Wisconsin Mother Charged in Starving Death of Mentally Challenged Teenager

Coroner said that the mentally challenged teenager died due to sepsis and starvation.

A Wisconsin mother could spend the next 25 years behind bars for starving to death her daughter diagnosed with a genetic syndrome. The body was discovered by the authorities during a welfare check. According to the police report, the woman left the mentally challenged teenager alone over the weekend to attend a Memorial Day party.

Mentally Challenged Teenager Died in Room with Rotten Food and Human Feces

According to the police report, on the 29^th of May 2017, several Wisconsin police officers went to the house of 36-year-old Nicole Gussert to conduct a welfare check. When no one answered the door, the authorities went in. They were greeted by a gruesome scene.

Brianna Gussert, Nicole’s 13-year-old was found dead in her bedroom. One of the police officers on scene declared that the teenager had been lying in her own waste for at least a week. More than that, a preliminary examination of the body revealed that the diaper Brianna was wearing when she died begun to decompose long before the authorities arrived.

Melinda Tempelis, Outagamie County DA, said on Monday, during Nicole Gussert’s trial, that her home reeked of human feces, rotten food, and death. The coroner’s report indicated that Brianna’s cause of death was sepsis.

During questioning, Nicole, Brianna’s mother, told the authorities that she had been away the weekend Brianna died. More than that, the woman said that she doesn’t remember when exactly she fed her child.

According to Tempelis, Gussert’s daughter had been diagnosed with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, a genetic disorder that hinders the child growth and intellect. Furthermore, the condition left Brianna unable to walk, talk and care for herself.

Conclusion

Tempelis said during Monday’s trial that the mentally challenged teenager died in agony.

The woman could spend the following 25 years behind bars if she’s found guilty. In addition, she could also be convicted on a separate meth possession charge.

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