Woman gets eight years for neglecting emaciated autistic teen in Wisconsin
Kayla Stemler was sentenced to eight years in prison for her role in the severe neglect of a 14-year-old autistic girl who weighed only 35 pounds.
In a courtroom in Wisconsin, Judge Vincent Biskupic handed down an eight-year prison sentence and three years of extended supervision to Kayla Stemmer for her involvement in the prolonged abuse of an autistic teenager who was found weighing just 35 pounds. The teen had been locked in a bedroom without a mattress, food, or water for years, resulting in severe organ failure and a skeletal appearance. Assistant District Attorney Julie Duquaine highlighted that Stemmer had numerous opportunities to alert authorities but failed to act.
The judge remarked that the girl’s survival was a miracle and that even stray animals receive better treatment. Stemmer was convicted of two counts of child neglect and false imprisonment, while other family members, including the victim’s parents and stepsister, face separate sentences or pending pleas.
Why it matters
The case underscores the dire consequences of unchecked child neglect and the legal system's response to severe abuse.
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