Walter Goodman appears in Outagamie County court, Nov. 11, 2025. (Outagamie County courts/Zoom)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – It appears a plea deal has been reached with the father of a teen who was hospitalized weighing just 35 pounds.
Walter Goodman, 48, faces five charges: three counts of chronic neglect of a child – consequence is great bodily harm and two counts of chronic neglect of a child – consequence is emotional damage.
The focus of hearing recent hearings has been Goodman’s competency; his ability to understand the proceedings and assist in his own defense.
However, a Nov. 3 hearing to address that issue is now listed as a plea hearing, court records show. Details of the possible plea were not available.
Three other adults were also convicted in the case:
- Melissa Goodman, Walter’s wife but not the teen’s mother, was sentenced to 15 years in prison
- Savanna LeFever, Melissa Goodman’s daughter, will be sentenced Dec. 3
- Kayla Stemler, LeFever’s partner, was sentenced to eight years in prison
During Melissa Goodman’s sentencing, an audio statement by the victim was played.
“You really ruined my childhood, and it hurts that you did. You isolated me from my family, the only ones who actually cared. You had the choice to help when I needed it, but instead you joined in on the abuse and neglect. So I hope you have fun in jail because that’s where you need to be,” the teen said.
The criminal complaint says Walter called 911 in August 2025 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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