In Outagamie County, Wisconsin, four individuals have been formally charged after a 14-year-old girl was found in August living in a trailer home and weighing just 35 pounds. Authorities say the girl was severely malnourished and suffering from multiple organ failure, and the defendants now face serious counts of chronic child neglect as the investigation into months of alleged mistreatment continues.
Allegations of Prolonged Neglect
According to the criminal complaint, the girl lived with her father, stepmother, adult stepsister and the sister’s partner in the Town of Oneida trailer. When first responders arrived in August, they said she appeared to be the size of a 6- to 8-year-old, despite being 14.Medical professionals diagnosed her with severe malnutrition, multiorgan dysfunction, hypothermia and other life-threatening conditions. Investigators report that the defendants exchanged text messages mocking the teen, calling her “stupid,” and that she was reportedly locked in a bedroom without proper mattress or access to food.
The Fourth Charge and Legal Status
On Nov. 13, the stepmother, 51-year-old Melissa Goodman, became the fourth adult formally charged in the case, joining her husband (the victim’s father), 47-year-old Walter Goodman, 29-year-old Savanna LeFever (step-sister) and 28-year-old Kayla Stemler (LeFever’s partner). All four face multiple felony counts of chronic child neglect—both with consequences of great bodily harm and emotional damage.At her first court appearance, a cash bond of $150,000 was set.
Local Reaction and Next Steps
Neighbours in the small community expressed shock and horror after the case broke, describing the home environment as “beyond horrible.” The court filings say the neglect stretched over months, not just days or weeks, and the victim had not been to school for years and had virtually no outdoor play. Preliminary hearings for the defendants are scheduled in the coming days, and if convicted on all counts, they could face decades in prison.
