Status: Sentenced – Page 4 – Disability Day of Mourning

Dawn Walker

Photo of a woman with light skin and long, dark-brown hair, wearing a pink blouse; she is sitting at a table at a sidewalk cafe. Name: Dawn Walker.
Died: October 31, 2021.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Asphyxia, head injury.
Location: Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England, UK.
Disability: Bipolar disorder.

Details:
Dawn was newly married when she told her husband that she had bipolar disorder, and that she wanted a divorce. He strangled her to death.

Case Status:
Thomas Nutt (Husband), convicted of murder, sentenced to at least 21 years.

Sources:
Thomas Nutt, who murdered wife on wedding night and put body in suitcase jailed for at least 21 years
Husband admits killing new bride ‘after she asked him for a divorce’
Man accused of murdering his new bride, stuffing her body in a suitcase and dumping it in a field

Summer Tatum

Name: Summer Knight Tatum.
Died: October 18, 2021.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Prattville, Alabama, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Summer’s husband shot her twice in the head. Prosecutors say he was angry because she had discovered he was having an affair. Rushed to the hospital in critical condition, Summer–who was five months pregnant–died soon afterwards. Her baby, a boy named Everett, was delivered dangerously premature and lived only a few hours.

Case Status:
Hunter James Tatum (Husband), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 198 years.

Sources:
Man Will Serve Nearly 200 Years in Prison After Guilty Plea in Shooting Death of Wife and Unborn Son
Alabama Man Indicted In Fatal Shooting Of Disabled Wife, Unborn Child Over Video Game Console
Prosecutor says text affair led to days of fighting, shooting deaths of pregnant woman, unborn son
Prosecutor: Man shot pregnant wife twice in head after she discovered affair

Richard Wix Jr.

No Photo Name: Richard B. Wix Jr.
Died: September 23, 2021.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Medical neglect.
Location: Glasgow, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Richard’s body was found in his home, where he lived with his father, about a week after his death. The home itself was in such bad shape that it was condemned; Richard’s father was arrested on suspicion of having fatally neglected or abused him. Officials say he “did not seek appropriate medical attention” for Richard.

Case Status:
Richard Len Wix (Father), convicted of abusing/neglecting an adult, sentenced to 5 years.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Richard Wix Jr.
New details released in Glasgow reckless homicide case
Nonverbal, autistic man dies; father charged with reckless homicide
Father charged after death of son with autism
Police: Barren Co. father culpable in death of special needs son | K105

James Westcott

Name: James Westcott.
Died: September 17, 2021.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Taberg, New York, USA.
Disability: OCD, bipolar disorder, ADHD.

Details:
James was shot to death, allegedly by his brother. James’s family testified that James had unmedicated bipolar disorder and had threatened to burn down the house the day before James’s brother decided to “defend” his family by shooting the unarmed man.

Case Status:
Matthew Westcott (Brother), convicted of murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.
Micheal Westcott (Brother), charged with attempted murder, charges dropped; convicted of making a false statement.

Sources:
Taberg man who shot and killed brother in 2021 sentenced to 25 years to life in prison
Parents take the stand in murder trial of brother vs. brother
Westcott trial: accused killer couldn’t remember shooting
Science in the spotlight, focus on forensics during day 4 of Westcott murder trial
Brother of defendant and victim testifies in brother’s murder trial
Parents of defendant, victim, testify in Matthew Westcott murder trial
Man fatally shot in the face by younger brother was also stabbed by older brother, troopers say – syracuse.com
Second brother charged in Annsville homicide accused of stabbing sibling after he was shot
Man shot in face by younger brother was also stabbed by older brother, troopers say
Man Accused of Murdering Brother with a Shotgun in Annsville

Najir Diehl

Name: Najir William Diehl.
Died: September 5, 2021.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Methanol poisoning.
Location: East Fairfield Township, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Mobility impaired; unable to walk independently.

Details:
Najir’s mother is accused of killing him by feeding him a cup of windshield washer fluid. He was found dead at his home, and poison was detected in his blood.

In his obituary, Najir is remembered as someone who “…had a passion for life. His bus trips to school and his bus drivers made him very happy. He also loved to eat, go swimming, read books, and the dogs and cats at his home.”

Case Status:
Mary Eileen Diehl (Mother), charged with criminal homicide, pleaded no-contest to third-degree murder, sentenced to 10 to 20 years.

Sources:
Cochranton-area woman gets 10 to 20 years in child poisoning case
Crawford woman pleads no-contest to 3rd-degree murder in adopted son’s poisoning in 2021
Trial moved to March for Crawford woman charged in poisoning of 11-year-old adopted son
Trial for alleged poisoning is postponed until March
Trial date uncertain for Crawford woman charged in boy’s fatal poisoning
Woman charged with killing disabled son had him drink washer fluid to “free him”: Police
Woman accused of fatally poisoning adopted son
State police charge Crawford County woman in poisoning death of 11-year-old adopted son
Najir William Diehl Obituary

Mohammed Mukhtar

No Photo Name: Mohammed “Amin” Mukhtar.
Died: August 30, 2021.
Age at death: 53.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Miles Platting, Manchester, England, UK.
Disability: Mental illness.

Details:
Amin was in a four-year relationship with an abusive girlfriend, who had repeatedly hurt him and had been arrested three times for abusing him, but then manipulated him into refusing to press charges when he needed medical care for his injuries. Soon after she started dating another man, she tied up Amin and strangled him to death with an extension cord.

Case Status:
Charlotte Dootson (Partner), convicted of murder, sentenced to 22 and a half years to life.

Sources:
‘Evil’ woman strangled partner to death after tying him up while she sexted man
‘Callous’ Manchester abuser who strangled partner jailed

Jamie Nau

Name: Jamie Nau.
Died: August 22, 2021.
Age at death: 29.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Disability: Mental illness.

Details:
Jamie’s boyfriend, who was known to be abusive, dumped her and her possessions out on the road. The next day, he came looking for her and fatally shot her.

Case Status:
Brandon Boone (Boyfriend), pleaded guilty to manslaughter and weapons charges, sentenced to 34 1/2-37 1/2 years.

Sources:
Judge rejects Omaha man’s accidental-hit defense in meth-fueled killing of his girlfriend
IN CUSTODY: Omaha Police arrest man wanted for first degree murder of woman
Blair man who killed girlfriend told lots of people about it, Omaha detective testifies
Jamie Lynne Nau’s Obituary (1992 – 2021) Omaha World-Herald

Pindai Ndagurwa

No Photo Name: Pindai Ndagurwa.
Died: August 20, 2021.
Age at death: 65.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Chikonzo Village, Marange, Zimbabwe.
Disability: Wheelchair user.

Details:
Pindai’s son came home drunk and attacked his father with a piece of wood; Pindai tried to escape, but his son came after him and hit him in the head with a mattock. His wife found him unconscious, tried to hide him behind the sofa, and called for help, but Pindai died before he arrived at the hospital.

Case Status:
Godknows Ndagurwa (Son), convicted of murder with actual intent, sentenced to 16 years.

Sources:
I DON’T REMEMBER IT : SON KILLS DISABLED DAD
Death at son’s hands
Marange man (25) bludgeons disabled father to death after beer binge

Mark Vella

Name: Mark Anthony Vella.
Died: August 9, 2021.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Murrumbateman, New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: Blind.

Details:
Mark’s wife shot him as he slept. Prosecutors at her trial said that she had “gotten tired of” caring for him after 23 years of marriage.

Case Status:
Dale Vella (Wife), convicted of murder, sentenced to 18-24 years.

Sources:
Mum blasted her blind husband in the face with shotgun while he slept
Struggle to understand woman’s murder of husband
Woman gave an Oscar-winning performance if she murdered husband, barrister says
Woman who shot blind husband guilty of murder
UPDATED: Wife who shot sleeping husband in head found guilty of murder
Dale Lee Vella committed to trial for alleged murder of Mark Vella in Murrumbateman

Mason Weston

No Photo
Name: Mason Joe Weston.
Died: August 7, 2021.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Homicide; battered child.
Location: Fergus Falls, Minnesota, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
When Mason was taken to the hospital with severe injuries, his attacker initially said he had fallen, but eventually told police that he had slammed Mason’s head against the wall and kicked him. Mason died in the hospital. His killer admitted that he had become angry at the boy for not washing the dishes.

Case Status:
Reggie Bethel (Mother’s boyfriend), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 8 years 4 months to 12 1/2 years.

Source:
Otter Tail County man sentenced for beating death of boy with autism
Mason Joe Weston
Fergus Falls man charged with murdering autistic boy by slamming head into wall numerous times