Following a distress call, law enforcement officers found a 14-year-old girl in such a severe state of malnourishment that they initially mistook her for a much younger child. The grim truth of her condition unfolded thereafter.
The teenager, residing in a trailer with her family, was discovered to be gravely malnourished after her father, Walter Goodman, contacted emergency services on August 21, reporting that his daughter was vomiting, unconscious, and alarmingly thin.
Upon examination at the hospital, medical staff determined that the girl was hypothermic and was afflicted with acute hepatitis, pancreatitis, multiple organ failures, bruises, and pressure sores. It was revealed that she weighed a mere 38 pounds, well below the normal weight range of 84 to 160 pounds for a girl her age, as advised by Children’s Wisconsin.
Goodman, aged 47, his wife Melissa Goodman, 50, Melissa’s daughter Savanna LeFever, 29, and LeFever’s partner, Kayla Stemler, 27, have all been taken into custody on charges of chronic child neglect, following an investigation into years of extreme neglect.
The unnamed girl allegedly endured various forms of neglect – nutritional, emotional, medical, physical, and psychological – over a harrowing five-year period at her residence in Wisconsin. Documents detailing the abuse, as reported by the Mirror US, indicate that the mistreatment began when she was just nine years old, painting a disturbing picture of her ordeal.
Confined to a locked room where she slept on the bare floor, the adults in the household either silenced her or restricted her speech. Prosecutors claim she had limited access to food, water, and bathroom facilities.
According to reports from WISN, Goodman mentioned to authorities that he monitored his daughter through a webcam in her room, stating, “Well, I keep her locked up in her bedroom with a camera on her, and that’s where she stays.” Goodman asserted that his daughter had autism, attributing her eating and sleeping issues to this condition. However, nurses at St. Vincent Hospital noted her excitement at the food choices offered during her stay.
Digital evidence revealed alarming threats made by Goodman towards his daughter in text messages, including withholding food as punishment and expressing violent wishes. Additionally, Melissa Goodman, LeFever, and Stemler allegedly exchanged messages discussing physical abuse directed at the child.
The victim recounted to medical personnel that her father disapproved of her eating, fearing his anger if she consumed too much. She had not attended school or engaged in outdoor activities for years.
Authorities have confirmed the victim’s current stable condition and ongoing recovery with other family members. Outagamie County Assistant District Attorney Julie DuQuaine reported positive progress in the victim’s health and expressed shock at her skeletal appearance during her hospitalization.
Despite initial concerns for her survival, a GoFundMe campaign established to aid her recovery highlights significant improvements in her health, including growth and weight gain. The fundraiser, raising substantial funds for her support, emphasizes the victim’s resilience and optimism.
Legal proceedings have commenced for the accused parties, with court appearances scheduled for Walter Goodman, Melissa Goodman, Savanna LeFever, and Kayla Stemler. The court system is actively pursuing justice in this distressing case of child neglect.