09 – Disability Day of Mourning

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

Douglas Fischer

Photo of Douglas Fischer, an elderly man, somewhat chubby, wearing a baseball cap and T-shirt and leaning back against a metal fence, looking contemplatively into the middle distance through wire-rimmed glasses. Name: Douglas Fischer.
Died: March 29, 2018.
Age at death: 77.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Bluevale, Ontario, Canada.
Disability: Mobility impaired (Used wheelchair or walker).

Details:
Doug’s daughter was dating a man who planned to move in with them and help care for Doug and his wife. But when the relationship broke up, his daughter’s ex became angry and violent. He entered their house, shot Doug and his wife Marian, and held Doug’s daughter Gail hostage. Gail was able to call 911, but by the time police arrived, Douglas and Marian had died from their wounds.

Douglas and Marian had been married in 2011, creating a blended family that included five children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were both retired.

Case statys:
Kevin Carter (Daughter’s ex-boyfriend), pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and one count of kidnapping, sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
Huron County man Kevin Carter admits to grisly murders of ex-girlfriend’s parents
Huron County double homicide victims identified

Dwight Ridley

Name: Dwight Carrington Ridley Sr.
Died: January 11, 2016.
Age at death: 59.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Carson, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Dwight was stabbed to death by his nephew over a property dispute about the family farm.

He was an Army veteran who had three children and twelve grandchildren.

Case status:
Daryl Ridley (Nephew), charged with second-degree murder, found incompetent to stand trial.

Source:
Mental Health and Murder: Why man with ’emotional demons’ walked free
Obituary for Dwight Carrington Ridley, Sr. – PETERSBURG, VA
Why man accused of killing uncle over family farm won’t stand trial
Stabbing victim arrives at hospital, later deemed homicide suspect in Dinwiddie County
Arrest made in fatal Dinwiddie homicide, stabbing

David Alan

No Photo Name: David Alan.
Died: June 14, 2014.
Age at death: 59.
Cause of death: Blood loss.
Location: Rutland, Massachusetts, USA.
Disability: Bipolar disorder, anxiety.

Details:
David’s brother went to David’s home, killed him with pliers and a knife, then dismembered his body. David had a restraining order against his brother.

Case status:
Michael S. Dowjat (Brother), convicted of second-degree murder, sentenced to 15 years to life.

Source:
Rutland Murder Victim Described As A Recluse
Self-defense, says Holden man charged in brother’s death
Fate of Michael Dowjat, Holden man charged in brother’s slaying, headed to jury
Dowjat trial jurors get look at sawed bones
Michael Dowjat found guilty of stabbing estranged brother 70 times and then cutting off his head
Man Pleads Not Guilty to Murder of Brother
Holden man convicted of killing younger brother whose body was dismembered

Michelle Stewart

Name: Michelle Stewart.
Died: November 14, 2008.
Age at death: 17.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Drongan, East Ayrshire, Scotland.
Disability: Club feet.

Details:
Michelle had a boyfriend, but broke up with him because she wanted to go to university.

Michelle’s ex-boyfriend killed her with a knife. She died in her mother’s arms.

Case status:
John Wilson (Ex-boyfriend), convicted of murder, sentenced to 12 years to life; granted community release after he served 9 years.

Source:
Fury as killer gets out after just 9 years
Father of Ayrshire girl, 17, hacked to death in bloodbath horror furious as killer to get home leave after serving just NINE years
Murder victim’s father demands justice system reform
Call for justice reform as Michelle Stewart’s killer gets out
Expert claims it’s ‘extremely unlikely’ killer who hacked Ayrshire girl, 17, to death will be allowed to step foot in victim’s family neighbourhood