A 14-year-old girl was allegedly starved to the point of weighing just 35 pounds while living in a “house of horrors,” according to court documents.
Walter Goodman, 47, lived with his wife, stepdaughter Savanna Lefever, 29, and her partner Kayla Stemler, 27, in Oneida, Outagamie County. The criminal complaint described Lefever and Melissa Goodman, 36, as “extremely obese to the point of being nearly bed-bound.”
Goodman called emergency services in August after his daughter became unresponsive. A dispatcher described the call as: “Fourteen-year-old child who does not eat much has been sick, vomiting, and letharyic. Now unresponsive.”
First responders said the teenager appeared to be “the size of a 6- to 8-year-old,” with 35 pounds at 14 years old.
The girl was airlifted to Children’s Wisconsin in Wauwatosa, where doctors treated her for extreme malnutrition. Assistant District Attorney Julie DuQuaine said this was “the most egregious case of child neglect I think I have ever personally seen in my nearly 25-year career.”
Investigators stated the teenager had lived with her father since 2020 but never attended school or saw a doctor. Goodman claimed she had an eating disorder, saying: “She don’t eat. She’s autistic.”
However, texts obtained by police showed the people in the home referred to her as “dummy” and “stupid” when discussing her eating schedule.
“We gave her a (expletive) shake last night bc I felt bad and of course she was laying nice and quiet to get what she wanted,” texted Lefever.
“Yes, she’s a manipulative. That’s how she works,” responded Melissa Goodman.
All four adults face five counts of chronic child neglect. “But for the grace of God, she did not die,” said Outagamie County Court Commissioner Brian Figgy.
“These allegations before the court today are incredibly disturbing. And it’s alleged that the minor child was quite frankly living in a house of horrors,” he added.
Wisconsin Charges Four with Neglecting 14-Year-Old Girl Until She Weighed Only 35 Pounds
