Status: Sentenced – Page 7 – Disability Day of Mourning

16-year-old boy

No Photo Name Unknown.
Died: March 16, 2021.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
This 16-year-old boy was sleeping in his home when his cousin, who had come to visit, got high on meth and strangled him to death. Prosecutors at the trial, where he was convicted of murder, say he knew he tended to become psychotic while he was high and took the drug anyway.

Case Status:
Chadley Sheridan (Cousin), convicted of murder, sentenced to 17-25 years.

Source:
Man who strangled schoolboy in his bedroom after injecting ice learns fate
Autism Memorial: 16-year-old boy
Man arrested in a KFC carpark and charged with the alleged murder of his severely autistic cousin
Cousin charged with murder after teen’s body found
‘Fear and terror’: Killer Chadley Sheridan apologises to family of 16-year-old autistic boy
Australian man who strangled sleeping teenager believed he was being chased by the Chinese government
Charges laid after teen found dead in Charlestown apartment complex

Chevana Fox

No Photo Name: Chevana Marie Fox.
Died: February 28, 2021.
Age at death: 28.
Cause of death: Hypoxic brain injury due to strangulation.
Location: Napier, New Zealand.
Disability: Juvenile Huntington’s disease.

Details:
Chevana’s mother strangled her. Her mother called emergency services to report what she had done, and Chevana was taken to the hospital; but her brain had been without oxygen too long, and she died four weeks later.

Case Status:
Cherlyene May Lawrence (Mother), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 6 years 6 months.

Source:
Mum who killed terminally-ill daughter sentenced to six and a half years in jail
Napier mother admits murdering daughter with juvenile Huntington’s disease
Mother admits killing disabled daughter in Napier

Helen Miller

Photo of a young woman leaning against a wheelchair backrest. Her brown hair is curly and short; she has tan skin and is smiling for the camera. Name: Helen Marie Miller.
Died: February 22, 2021.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Manheim Township, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Helen was stabbed to death in her sleep. According to a probable cause affidavit, her sister then called emergency services, admitted to stabbing her, and was found by police washing the blood off her hands.

Helen was an artistic young woman who made paintings and sculptures. She had won an award for her watercolor work.

Case Status:
Claire Miller (Sister), pleaded guilty but mentally ill to third-degree murder; sentenced to 12 1/2 to 40 years.

Source:
Teen Sentenced to 12½ to 40 Years for Stabbing Death of Sister
PA TikToker Who Admitted To Killing Her Wheelchair Bound Sister Learns Her Fate: DA
Lancaster County teen charged with stabbing sister to death pleads guilty but mentally ill
Lancaster County teen will serve up to 40 years in prison for stabbing her older sister to death in 2021
Lancaster County judge issues new ruling in Claire Miller trial
Lancaster teen to be tried as adult in sister’s murder
Prosecution: Lancaster County teen ‘had it all but was obsessed with homicide’
Judge to decide whether Claire Miller should be tried as adult or juvenile
Girl charged in sister’s death fantasized about killings: ‘I’m not evil. I’m just mentally ill’
Hearing will determine if Manheim Twp. girl charged with killing sister will be tried in adult or juvenile court
Who is Claire Miller and what is she accused of?
Claire Miller: Pennsylvania teen allegedly stabs sister with cerebral palsy to death, washes blood off in snow
Lancaster County 14-year-old accused of killing older sister
Claire Miller: Pennsylvania Teen Killed Disabled Sister in Sleep, Cops Say

Jasmine Cannady

Name: Jasmine Cannady.
Died: February 22, 2021.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Ambridge, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Mental illness.

Details:
Jasmine’s mother allegedly shot them and their 16-year-old brother Jeffrey with a shotgun. Police say Jasmine’s mother said she was worried that Jasmine would be committed to a mental institution because of their disability, and that their father would take custody of their brother; so she killed both siblings instead.

Jasmine worked at FedEx. They are remembered by friends at PRISM, the local LGBT+ youth organization, as sweet, shy, and artistic. They loved to dance. Under Jasmine’s favorite quotes on Facebook, they posted, “Don’t let anyone bring you down. Don’t let people tell you can’t do anything in life. You mean something.”

Case Status:
Krisinda A. Bright (Mother), pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, sentenced to 2 consecutive life sentences without parole.

Source:
Krisinda Bright, Ambridge Mother Accused Of Killing 2 Children, Pleads Guilty
Ambridge mother accused of killing her two children will face trial
HRC Mourns Trans & Non-Binary Siblings Who Were Killed
Beaver County LGBTQ+ group holds vigil for siblings killed in Ambridge shooting
‘Please Don’t Shoot’: Krisinda Bright Accused Of Shooting, Killing Her 16-Year-Old, 22-Year-Old Children
Jasmine Cannady | Facebook

Connie Hunt

No Photo Name: Connie Hunt.
Died: February 15, 2021.
Age at death: 72.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Chocowinity, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Dementia, physical disability.

Details:
Connie’s ex-son-in-law, who lived with her and her daughter, killed her with a shotgun.

Case Status:
James Carver (Ex son-in-law), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 25-31 years in prison.

Sources:
Chocowinity man admits to murder
Chocowinity man pleads, sentenced in murder case
Beaufort County man charged with murder in death of ex-mother-in-law
Beaufort County man sentenced to 25-31 years in prison for murder of ex-mother-in-law

Peter Cuacuas

Name: Peter Cuacuas.
Died: February 10, 2021.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Newburgh, New York, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Peter lived with his mother, but saw his father every Saturday. He stopped attending his online classes in January; in February, he was brought to the hospital, dead on arrival from starvation and weighing only 37 pounds. He died because his mother kept him locked into his room and denied him food.

Case Status:
Letitia Bravo (Mother), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 15 years.
Arturo Cuacuas (Father), pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide, sentenced to one and one-third to four years in prison.

Sources:
Caregiver pleads guilty in starvation death of 7-year-old boy
Memorial marks 1 year since starvation death of Newburgh boy
Dad Admits Role In Child’s Death, Will Testify Against Girlfriend
Autism Memorial: Peter Cuacuas
‘He weighed 37 pounds, and he was 7 years old.’ Questions linger following Newburgh boy’s death
Inquiry To Be Launched Into Newburgh Schools Following Starvation Death Of 7-Year-Old Peter Cuacuas
Letitia Bravo Facing Murder Charges After 7-Year-Old Peter Cuacuas Dies Of Starvation

Jamal Anderson Jr.

Name: Jamal Anderson Jr.
Died: February 8, 2021.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Jamal died from a gunshot wound to the stomach. Intially, his father claimed that Jamal had been shot by home invaders; but when police found the murder weapon in a backpack outside the house, it turned out to be his father’s gun.

Jamal loved music and dancing and could often be found talking to relatives on his iPhone.

Case Status:
Jamal Anderson Sr. (Father), pleaded guilty to child neglect, sentenced to 12 years in prison, 8 years extended supervision, and “over $1000” in restitution.

Sources:
Dad charged after son, 5, with Down syndrome fatally shot in stomach
Jamal Anderson, Jr.
12 years in prison for Milwaukee father in fatal shooting of son
My son life was taken by gun violence at 5yrs old, organized by Jaquita Harbour

Hezekiah Pettiford

No Photo
Name: Hezekiah Pettiford.
Died: January 28, 2021.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Disability: Autism, ADHD.

Details:
Hezekiah was found unresponsive at his home and was taken to the hospital, where he died two days later from a severe head injury. He weighed only 75 pounds, indicative of malnutrition, and his injuries were consistent with chronic child abuse.

Hezekiah loved math, had an extensive vocabulary and enjoyed watching game shows like Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. His favorite movie was Home Alone and he loved eating macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets.

Case Status:
Stefanie Colon (Aunt), found guilty of first-degree child abuse resulting in severe physical injury and two counts of neglecting a minor; sentenced to 4 years.
Dion Ball Sr. (Uncle), convicted of first-degree murder and first-degree child abuse; sentenced to 25 years to life.

Sources:
Aunt, uncle charged with abuse, manslaughter in teen’s death
Hezekiah Pettiford – Baltimore, Maryland , Brooks Clinton Funeral Service, P.A. – Memories wall
Focus on preventing child abuse after family members charged in 15-year-old’s death

Guadalupe Martinez

Name: Guadalupe “Lupita” Martinez.
Died: January 28, 2021.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Throat cut.
Location: Othello, Washington, USA.
Disability: Autism, intellectual disability.

Details:
Guadalupe, called “Lupita” by her family, lived with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend. Her mother’s boyfriend killed her mother after an argument; then, when Guadalupe walked in on the killing, he slammed her head against the cement and cut her throat.

Guadalupe loved nail polish, costume jewelry and music.

Case status:
Mauricio Nava-Garibay (Mother’s boyfriend), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 43 years.

Source:
Man who killed, dismembered 2 Othello women gets 43 years in prison
Guadalupe Martinez Obituary
Autism Memorial: Guadalupe Martinez
‘We are all scared’: Neighbors speak after the murders of two women in Othello
Othello man admits to murdering two women: Court documents
Man Stabs and Chops Up Girlfriend And Her Daughter After Argument

Michael Montgomery

Name: Michael Montgomery.
Died: January 13, 2021.
Age at death: 34.
Cause of death: Stabbing.
Location: Wichita, Kansas, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Police found Michael’s cousin lying on the road in the middle of traffic; he confessed to them that he had killed his cousin. When they searched his house, they found Michael’s wrapped body in a crawl space. His cousin had stabbed him to death.

Michael’s caregiver says he was kind, caring, and often talked about how much he loved his family. “I know how he is, she says, “and how he would tell me, you gotta stay strong. Keep that smile on your face.”

Case status:
Jason Payne (Cousin), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 19.5 years in prison.

Source:
Kansas man sentenced for killing his disabled cousin
Wichita man admits murdering wheelchair-bound cousin found stuffed in crawl space
Affidvait: Man confesses to killing cousin, placing body in bag, inside crawlspace
Wichita cops found slain man’s body zipped in bag in basement crawl space: affidavit
Caretaker speaks out after former patient is murdered
Police identify man killed in disturbance at E. Wichita home
Wichita stabbing victim identified, cousin arrested