Liam Husted

Name: Liam Husted.
Died: May 28, 2021.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Unspecified homicide.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Details:
Liam loved to swim. He attended a school for autistic children and had a therapist to visit him at home for “behavioral issues”, but these services were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He lived with his mother, who was separated from his father.

Liam’s body was found by hikers. Initially unidentified, he was called “Little Zion” until a family friend recognized his photo as that of Liam, who had gone missing along with his mother. Less than a day later, police found Liam’s mother and arrested her on suspicion of murder.

References:
California woman arrested after special-needs son’s body found in remote Nevada area
Samantha Moreno Rodriguez arrested in special needs 7 yr old son murder
Body Of John ‘Little Zion’ Doe Found Near Las Vegas Identified As Missing San Jose 7-Year-Old; Mother Wanted For Murder
California mom suspected in son’s death arrested after nationwide manhunt
Mother arrested in Denver in connection with San Jose boy’s death near Las Vegas
Mother arrested for death of son found dumped on Las Vegas hike trail
San Jose Mother Suspected of Killing 7-Year-Old Son Arrested in Denver
California mom jailed in Denver following son’s Vegas death

Jax Ponomarenko

Name: Jax Ponomarenko.
Died: March 25, 2021.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Murder (Beaten with baseball bat).
Location: Parma, Ohio, USA.

Details:
Jax used a tablet to communicate. A relative describes him as “delicate and full of life”. Child and family services had been involved in his case before, and his father had been charged with child endangerment and made to pay a fine.

Shortly after Jax’s father returned from a behavioral health facility, he called 911, saying, “I’ve killed my son,” and claiming he had been hearing voices. He then described how he had beaten the boy to death with a baseball bat.

Neighbors are leaving memorial tributes at Jax’s house.

References:
5-year-old boy killed in Parma, boy’s father arrested, police say
Matthew Ponomarenko beats autistic son, Jax, 5, to death w/ baseball bat
GRAPHIC: ‘I just killed my son after hearing voices,’ Parma, Ohio dad tells 911 dispatcher
Ohio dad admits killing autistic 5-year-old son with baseball bat

16-year-old boy

Name Unknown.
Died: March 16, 2021.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Murder.
Location: Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

Details:
After this 16-year-old was found dead on the floor of his home, the teen’s cousin was charged with murder.

References:
Man arrested in a KFC carpark and charged with the alleged murder of his severely autistic cousin | Daily Mail Online
Cousin charged with murder after teen’s body found

Guadalupe Martinez

Name: Guadalupe “Lupita” Martinez.
Died: January 28, 2021.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Multiple murder (Stabbed).
Location: Othello, Washington, USA.

Details:
Guadalupe, called “Lupita” by her family, lived with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend.

From her obituary:
Lupe loved life. Her social calendar was always full of birthday parties, weddings, dances, and free Tuesday movies. For years we had to sing happy birthday to her at all of our family birthday parties. She loved dressing up for Sunday mass and having lunch with her mom and grandma. She always made weekend plans on the Sunday before the weekend occurred, she had plans and it was of the utmost importance to stick to those plans.

Lupe loved nail polish, costume jewelry and music. She was most proud of her retail work at Experienced Merchandise.

Many close family members received daily phone calls from Lupe. She didn’t have much to say, only a few quick questions and then she ended the call, whether you wanted it to end or not. If she knew you she would never forget your name and probably knew your mom’s name and who cut your hair. When we forgot someone’s name Lupe always remembered.

When her mother and her mother’s boyfriend got into an argument, her mother’s boyfriend lured her into the garage and stabbed her to death. While he was doing so, Guadalupe walked into the garage, perhaps trying to defend her mother or simply wondering what was happening; so he killed Guadalupe too.

The killer has been charged with first-degree murder.

References:
‘We are all scared’: Neighbors speak after the murders of two women in Othello
Othello man admits to murdering two women: Court documents/A>
Man Stabs and Chops Up Girlfriend And Her Daughter After Argument

Karreon Walter-Franks

Name: Karreon Walter-Franks.
Died: November 27, 2020.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Neglect (Starvation, pneumonia).
Location: Vancouver, Washington, USA.

Details:
Karreon lived with two siblings and his aunt and uncle. His aunt had legally adopted the children.

At the time of his death, Karreon was known to the child welfare system. His aunt reported to social workers that Karreon and his siblings had been starved for years and had to steal food to survive, and that Karreon was emaciated and had collapsed from hunger. His brother told them that Karreon’s mother had hit him with a cane for throwing up. The last contact by child welfare to the home was only a week before Karreon died. His death was reported as pneumonia; but the funeral home contacted police because his body weighed only 65 pounds and was in very poor condition.

After his death, Karreon’s two younger siblings were removed from the home. His adoptive mother and uncle are under investigation, but currently not charged with anything.

References:
Disabled 15-year-old boy dies weighing 65 pounds DAYS after CPS visits adoptive parents’ home: Reports
Washington teen’s death ruled homicide due to starvation and neglect
Police: Authorities visited starving teen days before death
Child welfare visited disabled 15-year-old boy DAYS before he died weighing only 65 pounds, court docs reveal