In what authorities describe as the worst case of neglect they have ever encountered, a 14-year-old girl was rescued from her family home in Wisconsin after being found severely malnourished and weighing just 38 pounds.
The horrific discovery
Police officers responding to an emergency call on August 21 initially estimated the teenager's age to be between six and eight years old due to her extreme emaciation. Her father, Walter Goodman, 47, had called emergency services, reporting his daughter was vomiting, comatose and extremely thin.
Hospital staff at St Vincent Hospital in Green Bay determined the child was hypothermic and suffering from acute hepatitis, pancreatitis and multiple failed organs, alongside bruises and pressure sores. Her weight of 38 pounds was dramatically below the normal range of 84 to 160 pounds for a girl of her age.
Years of systematic abuse
Charging documents reveal the abuse began when the victim was just nine years old, continuing for an agonising five-year period. Prosecutors allege she suffered nutritional, emotional, medical, physical, and psychological neglect at the hands of her family members.
The teenager was kept in a locked bedroom where she was forced to sleep on a bare floor. Adults in the household either wouldn't allow her to speak or severely restricted her communication. She was given limited access to food, water and bathroom facilities.
Walter Goodman allegedly told authorities he monitored his daughter through a webcam in her room, stating "I keep her locked up in her bedroom with a camera on her, and that's where she stays." He claimed her autism explained why she didn't eat or sleep, though hospital nurses observed her excitement when offered food options.
Chilling threats and vile rules
Digital evidence uncovered disturbing threats made by Walter Goodman regarding his daughter. In shocking text messages, he allegedly wrote: "If she misbehaves, I'm not going to feed her today," and "If I could leave her somewhere in the woods, I'd leave her." Another message read: "I wish I could kill you [the victim]."
The victim told medical staff her father "doesn't like when I eat that much" when offered three meals daily at hospital, expressing fear he would be "so mad". She hadn't attended school since the pandemic or played outside in years.
Prosecutors allege that Melissa Goodman, 50, her daughter Savanna LeFever, 29, and LeFever's partner Kayla Stemler, 27 communicated about beating, kicking and slapping the child. One message from Stemler to Melissa Goodman reportedly stated: "Just so you know [the victim] was taking more than one bite at a time, and when Savanna confronted her, she continued to argue with her, so I used the belt."
Recovery and legal proceedings
Outagamie County Assistant District Attorney Julie DuQuaine confirmed the victim is now stable and recovering with other family members, having been released from hospital and gaining weight. Doctors initially feared she wouldn't survive.
A GoFundMe page established to support her recovery reports she has "grown three inches and doubled her body weight" in just a few months. The fundraiser notes her "natural positivity and optimism have helped her avoid the depths of despair and depression that often accompany survivors of abuse."
All four adults face multiple felony counts of chronic child neglect, with each potentially facing more than 80 years in prison if convicted. Walter Goodman's preliminary hearing has been rescheduled to January 5, 2026, while the other defendants have pending court appearances.
The victim is reportedly learning basic self-care tasks like bathing, brushing her teeth and hair care - simple activities denied to her for years during her captivity.
