In a heartbreaking case that has gripped the Pewaukee community, prosecutors allege that 53-year-old Amy Laszkiewicz starved her 23-year-old daughter, who had severe autism, to death.
As reported by Fox 6 Milwaukee, Laszkiewicz avoided a trial by entering an Alford plea on Thursday, Jan. 2. This type of plea allows her to maintain her innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict her at trial.
The case dates back to January 2023, when deputies found Laszkiewicz’s daughter deceased in their Pewaukee condo. According to investigators, the young woman, who had not left the home since the COVID-19 pandemic, weighed only 70 pounds at the time of her death. For context, medical records showed she had weighed 135 pounds seven years earlier. The Waukesha County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, citing that the daughter lacked adequate food and water under Laszkiewicz’s care.
Laszkiewicz, who served as her daughter’s legal guardian and sole caretaker, called 911 after finding her unresponsive in bed. “I feel I’m innocent,” Laszkiewicz stated. Defense attorney Paul Bucher clarified that while Laszkiewicz disputes her guilt, she recognized that the state’s evidence could result in a conviction.
Prosecutors originally charged Laszkiewicz with “recklessly subjecting an individual at risk to abuse – causing death.” As part of the plea agreement, her sentence will not exceed 15 years, though she faced up to 25 years.
Laszkiewicz remains out on bond and is scheduled for sentencing in March. This tragic case raises vital questions about caregiving responsibilities and support systems for families with vulnerable individuals.
For more details, visit the full report by Fox 6 Milwaukee.
