omission, sentenced to 180 days and 10 years probation, released on time served.
Noe Garza (Uncle), pleaded guilty to injury to a disabled person with intent to cause serious bodily injury, sentenced to 25 years.
Rebecca Garza (Grandmother), charged with failing to report a felony.

Sources:
Man sentenced to 25 years in death of disabled Brownsville teen
Aunt of disabled Brownsville teen gets probation in connection with his death
Aunt sentenced in killing of Brownsville teen with autism
Woman pleads guilty to lesser charge in murder case for teen with autism
Autopsy report reveals cause of death of Brownsville teen with autism
Autism Memorial: 15-year-old boy
Before death, teen with autism was tied to mattress with dog collar, indictment says
Married couple charged in death of autistic teen in Brownsville
CPS, Brownsville police investigating death of teen boy
BPD: Teen with autism found dead, aunt and uncle charged with murder
Police await autopsy results on autistic teen allegedly killed by relatives
Third Person Charged In Connection With Killing Of Autistic Teen – 710am KURV
Police make third arrest in connection to teen’s death
Pareja es acusada por el presunto homicidio por su sobrino en Brownsville
Police made third arrest in case of teenager’s death

Kadaris Maddox

Name: Kadaris Maddox.
Died: July 6, 2022.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Clarksville, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
When Kadaris was found dead in his home and paramedics saw the conditions he had been living in, his mother was arrested. An autopsy established he had died from malnutrition, weighing only 35 pounds at death.

Kadaris’s grandmother remembers his eyes as “rays of sunshine”. She says Kadaris was “always on the go” and “loved everything”.

Case Status:
Cheyenne Dawn Maddox (Mother) was found guilty of reckless homicide and aggravated child neglect.

Sources:
‘Just skin and bones’: Trial begins for woman charged with murder of 13-year-old disabled son
‘I didn’t murder my son’: Mom testifies on death of disabled 13-year-old child – ClarksvilleNow.com
Clarksville Mother Convicted of Reckless Homicide in Death of Malnourished Disabled Son
Mother accused of starving son to death talks from jail
Mother accused of starving son to death talks from jail
Clarksville woman charged with murder of 13-year-old son
Woman charged with first-degree murder in death of disabled 13-year-old son
Cheyenne Maddox: Clarksville mother charged with murder for starving 13-yr-old disabled son to death | MEAWW
Mom Faces Murder Case After 13-Year-Old Son with Special Needs Starves to Death
Woman charged with aggravated child abuse in death of disabled 13-year-old son
Clarksville Police Department reports Cheyenne Maddox Indicted For Aggravated Child Abuse
How does DCS handle child abuse reports? Death of Kadaris Maddox raises questions for state agency
Funeral for Kadaris Maddox, organized by Dawn Maddox
‘She killed my grandson’: Grandmother storms out of daughter’s child abuse hearing
Clarksville woman charged with child abuse in death of 13-year-old son | WKRN News 2
Cheyenne Maddox jailed on new Indictments related to child’s death
Grandmother, therapist say disabled child was at risk long before his death in Clarksville

Hena

Name: Hena.
Died: May 26, 2022.
Age at death: 42.
Cause of death: Strangulation, head injury.
Location: Alappuzha, Kerala, India.
Disability: Bipolar disorder.

Details:
Hena had recently married, and her husband, a traditional healer, was angry that her family was not providing him more dowry payments. During an argument, he became violent and choked her, slamming her head against a wall and killing her. Investigators discovered that her husband had been harassing her family for money because she had been mentally ill from childhood and he believed he deserved a higher dowry.

Demanding dowries for marriage is illegal in India, and doing so is often associated with domestic abuse, suicide, and sometimes, as in this case, murder.

Case Status:
Appukuttan (Husband), pleaded guilty to murder.

Sources:
Man arrested in suspected dowry killing in Kerala
Kollam woman’s death a case of murder, husband nabbed
Death of newly-wed in Cherthala; police says its murder, dowry abuse, husband arrested
Hena was not released, and neighbors only learned of the death shortly after the funeral

Karmity Hoeb

Photo of a small girl with pale skin and short, messy red hair, smiling. She has her hands clasped above her head and is wearing an orange tank top. Name: Karmity Faythe Hoeb.
Died: January 25, 2022.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Diabetic ketoacidosis.
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Diabetes.

Details:
Karmity’s parents fed her mostly soda mixed with baby formula in a bottle. When she became sick, her parents didn’t seek medical care for several days, and Karmity died of a diabetes-related brain injury. She also had badly damaged teeth and had never seen a dentist.

Karmity loved racing toy cars and having her picture taken.

Case Status:
Tamara Banks (Mother), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 9 to 13 1/2 years.
Christopher Hoeb (Father), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Sources:
US Woman Jailed For Killing Her Daughter, 4, By Feeding Her Diet Of Mountain Dew
‘Not an excuse’: Mom gets prison for death of diabetic 4-year-old fed mostly soda
Parents plead guilty in death of diabetic 4-year-old mostly fed soda through baby bottle
Obituary information for Karmity Faythe Hoeb