A judge unleashed on a woman convicted for her role in the horrific abuse of an autistic teenage girl who weighed just 35 pounds and was clinging to life when she was found — telling her that “stray animals are treated better.”
Kayla Stemler, the 28-year-old girlfriend of the 14-year-old teen’s stepsister, was sentenced to eight years in prison plus extended supervision on Monday.
She was one of four adults charged in the disturbing case, along with Walter Goodman, the victim’s father; Melissa Goodman, Walter Goodman’s wife and the victim’s stepmom; and Savanna LeFever, Melissa Goodman’s daughter.
Outagamie County Judge Vincent Biskupic said that Stemler, despite being the least culpable of the four charged, still did nothing to stop the “complete madness” of the Wisconsin “house of horrors” where the girl was kept for years, Fox 11 reported.
The abused teen “is going to, to some degree, [be haunted] for the rest of her life – and you contributed to that,” Biskupic said.
“In many ways, it’s a miracle she’s even alive,” the judge said. “Stray animals are treated better.”
Assistant District Attorney Julie Duquaine noted Stemler had “had thousands of opportunities” to report it.
The heartless family is accused of locking the teen alone in a bedroom in Oneida without a mattress, restricting her to only her room from 2020 to Aug. 2025 and depriving her of food and water, prosecutors said.
Walter Goodman, the victim’s obese father, called 911 in Aug. 2025 to report that his daughter, who has not been identified, was lethargic and nearly comatose.
When first responders arrived, they thought the severely emaciated girl was a 6-year-old — and prosecutors later described her as a “skeleton” who was “literally skin and bones.”
She was rushed to a hospital suffering from organ failure.
In the hospital, the girl’s eyes “lit up” when she learned she would receive three meals a day, according to the criminal complaint, obtained by Fox 11. The victim said her dad would be “so mad” because he doesn’t like when she eats so much.
The criminal complaint also includes a litany of twisted text messages from the defendants, calling the victim a “dummy” and “stupid.”
Extended family members were told she was away on vacation or with other relatives to explain her absence.
Stemler was convicted of two counts of neglect of a child and false imprisonment. In addition to eyes years behind bars, she was placed on extended supervision for three years plus two years on probation.
Walter Goodman was found competent to stand trial but is contesting the court’s findings. He is due back in court on Oct. 30.
Melissa Goodman was sentenced to 15 years in prison in July.
LeFever is expected to take a plea deal on Friday, Fox 11 reported.
