There will be a memorial service for Jonathan Carey on Friday, Feb. 15, from 7 to 9 p.m., at 90 Delaware Avenue.
The event will mark the anniversary of his passing.
The event will include a candlelight vigil. All are welcome.
Carey, an autistic 13-year-old, was killed when he was restrained inappropriately while riding in the backseat of a van traveling on Central Avenue in Colonie on Feb. 15.
The tragic death of their son raised awareness of the need to provide parents and guardians with timely information about incidents affecting the health and safety of their children in residential care facilities. They have since become tireless advocates for changing the law governing the disclosure of such records.
Michael and Lisa Carey, the parents of Jonathan Carey, believe their son was abused before his death, while a resident of the Anderson School in Dutchess County. Following an investigation by several state agencies, determinations of the extent of abuse by the school was inconclusive. The Careys were denied the records of those state investigations on which those findings were based.
After the alleged abuse occurred at the Anderson School, the Careys pulled Jonathan out, eventually enrolling him in the O.D. Heck facility in Schenectady.
The culmination of their Legislative efforts was Jonathan’s Law, which is a combination of two bills that expand access to records related to incidents and allegations involving individuals residing in residential mental hygiene facilities, including, in certain circumstances, records related to incidents that occurred prior to the enactment of these laws.
Former O.D. Heck employees Edwin Tirado and Nadeem Mall were found guilty of the negligent homicide of Jonathan Carey. In October, a jury convicted Tirado, 36, of manslaughter and was he was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison.
In July, Mall, 33, who drove the van, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and agreed to cooperate in the case against Tirado. He testified that Tirado told him in the van that he thought he had killed the boy. Mall is serving six months in the Albany County jail.`