Status: Sentenced – Page 39 – Disability Day of Mourning

Isaac Ward

Name: Isaac Ward, also known as Isaac Ward Martinez.
Died: November 11, 2016.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Fatal abuse.
Location: Forks, Washington, USA.
Disability: Developmental delay, mobility impaired.

Details:
The mother of Isaac’s foster mother, who was taking care of him while his foster mother was at work, pushed him so hard into the furniture that he suffered a massive head injury and died. An autopsy revealed that he had been subjected to abuse and neglect for at least two months, and his foster mother had done nothing to help him.

Case status:
Ramona Ward (Foster grandmother, related to Isaac), pleaded guilty to homicide by abuse, sentenced to 26 1/2 years.
Michelle A. Ward (Foster mother, related to Isaac, mandatory reporter), pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal mistreatment, sentenced to 2 year community corrections and 6 months of alcohol/drug treatment.

Source:
Ramona Ward sentenced to 26½ years in prison in boy’s killing
April trial date set in death of Forks toddler
Forks woman arrested in toddler’s death
Joint trial mulled in 2-year-old’s death in Forks
Mom, Daughter May Be Tried Together in Forks Boy’s Death
Trial delayed for suspect accused of killing Forks toddler

Faith Wilson

Name: Faith Wilson.
Died: November 11, 2016.
Age at death: 10 months.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Clay, New York, USA.
Disability: Congenital heart disease.

Details:
Ten-month-old Faith was killed by her father when he struck her head deliberately against the changing table. He and his wife waited a day before taking her to the hospital. She died of head injuries.

Case status:
Brian Wilson (Father), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 19-23 years.
Stephanie Heppler (Mother), pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child; conditional discharge.

Source:
Town of Clay man sentenced to 23 years in prison for the death of his daughter
Clay dad: I killed disabled daughter by shaking and hitting her head on changing table
Clay dad charged with manslaughter in baby’s death, mother faces lesser charge
Deputies: 9-month-old girl, allegedly injured by Clay father, has died

Sharon Greenop

Photo of Sharon Greenop, a middle-aged woman with short brown hair, photographed outdoors. The camera seems to have caught her off guard, since she has her eyes closed mid-blink. Name: Sharon Greenop.
Died: Months before November 10, 2016.
Age at death: 46.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Disability: Prolapsed disc; mobility impaired.

Details:
Exactly how Sharon died was initially unknown because, when she died, her family left her body in her room for several months while they pretended on social media that she was still alive.

A year before Sharon died, they had fired her aide. Sharon became increasingly isolated and was mistreated and neglected by her family. They even threw away the table that she used to do jigsaw puzzles on.

Police labeled Sharon’s death “suspicious” and investigated for some weeks before eventually arresting her sister for beating Sharon, then refusing to get her treatment for the injuries that ultimately proved fatal.

Before her disability, Sharon had worked at a bakery.

Case status:
Lynnette Greenop (sister), convicted of murder, sentenced to 23 years.
Shayla Greenop (Daughter), charged with murder, acquitted.

Source:
Social workers could have prevented abuse of Troon murder victim Sharon Greenop
Disabled Ayrshire mum ‘murdered by sister after social workers abandoned her’
House of horrors: Disabled mum may have been dead in bedroom for months
Mum laid dead in bedroom for months in house full of tarantulas, rats, a blind cat and three-legged sheep dog
Woman may have lain dead in Troon home for months
Body of mum was found when neighbours noticed smell and fly infestation
Body of Ayrshire mum may have lain dead in her bedroom for months while family continued living there
Sharon Greenop ‘lay dead in house full of flies for FIVE MONTHS’
Woman ‘lay dead for WEEKS’ as daughter and sister carried on as normal
Police confirm death of Troon mum found in bedroom treated as ‘suspicious’
Funeral to be held for disabled mum who was found decomposing in Troon
Sister of Sharon Greenop whose body was discovered in her Troon house appears in court charged with murder
Murder trial: ‘Family used candles to hide body smell’
Sister and daughter of disabled Troon mum Sharon Greenop on trial for murder
‘Murder victim’ spotted with black eye
‘Fear factor’ when sister moved in
Disabled woman’s sister guilty of murder as daughter is cleared
Jailed: Callous killer who left sister to die in agony

Robert Wellburn

No Photo Name: Robert Wellburn.
Died: November 8, 2016.
Age at death: 72.
Cause of death: Pneumonia.
Location: North Shields, England, UK.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Robert lived in his home, and his son was supposed to visit and help him. But his son stopped visiting often enough, and eventually simply left him locked into his own unheated home without enough medication or food. When he was found, Robert was starving. He died of pneumonia a few weeks later.

Case status:
Robert Wellburn Jr. (Son), pleaded guilty to gross negligence manslaughter, sentenced to four years in prison.

Source:
Son jailed for manslaughter of his dementia-suffering dad by abandoning him
Dementia sufferer died ‘like prisoner in his own home’ after heartless son locked him in without a key

Patricia Swink

Name: Patricia Diane Swink.
Died: November 2, 2016.
Age at death: 66.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Hickory, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Unspecified disability; vision impairment.

Details:
Patricia was killed by her niece and her niece’s son, who then proceeded to steal her car.

Case status:
Micky Lee Swink (Niece’s son), pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, sentenced to life without parole.
Tina Louise Swink (Niece), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and car theft, sentenced to 18 to 22 years in prison.
Richard Lee Deal, charged with accessory after the fact.

Source:
Hildebran woman to spend at least 18 years in prison for Halloween murder of her aunt
Judge hands Hickory man life-in-prison sentence for Halloween murder | Latest Headlines
Three charged in murder of 66-year-old disabled woman
Hickory woman found dead in home, Police treat case as murder
Mother, son arrested in death of handicap woman
Relatives among three charged in killing of Hickory woman
Mother, son charged with first-degree murder appear in court for death penalty hearings

Grace Packer

Photo of Grace Packer. She is a teenage girl with fair skin and straight brown hair. She is wearing hoop earrings, black-rimmed glasses, and a white flowered shirt. Name: Grace Anastasia Packer.
Died: July 11, 2016 (Reported missing); October 31, 2016 (Body found).
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Asphyxia, poisoning, blunt trauma.
Location: Quakertown, Pennsylvania, USA; Abington Township, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Learning disability; mother claimed emotional/behavioral.

Details:
Grace and her twelve-year-old brother were both adopted into the same family. Her favorite colors were purple and light pink, and she loved flowers. She liked to help the special-needs students at her school.

When Grace disappeared, her mother said that she had stolen money and run away; then she did her best to stymie the police investigation and kept cashing Grace’s disability checks. Eventually, she brought out a forged letter she said was from Grace; the letter apologized for “being a burden”.

Grace’s body was found months later; she had been murdered. Grace had been beaten, poisoned, and raped by her mother’s boyfriend before finally being choked to death. Her body was dismembered and the parts scattered. Her mother watched and assisted in the killing.

Her mother said she had “behavioral problems” and an “emotional disorder” in order to portray Grace as an emotionally disturbed runaway, and she received disability payments to care for Grace as an adopted disabled child.

Case status:
Sara Packer (Adoptive mother), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to life in prison.
Jacob Sullivan (Mother’s boyfriend), convicted of murder, sentenced to death, died of natural causes on death row.

Margaret Fleming

Name: Margaret Fleming.
Died: Reported missing October 28, 2016. Probably died between December 18, 1999 and January 5, 2000.
Age at death: 35 (when reported missing; most likely 19 at death).
Cause of death: Missing, presumed dead, ruled homicide.
Location: Inverkip, Inverclyde, Scotland.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Margaret was last seen alive at a family gathering on December 17, 1999. At the time, she was staying with a couple who served as her caregivers. For many years, her caregivers pretended she was alive and that they had heard from her, while they pocketed her disability allowance.

Seventeen years after she disappeared, with Margaret required to appear for a benefits assessment, her caregivers finally reported Margaret missing. Though they claimed they had seen her, no one else had. After detectives investigated, Margaret’s housemates were arrested for tying her up, bludgeoning her to death, and dumping her body. They had apparently held her hostage for two years before her death, tied up and locked in a room.

Margaret’s body has not been found. When she was last seen, she was “around 5ft 5 inches in height, with collar length black hair and brown eyes… of heavy build… wearing a green coloured tartan fleece or jumper, dark coloured jeans or trousers, wearing [dark] ‘Karrimor’ type boots… had a satchel-type handbag.” Anyone who knows anything about Margaret’s disappearance and death is encouraged to call the Inverclyde police department.

She attended a local college, but had never worked.

Case status:
Eddward Cairney (Unrelated housemate/caregiver), convicted of murder and sentenced to 14 years to life.
Avril Jones (Unrelated housemate/caregiver), convicted of murder and sentenced to 14 years to life.

Source:
Margaret Fleming: Man who murdered vulnerable teenager dies in jail
Man who murdered vulnerable woman refusing to settle proceeds of crime action
Carer who murdered teen & claimed her £182k benefits REFUSES to pay back cash
Margaret Fleming: Killer Cairney refuses to settle benefit scam claim
Margaret Fleming inquiry postponed by council
Independent inquiry into murder of Margaret Fleming to begin
Carers jailed for murdering teenager
Bogus carers who murdered vulnerable teenager Margaret Fleming sentenced to life in prison
Carers guilty of murdering missing teenager
Carers accused of murdering missing disabled woman claim she is still alive
Margaret Fleming murder accused carers Eddie Cairney and Avril Jones set for High Court
Missing woman still alive, claim carers
Carers of vulnerable woman not seen since 1999 accused of murder
Missing woman Margaret Fleming was not in control of her bank cards
Missing Person, Margaret Fleming – Inverkip – Police Scotland
Carers of missing Margaret Fleming ‘murdered her and claimed benefits’
Carers detained over disappearance of Inverkip woman not seen in 18 years
Couple claim that missing Margaret ran away in fear
Carers due in court over disappearance of Inverkip woman not seen since 1999
Renfrewshire couple face High Court accused of murdering Margaret Fleming, who ‘vanished’ 18 years ago
Margaret Fleming murder accused left without wheelchair
Murder accused ‘swore at police officers’

Natalie Finn

Name: Natalie Jasmine Finn.
Died: October 24, 2016.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
Disability: Reactive attachment disorder.

Details:
Natalie was one of several children, all of whom were neglected and abused by their mother. Natalie often went to neighbors’ houses to ask for food and clothing.

In the last year of her life, she was taken out of school, kept at home, and starved to death by her mother.

Neighbors and classmates remember her as a gentle, kind girl who did her best to help her siblings. Her two siblings were rescued when Natalie died and were hospitalized in poor condition; when they recovered, they went to live in foster homes. It is likely that Natalie’s efforts saved their lives.

Case status:
Nicole Marie Finn (Mother), convicted of first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree kidnapping, sentenced to life without parole.
Joseph Michael Finn II (Father), pled guilty to three counts of assault while participating in a felony causing serious injury, sentenced to 30 years.

Source:
Natalie Finn’s father sentenced to 30 years for helping ex-wife starve children
Nicole Finn gets 3 life sentences for starving 3 of her adopted children until 1 died
Teen, siblings were tortured by parents, court documents say
Parents charged in 16-year-old’s death appear in court
Court documents: Teen, siblings were tortured by parents
Teen who died had asked neighbors for food, clothes
Neighbor: Teen saw herself as siblings’ protector
Memorial For Sixteen Year Old Turns Into Heartfelt Apology From Peers
Teen who starved to death found in diaper on linoleum floor, records show
Trial begins in starvation death of West Des Moines teen
Photos show filthy living conditions inside Finn household
Natalie Finn’s school tried to warn the state she was in dire jeopardy, but it wasn’t enough to save her Nicole Finn repeatedly ignored officer, caseworker trying to see her, jurors told
Nicole Finn Murder Case: 5 Things About Mom Who Starved Daughter
Adoptive father of Iowa teen who starved to death pleads guilty

Andreas Headland

Photo of Andreas Headland, a smiling blond baby boy in a black and white onesie. He is outdoors and squinting in the sun. Name: Andreas Headland.
Died: October 20, 2016.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Disability: Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia.

Details:
Andreas and his five-year-old sister Zaraiyah-Lily were drugged and strangled by their father. Their mother had called police, worried about her children, but police took three hours to respond and found the children dead.

Case status:
Jason Craig Headland (Father), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 31 years to life.

Source:
Details about how an evil dad laced his kids’ juice and murdered them
Yanchep father, 35, charged with double murder of his children
A 35-YEAR-OLD father has been charged with the alleged murders of his two children, a boy and a girl aged three and five, at their home in Perth.
The father who ‘stabbed his two young children to death’ in an attempted murder-suicide in Yanchep, Perth
everydayhero: HBF Run for a Reason 2015

Mark Mellor

Photo of Mark Mellor, a young man wearing a gray suit and tie. He has fair skin with ruddy cheeks and short brown hair; he is smiling at the camera. Name: Mark Mellor.
Died: October 16, 2016.
Age at death: 31.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Carlock, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Depression.

Details:
Mark was stabbed to death by his wife because he threw a drink at the wall of the cabin while they were camping. She blamed his depression for their “stressful marriage”.

Mark was a nature lover who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping; he was at home surviving in the wilderness. He worked for the county animal control department.

Case status:
Sarah Mellor (Wife), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 8 years.

Source:
Bloomington woman gets 8 years in stabbing death of husband
Judge: ‘Sorry will not bring him back’
Mark Mellor