West Allis Parents Charged After 4-Year-Old Son Found Dead with Severe Injuries

WEST ALLIS, WISCONSIN — The parents of a 4-year-old boy found dead outside a Dairy Queen last week are now facing serious criminal charges after authorities say the child suffered from extreme physical abuse and chronic neglect.

Prosecutors have charged 31-year-old Charlotte Kurek and 21-year-old Devario Cruz with chronic neglect of a child, causing death, in connection with the death of Dante Campbell. Both are expected to appear in court for their initial hearings on Thursday, according to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.

Tragic Discovery Outside Dairy Queen

Police and paramedics were called to the Dairy Queen at 108th and Greenfield Avenue on the morning of October 18, where they found the 4-year-old boy unresponsive. Despite efforts to revive him, Dante was pronounced dead at Children’s Wisconsin hospital shortly after.

According to court filings reviewed by FOX6 News, Dante had bruising on his face, neck, torso, and limbs. A West Allis police sergeant described the extent of his injuries as “the most extensive and severe I have witnessed on a child in my 14 years of service.”

Parents’ Story and Siblings’ Testimony

Investigators said Kurek and Cruz initially claimed the boy had fallen down a flight of stairs at their apartment. However, police later found evidence — and witness accounts from the victim’s siblings — that told a far darker story.

Inside the apartment, officers found three other children left alone, as well as firearms and more than a pound of marijuana, according to charging documents.

Dante’s siblings reportedly told investigators that Cruz frequently made Dante and his twin sister stand on Legos as punishment, smacked them in the face, and that Kurek did nothing to stop the abuse.

The siblings also told police they believed Dante had died the day before his body was brought to the Dairy Queen.

History of Violence and Prior Charges

Court records show that Cruz has a previous criminal history, including a 2021 conviction for misdemeanor sexual assault of a child. He originally faced felony charges in that case before accepting a plea deal.

Both defendants remain in custody as prosecutors pursue the new charges of chronic child neglect causing death — a felony that carries decades in prison if convicted.

Authorities say the investigation into Dante Campbell’s death is ongoing as forensic experts review the medical evidence and police continue to question witnesses.

Community members in West Allis have since begun leaving flowers and stuffed animals near the Dairy Queen in memory of the young boy whose life was cut short.

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