Status: Other – Page 6 – Disability Day of Mourning

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

Natasha Wild

Name: Natasha Wild
Died: November 28, 2016.
Age at death: 23.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Syke, Rochdale, Manchester, England, UK.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Natasha’s boyfriend was possessive and abusive. He hit her and accused her of faking her cerebral palsy. Convinced that she was sleeping with someone else, he stabbed her in the neck, killing her.

She was a third-year student at Liverpool Hope University, working her way through university as a cafeteria worker at the local high school.

Case status:
Lloyd Brackenbury (Boyfriend), convicted of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility and detained in a psychiatric hospital.

Source:
Mum’s agony over student stabbed to death by paranoid boyfriend
Student stabbed to death by paranoid boyfriend who thought she was having affair

Carol Simon and Brayden Otto

Name: Carol Simon.
Age at death: 48.
Disability: Unspecified skin condition.

Name: Brayden Robert-Emil Otto.
Age at death: 7.
Disability: Unspecified disability.

Died: November 20, 2016.
Cause of death: Strangled, throat cut.
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA.

Details:
Carol and her grandson Brayden were killed by her son, who strangled them and then slit their throats to make sure they were dead. Later, the killer claimed that he had done it as a “mercy killing”, because Carol was ill and wasn’t getting better and because Brayden was disabled.

Carol was an outgoing nurse who liked learning. Brayden was an elementary school student remembered for his big smile.

Case status:
Heath Allen Otto (Carol’s son, Brayden’s uncle), charged with first-degree murder, found not guilty by reason of insanity; committed to a mental institution.

Source:
Man who killed mother, nephew in 2016 not guilty by reason of insanity
Man told police he wanted to put mother, nephew out of their misery
7-year-old homicide victim was South Dakota suspect’s nephew
Name released of 7-year-old killed in double homicide
Accused killer makes amazing claim
Child in double killing also related to suspect
Child’s name released in double homicide
Brayden Otto, 7
Guestbook for Brayden Robert-Emil Otto
Brayden Otto’s Obituary
Carol L. Simon, 48
Monsters Among Us: Heath Otto charged with killing his mother, Carol Simon and a his 7-year-old nephew, Brayden Robert-Emil Otto
Trial on pause to evaluate competency of man charged with murder of mother, nephew

Andrea Spina

No Photo Name: Andrea Spina.
Died: November 7, 2016.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Murder.
Location: Vespolate, Novara, Italy.
Disability: Autism, epilepsy.

Details:
Andrea’s father took him out of the institution where he lived; then, when Andrea was asleep, his father strangled him.

Case status:
Pietro Spina (Father), charged with murder, acquitted by reason of insanity.

Source:
Prosciolto Pietro Spina, l’uomo che uccise il figlio autistico e poi tentò il suicidio
Man kills disabled son, attempts suicide
The family drama in Vespolate: father kills disabled child and attempted suicide
Novara: uccide figlio disabile e tenta suicidio: padre ricoverato in ospedale
Novara, 52enne soffoca il figlio 20enne disabile e tenta il suicidio
“Non può restare solo” e disperato prende una sconcertante decisione
Vespolate, uccide il figlio disabile e tenta il suicidio
Uccide il figlio disabile e tenta il suicidio. Temeva che sarebbe rimasto da solo
Vespolate, padre uccide il figlio disabile e poi tenta il suicidio
Dramma a Vespolate: “Non riusciamo a darci spiegazioni del gesto di Pietro”
Il dramma di Vespolate: “Pietro voleva farla finita, ma nessuno immaginava uccidesse il figlio”

Harold Nolan

No Photo Name: Harold Nolan.
Died: October 24, 2016.
Age at death: 73.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Disability: Elderly disabled.

Details:
Convinced she was going to be jailed for fraud, Harold’s ex-wife stabbed him to death to prevent him from being sent to a nursing home.

Case status:
Renee Louise Nolan (Ex-wife), charged with murder, found not guilty by reason of mental impairment because she was suffering depression and “a pathological level of exhaustion”. Sent to secure hospital for 25 years.

Source:
Woman charged with ex-husband’s murder in Mitcham
Killer granny fuelled by depression
Money worries drove deluded grandmother to kill sick ex-husband while he slept
Ex-wife charged over fatal stabbing
Woman, 69, charged with stabbing her husband to death
Woman housed in secure hospital for murder

Shobhana Kunnath

Name: Shobhana Kunnath.
Died: September 26, 2016.
Age at death: 55.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Edappal, Malappuram, Kerala, India.
Disability: Mentally disabled.

Details:
Shobhana and her daughter Shruthi, who both had a mental disorder, were living in a house by themselves. Their family lived nearby and were wealthy but apparently made no effort to ensure their welfare. Unable to care for themselves, Shobhana and Shruthi went hungry. After a week of starvation, Shobhana died and Shruthi was found weak from hunger.

Case status:
Her family is under investigation.
The Human Rights Commission has registered a case.

Source:
Mentally challenged woman starves to death
Woman found starved to death at Edappal
Mentally disabled woman starves to death in Edappal
Mentally unstable woman found dead
Did mental illness and social neglect cause these two Kerala families to starve?

2-month-old girl

No Photo Name Unknown
Died: August 24, 2016.
Age at death: 2 months.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Koratagere, Karnataka, India.
Disability: Epilepsy.

Details:
This two-month-old girl’s mother had taken her to a hospital for treatment. She exited the hospital, came back without the baby, and told police that she had been kidnapped. However, the baby’s body was found in the river, and her cause of death was determined to be drowning. It was alleged that her mother had drowned her because she could not produce milk to feed her.

Case Status:
Kavitha (Mother), convicted of murder, sentenced to life; however, since several witnesses refused to testify, the judge ruled that the case had insufficient evidence and released her after 6 years in jail.

Sources:
Mother jailed for baby’s murder to walk free
Karnataka HC acquits woman found guilty of killing her two-month-old baby
Woman gets life term for throwing daughter into river

Stella Hamilton

No Photo Name: Stella Hamilton.
Died: July 31, 2016.
Age at death: 72.
Cause of death: Undetermined.
Location: Malanda, Queensland, Australia.
Disability: Dementia, terminally ill.

Details:
Stella’s family talked to staff at her nursing home, asking whether she could be euthanized, and were told that this was illegal. They also requested that 24 hours’ worth of morphine be left in her room, and were refused. One of her children said another had told them that if they covered her face, she would “go quicker”. Shortly after the family’s request for euthanasia, Stella was found dead with a blanket over her face. She could not have pulled the blanket up herself, but other residents theoretically had access to her room. Her family was seen celebrating that she had died, though this could have been relief that she was no longer in pain.

Case status:
Inquest determined that, despite the troubling factors in Stella’s death, her cause of death could not be determined because she was already terminally ill.

Source:
Inquest into the death of Stella Hamilton
Mystery surrounds aged care resident found dead with blanket over head
Daughter asked doctor to euthanase terminally ill mother, inquest hears

Lydia Whitford

Photo of Lydia Whitford. She is a young woman with fair skin and dark brown hair; she is wearing a turquoise jacket and pink baseball cap. Her mouth is open and her face relaxed in a neutral expression. Name: Lydia Whitford.
Died: July 14, 2016.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Possible homicide; possible natural death after abuse.
Location: Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada.
Disability: Autism, epilepsy.

Details:
Lydia’s death was originally ruled natural, but her mother and sister saw bruises on her body and pushed for an investigation. More than a year later later, Lydia’s foster mother was charged with manslaughter. Exactly how Lydia died has not been released.

Her sister told reporters that “I want people to remember her as the kind and loving person she was.”

Case status:
Lisa Marie Campbell (Foster mother), charged with manslaughter, charges stayed.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Lydia Whitford
Vigil marks birthday of woman with autism who died in CFS care
Family wants answers in homicide of teen living in licensed foster home
Family of woman with autism found dead in foster home seeks answers
Family plans birthday vigil for Manitoba teen with autism killed in foster care
Family seeks answers after teen’s death in foster care deemed a homicide
Homicide victim’s family asks how woman with autism died in CFS care
Killing of teen with autism in foster care to be investigated by Manitoba’s children’s advocate
Foster mother charged in death of autistic woman, 18
Woman charged with manslaughter in death of disabled woman
Winnipeg woman charged in death of teen with autism
Foster mom charged in 2016 homicide of teen with autism, family says
Winnipeg woman arrested following homicide in July 2016: RCMP
Family of teen with autism looking for closure after Crown stays manslaughter charge against foster mother

Patricia Kearney

Photo of Patricia Kearney, a woman with tanned skin and short dark-blonde hair. She is wearing glasses and a tank top. She is looking off to the left of the photo. Name: Patricia Kearney.
Died: July 6, 2016.
Age at death: 56.
Cause of death: Blunt-force injury, head trauma.
Location: Tonga.
Disability: An “incurable nerve disorder”.

Details:
Patricia died from multiple blunt-force injuries to her head and body, including a blow to the head that caused bleeding in the brain. Her husband said she fell down the stairs, but witnesses reported seeing Patricia’s husband beating her to death.

Case status:
Dean Fletcher (Husband), arrested for murder; escaped from Tonga police, arrested by US police. US refused extradition and released him in Hawaii without charges.

Source:
A death in paradise
Man who won’t be extradited to Tonga for wife’s murder says he’s innocent
Tonga disappointed with US denial of extradition for murder accused