Daniel Joost

Photo of Daniel Joost, a teenage boy with fair skin and short light-brown, wavy hair. He is wearing dark-rimmed glasses and a dress shirt. Photographed outdoors, he squints into the sun.Name: Daniel Joost.
Died: February 8, 2016.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Daniel and his mother, 55-year-old Margaret O’Leary-Joost, were strangled to death by Daniel’s father, who then took his own life.

Case status:
David Joost (Father), deceased.

Source:
Parents and Teen-Aged Son Dead in Oak Forest Double Murder-Suicide
‘Oh God, We Better Call’: 911 Call in Oak Forest Double Murder-Suicide
Support for Katie Joost
Autism Memorial: Daniel Joost

Bertha Coombes

Black and white photo of a young woman with curly hair, in old-fashioned clothing.Name: Bertha Coombes.
Died: January 19, 2016.
Age at death: 83.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Petaluma, California, USA.
Disability: Mobility impairment; wheelchair user, after “a series of falls”.

Details:
Bertha was shot dead by her husband in a murder-suicide.

Case status:
Harold Coombes (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Police determine east Petaluma deaths murder-suicide
Petaluma couple’s violent deaths a contrast with long, loving relationship

Holly Lozon

Photo of Holly Lozon, a woman with short curly blond hair. Her mouth is slightly open as though she is about to speak.Name: Holly A. Lozon.
Died: January 13, 2016.
Age at death: 57.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Rainville Township, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Paraplegic, from surgery to remove bone spurs.

Details:
Holly was shot dead by her husband in a murder-suicide. He also killed their dog.

Holly was an animal-lover who especially enjoyed horseback riding.

Case status:
Gerald Lozon (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Tragedy beset Monroe Co. couple found dead in home
Obituary: Holly A. Lozon

Kazuko Saito

No PhotoName: Kazuko Saito.
Died: December 13, 2015.
Age at death: 43.
Cause of death: Sharp-force trauma.
Location: Tokyo, Japan.
Disability: Developmental disability.

Details:
Kazuko’s sister killed her with a knife, then committed suicide.

Case status:
Fumiko Saito (Sister), deceased.

Source:
Murder-suicide suspected after discovery of sisters’ corpses
2 sisters dead in apparent murder-suicide

Tyler Bryan

Photo of Tyler Bryan, a toddler boy with fine brown hair and fair skin.Name: Tyler W. Bryan.
Died: December 11, 2015.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Rolesville, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Either Tyler or his twin brother had “special needs”.

Details:
Tyler’s mother strangled him before setting her bedroom on fire and killing herself. Tyler’s twin brother, left alive in another room, survived the fire.

Case status:
Kristy Bryan (Mother), deceased.

Source:
Rolesville police: Fire was murder-suicide
Tyler William “TyBry” Bryan

Carmina Brown

Black and white photo of Carmina Brown, a young woman with straight, dark hair and pale skin. She is squinting into the sun.Name: Carmina Brown.
Died: December 11, 2015.
Age at death: 27.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Kennewick, Washington, USA.
Disability: Developmental disability.

Details:
Carmina was shot by her father in a homicide-suicide. He also killed her mother, Elena.

Carmina worked at Goodwill and was on a Special Olympics swim team. She enjoyed cycling and went to camp every summer.

Case status:
Doug Brown (Father), deceased.

Source:
Neighbors, friends reeling after apparent murder-suicide in Kennewick
Carmina, Elena, Douglas Brown Obituary
Non profit honors murder victim
New project honors disabled Tri-Cities woman killed by her father

Yoki Fujita

No PhotoName: Yoki Fujita.
Died: November 23, 2015.
Age at death: 81.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Saitama, Japan.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Ms. Fujita’s husband was scheduled for surgery on his neck, and was worried that he would no longer be able to care for her. He had been approved for public assistance, but rejected elderly-care services.

Just before he was due for the surgery, Ms. Fujita’s husband talked to her daughter, explained that he wanted to kill his wife and commit suicide, and asked her to help him. She agreed, drove them both to the river, and drowned them.

Case status:
Atsuko Namikata (Daughter), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 4 years.
Yoshihide Fujita (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Woman pleads guilty to murder, assisted suicide of parents
Father’s scheduled surgery possibly linked to suicide assisted by daughter
Woman jailed for 4 years for murder, assisted suicide of parents

Lia Cotroneo

No PhotoName: Lia Cotroneo.
Died: November 19, 2015.
Age at death: 88.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Turin, Italy.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease.

Details:
Lia was allegedly smothered by her husband.

Case status:
Angiolo Zanasi (Husband); committed suicide about 6 months later.

Source:
Pensioner commits suicide
Uccise moglie malata, suicida anziano

Hakan Erdem

Photo of a boy with short brown hair, taken at an angle so that he seems to be leaning against the side of the photo.Name: Hakan Erdem.
Died: November 16, 2015.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Throat cut.
Location: Lilburn, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Hakan’s family is Turkish, and he survived a house fire when he was eight years old.

Hakan’s father cut his throat.

Case status:
Fikri Erdem (Father); found guilty but mentally ill of murder, felony murder and aggravated assault; committed suicide before sentencing.

Source:
Man kills self at Gwinnett jail after conviction in son’s murder
Cops: Lilburn dad admits to killing special needs 12-year-old son

Helious Griffith

Photo of a toddler with short, light hair against a black background. His head is larger than average. He is smiling.Name: Helious Griffith.
Died: November 7, 2015.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Mesa, Arizona, USA.
Disability: Dystonic cerebral palsy.

Details:
Helious was born on Christmas Eve and named for the Greek god of the sun.

Child protective services had opened a case on Helious. Brought to the hospital, he was thin and having trouble breathing. They were investigating his mother for neglect because Helios had in the past been seen underweight and dirty.

DCS held a meeting and decided that they would file a petition for in-home dependency so that Helious could be monitored closely. Afraid that she would lose custody for good, his mother strangled him with a length of tubing and then shot herself.

Case status:
Lola “Tammy” T. Griffith (Mother), deceased.

Source:
Mesa police identify mother, son in murder-suicide at children’s hospital
5-Year-Old Boy in Mesa Murder-Suicide Found With Ligature Around His Neck, Police Say