Kayla Stemler appears in Outagamie County court, Dec. 2 2025. (Photo courtesy: Outagamie County court/Zoom)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Kayla Stemler was convicted Thursday, becoming the second person culpable for child neglect of the teenager who was hospitalized weighing just 35 pounds.
Stemler, 28, pleaded no contest Thursday to three counts: chronic neglect of a child – consequence is great bodily harm, chronic neglect of a child – consequence is emotional damage, and false imprisonment. Sentencing is set for Aug. 24.
Three other adults are involved in case:
- Walter Goodman, the girl’s father, has a pre-trial conference May 28.
- Melissa Goodman, Walter’s wife but not the victim’s mother, was convicted Wednesday. She will be sentenced July 1
- Savannah LeFever, Melissa Goodman’s daughter, has a pre-trial conference June 17.
Stemler is LeFever’s partner.
The criminal complaint says Walter called 911 in August to report his daughter was lethargic, moaning and almost comatose. According to the criminal complaint, the first officer on scene at the Hattie Lane home said the girl looked to be only six to eight years old. Hospital employees said she weighed less than 40 pounds.
“The last time she saw a medical provider was approximately five years before this incident came to light,” Assistant District Attorney Julie DuQuaine said at a previous court hearing. “She was very, very close to death — 35 pounds at 14 years old.”
The complaint said Walter told authorities his daughter didn’t like to eat or sleep. He claimed they’d offer her meals, but she wouldn’t eat.
Hospital employees said the teen suffered from severe malnutrition. She had signs of multiorgan dysfunction, including respiratory failure, cardiac dysfunction, severe acute hepatitis and pancreatitis, among other issues.
The criminal complaint said while the girl was hospitalized, one of the nurses explained to the victim she would get three meals a day. The nurse noted the girl’s “eyes lit up as she started listing off all the options of food she could have over the course of her hospitalization.” The girl then said her dad would be “so mad” because he doesn’t like when she eats so much.
The criminal complaint also included a litany of text messages by the defendants, calling the victim a “dummy” and “stupid.”
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