Status: Sentenced – Page 39 – Disability Day of Mourning

Aaliyah Taylor

Photo of a teenage girl with short curly black hair and brown skin, wearing a quizzical expression. Name: Aaliyah Taylor.
Died: October 15, 2016.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Respiratory failure due to drug toxicity.
Location: Spring, Texas, USA.
Disability: Microcephaly, multiple sclerosis, autism and seizures.

Details:
Aaliyah was abused by her father and caregivers. He repeatedly used a stun gun on her, and they drugged her with blood pressure medication that she hadn’t been prescribed. The medication caused her to stop breathing and die.

Case status:
Anthony Jackson (Father), convicted of first-degree injury to a child, sentenced to 65 years, with parole possible after 8.5 years.
Keyonna Gunner (Home health worker), convicted of injury to a child, sentenced to 90 days in jail and 7 years probation.
Tommieretta Gunner (Home health worker), convicted of injury to a child, sentenced to 8 years in prison.
Marreissa Jones (Home health worker), charged with first-degree injury to a child.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Aaliyah Taylor
Three charged in death of special-needs teen
Houston Officials: Special needs teen who died last year was abused
Teaxs Digest: Special-needs teen who died was abused, officials say
Special needs teen who died last year was abused, 3 suspects arrested
Girl, 14, with special needs dies after given blood pressure medication, autopsy shows
Special needs teen who died last year was abused
Three adults use stun gun on special needs teen for months before delivering deadly dose of unprescribed meds: Cops
Fourth suspect arrested in disturbing abuse, death of special needs teenager
MCSO: Fourth suspect arrested in special needs teen’s death
Police charged three in the death of a special needs girl, but believe a 4th took part

Lanitola Epenisa

Name: Lanitola Epenisa, also called Viliami Li.
Died: October 2, 2016.
Age at death: Elder.
Cause of death: Sepsis from untended pressure sores.
Location: Kolomotu’a, Tongatapu, Tonga.
Disability: Stroke.

Details:
Disabled after a stroke, Lanitola was neglected by his wife, with whom he lived. A witness reported seeing him grow gradually more unkempt and dirty. A cousin told the court that he found Lanitola alone in the house with nothing to eat, and brought him food. Lanitola died from blood poisoning due to untended pressure sores, and was found dead, “fused to his chair,” by medics.

Case Status:
Malia Unalotokipea Li (Wife), convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to 5 years 7 months.

Source:
Wife jailed for more than five years after leaving man to die in his own waste
Malia Li found guilty of leaving disabled husband to die in his own waste
Man’s pressure sores developed ‘very recently’ before he died, surgeon says
Auckland man found dead in chair not given regular medication, Crown alleges
Man’s wife denied him shower hours before he died in his own waste, court hears
Disabled man who died in his own waste had been unbathed and hungry, visitors say
Manslaughter trial: Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local board member said alleged victim smelt like urine

Erica Parsons

Photo of Erica Parsons, a young girl with pale skin and dark-brown shoulder-length hair. Her nose is red. Name: Erica Parsons.
Died: Died December 19, 2011; reported missing July 30, 2013; body found September 27, 2016.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Learning disability, deaf from birth.

Details:
Erica was physically and emotionally abused by her adoptive parents. They locked her in a closet, hit her, and deliberately broke her fingers.

Sometime in 2011, she disappeared. Witnesses said she was “having trouble breathing” shortly beforehand. She was not reported missing for two years.

Until Erica’s body was found, her parents could only be convicted for fraud, since they had cashed Erica’s disability checks in the years between her disappearance and its reporting.

Five years after her likely death, Erica’s adoptive father led police to her body. Her bones revealed that she had been malnourished, and had suffered many fractures from abuse. Authorities could not find an exact cause of death, but determined she had died from “homicidal violence”, probably from being strangled or from injury from beatings.

Case status:
Sandy Parsons (Adoptive father), convicted of fraud, murder, obstruction of justice, and concealment of death, sentenced to 33 years to life.
Casey Parsons (Adoptive mother), convicted of fraud, murder, obstruction of justice, and concealment of death, sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
Erica Parsons’ adoptive dad to serve minimum of 33 years for murder, abuse, obstruction
Judge rips Parsonses for Erica’s life, death
Sheriff: Erica Parsons likely dead before reported missing
Girl missing since 2011 was tortured repeatedly before death, warrant says
Chesterfield ‘adoptive father tortured disabled daughter before discarding her body’
NC girl who lived in a house of horror died any of several torturous ways, autopsy finds
Erica Parsons Update: Autopsy Reveals Details About Missing Girl’s Life And Death
Autopsy reveals girl died brutal death, adoptive parents likely to face charges
Autopsy reveals girl died brutal death, had many broken bones
Erica Parsons was 12 or 13 when her parents killed her and cut up the body, cops say
Erica Parsons’ adoptive parents charged in girl’s death, dismemberment
Hidden Torture: Murder Victim Erica Parsons Homeschooled
Erica Parsons’ Parents To Face Death Penalty In Murder Trial

Beverly Nickerson

Photo of Beverly Nickerson, an elderly woman with shaggy gray hair and pale skin, wearing a nightshirt and sitting on the edge of a bed, eating from a plate on a bedside table. The photo has caught her in the middle of licking her lips. Name: Beverly Ann Nickerson.
Died: September 24, 2016.
Age at death: 74.
Cause of death: Drug overdose, blunt trauma.
Location: Spring Hill, Florida, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Beverly’s son abused and eventually killed her by beating her and overdosing her on her medication.

She had four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Case status:
Albert Henry Nickerson (Son), found guilty of aggravated Manslaughter of an elderly person and neglect of an elderly person, sentenced to 25 years.

Source:
SON OF SAM: Spring Hill Man Sentenced to 25-Years in Prison for Killing His Elderly Mother; Beat, Drugged, Stole from While In Cognitive Decline
Beverly Ann NICKERSON Obituary (2016) Tampa Bay Times
Spring Hill Man Sentenced to 25-Years in Prison for Killing his Mother
Man Faces First Degree Murder Charge in Death of his Own Mother
Deputies: Spring Hill Man Murdered Mother
Son charged with murdering elderly 74-year-old mother in Hernando County

Stephanie McGeough

Name: Stephanie McGeough.
Died: September 21, 2016 (Body found).
Age at death: 54.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: San Andreas, California, USA.
Disability: Depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, arthritis.

Details:
Only days after Stephanie’s brother moved in with her, he strangled her. Her body was found at her house a few weeks later, and her brother arrested after he went on the run.

Stephanie kept a very tidy house. She liked traveling and children and had one nephew. As a young woman, she played soccer in her school’s recreational league. She was a history buff and a fan of Queen Elizabeth I, and a music lover who liked rock-and-roll and the bands Rush and the Allman Brothers. She worked for Sprint.

Case status:
Sean McGeough (Brother), convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
McGeough gets life in prison for murder of sister
McGeough trial draws to a close; question of murder or suicide put before jury
Stephanie McGeough’s Obituary

Frédéric Leclerc

No Photo Name: Frédéric Leclerc.
Died: September 21, 2016.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Landres, France.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Frédéric’s mother tried to poison him with medication, but when he threw it up, she stabbed him to death. She also killed his dog.

Case Status:
Séverine Michelin (Mother), sentenced to 16 years.

Sources:
Nancy : une mère condamnée à 16 ans de prison pour avoir tué son fils autiste
justice. Ado autiste tué à Landres : la mère en prison

Henry Wilson

Black and white newspaper photo of Henry Wilson, a middle-aged man with dark hair, light skin, and glasses. Name: Henry Wilson.
Died: September 3, 2016.
Age at death: 70.
Cause of death: Suffocation.
Location: Ayr, Scotland, UK.
Disability: Chronic heart disease.

Details:
When Henry expressed a desire to die, his wife left out a dose of her medication for him and left the house. When she returned he was not dead, so she took a pillow and smothered him.

Case status:
Susanne Wilson (Wife), pleaded guilty to culpable homicide; no sentence, walked free from court.

Source:
74-year-old woman charged with murdering her husband, 71, at their home in Ayr
Wife killed sick husband with cushion after sex allegations
Wife walks free after killing husband
Ex-councillor who killed husband to death avoids jail
Wife who killed suicidal husband walks free

John Zdon

Name: John Emile Zdon.
Died: August 31, 2016.
Age at death: 72.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA.
Disability: Frail elder, needed 24-hour care.

Details:
John’s daughter knew his health was getting worse, but she would not take him to the doctor because she was afraid he would be put in a nursing home. He was found malnourished and unresponsive and brought to the hospital, where he died.

He was an Air Force veteran and a fan of the Atlanta Braves.

Case Status:
Tammy Zdon (Daughter), pleaded guilty to manslaughter and permitting abuse on an elderly or disabled person, sentenced to 6 months in jail.

Source:
John Zdon Obituary (1944 – 2016) The Berkshire Eagle
Massachusetts caregiver admits to causing father’s death
North Adams woman faces caretaker abuse, involuntary manslaughter charges in father’s death

Margaret Shelton

Name: Margaret “Pat” Patricia Shelton.
Died: August 31, 2016.
Age at death: 85.
Cause of death: Suffocation.
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
Disability: Early-stage Alzheimer’s.

Details:
Police say Pat’s son turned himself in just after smothering her with duct tape and his hand and breaking the neck of the family dog.

Pat was known by her neighbors for her friendly demeanor. She liked to do yard work and would mow their lawns for them.

Case status:
Kenneth Baker (Son), convicted of murder, sentenced to 12 to 25 years.

Source:
Man arrested for murdering elderly mother inside Fort Worth home
Fort Worth man who called police accused of killing his mother
Margaret Shelton Obituary
Elderly woman killed by son in her Fort Worth home
Fort Worth man said he suffocated mother with duct tape, then snapped barking dog’s neck, police say

Austin Anderson

Name: Austin Anderson.
Died: August 29, 2016.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Dehydration, medical neglect.
Location: Aldrich, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Autism, blindness.

Details:
Austin’s mother took him out to a field in the middle of nowhere. For two days, she withheld his food, water, and medication in the summer heat while Austin begged for her help. He died from dehydration and from being refused the medication he needed to live.

Case status:
Kimberly R. Lightwine (Mother), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and elder abuse, sentenced to 7 years, served 2 1/2 years.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Austin Anderson
‘I killed my kid:’ Polk County mother charged after death of blind, autistic teen
‘Let God take you’: Woman said she left her blind, autistic son in field until he died, police say
Lightwine charged with two felonies in death of son
Mother Accused in Death of Disabled Son Returns to Court
Woman accused of son’s death in Polk County appears in court
Attorney releases video segments of police interview with mom accused of killing her son
Bench Trial in May for Mom of Disabled Victim
Polk County mom could be out in 120 days after guilty plea in blind, autistic son’s death
Polk County Woman Pleads Guilty in Connection with Death of Blind, Autistic Son
Mother pleads guilty to son’s death
Mother pleads guilty to letting her blind, autistic son die in a field
Woman claims innocence in son’s death despite guilty plea
Once charged with murder in autistic son’s death, Ozarks woman says she’s a victim