Adam Elusma

Adam Elusma, 5 Years

Adam Elusma was five years old and had autism. Adam lived in Fort Pierce, Florida in St. Lucie County. On Friday, June 19, 2015, Adam was playing at the Midway Road Church of Christ playground and wandered away. He was discovered unconscious at the bottom of a nearby swimming pool only .2 of a mile from his home.

Tribute to Adam Elusma: "He just had great joy in everything. He understood not so much but he loved it all (Paul Dawson, Pastor Midway Road Church of Christ)."

Links about Adam Elusma: 

News: 

• Police: 5 Year Old Boy Wanders Away from Playground, Found Unconscious in a Pool (CBS12.com, June 20, 2015)
• 5 Year Old Boy Dies After Being Found at Bottom of Pool (TCPalm.com, Will Greenlee, June 20, 2015)
• 5 Year Old Boy Dies After Being Found at the Bottom of a Swimming Pool near Fort Pierce (WPTV.com, June 20, 2015)

Jayden Humes

Jayden Humes (2008-2015)

Jayden Marquis Humes was six years old and had autism. Jayden Humes lived in Saginaw, Michigan. Jayden was playing at Krossroads Park in Saginaw on June 19, 2015. He went missing and searchers found his body later in the day in one of the park's ponds. Jayden's parents are Kevin and Dewan Humes.

Tribute to Jayden Humes:

"To me, that didn't make a difference, it [autism] was just what his condition was, that's not what he was. He was a very loving little boy. Very energetic like I said. Just very, very smart. Very smart. He was just the sunshine of everybody's day (Dewan Humes, Jayden's Mother)."

Links about Jayden Humes: 

Obituary: Jayden Humes Obituary at Paradise Funeral Chapel

News: 

• Mother of Drowned Boy Remembers His Life (WNEM.com, Nick Lulli, June 21, 2015)

• 6-Year old Jayden Humes 'loved everything and everyone' (Mlive.com, Heather Jordan, June 20, 2015) 

• Young Child Drowns While at a Saginaw County Park Friday Evening (ABC12.com, June 22, 2015)

Kennedy LeRoy

Kennedy LeRoy, 16 Years

Kennedy LeRoy was 16 years old and had autism. He was from Chino Hills, California near Los Angeles. Kennedy committed suicide in his bedroom on June 12, 2015, because he had been enduring years of bullying in his school at Ayala High School. Kennedy left a note behind that said, "Maybe my death will make people realize that words can hurt as much as, if not more than, physical blows (NBC Los Angeles, June 17, 2015)."

Links about Kennedy LeRoy: 

News: 

• Bullied Teen With Asperger's Who Wanted to Help Others Commits Suicide (NBC Los Angeles, June 17, 2015) 

• Tragic End for Teenager with Aspergers Syndrome (Autism Speaks, June 18, 2015) 

• Chino Hills Teen Left Chilling Suicide Note. He Killed Himself to Prevent Suicides (CBS Los Angeles, June 18, 2015) 

Nicholas Richett

Nicholas Richett (1995-2015)

Nicholas Richett was 20 years old and had autism. He lived in Melvindale, Michigan. Nicholas Richett's body was discovered at his home on Friday, June 12, 2015, as the apparent victim of a murder-suicide. It appears Nicholas was killed by his father John Richett, Jr., who was having medical problems. Police Chief Chad Hayse said, "The gentleman took his son's life and then his own life. He feared his medical problems would take his life and then he wouldn't be around to care for his son and he didn't want to burden the family (WOGX.com, June 15, 2015)."

Links about Nicholas Richett: 

Obituary: Nicholas Richett Obituary, Voran Funeral Home

News: 

• Cops: Melvindale Father, Autistic Son Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide (Detroit Free Press, June 15, 2015) 

• Melvindale Father and Son Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide (Ingrid Kelley, WOGX.com, June 15, 2015)  

• Melvindale Murder-Suicide Underlines Strain of Autism Care (Detroit Free Press, June 16, 2015)

Rayyan Siddique

Rayyan Siddique (2008-2015)

Rayyan Siddique was seven years old and had autism. Rayyan lived in Riviera Beach, Florida. On Tuesday, June 9, 2015, Rayyan wandered and drowned in a retention pond near the Indian Trace Apartments near the 6800 block of North Military Trail, where he lived in Riviera Beach, Florida. The pond had murky waters that made visibility difficult and it was very deep in places.

Links about Rayyan Siddique: 

News: 

• 7 Year-Old Dies After Being Pulled from Lake in Riviera Beach (WPTV.com, June 9, 2015)  

• Riviera Beach Police ID Boy Who Drowned in Pond (Sun-Sentinel, June 10, 2015) 

• Riviera Beach Police Officer Shares First-Hand Efforts to Save 7 Year-Old Boy From Drowning (WPTV.com, June 15, 2015)

Kaden Lanphear

Kaden Lanphear (2007-2015)

Kaden Lanphear was eight years old and had autism. He was born on March 18, 2007, and was from Needles, California. On June 6, 2015, Kaden wandered from home and was able to sneak aboard a freight train. He rode the train and got off 40 miles later near Yucca, Arizona. He was hit and killed by another train while walking on the tracks in Yucca, Arizona.

Obituary for Kaden Lanphear: Kaden Lanphear Obituary at Dignity Memorial

Links about Kaden Lanphear: 

News:

• Boy With Autism Found Dead Near Train Tracks After Going Missing from SoCal Home (Associated Press, June 7, 2015) 

• The Loss of Kaden Lanphear (Zach News, June 7, 2015) 

• Missing Autistic Boy Found Dead After Long Search (CBS News, June 8, 2015)

James Charles Eader

James Charles Eader (1998-2015)

James "Jimmy" Charles Eader was 16 years old and had autism. He lived in Weatherford, Texas in Parker County. James Charles Eader went missing and he was found deceased in his family's above ground swimming pool on June 4, 2015. Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said, "The pool had been checked several times [Thursday], but it was above ground and the water was murky, so you could not see the bottom (Teen with Autism Found Dead in Weatherford, WFAA.com, June 4, 2015)."

Tribute to Jimmy Eader: "Jimmy blessed our lives when he entered this world on August 26, 1998. He as born in Jacksonville, Florida, beloved son of James A. and Karen Kerfoot Eader. He was a happy, loving and wonderful child (Obituary of Jimmy Eader)."


Links about James Charles Eader: 

Obituary: James Charles Eader (Weatherford Democrat, June 6, 2015)

News: 

• Missing Parker County Teen Found Dead in Swimming Pool (NBCDFW.Com, June 5, 2015) 

• Special Needs Teen Missing in Parker County Found Dead (CBSDFW.com, June 4, 2015) 

• Teen with Autism Found Dead in Weatherford (WFAA.com, June 4, 2015) 

Kobe Lewis

Kobe Lewis, 5 Years

Kobe Lewis was five years old and had autism. Kobe lived in Palatine, Illinois in Cook County. On June 1, 2015, he wandered from home and was struck by a car while walking alone on Palatine Road just east of Winston Drive. He died from his injuries in a hospital on June 2, 2015.

Links about Kobe Lewis: 

Memorial Fund: Kobe Lewis Memorial Fund (You Caring)

News: 

• 5 year old Palatine Boy Struck by Car Dies (Daily Herald, June 2, 2015)
• 5 year old Autistic Boy Fatally Struck By Car in Palatine (Chicago Sun-Times, June 2, 2015) 
• How You Can Help Family of Palatine Boy Struck, Killed by Car (Daily Herald, June 3, 2015)