Charlie Laake Birely

Charlie Laake Birely (2003-2014)

Charlie Laake Birely was 11 years old and had autism. Charlie was from Stuart, Florida. Charlie Birely died on Sunday, August 31, 2014, when the houseboat where his family lived caught fire on the St. Lucie River and was engulfed quickly in flames. Other members of the family were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, but Charlie died in the tragedy. His parents are Brian Birely and Karen Laake-Birely.

Donations can be made to support Charlie's family in their loss of their child and home at the website flycharliefly.com or through a GoFundMe Campaign.

Tribute: 

"I'm hoping that we are all going to be happy and celebrating Charlie, and none of us will be upset. He was always happy, like, always smiling. You couldn't get him to frown ever (Nicholas Torres, Peer Mentor to Charlie)."

Links about Charlie Birely: 

          Obituary:  Obituary for Charlie Birely

News:

• Police: Boy with Autism Dies in Sailboat Fire on St. Lucie River
• Funeral Held for Charlie Birely, 11, Killed in Stuart Boat Fire 
• Report Released After Boy Dies in House Fire 

Marshall Fine

Marshall Fine (1956-2014)

Marshall Fine was 57 years old and had autism. He was from Memphis, Tennessee. On August 7, 2014, Marshall Fine was critically injured in an automobile accident near Horse Cave, Kentucky. He passed away from his injuries on August 21, 2014. Marshall Fine had been a successful composer and the assistant principal viola in the Memphis Symphony.

Tribute to Marshall Fine: "What made him memorable was the depth and breadth of his knowledge of music, and his intense personal desire from his childhood to succeed (Burton Fine, Marshall's Father).

Links about Marshall Fine: 

Obituary:

• Memphis Musician Marshall Fine, 57, Remembered as a Genius (The Commercial Appeal, John Beijuss, August 22, 2014)
• Obituary at Dignity Memorial 

Blog: 

• Slipped Disc: A Viola Player's Battle with Autism
• The Violin Channel: Memphis Symphony Assistant Principal Violist Has Died Following a Car Accident

Tony Eugene McCoy Cory Ferguson

Tony Eugene McCoy Cory Ferguson (2008-2014)

Tony Eugene "Gene" Cory Ferguson was 5 years old and had autism.  He lived in Cass County, Missouri. He wandered away from his home on July 8, 2014, when the door at his home was left open by a crew repairing the air conditioning at his house. He was found dead in a pond near his home later that afternoon. Gene was born on September 11, 2008, and had been raised by his grandparents who adopted him in 2013. Gene aspired to be a firefighter.  He is survived by his father Tony Marvin Cory and his adopted parents, Tim and Margie Ferguson.

Tribute to Tony Eugene McCoy Cory Ferguson: 

• "He was just a perfect little boy, sorry (Margie Ferguson, Tony's Grandmother).
• "Gene was a great little boy from day one. He loved to play with cars, power wheels, his go cart and his pony, Candy. His dog, Walmart, went everywhere outside with him. Gene liked Sunday school, daycare and his preschool. He made friends everywhere. Gene had friends at Wal-Mart, Price Chopper and other places. He was always saying to his papa, I like to play. Gene liked game shows on TV and his dad had just got him a gameboy. The world was a better place for the time Gene was with us (Obituary in the Cass County Democrat Missourian).

Links about Tony Eugene McCoy Cory Ferguson: 

Obituary: Obituary in the Cass County Democrat Missourian

News:

• Boy with Autism Wanders Away from Home (KCTV5)
• Family Grieves after 5 Year Old Cass County Boy Drowns in Nearby Pond
• Desperate Search Ends Tragically as 5 year-old Found Dead in Mo. Pond

Harry Procko

Harry Procko (2010-2014)

Harry Procko was 4 years old and had autism. He is from Nottingham, England in the United Kingdom. Harry died on June 23, 2014, from dehydration, two days after being released from the Nottingham Children's Hospital. He had been admitted for a stomach bug. He also had been diagnosed earlier with a hole in his heart. Richard Clements and Marika Procko are his parents.

Links about Harry Procko: 

Tribute Website: Harry Procko's Life Story at Forever Missed

News:  

• Parents Protest after Tummy Bug Boy Dies (Nottingham Post, July 24, 2014) 
• The Father of Harry Procko is Calling for Urgent Changes after his Son's Death (ITV Report, June 10, 2015)
• Labour MEP Backs Harry's Law for better care for autistic children (Glenis Willmott MEP Website) 
• Death of Four-Year-Old Harry Procko 'Not Caused by Hospital Failings' (BT, July 17, 2015) 

Tristan Demumbran

Tristan Demumbran, 6 Years

Tristan Demumbran was 6 years old and had autism.  He lived in Hickman County, Tennessee. On June 5, 2014, Tristan's mother, Gidgett Denumbran was driving the family vehicle through high waters and the floodwaters forced her and five passengers to get out of the car. His mother grabbed Tristan by the hand in the high water but she was knocked unconscious by a branch and lost her grip on the boy. Gidgett Denumbran and the other passengers in the vehicle made it to safety. Tristan's body was found by search members in a drain pipe near the Beaverdam Creek on June 7, 2014.

Tribute to Tristan Demumbran: "He's an amazing little boy. He smiles all the time. He is always happy (Gidgett Demumbran, Mother)."


Links about Tristan Demumbran: 

News:

• Drowned Hickman County boy found 

• Body of 6-Year Old Found in Hickman County  

• Funeral Set for Hickman County Boy Swept Away by Flood Waters 

Erick Ortiz

Erick Ortiz, 16 Years

Erick Ortiz was 16 years old and had autism. Erick was from Los Angeles, California and attended Garfield High School in East Los Angeles. Erick Ortiz was left unattended on a class field trip at an aquatic center and park in East Los Angeles and he wandered into the swimming pool and drowned on June 4, 2014.

Links about Erick Ortiz: 

News:

• LA Teen with Autism Drowns in Swimming Pool During Class Field Trip (Autism Speaks)  

• Autistic Boy Who Died on Field Trip Required Full-Time Supervision 

• Special Needs Student Drowns During Class Field Trip to East LA Swimming Pool  

• Sheriffs, LAUSD Investigate Drowning of Autistic Teen in Pool  

Jeffrey Perez

Jeffrey Perez, 16 Years

Jeffrey Perez was 16 years old and had autism. Jeffrey was from San Antonio, Texas. His family reported to authorities that Jeffrey had wandered away from his home during the night on June 1, 2014. On the morning of June 2, 2014, Jeffrey Perez was walking in the center lane of Interstate Highway 410 in San Antonio during rush hour traffic and he was struck by multiple vehicles and died. Jeffrey was in eighth grade at Scobee Middle School.

Links about Jeffrey Perez: 

News:

• Texas Teen With Autism Dies After Being Fatally Struck on Highway (Autism Speaks)  

• Killed Autistic Student Identified