L-R Walter Goodman, Savanna LeFever and Kayla Stemler (Photos courtesy Outagamie County Sheriff's Office)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Three adults are facing child neglect charges, months after authorities were called to their town of Oneida home and found a 14-year-old girl close to death.
Walter Goodman, Savanna LeFever and Kayla Stemler were arrested Monday and charged with multiple counts of child neglect.
According to the criminal complaint, the 14-year-old victim is Walter Goodman’s daughter. She moved in with her father in 2020.
“This is the most egregious case of child neglect I think I have ever seen in my nearly 25-year career,” Outagamie County Assistant District Attorney Julie DuQuaine said in court Tuesday.
The criminal complaint says Goodman called 911 in August to report his daughter, who he said is autistic, 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,” DuQuaine said. “She was very, very close to death — 35 pounds at 14 years old.”
During the investigation, authorities learned Goodman lived in the home with his wife, Melissa, her adult step-sister, Savanna LeFever, and LeFever’s partner, Kayla Stemler.
A 15-year-old boy, identified as Melissa Goodman’s son, was also in the home. Melissa Goodman has not been charged in the case as of Tuesday.
The complaint said Walter Goodman 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.
“Quite frankly, these allegations before the court today are incredibly disturbing. And it’s alleged that the minor child was frankly living in a house of horrors,” Outagamie County Court Commissioner Brian Figy said.
Figy set a $150,000 cash bond for Goodman and Stemler. LeFever’s was set at $100,000 cash. Next court dates were not immediately scheduled.
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