Owen Black

Owen Black, 8 Years

Owen Elliott Black of New Orleans, Louisiana had autism and passed away at the age of 8. Owen wandered off on May 17, 2013, while his family was vacationing in Perdido Key, Florida. A beach visitor found his body on the Gulf side of Perdido Key on May 19, 2013.  He was the son of Dr. Brandon Sanders Black and Julia Carol Jurisich.

Tributes: Was a Happy Child Who Loved to Spend Time With His Family

"Owen was a happy child who loved to spend time with his family riding his bike at the park and playing at the beach. Owen will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He held a special place in the hearts of all his friends (From Owen's Obituary)." 

Sheriff Morgan stated, "We ask for the community and nation's prayers for this family in mourning and our thanks are again extended to all law enforcement, military, state and federal agencies as well as the hundreds of volunteers who responded to Owen's call (Source).

Links about Owen Black:

Obituary: Legacy.com Obituary 

Blogs: Lives Lost to Autism Blog 

Special Condolences: Autism Speaks 

News:

• Parents of Deceased Autistic Boy Send Sheriff Thank You Note

• Missing Perdido Key Autistic Child Owen Black Found Dead

• Owen Black's Accidental Death Raises Autism Awareness

• Video of Press Conference on Owen Black's Drowning by Sherriff David Morgan of Escambia County Sheriff's Office

Mikaela Lynch

Mikaela Lynch, 9 Years

Mikaela Lynch of Clear Lake, California had autism and passed away at 9 years of age. She went missing on on May 12, 2013, from her back yard, where she was playing on a trampoline and slipped out through a fence gate that was accidently left open for a brief time. Rescue personnel discovered her body in Cache Creek in Clearlake on May 15, 2013.

Tributes: Her Constant Smile and Laughter Were Contagious and Uplifting

"Beautiful. Determined. Fearless. Proud. All words used by Mikaela's loved ones to describe who she was as a human being. Her constant smile and laughter were contagious and uplifting. A girl with meaningful intentions, she let the world know what was really worthwhile. Mikaela freely shared her love with those around her, with huge hugs, kisses, and the more than occasional "plop down in your lap (On Mikaela's Village Memorial Website)." 

The S.F. Gate quoted Mike Dowling, Mikaela's godfather as saying she had an "ever-present smile" and was "Extremely gregarious. Just a great laugh, a fantastic laugh (Source)."

Links about Mikaela Lynch: 

Memorial Website: Mikaela's Village 

Blogs: Lives Lost to Autism Blog 

Special Condolences: Autism Speaks 

News:

• Search for Mikaela Lynch Ends Tragically

• Body of Missing Girl, 9, Found in Cache Creek

• Missing S.F. Autistic Girl Found Dead

• Video of News Story on Recovery of Body

Alyvia Navarro

Alyvia Navarro, 3 Years

Alyvia Navarro was three years old and had autism. She was born in and lived in Warham, Massachusetts. On April 16, 2013, she wandered away from her home and was found unconscious in a nearby pond. She passed away at Boston Children's Hospital on April 17, 2013. Alyvia is the daughter of Raymond and Sasha Navarro-Godbout.

Tributes: 

"Alvya was a sweet little girl and had such a loving impact on my family (Christine Santos)."

"To All of Alyvia's family, friends and every life she touched, She will be greatly missed. An angel on earth and an angel in heaven (Lisa and Sam)." 

Links about Alyvia Navarro: 

Obituary: Wareham Village Funeral Home

Blogs: 

• Autistic Lives Lost to Wandering

News: 

• Autistic Child Found in Wareham Pond  

• Three-year old Found Unconscious in Wareham Pond

Andre Anderson

Andre Anderson, 22 Years

Andre Anderson was 22 years old and had autism. Andre died on April 2, 2013, when the house where he lived in East Oak Lane, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia caught on fire. Gherta Ladoucer attempted to get Andre out during the fire, but he panicked when he heard the fire alarm noise and retreated to his room. Jean and Gherta Ladoucer took Andre into their home 5 years ago and helped provide a place for him to live within their family. Jean Ladoucer said, "When nobody else wanted him [Andre Anderson], we opened up our house to him. It wasn't easy but he was comfortable with us (ABC 6 Action News, Annie McCormick, 4/3/2013)."

Links about Andre Anderson: 

News: 

• Man with Autism Dies in East Oak Lane House Fire 

Joseph Winters

Joseph Winters, 14 Years

Joseph Winters was 14 years old and had autism. He lived in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and died on February 1, 2013. He died mysteriously on his first day at Rose Rock Academy treatment facility in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a place which provides institutional autism treatment.

Links about Joseph Winters: 

Blogs:

• The Autcast  

• Autism_Memorial  

• Sockitmamma 

News: 

• Teen Boy With Autism Dies at Treatment Facility  

• Video of News Story on Joseph Winters Death

Joshua Maddox

Joshua Maddox, 15 Years

Joshua Maddox of Walsall, West Midlands, England was 15 years old and had autism. Joshua Maddox hanged himself in his room. His suicide was discovered on the morning of January 31, 2013. Michelle Maddox is Joshua's mother and Phillip Downes is his Stepdad.

Tributes: 

"Joshua was a talented artist, a soccer player, and a video-game player (Source)."

"He will leave a huge gap in all our lives and will be sadly missed by all his loving family and friends (Source)." 

Links about Joshua Maddox: 

Memorial Facebook Page: RIP Joshua Maddox 

Obituary:  Central Independent Newspaper Obituary

Blog: 

• Autism Memorial  

• Ron S. Kemp  

News: 

• Schoolboy Joshua Maddox, 15, Killed Himself After Months of Bullying Over His Learning Difficulties

• Teenager Hanged Himself After Being 'Bullied at School Over His Learning Difficulties'

Dylan Hockley

Dylan Hockley (2006-2012)

Dylan Hockley was 6 years old and had autism. He is from Newton, Connecticut.  He was killed in the school shooting that happened on December 14, 2012, at Sandy Brook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut. Dylan is the son of Ian and Nicole Hockley. He is also survived by a brother Jake Hockley.


Tributes: 

"He helped us to be stronger people than we might have been without him (Ian Hockley, Source)."

"He was always smiling, always laughing. If he laughed, other people laughed with him. He loved to be tickled so people would come up to him and just start tickling him, just to hear him laugh. It was like music. (Nicole Hockley, Source)." 

Links about Dylan Hockley:

Obituary: Dylan Hockley Obituary

Memorial Website: Dylan Hockley Memorial Fund 

Facebook Memorial Pages: 

• RIP Dylan Hockley Sandy Hook Massacre Victim  

• Dylan Hockley Memorial Fund 

Twitter Memorial Page: Dylan Hockley's Fund @DylanHockley 

YouTube Videos: Dylan's Father Nic Hockley's YouTube Channel

Blogs: Autism Light #247 

News: 

• Family of Victim Dylan Hockley Moving Away From Newton After Shooting  

• Westport Playground Honors Dylan Hockley 

• Newton Parents Learn Comforting Details about Son's Death 

• Newton Mom Nicole Hockley Talks About Autistic Sons Empathy