Category: Status: Sentenced

Suspect convicted and sentenced.

Noemi Villarreal

Photo of Noemi Villarreal. She is a woman with pale skin and straight blond hair; she is wearing a yellow shirt, jewelry, and make-up.Name: Noemi Villarreal.
Died: June 8, 2016.
Age at death: 45.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas, USA.
Disability: Depression, epilepsy.

Details:
Noemi had epilepsy and could not drive, so her boyfriend drove when she needed to go somewhere. Unfortunately, her boyfriend was abusive, leaving her dependent on her abuser for her transportation. He would engage the child lock on the car, trapping her inside so that he could hit her. On one occasion she broke the car window to get away from him.

After one assault in which he beat and choked her, Noemi tried to escape by reporting her boyfriend to the authorities. Six days after she did so, her boyfriend strangled her, burned her body, and dumped it into a trash can.

Case status:
Lance Taylor (Boyfriend), convicted of murder, sentenced to 30 years to life.

Source:
Lance Taylor sentenced to life in killing of Noemi Villarreal
Six days after reporting domestic violence, Noemi Villarreal was dead
Sister grieves loss of her ‘Wonder Woman’
Corpus Christi man strangled girlfriend, burned body in trash can because she reported abuse, police say

Billie Jo Quintier

No PhotoName: Billie Jo Quintier.
Died: June 12, 2016.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Rosington, Alabama, USA.
Disability: Stroke; wheelchair user.

Details:
When Billie Jo was found unconscious, she weighed 65 pounds and had severe bedsores. Her home was in bad shape, and police immediately suspected neglect. After two days in the hospital, doctors found no brain activity and terminated life support.

Billie Jo had spent time working as a paralegal, but due to an alcohol addiction she lost her job and eventually her home. After she suffered a stroke, her boyfriend helped her get sober and helped take care of her. But over the years, her boyfriend died, and then her immediate family died. She had to move in with the friend whose poor care caused her death.

Case status:
Angela Butler (Housemate), charged with neglect and abuse of a disabled person; pleaded guilty, given a suspended sentence.

Source:
All in the Family • The Appalachian Crime Trail – via Podcast Addict
Baldwin woman charged in death, alleged elder abuse 
Caretaker caused patient weight loss, severe bed sores
DISTURBING: Woman Arrested for Reckless Abuse of Elder
Robertsdale caregiver charged in death of patient

Kira Friedman

Photo of Kira Friedman. She is a toddler with straight brown hair and tan skin. She is barefoot, wearing a fancy white dress.Name: Kira Rain “Ziigwani-diindiisi” Friedman.
Died: June 5, 2016.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Bemidiji, Minnesota, USA.
Disability: Developmental delay.

Details:
When Kira soiled herself, her foster father put her into an 18-gallon tub in the shower, turned the shower on, and left. The tub filled with water and Kira, who could not escape the tub, drowned.

Case status:
Nathan Jackson Sr. (Foster father), charged with manslaughter and second-degree murder; convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to 4 3/4 years in prison.

Source:
Bemidji foster dad sentenced for toddler’s shower drowning
Charges: Admitted drug user left 2-year-old foster girl to drown
COURTS: More details emerge in death of 2-year-old

Amir Ross

No PhotoName: Amir Ross.
Died: May 31, 2016.
Age at death: 1.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Decatur, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Developmental disabilities; tube-fed.

Details:
Amir was beaten to death by his parents.

Case status:
Eric Ross (Father), convicted of child cruelty and murder, sentenced to 20 years.
Angel Branch (Mother), convicted of child cruelty and murder, sentenced to 20 years.

Source:
Couple Beat Disabled Toddler To Death: Charges
DeKalb pair accused of killing disabled toddler with ‘unknown object’

Elsie Scully-Hicks

Photo of a baby wearing a white knit sweater, smiling; she has wispy blonde hair and fair skin.Name: Elsie Scully-Hicks.
Died: May 29, 2016.
Age at death: 18 months.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Llandaff, Wales, UK.
Disability: Developmental delay.

Details:
Adopted at ten months, Elsie was beaten and shaken to death by her adoptive father eight months later, only two weeks after the adoption was finalized.

Case status:
Matthew Scully-Hicks (Adoptive father), convicted of murder, sentenced to 18 years to life.

Source:
Elsie Scully-Hicks: Dad jailed for life for murder
Gay father killed his only 18-month-old daughter just two weeks after adopting her
Murder accused described girl as ‘Satan dressed in baby grow’, court told
Elsie Scully-Hicks: first picture emerges of toddler allegedly murdered by father
Father guilty of shaking to death baby he adopted two weeks earlier
Adoptive dad guilty of baby’s murder

Jazmine Walker

Photo of Jazmine Walker, a small infant with dark skin and curly black hair. She is wearing a pink headband and dress, and is sucking her thumb.Name: Jazmine Walker.
Died: May 25, 2016.
Age at death: 6 months.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Harvey, Illinios, USA.
Disability: Spina bifida; 8 weeks premature.

Details:
Jazmine died of starvation and neglect, weighing 4.8 pounds.

Case status:
Chequita D. Bell (Mother), convicted of involuntary manslaughter; sentenced to 10 years, paroled after 2 years 4 months.

Source:
After 3 kids die despite DCFS involvement, it urges faster probes
$1M bail set for mom accused of child endangerment after infant dies
Mom charged after death of 5-month-old in Harvey
Parents in custody after 5 1/2-month-old dies in Harvey
South Suburban Mom Held On $1 Million Bond After Infant Daughter Dies

Jose Castillo-Cisneros

Photo of Pepe Castillo-Cisneros. He is a toddler boy with tan skin and dark brown hair, and is smiling widely with his mouth open.Name: Jose “Pepe” Castillo-Cisneros.
Died: May 23, 2016.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Battle Ground, Oregon, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Pepe was beaten and stabbed to death by his mother’s boyfriend because he cried about a movie he didn’t want to watch.

He liked Mickey Mouse.

Case status:
Ricardo Gutierrez (Mother’s boyfriend), convicted of murder, sentenced to 45 years to life.

Source:
Man sentenced to 45 years in prison in toddler’s murder
Man faces murder allegation in Battle Ground boy’s death
GoFundMe account started for family of toddler allegedly killed by mom’s boyfriend
Washington man charged with murder of girlfriend’s autistic three-year-old son
Three-year-old BG boy allegedly murdered by mother’s boyfriend
Man faces murder allegation in Battle Ground boy’s death
Murder trial begins in fatal beating of Battle Ground toddler
Murder trial looks at special needs of toddler who was killed
Testimony describes murder suspect’s dislike of 3-year-old

Ruby Knox

Photo of Ruby Knox. She is a young woman with shoulder-length brown hair and pale skin, wearing a black, white, and red shirt.Name: Ruby Isabella Knox.
Died: May 16, 2016.
Age at death: 20.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Blenheim, New Zealand.
Disability: Autism, intellectual disability, spina bifida.

Details:
Weeks before the murder, Ruby Knox’s mother self-published a book about caring for her disabled daughter. In it, she said that she had “thoughts of ‘blowing up the hospital’ or of taking ‘serious violent action’.”

Her mother made good on those statements when she drugged and then smothered Ruby to death.

In her book, Ruby’s mother briefly mentions Ruby playing on the piano.

A review of the services available to Ruby and her mother found they were adequate.

Case status:
Donella Knox (Mother), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 4 years, scheduled to be released after less than two years.

Source:
The one voice that might have saved Ruby Knox
Blenheim mum Donella Knox jailed for murdering autistic daughter Ruby
Mother jailed for murder of autistic daughter
The Big Read: Case of Donella Knox who murdered autistic daughter Ruby a ‘once in a generation case’
Donella Knox published harrowing book a month before murdering autistic daughter
Blenheim woman Donella Knox details the struggles caring for her autistic daughter
Blenheim mother murdered autistic daughter after tolerating years of abuse
Protest for parents of autistic children after Donella Knox sentencing
Supporters plan protest to get Donella Knox out of jail and improve services after she murdered her autistic daughter
Murder of disabled daughter a ‘once in a generation’ case
Outrage as mum who murdered autistic daughter is jailed for four years
Autism Memorial: Ruby Knox
Autistic girl’s murder sparks external review
Blenheim woman Donella Knox shuts down protests, wants to ‘move on’
Donella Knox: A mother forced to fight for too long
Independent review of Donella and Ruby Knox’s treatment set for May
Donella Knox who killed autistic daughter is jailed
Autism NZ calls for respite care overhaul after Donella Knox case
On Donella Knox, her disabled daughter, and the so-called ‘mercy killing’
No Excusing the Murder of Autistics!
Health service review prompted by murder of autistic daughter to begin
Ruby Knox murder case: DHB reveals review details
Review of disability services about to start following Ruby Knox murder
‘Mercy killing’ mother Donella Knox to read review prompted by daughter’s death
Review prompted by Ruby Knox murder blasts NZ’s disability care
Mum who killed autistic daughter to be released from prison

Carolyn Hager

Portrait photo of Carolyn Hager, an elderly woman with pale blond hair.Name: Carolyn Hager.
Died: May 16, 2016.
Age at death: 78.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA.
Disability: Arthritis, lung cancer, chronic illness.

Details:
Carolyn’s husband shot her in the head.

Carolyn’s neighbors remember her as an artistic woman who maintained a beautiful garden and could often be seen outside tending her plants.

Case status:
William J. Hager (Husband), pleaded no contest to manslaughter, sentenced to nine years.

Source:
Port St. Lucie man who killed ailing wife in ‘act of love’ gets 9 years
Police: Man killed wife because he couldn’t afford medications
Florida Man Says He Killed Sick Wife Because He Couldn’t Afford Her Medicine, Sheriff Says
Port St. Lucie man accused of shooting wife because she was in pain & he couldn’t afford medications
Port St. Lucie man charged with murder in wife’s killing
Police: Man kills wife, blames high medication prices
Man says he killed sick wife because he couldn’t afford her medication

Ava Cole

No PhotoName: Ava Cole.
Died: May 14, 2016.
Age at death: 8 months.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Lansing, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, heart condition, chronic illness.

Details:
Ava was thrown violently onto a couch by her father. The impact caused a head injury which resulted in her death.

Case status:
Tatum Cole (Father), convicted of involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse, sentenced to ten years in prison.

Source:
Lansing man convicted in death of 8-month-old daughter
Michigan man convicted in death of 8-month-old daughter
PEOPLE OF MI V TATUM MICHAEL COLE (Per Curiam Opinion)