23 – Disability Day of Mourning

Josiah Green

No Photo Name: Josiah Green.
Died: December 4, 2022.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Burns.
Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
When Josiah’s father called for an ambulance, medics found the teenager dead, with severe burns over 90% of his body. His father allegedly told authorities that Josiah had accidentally fallen into a bathtub full of scalding water two days before, and he had treated the boy with over-the-counter remedies instead of taking him to the hospital. Police say that the extent of the teen’s burns is not consistent with the brief exposure to hot tap water that his father reported.

Case Status:
Josiah’s death has been ruled a homicide. Police are still investigating the possibility that Josiah was accidentally burned, after which medical care was delayed for two days.

Sources:
Death of special needs Brooklyn teen found burned in apartment deemed a homicide, NYPD says
Special needs teen Josiah Green found burned to death in NYC home
Teenager with special needs found burned to death in bathtub
Brooklyn special needs teen’s death from scalding water burns a homicide, NYPD says

Asma Akter

No Photo Name: Asma Akter.
Died: April 26, 2020.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Burns and/or smoke inhalation.
Location: Gazipur, Bangladesh.
Disability: Developmental disability.

Details:
Asma’s family chained her up, then left her alone at home. An electrical fire destroyed the home, killing Asma.

Case status:
Abdul Kader (Family), unknown status.

Source:
Mentally challenged woman burn to death in Gazipur house fire
Bangladesh: Mentally challenged woman charred to death

Muhammad Rabiul

No Photo Name: Muhammad Rabiul, also called Rabiul Alam.
Died: August 12, 2018.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Fire.
Location: Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Disability: Mental disability.

Details:
Muhammad lived with his mother in a makeshift house. When she went out to go begging for the day, she shackled him to the house. While she was gone, the house and several others burned down. Everyone but Muhammad escaped; he died in the fire because he could not get out of his chains.

Case status:
Fatema Begum (Mother), status unknown. Possibly no crime.

Source:
Meant for safety, shackles lead to his death
Bound man with mental disability burns to death in Chattogram fire

Adeline Hill

Name: Adeline Hill.
Died: January 29, 2018.
Age at death: 66.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Adeline and her daughter Renee Cosom, age 42, were shot dead. Police found her daughter’s boyfriend at the house and took him in for questioning.

Case status:
Daughter’s boyfriend; suspect, no charges.

Source:
Adeline Hill, age 66
Victims in Northeast Philadelphia shooting identified
Boyfriend Questioned in Murders of Woman and Her Mother
Man questioned after mother, daughter killed in NE Philly

Nicholas Dean

Photo of Nicholas Dean, a boy with dark hair and light-brown skin, sitting in a wheelchair in front of an electric keyboard. He is wearing glasses and a striped shirt. Name: Nicholas Dean.
Died: March 1, 2017.
Age at death: 31.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Bakersfield, California, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Nicholas was drugged, then strangled to death while he was home alone with his adoptive sister and her boyfriend.

He is the second homicide victim in his family. His older brother Jonathan was murdered by their adoptive father in 2014.

Case status:
Nicholas’s death has been ruled a homicide.
Jessica Dean (Adoptive sister), under investigation; possible suspect or witness.
Michael Hernandez (Sister’s boyfriend), under investigation; possible suspect or witness.

Source:
Homicide of disabled man still under review by DA’s office, nearly two years later
Death of disabled man investigated as homicide
Man who took plea deal in alleged murder-for-hire of adopted son has been released from prison
Eyewitness News tip line prompts murder investigation
Homicide claims second brother in troubled adoptive family
The death of a disabled man is being investigated as a homicide
Charges refiled against defendant in Jonathan Dean murder
Homicide of disabled man still under review by DA’s office, nearly two years later

Jessie Dziomba

Photo of a teenage boy with light skin and a buzz cut. He is wearing a striped shirt and has a solemn expression. Name: Jessie James Dziomba, born Jessie Palmer.
Died: March 4, 2013.
Age at death: 19.
Cause of death: Influenza, infection.
Location: Lockport, New York, USA.
Disability: Developmental disability.

Details:
Police who investigated the home after Jessie was found dead say that Jessie and his brothers were routinely locked into their rooms by their adoptive parents. When Jessie got sick, his adoptive parents allegedly did not care for him nor take him to the doctor. Jessie died of his illness. His two brothers survived and were removed from the home.

Jessie liked playing sports and video games.

Case status:
Joy and John Dziomba (Adoptive parents). Case status unknown.

Source:
Guardian appointed for brothers of disabled Lockport man who died in March
How did Jessie die?
Jessie James Dzombia AKA Palmer

Russell Fox

Name: Russell Wayne Fox.
Died: March 4, 2012.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Pneumonia.
Location: Suwannee County, Florida, USA.
Disability: ADHD, developmental delay, cystic fibrosis.

Details:
Russell was denied medical care and not fed enough. He died at the age of 8 from complications of cystic fibrosis. Medical neglect was a contributing factor.

Russell “enjoyed playing outside and watching Spongebob Squarepants.”

Case status:
Lesa Rose Fox (Adoptive mother), not charged. In 2018, she was sentenced to 2 years for a presumably unrelated aggravated assault.

Source:
Russell Wayne Fox
Russell Fox, 8

Amanda Cooper

Photo of Amanda Cooper, a girl in a fancy dark red dress and hairbow. She is smiling and holding up her hand in a peace sign. Name: Amanda Cooper.
Died: November 27, 2010.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Homicidal trauma.
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA.
Disability: Developmental disability, leukodystrophy.

Details:
Amanda was found unresponsive in her home by paramedics. She had been sexually assaulted, and died soon thereafter. At the time she was found dead, Amanda’s case was under active supervision by child protective services.

Case status:
Unsolved. Amanda’s death was likely caused by a family member, but there is a security hold on the case and no information is being released.

Source:
Death Of 10-Year-Old L.A. County Resident Amanda Cooper Might Have Involved Sexual Assault
No one arrested in Hawthorne girl’s death
Amanda Cooper, 10 [Updated]

Erianna Beltran

Photo of Erianna Beltran, a toddler girl. Name: Erianna Beltran.
Died: January 27, 2008.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Fresno, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Erianna was admitted to the hospital, covered in bruises. She died two days later.

Case status:
Unsolved. Erianna’s mother, Erin Skinner, and her mother’s boyfriend, Mack Lucas, were both arrested because they were the ones in whose custody Erianna had been in; but charges were dropped because of a lack of evidence.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Erianna Beltran
Three-Year-Old Girl Died of Blunt Force Trauma
Charges Dismissed Against Accused Killer
Prosecutors drop charges in autistic girl’s death

Daniel Thomas

Photo of Daniel Thomas, a baby with dark hair and eyes. There is some bruising on his fair skin. He is wearing an orange and teal shirt. Name: Daniel Thomas.
Died: October 13, 2003.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Unknown suspicious death.
Location: Myrtleford, Victoria, Australia.
Disability: Asthma, speech delay, allergies, eczema.

Details:
How Daniel he died is not known because his body was not found for several years, but the coroner suggested he might have been killed through strangulation, drowning, or a head injury. Police suspect that he was abused by his babysitter, and his mother ignored the abuse.

Case status:
Mandy Martyn (Babysitter) and Donna Thomas (Mother). No charges.

Source:
Coroner finds babysitter Mandy Martyn killed toddler Daniel Thomas —but also blames his mother Donna Thomas for doing nothing to help the boy
Cackling babysitter Mandy Martyn denies killing toddler Daniel Thomas, gives reporters a spray