The case of the obese Wisconsin father accused of starving his teen daughter until she nearly died at 35 pounds has shocked the nation. Walter Goodman, 47, was ordered to stand trial after waiving his right to preliminary hearings on Monday. His step-daughter’s girlfriend, Kayla Stemler, 28, will also go to trial, while Melissa Goodman, 51, Savana LeFever, 29, are expected to plead guilty to child abuse and emotional damage charges.
The abuse came to light when Goodman called 911 in August, claiming his 14-year-old daughter had become “comatose” after refusing to eat for days. When first responders arrived, they found the severely emaciated girl, mistaking her for a 6-year-old. She was rushed to the hospital with organ failure, described by prosecutors as a “skeleton” who was “literally skin and bones.”
Family members were horrified by the state of the girl, saying it seemed like time had stopped for her when she was dropped off at her father’s trailer five years ago. Leslie Doxtaker, the girl’s cousin and new caretaker, expressed shock at the condition in which the girl was found, saying it was like she had been isolated since 2020.
Goodman and his family claimed the girl was autistic and wouldn’t let them feed her, but investigators uncovered text messages where they bragged about starving her, locking her in rooms under surveillance, and beating her. The girl showed no aversion to food once in the hospital and began to recover, doubling her body weight to 78 pounds.
Now under the care of Doxtaker, the teen is slowly recovering and showing interest in playing and running again. However, she is still struggling to understand the abuse she endured, as is the family, who never expected Goodman to treat her that way. Doxtaker emphasized that the girl feels guilty for her father and others going to jail, but she reassures her that the adults were responsible for her well-being, not the other way around.
The shocking case continues to unravel as the trial progresses, shedding light on the disturbing abuse suffered by the teenage girl at the hands of her own family.
