Zachary Christian Urda

Zachary Christian Urda (1998-2017)

Zachary Christian Urda was 19 years old and had autism. He was born on August 24, 1998, and passed away at his home in White Crossings, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2017. He was a student at what is now Merakey Education and Autism Centers (formerly known as NHS School for Autism when he was a student) and he worked at Frank's Place in Simpson, Pennsylvania. His parents are Timothy E. and Debra A. Rosencrans Urda.

Tribute to Zachary Christian Urda:

Zach was an autistic child. He wore this disability as a badge of honor. Zach took great pride in helping others like him, especialy his younger brother, Nico and his little sister, Shay. Zach always wanted to bring awareness to this mental disease and we all feel this to be true (Read more at the Obituary of Zachary Christian Urda).


Links about Zachary Christian Urda:

Obituary:

• Zachary Urda Obituary at Scotchlas Funeral Home
• Zachary Urda Obituary at Legacy.com 

Anthony Aurilia

Anthony Aurilia, 3 Years

Anthony Aurilia was 3 years old and had autism. Anthony and his twin brother Nicholas Aurilia lived on Long Island in Melville, New York. On the morning of July 26, 2017, while their mother was sleeping, the twin brothers wandered out of the house and accidentally drown in the family pool located in their backyard. His parents are Patrick and Sue Aurilia.


Links about Nicholas Aurilia:

Blogs: Age of Autism (Long Island Boys with Autism Drown Together in Family Pool)

News:

• 3-Year-Old Autistic Twins Drowned in New York Pool (Greg Cergol, NBC, July 26, 2017)
• Twin boys who drowned in pool were mom's miracle babies (Gabrielle Fonrouge, New York Post, July 26, 2017) 
• 3-Year-Old Twins Drown in Long Island Swimming Pool (Paige McAtee, Patch, July 26, 2017)  

Nicholas Aurilia

Nicholas Aurilia, 3 Years

Nicholas Aurilia was 3 years old and had autism. Nicholas and his twin brother Anthony Aurilia lived on Long Island in Melville, New York. On the morning of July 26, 2017, while their mother was sleeping, the twin brothers wandered out of the house and accidentally drown in the family pool located in their backyard. His parents are Patrick and Sue Aurilia.


Links about Nicholas Aurilia:

Blogs: Age of Autism (Long Island Boys with Autism Drown Together in Family Pool)

News:

• 3-Year-Old Autistic Twins Drowned in New York Pool (Greg Cergol, NBC, July 26, 2017)
• Twin boys who drowned in pool were mom's miracle babies (Gabrielle Fonrouge, New York Post, July 26, 2017) 
• 3-Year-Old Twins Drown in Long Island Swimming Pool (Paige McAtee, Patch, July 26, 2017)  

Dominic Denesiuk-Smith

Dominic Denesiuk-Smith (2010-2017)

Dominic Denesiuk-Smith was born on March 10, 2010. He was seven years old and had autism. Dominic died in a house fire that occurred at his home in Barrie, Ontario on July 13, 2017. His parents are Donald Smith and the late Sareena Denesiuk.


Tribute to Dominic Denesiuk-Smith:   

"Dominic was an energetic boy who loved his family, his pets, his school and he especially loved his dinosaurs (Obituary for Domonic Denesiuk-Smith)."


Links about Dominic Denesiuk-Smith:

Obituary: Obituary for Dominic Denesiuk-Smith (Obit Tree)

News:

• Seven-year-old boy with autism dies in Central Ontario house fire (Global News, July 14, 2017) 
• Seven-year-old boy who perished in Barrie house fire 'was very loving' (thestar.com, July 15, 2017)

Globalnews.ca: Ontario boy with autism, 7, dies in house fire in Clearview Township https://t.co/qnwQMIKku2 pic.twitter.com/1JoI80y2OM

— Autism Gazette (@AutismGazette) July 15, 2017

Shalom Koby Lawson

Shalom Koby Lawson (2009-2017)

Shalom Koby Lawson was 8 years old and had autism. He was born on June 23, 2009, and is from Louisville, Kentucky. His family was visiting friends in Brownsburg, Indiana, when he went missing on July 7, 2017. Shalom Lawson's body was discovered in a retention pond on July 8, 2017.  His parents are Charles and Magdalena Lawson.

Links about Shalom Koby Lawson:

Obituaries:

• Shalom Koby Lawson Obituary at Legacy.com

News:

• Mother of boy found in Brownsburg pond: Shalom was "everything for us" (Indy Star, Domenica Bongiovanni and Dwight Adams, July 8, 2017)
• Authorities find body of msising 8-year-old Shalom Lawson in pond (Fox 59 News, Brian Bondus, July 7, 2017) 
• Brownsburg community mourns, raises $1,500 for Shalom Lawson family (Wishtv.com, Eric Feldman, July 8, 2017)

Marcus McGhee

Marcus McGhee (2007-2016)

Marcus "Stink" McGhee was 9 years old and had autism. He was born on July 9, 2007, and lived in South Windsor, Connecticut. Hundreds of volunteers searched for Marcus McGhee after he went missing on Thanksgiving Day. On November 26, 2016, his body was found near a body of water in Pearland, Texas near Houston. When he went missing, Marcus was in Texas visiting family for the Thanksgiving holiday at the home of his uncle Marcus Camby, an ex-NBA player. Marcus McGhee and Mia Camby are Marcus' parents.

Tribute to Marcus McGhee:   

"Despite having Autism he was special in so many ways. The pictures and videos will keep him visible in our minds, his smile will keep him alive in our hearts and we are grateful for the treasure called "Stink" whom God allowed us to share for the past nine years. Marcus attended preschool at Eli Terry in South Windsor, CT then excelled and moved to Coltsville-River Street Autism Program. He was excited to go to school and learn his communication skills via songs, Pecs and sign language (From Marucs McGhee's Obituary)."

Links about Marcus McGhee:

Obituary: Obituary at Carmon Community Funeral Homes (Windsor, CT)

News:

• Missing Boy, 9, with Autism Found Dead in Pearland (Click 2 Houston, November 26, 2016)
• Young Nephew of ex-NBA player Marus Camby found dead in lake near Houston (Dallas News, November 26, 2016)

Deonn Carter

Deonn Carter (1984-2016)

Deonn Rashod Carter was 31 years old and had autism. He lived in Columbus, Georgia. He was born on November 2, 1984, in Nuremburg, Germany. Deonn Carter died on August 20, 2016, as a result of gunshot wounds he sustained 11 days earlier during a robbery at his apartment complex on August 9, 2016.  He graduated from Columbus High School. Deonn Carter was employed by Piggly Wiggly as a bagger and stocker since 2003 and he served as a deacon at Love Revolution Church. His parents are Freddie Carter and Suzette Ragland.

Tribute to Deonn Carter:  

We are saddened by the tragic loss of hometown hero Deonn Carter, a kind soul who loved and supported public safety. pic.twitter.com/9ZkZtnqPBu

— CSU POLICE (@CSUPOLICE) August 20, 2016

Links about Deonn Carter:

Obituary: Obituary at McMullen Funeral Home (Columbus, GA)

News:

• Police, Firefighters Shocked to Discover Shooting Victim is Autistic Friend (Ledger-Enquirer, Alva James-Johnson, August 10, 2016)

• Deonn Carter Passes Away, Shot During Armed Robbery on Aug. 9 (WTVM.com, Tanita Gaither, August 20, 2016)  

• Mother of Autistic Shooting Victim Always Believed He Could Succeed (The Telegraph, Alva James-Johnson, August 24, 2016) 

• Deonn Carter Remembered as an 'Angel' at Celebration of Life Service (Ledger-Enquirer, Alva James-Johnson, August 26, 2016)