Wisconsin Woman Charged With Death of Toddler She Said Fell Down the Stairs Last Year- Samantha J. Wishman, a 32-year-old mother of four from Wisconsin, has been arrested and charged with first-degree reckless homicide and neglect of a child resulting in death for the death of her fiancé’s 3-year-old son, which occurred on June 15, 2023.
The incident was initially reported as an accidental fall down the stairs, but an investigation led to the discovery of severe injuries that were not consistent with a fall, prompting the charges against Wishman.
Key Facts
- Samantha Wishman was charged with the death of her boyfriend’s 3-year-old son, nearly a year after the incident.
- The child’s injuries were not consistent with a fall down the stairs, suggesting non-accidental trauma.
- Disturbing text messages and reports of physical abuse towards the children were uncovered during the investigation.
- The police waited until the end of March 2024 to charge Wishman, raising questions about the investigation timeline.
The child was found unresponsive at a home on Gilbert Street in Marinette, about 50 miles northeast of Green Bay. Emergency responders found the boy’s father performing CPR, and the child was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Wishman claimed the child had fallen down the stairs the night before, but the medical examiner’s report contradicted this, stating that the injuries were not consistent with a fall down the stairs. The report highlighted multiplanar patterned bruising, bruising in anatomically protected locations, and severe internal injuries, indicating non-accidental trauma.
During the investigation, incriminating text messages were found on Wishman’s phone, which she had sent to the victim’s father. These messages included statements about being ready to hurt the children and expressing frustration and difficulty breathing. The text messages, along with the medical examiner’s findings, led to the charges against Wishman.
Wishman is currently being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 15. The case underscores the importance of vigilance in child protection and the need for thorough investigations to uncover the truth in cases involving child abuse and neglect.
