Gabriel Poirier

Gabriel Poirier, 9 Years

Gabriel Poirier was nine years old and had autism.  Gabriel passed away on April 18, 2008. Gabriel was wrapped in a weighted blanked for an extended period of time on April 17, 2008, because he was disturbing his class at his school in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in Quebec, Canada. Gabriel Poirier died at the hospital the next day from being suffocated by the weighted blanket. His parents are Giles Poirier and Isabelle Lepine.

Links about Gabriel Poirier: 

Memorial Webite: GabrielPoirier.com

Blogs:  

• Stop. Think. Autism. Blog 

• Lives Lost to Autism Blog

News:  

• Boy Dies Wrapped in Weighted Blanket (Kristina Chew, Blisstree.com, June 20, 2008)
• Autistic Boy Smothered at School (Canada.com, June 20, 2008) 

Kaylie Dickerson

Kaylie Dickerson (2001-2007)

Kaylie Dickerson was five years old and had autism. Kaylie was born on November 19, 2001 in Zhejiang Province, China. She lived in Blaine, Minnesota. Kaylie Dickerson wandered away from her mother on June 21, 2007, and her body was discovered later that day in a private retention pond near her home in Blaine, Minnesota. Kaylie's parents are Darrin and Anissa Dickerson.

Links about Kaylie Dickerson: 

News:  

• 5 Year Old Blaine Girl Drowns in Pond, TwinCities.com, June 22, 2007 

• Blaine Girl's Death 'Tragic Accident", According to Police Chief 

Benjamin Heil

Benjamin Heil, 7 Years

Benjamin "Benjy" Heil was seven years old and had autism. Benjy was from Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. He went missing from the basement of his home on June 14, 2007. After a massive search his body was found about a mile away from his home in Ten Mile Creek on June 19, 2007.

Links about Benjy Heil: 

Blogs: Lives Lost to Autism

News:  

• Body of Missing Autistic Boy Found in Creek  

• Friends Hold Fundraiser for Family of Benji Heil

Aaron Campbell

Aaron Campbell (2001-2006)

Aaron Campbell was 5 years old and had autism. He lived in Orlando, Florida (Orange County). Aaron was left briefly alone in a locked car on October 8, 2006. Upon returning to the car, Aaron's mother discovered that he had opened the lock in the car and had wandered away. On October 9, 2006, Aaron was discovered in a nearby retention pond and he had died from drowning.

Tributes: 

"Funeral was held at South Orlando Seventh Day Adventist Church. Aaron was presented with a Medal of Valor from the Florida Conference Pathfinder Director Cheeko Cotta. His interment was performed at Woodlawn Cemetary. He was buried in his Adventurer uniform with full honors (From Aaron Campbell's Page at memory-of.com)."

Links about Aaron Cambpell: 

          Blogs: Autistic Lives Lost to Wandering

          Memorial Sites: Aaron Campbell's Page at memory-of.com

News: Authorities Find Body of 5 Year Old Autistic Boy

Jared McGuire

Jared McGuire (1998-2006)

Jared McGuire was eight years old and had autism. Jared was from Greenacres, Florida near West Palm Beach. Jared wandered from his home and went missing on February 23, 2006. An Amber Alert was issued and a massive search was undertaken for Jared McGuire. His body was found in a retention pond across from his home the next day on February 24, 2006.

Links about Jared McGuire: 

Obituary: Legacy Obituary for Jared McGuire

Blogs: Lives Lost to Autism Blog

News: 

• Missing Autistic Boy Found Dead, Associated Press, February 24, 2006 

• Police: Missing Autistic Boy Found Dead, CNN.com, February 24, 2006 

Richard Wawro

Richard Wawro (1952-2006)

Richard Wawro was a legally blind Scottish artist who had autism and was recognized as a savant for his amazing memory and for his outstanding gift as an artist. His work was revered by the United Kingdom, including treasured by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Richard Wawro was born in 1952 and died on February 22, 2006 in Edinburgh from lung cancer. Richard Wawro was the son of Tadeusz and Olive Wawro, who predeceased him.

Links about Richard Wawro: 

Blogs:

• Autism Light #226  

Memorial Pages:

• Richard Wawro Memorial Website   

• Richard Wawro's Wikipedia Page 

Obituary:

• Richard Wawro's Obituary at his Memorial Page   

• Richard Wawro's Obituary at the Telegraph (March 11, 2006) 

Abubakar Tariq Nadama

Abubakar Tariq Nadama (2000-2005)

Abubakar Tariq Nadama had autism and was 5 years old when he died.  His family was from Nigeria and his father had been working in England. His mother brought Abubakar to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in order for him to receive treatment for his autism. Abubakar Tariq Nadama died from a cardiac arrest he had on August 23, 2005, while undergoing chelation therapy to treat his autism at Advanced Integrative Medicine Centre located at the time in Porterville, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Links about Abubakar Tariq Nadama: 

News:

• Autistic Boy Dies During Chelation Therapy (Vol. 3, No. 12 Looking Up Autism)  

• Abubakar Tariq Tragedy (Autism Nutrition)  

• Autism Boy Dies with Alternative Therapy  

• Boy Dies During Autism Treatment 

• One Year Later: The Autopsy Results on Abubakar Tariq Nadama  

• Charges against PA doctor dropped in Autistic Boy's Death