The parents of Jonathan Carey have been awarded a $5 million settlement over the wrongful death of their son. Michael and Lisa Carey brought a lawsuit against Edwin Tirado and Nadeem Mall, two caregivers employed at OD Heck, a state facility for the disabled. Jonathan Carey, who was autistic, was in their care when he was asphyxiated and died on an outing. Both were convicted on criminal charges. The civil rights case also targeted others in the OD Heck system.
“Our son Jonathan was a precious gift from the Lord, and we miss him every day. Nothing can bring our son Jonathan back, but we hope his case will be a catalyst for further necessary reform to protect vulnerable, disabled children and adults,` said Michael and Lisa Carey in a statement. Since the 2004 death of their child, Michael and Lisa Carey formed The Jonathan Carey Foundation, which was the driving force behind several pieces of legislation that improve protections for disabled adults and children and make state-run institutions more transparent.