Status: Other – Page 5 – Disability Day of Mourning

Savannah Leckie

Photo of Savannah Leckie, a teenage girl with fair skin and light-brown hair, wearing a knit cap and sweatshirt. She is holding two black-and-white goat kids. Name: Savannah Leckie.
Died: August 4, 2017.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Unknown homicide.
Location: Ozark County, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Autism, depression, ADHD.

Details:
Exactly how Savannah died is unknown because her body was burned and only bone fragments were found. Her birth mother was convicted of abuse of a corpse.

She was a junior firefighter who liked to do volunteer work and care for farm animals.

Case status:
Rebecca Ruud (Birth mother), convicted of abuse of a corpse for burning Savannah’s body; acquitted of murder because suicide could not be ruled out as a cause of death; sentenced to 4 years, released on time served.
Robert Peat Jr. (Birth mother’s boyfriend), charged with first-degree murder and child abuse; charges dropped after he testified against Ruud.

Source:
Missouri Woman Sentenced to Time Served for Abandoning 16-Year-Old Daughter’s Corpse
Autism Memorial: Savannah Leckie
Missouri woman acquitted of murder in teen daughter’s death after judge deliberates for nearly a month
Missouri woman acquitted for killing her austic daughter
Ozark County woman Rebecca Ruud found not guilty of murder in daughter’s death
What happened to Savannah Leckie? Case explored as Rebecca Ruud is acquitted of murder in 2017 death of daughter
Missouri woman acquitted of murder in 2017 death of autistic teen daughter she gave up for adoption as a baby
Missouri woman acquitted of murder in teen daughter’s death after judge deliberates for nearly a month
Mum dragged ‘dead’ daughter onto fire – then knocked her out when she screamed
Trial set to begin for Ozark County mom accused of killing 16-year-old autistic daughter
Missouri Supreme Court says recording with attorney can be used against Ozark County murder suspect Rebecca Ruud
Recording Allowed as Evidence in Mother’s Alleged Slaying of Daughter
Candlelight vigil planned for murder victim Savannah Leckie
Savannah Leckie murder case broadens out of state
Teenage murder victim remembered
Husband, wife indicted in death of Ozark County teenager
Amid allegations of torture, Ozarks boyfriend and mother charged with murder of teen girl
Southern Missouri couple indicted in death of woman’s teen daughter who had autism
Adoptive mom, boyfriend at Leckie murder arraignment
Adoptive mother of Minnesota girl killed in Missouri asks, ‘What if?’
New trial date for woman accused of killing daughter
Suspect in Savannah Leckie homicide to be released after ‘developments’ in case

Omar Omran

Memorial left outside Omran Omar's apartment, consisting of flowers, stuffed animals, and notes. In the foreground is a sign that says, "Rest in peace, precious little boy." Name: Omar Omran.
Died: July 10, 2017.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Kimmage, Dublin, Ireland.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Omar was stabbed to death by his mother.

Neighbors left flowers, notes, and toys outside his apartment building. One neighbor remembered that Omar used to throw his toys over his balcony, and his neighbor used to bring them back to him.

Case status:
Maha Al Adheem (Mother), charged with murder; found not guilty by reason of insanity, committed to mental hospital.

Source:
Mother of boy stabbed to death in Dublin is Iraqi doctor
Doctor arrested after son, 3, is found stabbed to death
Boy (3) killed in Kimmage ‘not a stranger to anyone’, says father
Mum accused of killing autistic son told police ‘it was my knife’
Doctor is held over fatal stabbing of autistic son, 3
Doctor ‘arrested after her autistic toddler is stabbed to death in their flat’
Mum arrested over toddler son found dead with stab wounds in apartment
Detectives investigating fatal stabbing of toddler (3) arrest woman
Stab victim Omar (3) laid to rest after ‘final kiss’ from father
Heartbroken father of stabbed Irish tot kisses him goodbye as he is laid to rest
Tearful Father Of Omar Omran Lays Stabbed Son To Rest
Doctor accused of murdering son was ‘amazing’ mother, neighbour tells court
Doctor who stabbed her son (3) to death in their south Dublin home found not guilty of his murder
Doctor found not guilty of murdering son (3) by reason of insanity

Kathy Smith

Name: Kathy Smith.
Died: May 13, 2017.
Age at death: 59.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Olean, New York, USA.
Disability: Arthritis, emphysema.

Details:
Kathy’s husband stabbed her to death.

Case status:
Edward J. Smith Jr. (Husband), charged with second-degree murder, declared not guilty by reason of insanity, committed indefinitely to a state psychiatric institution.

Source:
Smith not guilty of murdering wife by reason of insanity
Edward Smith’s daughter says mental illness led to murder
911 call played at Olean man’s hearing: ‘I murdered my wife’
Man charged with murdering wife in Olean House released from hospital, held without bail
Olean man accused of stabbing wife to death indicted on multiple counts
Olean man accused of murdering his wife
Police – Husband in Olean calls 911 after murdering his wife
Kathy Smith Obituary
Olean Man Accused of Murdering Wife Appears in City Court

Herlene Narosa

No Photo Name: Herlene Narosa.
Died: May 4, 2017.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Banga, Aklan, Philippines.
Disability: Depression (Rape survivor).

Details:
Herlene was beaten to death by her younger brother.

She left behind a 6-month-old baby.

Case status:
“Laboy”, her 14-year-old brother; exempt from criminal liability due to his age.

Source:
Shocking: 14-year-old boy beats 22-year-old sister to death
Banga boy ‘slays’ 22-year-old sister
14-year-old boy beats elder sister to death in Aklan

Amber Perry

Name: Amber Perry.
Died: March 7, 2017.
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Diabetic ketoacidosis.
Location: Crandon, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Juvenile diabetes.

Details:
Amber died of diabetic ketoacidosis. Medical examiners determined that treatment for her diabetes had been withheld for a long period of time, and that her death had been a homicide.

Case status:
Amber’s death has been ruled a homicide due to medical neglect, but no one has yet been charged.

Source:
6-year-old Crandon girl died of complications from diabetes
Report: Crandon girl, 6, died of complications from diabetes
Forest Co. Child’s Death Ruled Homicide
Forest County six-year-old’s death ruled a homicide
DA: Multiple people could be charged in kindergartner’s death

Nicholas Dean

Photo of Nicholas Dean, a boy with dark hair and light-brown skin, sitting in a wheelchair in front of an electric keyboard. He is wearing glasses and a striped shirt. Name: Nicholas Dean.
Died: March 1, 2017.
Age at death: 31.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Bakersfield, California, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Nicholas was drugged, then strangled to death while he was home alone with his adoptive sister and her boyfriend.

He is the second homicide victim in his family. His older brother Jonathan was murdered by their adoptive father in 2014.

Case status:
Nicholas’s death has been ruled a homicide.
Jessica Dean (Adoptive sister), under investigation; possible suspect or witness.
Michael Hernandez (Sister’s boyfriend), under investigation; possible suspect or witness.

Source:
Homicide of disabled man still under review by DA’s office, nearly two years later
Death of disabled man investigated as homicide
Man who took plea deal in alleged murder-for-hire of adopted son has been released from prison
Eyewitness News tip line prompts murder investigation
Homicide claims second brother in troubled adoptive family
The death of a disabled man is being investigated as a homicide
Charges refiled against defendant in Jonathan Dean murder
Homicide of disabled man still under review by DA’s office, nearly two years later

Avis Addison

Name: Avis “Mary” Addison.
Died: February 22, 2017.
Age at death: 88.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: St. Merryn, England, UK.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Avis, called Mary, was allegedly beaten and strangled by her husband, who, as her dementia worsened, refused help in caring for her and instead neglected and abused her.

Mary was a churchgoer who attended her village’s coffee mornings.

Case status:
Douglas Addison (Husband), charged with murder, declared guilty, ruled insane; hospitalized indefinitely.

Source:
89-year-old retired policeman murdered wife because he couldn’t cope with her dementia
Number of missed opportunities to help woman murdered by her husband
Apologies over ‘missed opportunities’ to help pensioner murdered by husband
Douglas Addison has been charged with the murder of his wife in quiet Cornish village of St Merryn
Man, 88, charged with murder of his 88-year-old wife
Pensioner murdered wife because of her Alzheimer’s, jury told
Sympathy for family of Alzheimer’s sufferer killed by husband with dementia
Retired policeman, 89, found guilty of murdering wife
Former police officer found guilty and sentenced for murder of wife in Cornwall
Retired policeman, 89, suffocated dementia-sufferer wife
Devoted husband battered and suffocated wife to death in truly tragic case

Brandon Strauss

Photo of Brandon Strauss. He is a teenage boy with fair skin. He is wearing a striped polo shirt and his hair is hidden under his bulky helmet. He is leaning on something off to the right of the picture. Name: Brandon Strauss.
Died: February 20, 2017.
Age at death: 21.
Cause of death: Polymicrobial gram negative sepsis, drug intoxication and medical neglect.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome, epilepsy, autism.

Details:
Brandon was badly burned in the shower over 12% of his body. His parents say that while his father was washing him, he had a seizure in the shower and accidentally turned on the hot water, causing second- and third-degree burns. Brandon’s parents covered the burns with ointment and bandages; but they did not seek medical attention.

As several days passed and the burns began to look worse, Brandon’s parents put off taking him to the emergency room–until one morning they found him dead. On autopsy, he was found to have dangerous levels of medication in his body.

Case status:
Yolanda Strauss (Adoptive mother), charged with murder and abuse of a vulnerable person, charges dropped.
Ross Strauss (Adoptive father), charged with murder and abuse of a vulnerable person, charges dropped.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Brandon Strauss
Murder charges against Las Vegas couple dismissed
Las Vegas couple charged with murdering their special needs son, 21
Couple charged with murder in death of their special needs son
Pair face murder charges in Vegas man’s Feb dying – Vegas Review-Journal
Las Vegas couple are charged with murdering their 21-year-old adopted special needs son who was found with lethal levels of medication in his system
Las Vegas couple face murder charge in death of special-needs son
Pair face murder charges in Las Vegas man’s February death
Las Vegas couple suspected in death of their special-needs son indicted

Irene McLean

Photo of Irene McLean, an elderly woman with curly white hair and fair skin, wearing an embroidered sweater. Name: Irene McLean.
Died: January 10, 2017.
Age at death: 96.
Cause of death: Malnutrition, failure to thrive.
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease.

Details:
Irene died from malnutrition and multiple rib fractures, after being removed from her home by adult protective services in terrible shape.

Irene visited over 100 countries during her lifetime. She liked swimming, yoga, and dance, and could still do the splits in her late 80s.

Case status:
Cause of death ruled undetermined. Autopsy findings included skin ulcers from abuse or neglect and multiple rib fractures.
Police are questioning family, especially a caregiver who would have been an heir to her estate.

Source:
Malnutrition, Alzheimer’s and broken ribs cause of death for elderly woman taken from Virginia Beach home
A 96-year-old Virginia Beach woman was found with bruises and skin tears. Her friends want to know why.
Death of elderly Virginia Beach woman found with bruises, skin tears spurs police probe
96-year-old woman dies after being removed from horrific condition
Friends search for answers after death of 96-year-old woman found with bruises, torn skin
Friends want to know what happened to Irene McLean

Aedyn Agminalis

Photo of Aedyn Agminalis, a baby with fair skin and wispy blond hair. He is wearing a onesie and holding on to a piece of furniture to support him as he stands on wobbly legs. Name: Aedyn Agminalis.
Died: December 11, 2016.
Age at death: 17 months.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Riverview, Florida, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness, developmental delay.

Details:
Aedyn was brought to the hospital with a severe head injury suffered while under the care of his foster mother. Doctors called it “very suspicious for non-accidental trauma”. Aedyn’s brain had been injured too severely for survival, and he died after life support was shut off.

Case status:
Latamara Stackhouse Flythe (Foster mother); initially charged with first-degree murder and aggravated abuse, charges dropped due to lack of evidence.

Source:
Foster mom charged in toddler’s death was meant to be his lifeline
Editorial: Another child’s death, another cry for help
New details emerge in case of foster mother charged in murder of Tampa-area toddler – Orlando Rising
Fatal injury occurred just minutes after child welfare worker left home, detective says
Foster mom arrested in death of boy headed for adoption
How Could You? Hall of Shame-Aedyn Agminalis case-Child Death UPDATED
Inquiry launched after infant dies in foster care in Hillsborough County – Orlando Sentinel
Toddler dies while in foster care, potential new family wants answers
Toddler in foster care Aedyn Agminalis dead just ahead of adoption by lesbian couple
Within reach of adoption, toddler dies while in foster care