A 14-year-old teenage girl, weighing only 2.5 stone, was rescued from a disturbing situation in which her overweight family members allegedly kept her captive and withheld food from her as a form of punishment.
Upon arrival, authorities discovered the severely underweight and malnourished girl, noting that her collar bone, rib cage, hip, and cheek bones were highly visible, making her appear as small as a six to eight-year-old child.
When questioned about the girl’s condition, her biological father, Walter Goodman, 47, reportedly claimed that she refused to eat and that he avoided seeking medical help due to his distrust of one particular doctor. Goodman stated that the teen was autistic and had been solely under his care since May 2020.
The situation came to light on August 21 when Goodman sought help for his daughter, who had fallen ill and become “comatose” after days without food. Medical professionals diagnosed her with hepatitis, multiple organ dysfunction, and severe malnutrition.
Describing the girl’s condition, Outagamie County assistant district attorney Julie DuQuaine stated that she appeared like a skeleton, weighing a mere 35lbs (2.5st), significantly under the average weight for a 14-year-old in the United States.
Text messages uncovered conversations where Walter and his associates allegedly discussed abusive behaviors towards the girl, including depriving her of food, using physical restraints, and threats of abandonment in the woods.
The girl has been removed from the household and placed in the care of another family, where she is on the path to recovery. Nurses reported that the girl had no aversions to food but faced anger from Goodman if she ate too much.
Charged with chronic child neglect, Walter Goodman, Melissa Goodman, Savanna Lefever, and Layla Stemler are currently in custody on a $100,000 (£76,627) bail.