HAYWARD, WI (CBS-3) – Murder, neglect, and abuse charges have been filed against a Hayward man and woman after a 4-year-old with cerebral palsy died in their care and a “lethal” amount of alcohol was detected in her bloodstream.
The child’s mother, Samantha Smith, 26, and her significant other, Domenic Falkner, 25, have been charged in connection to the case.
Falkner is facing first-degree intentional homicide, physical abuse of a child, and chronic neglect of a child charges. Smith is facing chronic neglect of a child and physical abuse charges.
According to court documents, first responders were called to a home on West 2nd Street in Hayward on July 28, 2021 after receiving a report that a 4 year old wasn’t able to wake up.
When first responders arrived, they declared the young girl deceased.
An autopsy was not conducted at the time of the victim’s death, but the Sawyer County Coroner drew a sample of her blood and sent it in for analysis.
The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene determined the victim had a high blood alcohol content (.572 g/100mL) at the time of her death.
Because of this discovery, an autopsy was performed and her cause of death was ruled acute ethanol toxicity with the manner of death being homicide.
According to court documents, the victim was diagnosed at or near birth with severe cerebral palsy. She could not speak or move and received nutrition and hydration through a feeding tube only.
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