Jeffrey Manke‘s two daughters were allegedly concerned about his drinking before he and his girls were found dead at his Wisconsin home.
In a previously filed affidavit obtained by Us on March 26, 2025, Manke, 57, suggested the possibility that one of his children had been encouraged to spy on him amid his divorce battle with ex-wife Lindsay Lewandowski. She echoed those concerns in a subsequent filing, noting that his “intoxication provides their kids with a great deal of anxiety.”
Manke, for his part, said in the affidavit viewed by Us, “I was drinking a 7-Up, and I put olives in it with no liquor. When I arrived at dance to pick up my child, the police said I had an anonymous report that I was drunk driving and I was approached by three officers. I talked to the officers and offered to take a breathalyzer, but they said they were convinced I was not drinking.” He continued, “I believe she [my child] was encouraged to report that to the police.”
He went on to claim that Lewandowski, 38, made threats that included that “the harassment will stop once you give up your parental rights to my daughters.”
Us previously reported that Manke and his two daughters, Jaelyn Manke and Lenora Manke, were found dead at his home just hours after he and Lewandowski finalized their divorce on July 31.
Lewandowski responded to Jeffrey’s complaints in her own affidavit in April 2025.
In the filing, she discussed Jeffrey’s struggles with alcohol and claimed he would drink alcohol under the influence of prescription pain pills. Additionally, Lewandowski claimed that Jeffrey would store liquor in their bedroom while they were married and that he would mix his drinks.
She went on to claim that Jeffrey’s drinking affected their whole family.
Lewandowski also reflected on Jeffrey being pulled over by the police officer regarding concerns he was drunk driving and confirmed that he had been cleared. However, she said that bodycam footage showed her daughter telling an officer that “she is uncomfortable with that idea (of going home with her father) because he is really mean to her.“
“She reports that she would be more comfortable having mom drive her home,” Lewandowski said of Jaylen, 16, in the filing. “An officer asks Jaylen if her relationship with dad is not good right now, and our daughter responds that it never has been.”
Court documents obtained by Us revealed that the pair battled over custody for two years, but ultimately settled on joint custody by the time the divorce was finalized.
After Lenora, 11, Jeffrey and Jaelyn’s deaths were confirmed, Lewandowski took to Facebook to reveal her daughters had been afraid of their dad.
“I’m so sad. Everyone they talked to knew they were not safe in his care. And I fought so hard to try to keep them safe. The family counselor dismissed them and refused to continue working with them. The gal knew they didn’t want to be there. Cps reports were made. Cops were called,” she wrote. “I was legally forced to send them when they felt unsafe. Nobody wanted to listen. If someone listened to their cries for help for the last 2 years , they would still be here. The system failed my babies.”
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