Memorial Wall
Jessica Joyner
died on March 7th, 2016
29yo Jess from Wisconsin, USA, had a husband and five children aged between five and eleven. The children said that on March 7th mom and dad were having an argument because dad was yelling at mom for "dating a crackhead," after which "he stabbed her, she was running away, and he stabbed her a couple of more times." Jess ran to a next door neighbor (followed by children) and bled to death. "Now she won't be there for when I go to prom or my wedding," one of her daughters wrote. "I love you, Mom."
Gabrielle Randel
died on March 8th, 2009
2yo Gabby from Texas, USA, was living in a Florida hotel with her mom, 3yo brother, and mom's boyfriend. At 5AM on March 8th Gabby's mom called 911 and told them Gabby wasn't breathing. The police was greeted by Gabby's 3yo brother, who had "Dumb A**" scribbled on his forehead by his mom. Gabby was unconscious and died a few hours later. She had multiple bruises, blunt trauma to her forehead, and serious trauma to her genitalia. Mom's boyfriend explained that he wrapped Gabby in a sheet and repeatedly hit her to get her to stop crying. The man was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The 3yo boy went to live with his dad.
Sally Chesebro
died on March 9th, 1978
6yo Sally from Michigan, USA, drowned in a bathtub back in 1978. The death was ruled a tragic accident at the time, but fourteen years later her sister Nancy came forward and explained what really happened. Nancy and Sally wanted to use their mom's nail polish to paint their nails. She gave them permission to do so, but told them to wait till she wakes up. The girls thought it would be OK to paint their nails even though mom was still asleep. When their parents found out about it, Sally took the blame, and was punished the way girls were usually punished in that household: by being made to lie in a bathtub full of ice cold water for long periods of time. That's how Sally died. The case was reopened, and the girl's dad was sentenced to life in prison. Nancy wrote a book about Sally's death, The Walls Of Jericho.
Summer Phelps
died on March 10th, 2007
4yo Summer from Washington state, USA, was living with her dad, stepmom, and baby brother. She had developmental disabilities and stepmom didn't cope with it well. Summer Phelps was beaten, bitten, shocked with a dog collar, burned with cigarettes, denied food and dunked in cold water after being forced to stand in a bathtub for hours washing urine-soaked clothes. Her hair was pulled out in clumps, and her body was covered from head to toe with bruises. Emergency room doctors and nurses who treated her testified during the trial that it was the worst case of child abuse they'd seen. 4yo Summer died on March 10, 2007, submerged in the bathtub. "My house, my rules," stepmom reportedly told police during her interview. "You're not at mommy's house anymore."
Louis
died on March 10th, 2008
My best fiend my honorary brother I love you and miss you. Your death caused me to leave but I wish you were still here. I love you forever.
Marci Garvin
died on March 11th, 2013
39yo Marci Garvin from Texas, USA, was born with multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy, Marci was deaf, mostly blind, and unable to talk. Her family insisted that Marci be provided opportunities to succeed. Marci attended a public school, went to restaurants, movies, library, shopping. "It's almost like God chose these people to care for these children," one mother said after hearing Marci's mom, an advocate for the disabled, share her story.
Marci Garvin worked part time for 12 years, doing clerical work for a local newspaper. "It was of national significance," said Michael Callahan, president of Marc Gold & Associates, a consulting company that trains agencies, systems and families in working with the significantly disabled. "We know that we need to be focusing on people with the extent of Marci's disability, but nationally it is extremely rare."
As years went on, Marci's mom's health deteriorated; she had two heart attacks, was diagnosed with the early stages of dementia and had congestive heart and kidney function failure. "That's when the wheels fell off," Marci's dad said. Marci's older sister became the primary caregiver of Marci, their mom, and her own daughter who had Down syndrome and other medical issues. Marci hasn't seen a doctor in three years. "I would have to take my mom, my sister and my daughter all loaded up in the van. I was overwhelmed," her sister told investigators. "I was doing the best I could do," she said.
On March 9th, two days before Marci's death, her sister called 911 and said that Marci was "coming to the end stages." When paramedics arrived, they found a "hoarder house", so cluttered that they didn't have the room to examine Marci. She was covered in urine, feces, and bugs. Her diaper hasn't been changed for weeks. She had more than 20 major bedsores, and weighted 50 to 60 pounds, almost half of her normal weight. Marci died from sepsis, pneumonia, acute renal failure and severe dehydration. Marci's sister and father pleaded guilty to causing injury to the disabled and were sentenced to twenty years of prison.
Harlan Haynes
died on March 12th, 2014
97yo Harlan Haynes from Washington state, USA, was in the care of his 59yo daughter. She loved him, and was receiving $1,200 per month to care for him, but struggled with various mental health issues, including hoarding. The house was full of human feces and diapers piled up on the floor. In addition to more than a dozen cats and one dog, the home contained "an infestation of insects, vermin (and) rodents." There were no functioning bathroom facilities. Mr Hanes was found "emaciated with a large amount of feces and urine soaking through" his adult diaper. Flies were seen around his mouth, and "larva (was) ... present on his beard." A forensic pathologist determined he died of malnutrition and dehydration. Coroners believe he had been dead for at least two days before he was found. The daughter said she fell in November, was injured, and since then "the care of her home and the care of her father deteriorated." No other family member saw Mr Hanes since August.
Mr Hanes' daughter was sentenced to two years in prison for his death. "I couldn't see the forest through the trees," she said. "I should have asked for help." The judge noted that the condition of her house had been repeatedly described as "deplorable," and it might have otherwise been her choice to live in squalor. "When tasked to care for another human being, she doesn't have that choice," he said. "What we want is for our mom to come home and get help for her mental issue and start healing from this tragedy," said her daughter.
Abeer al-Janabi
died on March 12th, 2006
Abeer was a 14yo Iraqi girl raped and killed by five US soldiers who were serving at a traffic checkpoint near her home. Abeer spent most of the time at home because she and her parents were worried about her safety, with the war going on. The soldiers watched Abeer as she was gardening, often stepped by the house, flirted with her, and showed thumbs up to her mom. Neighbors warned Abeer's dad to watch out, but he believed nothing could happen because she's just a a little girl.
On March 12th, in broad daylight, five soldiers of the six-man unit responsible for the checkpoint came to Abeer's house, one acted as a lookout and the other four killed Abeer's mom, dad, and 6yo sister, gang-raped Abeer, killed her, and set the house on fire.
Monica Anne Anderson
died on March 13th, 2010
26yo Monica from California, USA, was killed by her girlfriend. Their relationship has been violent before, but no charges were pressed. On March 13th they had a fight over a cellphone charger, and the girlfriend stabbed Monica 91 times, causing her death. "She started running away from me, and that's when it happened," explained the woman. "I was just really pissed."
"People ask me sometimes how many children I have, and I don't know how to answer that," said Monica's mother. "I had two, I have one left, or do I still have two, and one's in the ground? How do I answer that?"
Elli Perkins
died on March 13th, 2003
Elli Perkins was a mother of two, a professional glass artist, and a Scientologist from New York, USA. Her son Jeremy was mentally ill, but didn't receive treatment because Elli followed the Scientology ban on psychiatric medications. The Scientologist treatment turned out to be ineffective for Jeremy, he was banned from the church as a level III "Potential Trouble Source". Elli was advised by the church to give him vitamins and keep him busy with house chores. On March 13th, 2003, Jeremy attempted suicide and then stabbed his mom 77 times with a steak knife, as she was talking on the phone with a friend. He said, "When she made me take the shower this morning this was the last straw."
Jeremy Perkins was diagnosed with schizophrenia, found not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect, and placed in a secure facility. He was placed on medications, which court psychiatrists state have not cured him, but stabilized his condition. According to his attorney, "Jeremy himself told me that he firmly believes that if he had been taking these medications [earlier] that it would not have happened."
Sara Barrett
died on March 13th, 2013
Sara was my little sister, my beloved sister, a beloved mother of 3 boys, a beloved niece, a beloved aunt and friend to many but most important to her just before she was taken from us was becoming a grandma to a little baby girl that was her everything, she was a most beloved grandma. Were still all in shock over losing her and apart of us will always remain numb and empty without her to brighten our day with that eluminating smile that she always had on her face every single time anyone ever was around her. She was a angel here on earth to anyone and everyone that knew her or just met her but heaven called its angel home so little sister until my arms can hug you again and ill have you back when i enter heaven, i want you to know there will never be a day im not thinking of you or missing you,and ill love you even more with each passing day.
Ayden Olson
died on March 14th, 2013
Ayden's mom said he was "bullied to death" in school, because he was gay and because he was part Japanese. 14yo Ayden committed suicide by medication overdose. He researched suicide methods online (bypassing the block his parents put on his laptop), and left two notes explaining his reasons. His mom is a prominent child abuse campaigner; she said, "My job is to protect kids online but I could not keep my own son safe".
Noelani Robinson
died on March 15th, 2019
2yo Noelani from Wisconsin, USA was "extremely joyful and a ball of life," according to her family. "She had a personality out of this world, tiny but feisty," and "could make anybody smile and laugh." Her mom was a prostitute, her dad was a pimp; they broke up when Noelani was born, mom moved across the states, and Noelani stayed with dad. On March 11th mom came to pick her up, but was murdered by dad. Dad was arrested, Noelani was missing, and he wouldn't say where she was. Her body was found on March 15th, by the side of the road, wrapped in a blanket, with a blunt force trauma to her head.
Jackie Ohide
died on March 15th, 2015
27yo Jackie from Australia worked in senior care and lived with her boyfriend and two sons. "They kept to themselves a lot but seemed nice," neighbors said. Another neighbor remembered that the boys liked to play on the trampoline. "They are lovely children, they are always respectful," she said. At 4AM on March 15th the boys, aged seven and two, found the body of their mother in her car, and honked and screamed until the neighbors came out to assist them. Jackies boyfriend has been arrested on murder charges. "It is an eerie feeling to think that could happen without anyone hearing anything," the neighbors said.
James Levier
died on March 16th, 2001
60yo Mr Levier from Maine, USA, lost his hearing when he was about 6 years old, and his parents sent him to the Baxter School for the Deaf, a state-run boarding school, so that he could learn sign language and get an education. He was sexually abused by staff there. Sexual abuse in schools for the deaf is widespread because the children have extra difficulties reaching out for help. Here's how one survivor explains it:
"There was a busy road with a playground and there'd be people walking past but we had no communication because we couldn't speak, we couldn't sign and they couldn't understand our voices. We'd try and write notes but our vocabulary was limited. The only word we knew was 'rude'. We'd make paper aeroplanes and throw them. People would pick them up, laugh and wave and go on their way and we would feel frustrated."
Mr Levier left the school at 17, married and had two daughters, enjoyed hiking in the woods, painting, carving, and even volunteered as an art teacher at Baxter. Still, he struggled emotionally and tried to kill himself several times. Mr Levier wanted justice for himself and other survivors of the school. Multiple abuse allegations against the school were corroborated by the police investigation, but no charges were pressed due to the statute of limitations. On March 7th, a spokesman for then-Gov. Angus King testified that there was no money budgeted to pay victims and questioned the appropriateness of an official apology. Nine days later Mr Levier commited suicide by cop. Within days, Gov. King issued an apology to the state's deaf community for the abuse that had occurred at Baxter years before. The Legislature also began approving compensation for victims, ultimately appropriating more than $17 million.
