Raul Espinosa

Raul Espinosa, 6 Years

Raul Espinosa was 6 years old and had severe autism. He lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On May 21, 2014, Raul Espinosa wandered away from his caretakers and was hit by a school bus. He died from his injuries.

Tribute: 

"He was very sociable with people. A lot of people loved him. What else can I say? (Raul's mother Aurora Mejia as quoted in 620 WTMJ.)"

Links about Raul Espinosa: 

News:

• Boy Hit By School Bus Had Severe Autism
• Milwaukee Boy with Autism Dies After Being Hit by School Bus (Autism Speaks)
• Ruled an accident: Medical Examiner says child struck by bus was autistic 
• Six-Year-Old Boy Struck, Killed by School Bus on Milwaukee's South Side  

Robert Robinson

Robert Robinson, 16 Years

Robert Robinson was 16 years old and had autism. Robert lived in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada. On April 3, 2014, Robert Robinson was discovered dead in his home, having been poisoned by his mother Angie Robinson. His mother subsequently also killed herself, leaving behind a suicide note saying she could no longer cope with the care needed for her son.

Links about Robert Robinson: 

Blogs: 

• Autism, Epilepsy and Self-Injurious Behaviors 

• Autism Memorial   

• Autism is a Trip  

• Autistic Self-Advocacy Network - Robert Robinson 

• Facing Autism in New Brunswick 

News:

• Struggling Single Mother, 40, left Suicide Note Saying She Could No Longer Cope Caring for Severely Autistic Son, 16, Before Killing Him and Then Herself   

• Murder-suicide of B.C. Autistic Teen by His Mother Reignites Debate Over Caregiver Support 

• Services Questioned After Murder-Suicide of Mom, Autistic Son in Prince Rupert  

• Murder-suicide of Prince Rupert, BC, Mother, Autistic Son Under Review 

Travis Stratton

Travis Stratton, 4 Years

Travis Stratton was 4 years old and had autism. On March 21, 2014, Travis was being watched by his grandparents and he wandered away from his Castaic, California (Los Angeles County) home. Travis was found unconscious in a neighbor's pool. He was pronounced dead at the hospital later that day. Travis is the son of Tim and Cathy Stratton.

Links about Travis Stratton: 

Blogs: 

• The World Lost Another Little Boy with #Autism Due to Wandering and Drowning (Lost and Tired)

News:

• 4-year Old Boy with Autism Reported Missing in Santa Clarita Found Unconscious in Pool
• Four-Year-Old with Autism Drowns in California after Wandering from Home (Autism Speaks)
• Telly's to Host Fundraiser for Castaic Family With Autistic Son Who Drowned

Memorial Page: 

• Travis Stratton Memorial on Facebook

Callum Dale

Callum Dale, 13 Years

Callum Dale was 13 years old and had Aspergers Syndrome. On March 13, 2014, he had an episode and ran out of his home near Buncrana, Co Donegal in Ireland and went and sat down in the left hand lane of a busy road. He was hit by an oncoming car and pronounced dead that evening.  Callum Dale's father Peter was seriously injured trying to remove his son off the road but survived. His parents are Peter and Deidre Dale.

Tribute: "Callum was a very special person. He was a very bright and intelligent young man with a great inquiring mind (Fr. John Walsh as Quoted in the Independent.i.e. Irish News)."

Links about Callum Dale: 

Obituary:  Death Notice for Callum Dale

News: 

• Teenage Boy with Aspergers Syndrome Hit and Killed by Car as His Father Tried to Move Him to Safety   

• Boy, 13, Killed by Car After Running Out of House  

• School Friends Guard of Honour at Boys Funeral Just Metres From Where He Died

Curtis Metzger

Curtis Metzger, 27 Years

Curtis Metzger was 27 years old and had autism. He lived in Huntsville, Alabama. He had been working for six years at the Target Store on University Drive in Huntsville, Alabama. Curtis Metzger died from a heart attack on March 5, 2014 during his routine workout at the gym. His parents are Jim and Laura Metzger.

Tributes to Curtis Metzger: 

• "All these years, I thought we did a good job of teaching and developing him. But the truth be told, it was the other way round. He made this a better store (Kristi Cox, Target)."
• "If there is anything I could do as a tribute to Curtis, its to make sure people understand that just because a person has autism doesn't mean they can't do things. Just because they learn differently doesn't mean they can't learn at all (Laura Metzger, Curtis' Mother)."

Links about Curtis Metzger: 

News: 

• Autism Couldn't Stop Curtis Metzger from Filling 27 Years with a Creative, Loving Life (AL.com, May 11, 2014)

Na'eem Demby

Na'eem Demby, 14 Years

Na'eem Demby was 14 years old and had autism. He lived in the Logan neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Na'eem Demby was trapped in his home during a fire on February 17, 2014. Firefighters rescued him from the burning home, but Na'eem died later at a local hospital.

Links about Na'eem Demby: 

News:

• Teen Boy with Autism Dies After Row Home Fire in Logan

Avonte Oquendo

Avonte Oquendo (1999-2014)

Avonte Oquendo was 14 years old and had autism. He is from Queens, New York. On October 4, 2013, Avonte went missing from the Riverview School in Queens, New York.  Public safety officials and caring New York citizens conducted a massive search for Avonte throughout the Fall and into the Winter. About 100 days after Avonte Oquendo disappeared his remains were discovered on January 16, 2014, on the banks of the East River. The medical examiner was unable to determine the cause of his death. Avonte Oquendo is the son of Daniel Oquendo and Vanessa Fontaine.

Tribute: 

"Avonte was a great human being. We are grateful for his life, for his courage and for the act of goodness and kindness that his life and tragic death evoked (Edward Cardinal Egan, The New York Daily News, 1/25/2014)."

Links about Avonte Oquendo:

News: 

• The Boy Who Ran: The Life and Death of Avonte Oquendo 

• Remains Found in Queens are Matched to Missing Autistic Boy 

• New York Family Grieves, Seeths After Remains of Missing Autistic Boy I'd'd 

• Somber Wake, Funeral Held for Autistic Teen Avonte Oquendo  

• Avonte Oquendo's Brother Thanks New Yorkers for Support, Efforts in Search  

• The Avonte Oquendo Tragedy: A Statement from Autism Speaks 

• Report Released on Disappearance of Autistic Teen Avonte Oquendo