YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Loved ones are opening up about the recovery of a 14-year-old girl who authorities say was found severely malnourished inside her family’s home in Oneida, Wisc.
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Authorities said the young man weighed 35 lbs. when they found her in August and an online fundraiser says she has since doubled her body weight
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The girl’s father, his wife and two others were arrested and charged with multiple counts of child neglect as part of the investigation.
Loved ones are opening up about the recovery of a 14-year-old girl who authorities say was found severely malnourished — saying in an online fundraiser that she is now “looking forward to a brighter future.”
The young man weighed 35 lbs. when authorities found her in August after responding to her father and mother’s home in Oneida, Wisc. Her father reportedly called 911 to report that the girl was lethargic and very weak, FOX 11 reported, citing court documents.
She was severely malnourished with respiratory failure, cardiac dysfunction, severe acute hepatitis and pancreatitis. First responders also believed the girl was only about 6 or 7 years old due to her size, the documents stated, according to the outlet. The girl, whose name has not been made public, was subsequently hospitalized.
In the GoFundMe campaign, the loved ones wrote that the boy has since made “tremendous progress.”
“In just a few months, she grew 3 inches and doubled her body weight,” the fundraiser reads. “Her body, which has been deprived of nourishment for too long, is beginning to heal. She has gained muscle mass and is gradually regaining the strength lost for years of [alleged] negligence.”
“Beyond physical recovery, she is also working on the basics of personal care – things that most of us do without thinking, such as bathing, brushing her teeth, and taking care of her hair,” the loved ones said, adding that “every day she grows more independent.”
As part of the investigation, the girl’s father, 47-year-old Walter Goodman, his wife Melissa Goodman, her daughter, 29-year-old Savanna Lefever, and LeFever’s partner, 27-year-old Kayla Stemler, were arrested.
The suspects were all charged with three counts of chronic child neglect resulting in great bodily harm and two felony counts of chronic child neglect resulting in emotional harm, according to charging documents seen by PEOPLE.
Outagamie County Assistant District Attorney Julie DuQuaine alleged that the girl “was neglected for a number of years,” according to FOX 11. “She hasn’t been to the doctor since September 2020. She hasn’t been in school since COVID.”
A witness claimed Walter said, “Well, I’ll keep her locked in her bedroom with a camera on her, and that’s where she stays,” WISN reported.
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While the girl was hospitalized, she claimed to the medical staff that her father “doesn’t like it when I eat so much” after being told she would receive three meals a day, according to the criminal complaint. The staff reported that the girl’s “eyes lit up” when she was informed about the meal schedule.
Authorities claim that Stemler and Melissa were aware of the alleged abuse, citing text messages allegedly sent between the two. In one message, Melissa wrote, “Tbh it’s hard and some days I don’t want it anymore and I just want it to go away,” the complaint alleges.
It is unclear whether the suspects have entered pleas or retained lawyers to speak on their behalf. FOX 11 reported that they face more than 80 years in prison.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in over 170 languages.
Read the original article on People