Four Adults Arrested After 14-Year-Old Wisconsin Girl Found Weighing Just 35 Pounds and Locked in Bedroom Under Surveillance
ONEIDA, WISCONSIN — Four people have been arrested and charged after a 14-year-old girl was found weighing just 35 pounds and living in a locked bedroom under constant video surveillance, according to the Oneida Police Department. The arrests came after what investigators called an “extensive” child neglect investigation that began in August.
The suspects — 47-year-old Walter Goodman, 50-year-old Melissa Goodman, 29-year-old Savanna Lefever, and 27-year-old Kayla Stemler — were taken into custody on November 10. Each is charged with three counts of chronic child neglect causing great bodily harm and two counts of chronic child neglect causing emotional damage.
Father Called 911 But Teen Was Found in Life-Threatening Condition
The case began on August 21 when the victim’s father, Walter Goodman, called 911 claiming his daughter “barely eats” and had been vomiting for days. When first responders arrived, they found the girl severely malnourished, physically resembling a much younger child with visible bones and dangerously low body temperature.
At the hospital, she weighed 35 pounds and was diagnosed with hypothermia, hypoglycemia, and signs of multi-organ dysfunction. Authorities noted she had no medical records for the past five years.
Goodman told investigators his daughter was autistic and refused food, but medical staff and investigators found his explanations inconsistent with her condition.
Investigators Say Claims Didn’t Match Reality
Hospital staff and forensic interviewers reported that the teen:
- Had no trouble eating when given regular meals
- Slept normally in the hospital
- Expressed love and affection for her family
- Showed no signs of self-harm behavior
Investigators also discovered she had been living in a locked bedroom, with bolt holes in the door and a surveillance camera monitoring her.
A friend of the father told police Goodman had threatened to withhold food as punishment and even said, “If I could leave her somewhere in the woods, I’d leave her.”
Family Messages Showed Strict Control Over Food and Basic Care
Authorities reviewed text messages between family members that referred to the girl as “dummy” and “stupid.”
The messages described controlling her meals, bathroom breaks, and even having her sleep on the floor.
One text sent by Lefever on March 6 read:
“If she does well we were gonna give her real food.”
During her hospital stay, the girl told staff she showered “maybe weekly or monthly” and struggled to lift her arms due to weakness. When she was offered a second pudding cup, she worried, “My dad will be so mad… he doesn’t like when I eat this much.”
When nurses explained she would now receive three meals a day, she became excited and listed foods she hoped to try — including pancakes, M&Ms, tacos, and vegetables.
Teen Had Been Homeschooled and Isolated for Years
The complaint states the teen had not attended school in person since the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2021 to 2025, the family claimed she was “homeschooled,” though investigators found no records confirming academic instruction.
Her former third-grade teacher described her as friendly, talkative, and without any apparent eating or developmental issues — contradicting the family’s claims.
All four suspects are awaiting further court proceedings. The girl remains in protective care.
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