Two years ago a parent of a child with a disability received the phone call that devastated their world. Her son had been murdered by three off duty police officers. Not because he committed a crime. Not because he was did anything wrong.
He died over the cost of a movie ticket.
Ethan was killed he did not understand that he couldn’t stay in the movie theater. His paid companion had left him alone for a few minutes while she went to get the car to drive him home. He reentered the movie theater. The manager informed Ethan he had to purchase a ticket or leave. Like Bridget, Ethan did not understand the concept of money or payment.
Despite pleas by Ethan’s companion to help diffuse the situation, Mall Security tried to forcibly remove Ethan from his seat. A struggle occurred. The mall security, THREE off-duty officers wrested Ethan to the floor causing a medical emergency.
Ethan was heard crying, “Mommy it hurts“.
These were not untrained, minimum wage security guards. These men work as Sheriff’s deputies and should have known how to alleviate the situation without resulting in force. I have the utmost respect for our men and women in uniform. I count them among my friends. I have to ask, how could these off-duty police officers not realize Ethan had Down Syndrome?
Ethan Saylor (used with permission)
Selfishly I worry. I worry that I might be the mom who gets a phone call that my child died because she didn’t understand. I do not care that Ethan was a big boy. I do not care that the police felt he was a threat. That Ethan’s companion was there and the officers ignored her attempts to intervene is unforgivable.
I care that those three police were exonerated of any guilt. The State Medical Examiner found Ethan died of asphyxia and ruled it a homicide. Another homicide not indicted by the Grand Jury. No offense to those in Ferguson and NYC but in Ethan’s case there is a Medical Examiner that ruled his death a homicide.
No riots. Very little news attention. No outcry.
The officers returned to duty. It took six months of Ethan’s sister’s advocacy for the Governor to create a commission to “make sure nothing like this ever happened again”. A Federal Judge has decided that the Saylor’s can pursue a civil rights case against the County. I
“Were it not for the intervention of the deputies, there is no reason to believe he would not have remained sitting quietly in his seat. Mr. Saylor died as a direct result of the course of events set into motion by the deputies.” Federal Court Judge Nickerson (Frederickson News-Post)
Police officers are our first line of defense. They care about their community. They work long, difficult hours I cannot imagine. They are assaulted, they are fighting for their lives and they face the worst of humanity. They also encounter people with intellectual disabilities. It is wrong that they are not given proper training. They get drug training, sexual assault training and physical training. They are trained to give Narcan for drug overdoses. Why not training for those with disabilities? Situations will escalate, our children are strong. They are willful. They are stubborn. They don’t understand. The police should. The police have to understand and be trained. They also have to be held accountable when that training fails.
Tomorrow night there will be a candlelight vigil in memory of Ethan. Online and in person (if you are in the Frederickson, VA area click here for the details). Please light a candle for Ethan. For all persons with intellectual disabilities.
No one should die because “of the cost of a movie ticket”. (Washington Post)
(Un)Diagnosed and still okay 
It boils down to mot understanding who they should have protected that day. That child should have been protected, no assaulted. My heart goes out to his family.
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Perfectly stated, Eli. Who should have been protected. How they had no freaking idea this man was disabled is beyond me. Like I said, it wasn’t like they were rent a cops. They were off-duty deputies working as mall security. Ethan should have been better protected by them, not murdered.
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I have to believe so many other officers would have truly served and protected this young man. Such a tragedy.
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Wow, I seriously was reading this wondering just like you how these police didn’t know that this young man was indeed disabled. I mean it is one thing if the person in question is resisting and in full mental capacity, but it is another in the case of Ethan. Thank you for spreading awareness here, Kerri.
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Exactlym Janine!! Can you please help us spread the word by tweeting #JusticeforEthan and sharing his story? Thank you.
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I read this story awhile ago and I could barely handle it. My fists were clenched. The “Mommy, it hurts” really got me.
I’m glad you’re spreading awareness. The case was so vile I couldn’t confront it, but we all need to open our eyes.
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Thank you, Tamara. That “Mommy it Hurts” gives me goosebumps. The case is beyond vile. That there was no outrage or publicity is beyond my comprehension.
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Until people within our own community are aware and people outside of our community care, this sort of violence will continue. (And I do consider it violence.) THANK YOU for sharing this with your readers, we need to know this story to make sure we raise our voice to prevent it again. Thank you – Ms
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It is violence, Mardra. It was a murder make no mistake. You are beyond correct. The outrage has to start with us. We have got to be willing to speak up and say this is unacceptable that a police officer would not comprehend they were engaging a disabled person. It makes my stomach clench, as I have so many public service friends who I know want to do good. They do not want to harm our child. But without training and hey maybe listening they might. Thank you for helping me share Ethan’s story.
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This is a sad story ! It anger me, that those men were not held accountable. One could see by looking at Ethan’s picture alone, that he is handicap. Cant believe they were that ignorant; not even one out of the three notice. Thats crazy !
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I showed the picture to my husband he was simply amazed that a first responder had no clue that Ethan had Down Syndrome and what that might mean for the situation. Appalling.
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I’m shocked, appalled and sickened. I’d never heard this story before. Oh, that poor baby.
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Yes, beyond words really. That is why it is so important that Ethan’s murder is never forgotten. It might save our children some day.
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I just want to make a quick correction. This event happened in Frederick, Maryland. Not Frederickson, Virginia. Also the newspaper that was quoted is the Frederick News-Post.
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Thank you, Mike for the correction!! It is so very appreciated.
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Honestly I’m not surprised at all by this. Cops are usually tough-guy bullies that have an insecure need to show the public how much power they have. And when someone like Ethan is obviously not a threat, bullies take that as opportunity to gang up and send a statement to the public. These “men” are a chicken-shit disgrace, not here to protect and serve; just a gang of bullies looking for easy marks to harass. A real man would have made Ethan feel safe and secure, even pay for his damn ticket out of his own pocket.
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