Matthew Jankovich

Matthew Jankovich (2002-2015)

Matthew Jankovich was 13 years old and had autism. He lived in Omaha, Nebraska. He was born on June 19, 2002 and died in his sleep on September 21, 2015 from a seizure. In 2014, Matthew was the face of a successful legislative effort to make Nebraska the 36th state to require autism therapy insurance in certain health insurance plans.  His parents are Jared and Colleen Jankovich.

Tribute to Matthew Jankovich:  

Matthew was "a rare glimps into unspoken enthusiasm, love and compassion. ... I am a better person for having met Matthew (Colby Coash, Nebraska State Senator who sponsored the autism insurance bill)."

Links about Matthew Jankovich: 

Obituary: Matthew Jankovich's Obituary at Omaha.com

News:  Champion of coverage for autism therapy dies (Omaha.com, Roger Buddenberg, September 24, 2015)

Hun Joon Lee

Hun Joon "Paul" Lee (1995-2015)

Hun Joon "Paul" Lee was 19 years old and had autism. Paul was a student at the Sierra Vista Adult School in the Whittier Unfied School District and was from Whittier, California. Paul Lee did not arrive at school on the morning of September 11, 2015, and in the late afternoon was found dead in the aisleway of his school bus. He was apparently left on the bus by a school bus driver. A vigil was held for Paul on September 22, 2015 on what would have been his 20th birthday. Paul's parents are Sang Sik Lee and Eun Ha Lee.


Links about Paul Lee: 

News:  

• Vigil held for Whittier Student with Autism found dead on school bus (ABC 7 News, September 23, 2015)
• Heartbroken Mother Speaks Out after Student with Autism Found Dead on School Bus (KTLA.com, September 15, 2015)
• Autistic Student Was Left on Bus for Hours Before He Died (People.com, September 15, 2015)

Kaitlynn King

Kaitlynn King, 7 Years

Kaitlynn Marie King was seven years old and had autism. Kaitlynn was a student at Indian Lakes Elementary School and lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Kaitlynn wandered away from her family's home on September 1, 2015, and searchers found her in a neighbor's pool near the 1800 block of Foxton Court in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Kaitlynn's parents are Jason and Denise King.

Tribute to Kaitlynn King: 

"She had come a long way. She was very smart. I guess God needed a special angel up there, he got Kaitilyn [Kaitlynn] (Harry Declet, Kaitlynn's Grandfather)."

"She loved everybody she met and enjoyed playing with her ponies and enjoyed watching football (Kaitlynn's Obituary)." 

Links about Kaitlynn King: 

Obituary:  Kaitlynn King Obituary at Legacy.com

News:  

• Virginia Beach Child With Autism Dies After Being Found in Neighbor's Pool (WTKR.com, September 1, 2015)

Tyler Brown

Tyler Brown (2004-2015)

Tyler Jamarr Brown was eleven years old and had autism. Tyler was born on February 17, 2004 in Detroit, Michigan. He lived in Dothan, Alabama. On August 28, 2015, he ran from his home and as he was hit by an automobile while crossing Montgomery Highway near the Walmart in north Dothan, Alabama. Before he was fatally hit, other passing motorists tried unsuccessfully to stop Tyler from running across the highway. Tyler's parents are Krista L. Brown and the late Derreck Walker.


Links about Tyler Brown:

Obituary:

• Tyler Brown Obituary at Dignity Memorial 

News:  

• Boy who suffered from Autism runs from Dothan home but dies before police can locate him (WTVY.com, August 29, 2015)
• Tyler Brown, 11, struck and killed by pickup truck while walking along Montgomery Highway in Dothan, Alabama (Accident Data Center, August 29, 2015) 

Zachary Elshaarawy

Zachary Elshaarawy (2010-2015)

Zachary James Elshaarawy was five years old and had autism.  Zachary was born on February 2, 2010 in Ft. Worth, Texas. Zachary wandered away from his family home in Burleson, Texas and died on August 23, 2015. Zachary was able to enter an unlocked automobile near his home. After police were called to help search for him an officer found Zachary unconscious and the vehicle he was in locked. The temperature outside was 100 degrees on the day Zachary died and inside a closed car it would have been much more extreme. It was estimated that Zachary had been exposed to the extreme hot temperatures of an enclosed vehicle for about an hour. Zachary's mother is Robin Polson and his father is Tarek "Darek" Elshaarawy.

Tribute to Zachry Elshaarawy: 

"He was the most pure at heart, loving child, who always had a smle on his face, and was excited about starting kindergarten soon (Zachary's Obituary)."

Links about Zachary Elshaarawy: 

Obituary: Zachary Eshaarawy's Obituary at Legacy.com

News:  

• 5 Year Old Boy Found in Hot Car in Burleson Dies (Dallas News, August 23, 2015)
• Autisic Boy, 5, Dies after Wandering out of Famly Home and into an Unlocked, Hot Vehicle (Daily Mail, August 24, 2015)
• Boy With Autism Locks Himself in Hot Car and Dies (Parenting.com)
• Child with Autism Dies After Being Found in Hot Car (KCENTV.Com, August 23, 2015) 

Skyleigh Pool

Skyleigh Pool, 8 Years

Skyleigh Pool was eight years old and had autism. Skyleigh was from McCracken County, Kentucky. She was visiting relatives in Ballard County, Kentucky at the 1500 block of Farm County Road near U.S. 60 on July 29, 2015, when she wandered away from her family. The body of Skyleigh Pool was discovered in a nearby pond on July 30, 2015.

Links about Skyleigh Pool: 

News:  

• Girl's Body Found in Ballard Pond (Paducah Sun, Kat Russell)

• Parents Empathizing with Family of Skyleigh Pool (WPSD 6, July 30, 2015) 

• Funeral Services Being Held Today for Skyleigh Pool (WPSD 6, August 3, 2015) 

Sidney Heidrick

Sidney Heidrick, 4 Years

Sidney Heidrick was four years old and had autism. Sidney was from Bay Village, Ohio. He wandered away from his grandparents home in Sheffield Lake, Ohio at about 4:30pm on July 24, 2015. After an extensive search his body was discovered in Lake Erie on July 25, 2015.

Links about Sidney Heidrick: 

Facebook Memorial Page: Facebook Page In Memory of Sidney Heidrick 

News:  

• Update: Body of Missing Boy Pulled from Lake Erie, ABC6, July 25, 2015 

• Police: Body of Missing 4 Year Old Boy Sidney Heidrick Pulled from Lake Erie, NewsNet5, July 26, 2015