Teenager Discovered in Deplorable Conditions
Police in Wisconsin have uncovered a shocking case of alleged child neglect, discovering a 14-year-old girl weighing a mere 35 pounds in what a court commissioner described as a 'house of horrors'. The girl's father, 47-year-old Walter Goodman, his 50-year-old wife Melissa Goodman, his 29-year-old stepdaughter Savanna Lefever, and her 27-year-old girlfriend Kayla Stemler now face serious charges.
A Disturbing Investigation Unfolds
The investigation began on August 21 when Walter Goodman called emergency services, reporting his daughter was vomiting and having difficulty breathing. He claimed his daughter was autistic and did not eat, and that she had become lethargic and comatose. However, the responding officer was horrified to find the teenager in a state of severe emaciation.
The officer noted that she appeared severely underweight and malnourished, with her collar bone, rib cage, hip, and cheek bones prominently visible. She was so small she looked like a child aged between six and eight years old. Upon hospital admission, her official weight was confirmed at 35 pounds, and she was diagnosed with severe malnutrition, with doctors fearing potential organ failure.
Authorities revealed the girl had moved in with her biological father in 2020 and had been supposedly homeschooled for the last four years. The criminal complaint, obtained by Fox 11, highlighted a stark contrast, stating that Melissa and Savanna were extremely obese, to the point of being nearly bedbound.
A Pattern of Abuse and Cruelty
During their investigation, police uncovered a pattern of cruelty and threats. A friend of Walter Goodman, Anthony R. Webster-Bodway, reported witnessing the father threaten his own daughter. According to court documents, Walter allegedly said, 'If I could leave her somewhere in the woods, I'd leave her,' and told the girl, 'I wish I could kill you.'
Investigators also found violent text messages exchanged between the women. In one chain about babysitting, Savanna Lefever wrote, 'I'm gonna roundhouse kick her ass through the window.' Melissa Goodman replied, 'Do it,' and Kayla Stemler added, 'lol she deserves it.'
On another occasion, Stemler texted Melissa, 'I used the belt' on the girl for taking more than one bite of food at a time. In a separate message, Lefever expressed her frustration, writing, 'I just want to karate kick her dumb head.' The women routinely referred to the child as 'dummy' and 'stupid'.
Legal Proceedings and Potential Sentences
During the initial court hearing, Outagamie County court commissioner Brian Figy did not mince words, labelling the girl's living conditions a 'house of horrors' and calling the allegations 'incredibly disturbing'.
Melissa Goodman and Savanna Lefever had court appearances rescheduled due to a lack of legal representation. Kayla Stemler is due in court on December 2, while Walter Goodman's next hearing is scheduled for January 1.
Bail for the Goodmans and Stemler has been set at $150,000, while Lefever's bail is set at $100,000. If convicted, each faces a potential maximum sentence of 80 years in prison.
