A 14-year-old girl weighing only 2.5 stone was rescued from a disturbing situation where her overweight family members allegedly kept her captive and withheld food as punishment. Upon arrival, authorities discovered the severely underweight and malnourished girl, noting her prominent collar bone, rib cage, hip, and cheek bones, making her appear much younger in size.
When asked about the girl’s condition, her biological father, Walter Goodman, 47, claimed that she refused to eat and had not seen a doctor due to personal reasons. Goodman stated that the teen, who he claimed was autistic, had been solely under his care since May 2020.
Wisconsin officials were alerted 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 upon her admission to the hospital.
Describing the girl’s condition, Outagamie County assistant district attorney Julie DuQuaine emphasized her extreme emaciation, weighing just 35lbs (2.5st), far below the average weight for a 14-year-old according to CDC data.
Text messages revealed disturbing conversations among family members, with Walter allegedly expressing neglectful and abusive behavior towards his daughter. The family reportedly confined the girl to her room without basic necessities and used food deprivation as a form of punishment.
The girl has been removed from the harmful environment and is undergoing recovery in the care of a new family. Medical staff noted her lack of resistance to food, indicating a history of restrictive feeding practices by Goodman.
All four adults involved have been charged with chronic child neglect and are currently in custody on a $100,000 (£76,627) bail.