APPLETON, WI – Three people are facing serious charges after authorities discovered a 14-year-old girl in critical condition, weighing only 35 pounds, in what officials are calling a severe case of child neglect.
The teen’s father, Walter S. Goodman, along with her stepsister, Savanna LeFever, and LeFever’s partner, Kayla Stemler, were arrested and charged with multiple counts relating to chronic neglect causing great bodily harm and emotional damage.
Police responded to Goodman’s home on the evening of August 21 after he called 911, reporting that his daughter was unresponsive and hadn’t eaten for several days. He described her as appearing “comatose” and noted her history of self-injury and being underweight. Upon arrival, first responders found the girl in alarming condition, visibly emaciated with bones prominently showing and resembling the size of a much younger child.
The girl was quickly transported to a local hospital in Green Bay, but due to the gravity of her symptoms—including severe malnutrition, dangerously low blood sugar, bedsores, and a high fever—she was flown to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee for specialized care. Doctors reported her condition as life-threatening, warning that she risked organ failure within 72 hours without immediate intervention.
Hospital staff noted a lack of medical records for the girl over the past five years, a period which coincided with her mother’s incarceration and her move into her father’s household. Authorities say this gap in her medical care likely contributed to the severity of her health problems.
During interviews, Goodman told officers his daughter had been ill and vomiting for several days but dismissed these symptoms as “normal kid stuff.” He admitted that he had not sought medical help, instead offering her soft drinks in an attempt to raise her blood sugar. He went on to explain measures he took at home, including installing cameras and an alarm on her bedroom door, claiming her behavioral issues and sleep disturbances required such actions.
Investigators also spoke with a family friend who described witnessing troubling interactions between Goodman and his daughter. The friend recalled Goodman withholding food as a form of punishment and confining the girl to her room, comments and behaviors the friend clearly identified as abusive. The friend also remembered Goodman making disturbing remarks about wanting to get rid of the child.
Police interviewed the girl’s former teacher, who recalled her as a healthy, sociable student several years earlier, showing no signs of developmental or behavioral disorders. This contrasted with Goodman’s claims that his daughter was autistic and had significant special needs.
LeFever and Stemler, who resided in the same household, are accused of perpetuating the neglect when left in charge of the teenager, especially during periods when Goodman and his wife were away seeking medical care for another child.
During an initial court appearance, county officials described the case as one of the most severe instances of child neglect seen in recent years. A court commissioner referred to the girl’s living conditions as a “house of horrors” and remarked on the gravity of the allegations presented.
Bond for Goodman and Stemler was set at $150,000 each, while LeFever’s was set at $100,000, all as cash-only bonds. It was unclear when the three defendants would next appear in court. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full extent of the alleged abuse.