Wisconsin Father and Three Others Arrested After 14-Year-Old Daughter Found Weighing Just 35 Pounds in Severe Neglect Case

OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WISCONSIN — Four adults, including a father and stepmother, have been arrested in what investigators are calling one of the most disturbing child neglect cases in Wisconsin in recent memory.

According to Oneida Police and court documents, a 14-year-old girl weighing just 35 pounds was rescued from her father’s home in the Town of Oneida in August after authorities found her suffering from severe malnutrition and multiple organ dysfunction.

Father Called 911 After Daughter Became Unresponsive

Police said the case began on August 21, when Walter Goodman III called 911, reporting that his daughter was lethargic, moaning, and struggling to breathe.

When first responders arrived, they were shocked to see that the 14-year-old appeared to be the size of a 6- or 8-year-old child. She was rushed to St. Vincent Hospital, where doctors discovered she weighed only 35 pounds, was hypothermic, had dangerously low blood sugar, and showed signs of severe prolonged neglect.

Due to her condition, she was airlifted to Children’s Wisconsin Hospital, where medical staff determined she suffered from multiorgan dysfunction.

Goodman admitted to giving the girl a soda for her low blood sugar before calling for help. He also told police his daughter had autism and often refused to eat. However, hospital staff said the child began eating regularly once admitted — contradicting the father’s claims.

Investigators Uncover Disturbing Living Conditions

Authorities say the girl lived in a trailer with her father, stepmother Melissa Goodman, adult stepsister Savanna LeFever, LeFever’s partner Kayla Stemler, and a teen stepbrother.

Court documents reveal that Goodman claimed his daughter had the “mentality of a 4-to-6-year-old” and often self-harmed, but investigators later found evidence of emotional and physical abuse inside the home.

A friend of Goodman told police that the father often became irritated with his daughter and at one point said, “If I could leave her somewhere in the woods, I’d leave her,” and even told her, “I wish I could kill you.”

Investigators also found text messages between family members mocking and insulting the girl, calling her “stupid,” and admitting to using a belt as punishment.

Medical Experts: Signs of Long-Term Neglect

Medical professionals who treated the victim described her condition as the result of months or even years of chronic starvation, not days or weeks as Goodman claimed.

Doctors noted that her emaciation and physical state were so extreme that any reasonable caregiver would have known to seek medical help.

Once hospitalized, the girl reportedly lit up at the sight of food options and began gaining weight quickly — proof, doctors said, that she had not been refusing food due to her autism but had been deprived of proper nutrition.

Multiple Family Members Facing Charges

Authorities have confirmed that Walter Goodman III, Melissa Goodman, Savanna LeFever, and Kayla Stemler are all in custody, facing charges that include chronic neglect of a child resulting in great bodily harm and emotional abuse.

Prosecutors said the investigation remains ongoing and could result in decades of prison time for those convicted.

“This is one of the most egregious child neglect cases we’ve ever seen,” said Outagamie County Assistant District Attorney Julie DuQuaine, describing the home as a “house of horrors.”

Child Now Recovering in Care

Officials confirmed that the teenage girl has been released from the hospital and placed under state protective custody. She is reportedly doing well and gaining strength.

Police and Outagamie County Child Protective Services continue to review evidence, including digital communications and surveillance footage, as the case moves forward.

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