Status: Sentenced – Page 5 – Disability Day of Mourning

Heather Baynard

Name: Heather Leigh-Anne Baynard.
Died: April 11, 2022.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Gaffney, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Heather arrived at the hospital unresponsive and was soon declared dead. Police who examined her home discovered that she had been kept in filthy conditions; on autopsy, the coroner reported that she had been severely neglected for many months, causing her medical condition to worsen and eventually become fatal.

Heather loved music, especially Mikey Mason and Disney Jr. She liked pretty lights, bright colors, and traveling.

Case Status:
David Eugene Baynard (Father), convicted of murder, felony child abuse, and unlawful neglect of a child, sentenced to 20 years to life.
Bobbie Jo Baynard (Mother), convicted of murder, felony child abuse, and unlawful neglect of a child, sentenced to 20 years to life.
Edward Baynard (Brother), convicted of murder, felony child abuse, and unlawful neglect of a child, sentenced to 20-60 years.

Sources:
Family Jailed for Killing Girl, 14, With Cerebral Palsy Taken to Hospital With Rotting Legs
South Carolina family neglected disabled daughter — whose rotted legs looked like ‘raw meat’ — so severely she died
Parents, Son Sentenced For Murder After Police Find Rotting Special Needs Daughter In South Carolina House Of Horrors
Disabled teen wasted away in roach-filled crib as parents and brother jailed
‘Worst case of neglect we’ve seen’: Family sentenced for murder of teen with disabilities
Couple, Son Sentenced to Decades in Prison in Death of 14-Year-Old Special Needs Girl
S.C. parents, son convicted of killing daughter who ‘showed extreme signs of disintegration’
Upstate couple and son found guilty in murder of daughter, officials say
Gaffney Family Found Guilty in 2022 Murder of Special Needs Daughter
Unspeakable cruelty of parents who left their disabled daughter to die
Parents, son charged in Upstate girl’s death after she suffered in ‘deplorable conditions,’ warrants say
Family of 14-year-old speaks out after her death, murder charges filed against parents
Girl’s death called ‘horrible,’ ‘worst case’ neglect Upstate officials have ever seen; parents charged
Heather Leigh-Anne Baynard Obituary (2022)

Thomas Conley

Photo Unavailable Name: Thomas Conley.
Died: March 20, 2022.
Age at death: 63.
Cause of death: Head injury, blood loss.
Location: Sherman, Connecticut, USA.
Disability: Anemia, alcoholic liver disease.

Details:
Thomas’s husband hit him in the head. Already weakened by poor health, Thomas died from blood loss from several scalp wounds.

Case Status:
James Maharg (Husband), convicted of murder and evidence tampering, sentenced to 35 years in prison and 10 years special parole.

Sources:
Sherman man convicted in husband’s death sentenced to 35 years
Sherman man James Maharg found guilty in murder of his husband
Sherman man’s ‘compromised’ health contributed to his death, says expert for defense in murder trial
New details emerge in Sherman murder
Alcohol may have fueled Sherman murder

Tre-Shaun Brown

Name: Tre-Shaun Brown.
Died: March 18, 2022.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Beckley, West Virginia, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Tre-Shaun’s mother’s boyfriend attacked Tre-Shaun with a hammer and stabbed his mother. Tre-Shaun’s mother ran to a neighbor, who was able to save Tre-shaun’s little sister but couldn’t save Tre-Shaun.

Neighbors remember Tre-Shaun as a nice kid who used to ride his bike around the apartment building.

Case Status:
Rashad “Rico” Thompson (Mother’s boyfriend), convicted of first-degree murder, malicious wounding, child abuse resulting in death, and two counts of domestic battery; sentenced to 35 years to life.

Sources:
Beckley man sentenced to lengthy prison term after killing 7-year-old boy
Rashad Thompson found guilty of first degree murder after beating child to death
Mother testifies in Rashad Thompson murder trial
Jury visits scene of Beckley murder
Jury shown crime scene photos depicting child’s death
Neighbors mourn boy, show support for mom
TRE’SHAUN “BUBBY” BROWN
Autism Memorial: Tre-Shaun Brown

5-year-old boy

Photo Unavailable Name Unknown.
Died: March 15, 2022.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Incheon, South Korea.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
This five-year-old boy was strangled by his father, who was his sole caretaker.

Case Status:
His father; sentenced to 5 years in prison and an 80-hour child abuse prevention program.

Sources:
Single father gets 5-yr imprisonment for choking intellectually disabled son to death

Melvin Weller

Name: Melvin Weller.
Died: February 11, 2022.
Age at death: 62.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Palm Springs, Florida, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; mobility impaired, poor grip strength.

Details:
Police were called to Melvin’s home and found him dead on his kitchen floor, having been stabbed more than 140 times. His wife was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The two were in the midst of divorce proceedings, and had been working out how to split up the couple’s real estate. After the divorce, Melvin planned to retire to Jamaica, where he had been born.

Case Status:
Joan Burke (Wife), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 35 years.

Sources:
Florida woman charged with murder after allegedly stabbing husband 140 times
FL woman, 61, is accused of stabbing her disabled husband to death
61-Year-Old Woman Stabbed Her Physically Disabled Husband More Than 140 Times: Police
Police: Palm Springs woman, 61, stabbed husband more than 140 times
Jamaica Observer Limited
Florida woman facing murder charges after allegedly stabbing her husband more than 140 times

Edward Kessler

No Photo Name: Edward Kessler.
Died: February 7, 2022.
Age at death: 64.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Elizaville, New York, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; vulnerable elder.

Details:
Ed had been living with a couple for more than twenty years when he was found dead. Police suspect the couple of abusing him, stealing from him, and ultimately causing his death by strangulation.

Case Status:
Cassandra Fischer (Housemate), pleaded guilty to attempted murder and grand larceny; sentenced to 15 years.
Ryan Woods (Housemate), pleaded guilty to attempted murder, sentenced to 15 years.

Sources:
Two Columbia County residents admit to strangling man to steal his money
Elizaville couple charged in death of elderly housemate
2 Elizaville residents plead not guilty to murder charges
Edward Kessler’s mysterious death in Columbia County is a homicide, official says
State police continue investigating February Columbia County death

Brenda Raines

No Photo Name: Brenda Raines.
Died: January 29, 2022.
Age at death: 53.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Odessa, Texas, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Brenda’s family allegedly left her alone for days at a time without feeding her or keeping her clean. She was found dead, severely underweight, having died from starvation.

Case Status:
Christine Raines Claros (Sister, caregiver), charged with murder and injury to a disabled person.
Justin Raines (Family member, caregiver), pleaded guilty to injury to a disabled person, sentenced to 10 years deferred adjudication and 600 hours of community service.
Elvira Luera (Family member, caregiver), pleaded guilty to injury to a disabled person, sentenced to 10 years deferred adjudication and 600 hours of community service.

Sources:
Disabled woman’s death leads to guilty plea
Texas trio indicted in starvation death of woman with Down Syndrome, now charged with murder
3 arrested in January death of woman with Down Syndrome
3 suspected in starvation death of Odessan
3 arrested for their involvement in January death of woman with Down Syndrome

Karmity Hoeb

Photo of a small girl with pale skin and short, messy red hair, smiling. She has her hands clasped above her head and is wearing an orange tank top. Name: Karmity Faythe Hoeb.
Died: January 25, 2022.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Diabetic ketoacidosis.
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Diabetes.

Details:
Karmity’s parents fed her mostly soda mixed with baby formula in a bottle. When she became sick, her parents didn’t seek medical care for several days, and Karmity died of a diabetes-related brain injury. She also had badly damaged teeth and had never seen a dentist.

Karmity loved racing toy cars and having her picture taken.

Case Status:
Tamara Banks (Mother), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 9 to 13 1/2 years.
Christopher Hoeb (Father), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Sources:
US Woman Jailed For Killing Her Daughter, 4, By Feeding Her Diet Of Mountain Dew
‘Not an excuse’: Mom gets prison for death of diabetic 4-year-old fed mostly soda
Parents plead guilty in death of diabetic 4-year-old mostly fed soda through baby bottle
Obituary information for Karmity Faythe Hoeb

Sara McKeddie

Name: Sara McKeddie.
Died: January 22, 2022.
Age at death: 32.
Cause of death: Brain injury.
Location: Arnprior, Ontario, Canada.
Disability: Injuries from car accident; required caregiver.

Details:
Sara was badly beaten by her husband, suffering broken ribs, internal injuries, and a brain injury that would lead to her death about a month later.

Her two boys, ages 5 and 3 when she died, are being raised by her sister.

Case Status:
David Michael Dubois (Husband), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 12 years minus time served.

Sources:
David Dubois to serve almost 10 years for manslaughter near Arnprior
McNab/Braeside man charged with murder 9 months after woman’s death
Obituary of Sara Jean McKeddie

Ashton and Ethan Yap

Flowers left at a green railing in front of a shallow canal. There are three bouquets of yellow flowers and a line of white roses. Name: Ashton Yap Kai Shern.
Name: Ethan Yap E Chern.

Died: January 21, 2022.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Singapore.
Disability: ADHD, autism.

Details:
Ashton and Ethan were twin brothers whose bodies were found in a canal near a playground. Their father was arrested on suspicion of having killed them.

Case Status:
Xavier Yap Jung Houn (Father), convicted of 2 counts of culpable homicide, sentenced to 14 years.

Sources:
Father gets 14 years in jail for killing autistic twin sons
Greenridge Cres killings: Father of twin boys to plead guilty to culpable homicide not amounting to murder
Man, 49, to plead guilty to culpable homicide for strangling twin sons, 11, in Upper Bukit Timah
Death of Upper Bukit Timah twins: Father to plead guilty to culpable homicide
Dad Accused of Killing His 2 Sons at Greenridge Playground Has Murder Charges Reduced to Culpable Homicide
Dad accused of strangling Singapore twin sons no longer facing the death penalty | Coconuts
Man who allegedly strangled twin sons gets murder charges reduced to culpable homicide » Borneo Bulletin Online
Twins found dead in Upper Bukit Timah canal: Father handed second murder charge
Autism Memorial: Ashton and Ethan Yap
Twins found dead in Upper Bukit Timah canal: Father accused of murder hires new lawyers
More Details Have Emerged About the Murder of the 2 Greenridge Crescent Boys
Greenridge Crescent boys’ deaths: 48-year-old father faces second murder charge
Twins found dead: SG Enable urges stressed caregivers of children with special needs to seek help | The Straits Times
Bodies of 11-year-old twins found in canal near Upper Bukit Timah playground | The Straits Times
Caregivers of children with special needs ‘may face burnout or feel emotionally burdened’: SG Enable
Father arrested after twin boys found dead in Upper Bukit Timah canal, to be charged with murder | The Straits Times
Twin Boys With Special Needs Found Dead In Canal, Father Charged With Murder
9 New Facts About the Twin Boys Murder Found in Upper Bukit Timah Canal