A Wisconsin woman will be spending nearly a decade in prison one year after she was arrested for the false imprisonment of a 14-year-old with autism in a “house of horrors,” who was found weighing only 35 pounds.
Kayla Stemler pleaded no contest to chronic neglect of a child causing bodily harm, chronic neglect of a child causing emotional damage and false imprisonment. She was later sentenced to serve eight years in prison on Monday, August 24, which will be followed by three years of extended supervision.
Stemler, 28, was accused of neglecting the child in a home in Oneida, Wisconsin, in November 2025.
The victim’s father, Walter Goodman, his wife, Melissa Goodman, and her daughter, Savanna LeFever, were also charged for their involvement in the abuse. Stemler was LeFever’s partner at the time the abuse was discovered.
The investigation into the case began on August 21, 2025, after Walter called 911 to report that the victim was “just laying there eyes open all creepy” in his trailer, according to a criminal complaint viewed by People.
He added that the girl was lethargic, and was alternating between throwing up and being comatose.
Officers responded to the scene and learned that the victim was severely underweight and only weighed 35 pounds. Once she got to the hospital, doctors determined that she had respiratory failure, cardiac dysfunction, severe acute hepatitis, pancreatitis, hypothermia and hypoglycemia.
The girl was said to be extremely weak, and she wasn’t strong enough to turn on the faucet or the shower. Additionally, she needed to be supported by a wall in order to walk from her bed to the bathroom.
Stemler is the second defendant to be sentenced in the case. Melissa previously pleaded no contest in May to the same charges and was sentenced to 15 years initial confinement followed by 10 years extended supervision, according to WBAY.
Meanwhile, both Walter and Lefever have pleaded not guilty to three counts of chronic neglect of a child causing great bodily harm and two counts of chronic neglect of a child causing emotional damage.
After the victim was discovered, her loved ones set up a GoFundMe page to help her amid her recovery.
“Her natural positivity and optimism have helped her avoid the depths of despair and depression that often accompany survivors of abuse,” a family member wrote of the victim in November 2025. “Surrounded by the love of her family and the extended support of those who care for her, she is gradually coming to terms with her past and looking forward to a brighter future.”
A family member shared another update about her health in March, saying that she is “a miracle.”
“From surviving what she endured to the incredible progress she has made, her resilience is nothing short of astounding,” the family member wrote, noting they “will be able to share a more detailed and comprehensive update” once the criminal cases are complete.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
