Walter Goodman appears in Outagamie County court, Nov. 11, 2025. (Outagamie County courts/Zoom)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – No decision was made Tuesday on if Walter Goodman, the father of a teen hospitalized weighing just 35 pounds, is mentally competent to have his criminal case proceed.
Goodman, 47, faces five charges: three counts of chronic neglect of a child – consequence is great bodily harm and two counts of chronic neglect of a child – consequence is emotional damage.
Goodman’s attorney raised the issue of mental competency, which refers to a suspect’s ability to understand the court proceedings and assist in their own defense.
In court Tuesday, defense attorney Robert Welygan said the report was delivered Monday, and Goodman wants more time to review it before making a decision on how to proceed.
An Aug. 17 hearing was scheduled.
The result of the exam was not disclosed in court.
Three other adults are also charged in the case:
- Melissa Goodman, Walter’s wife, was sentenced to 15 years in prison
- Savanna Lefever, Goodman’s daughter, has a pre-trial conference July 20
- Kayla Stemler, Lefever’s partner, will be sentenced Aug. 24
The criminal complaint says Walter called 911 in August to report his daughter was lethargic, moaning and almost comatose. According to the criminal complaint, the first officer on scene at the Hattie Lane home said the girl looked to be only six to eight years old. Hospital employees said she weighed less than 40 pounds.
“The last time she saw a medical provider was approximately five years before this incident came to light,” Assistant District Attorney Julie DuQuaine said at a previous court hearing. “She was very, very close to death — 35 pounds at 14 years old.”
The complaint said Walter told authorities his daughter didn’t like to eat or sleep. He claimed they’d offer her meals, but she wouldn’t eat.
Hospital employees said the teen suffered from severe malnutrition. She had signs of multiorgan dysfunction, including respiratory failure, cardiac dysfunction, severe acute hepatitis and pancreatitis, among other issues.
The criminal complaint said while the girl was hospitalized, one of the nurses explained to the victim she would get three meals a day. The nurse noted the girl’s “eyes lit up as she started listing off all the options of food she could have over the course of her hospitalization.” The girl then said her dad would be “so mad” because he doesn’t like when she eats so much.
The criminal complaint also included a litany of text messages by the defendants, calling the victim a “dummy” and “stupid.”
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