How Could You? Hall of Shame-4-year-old girl case-Child Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

An August 2025 case has come to light.

From Mat Su, Alaska, guardians Jackie Caswell,47, has been indicted on murder charges and charges of child endangerment and guardian, Sergie Krukoff, 46, has been indicted on charges of child endangerment in the August 24, 2025 death of a 4-year-old girl.

“Alaska State Troopers arrested the pair on Saturday after earlier issuing a public notice seeking information to help locate them.”

“Troopers said in a written statement posted online that they responded Aug. 11 to a report of a child requiring CPR at a Wasilla home. The child was brought to a local hospital, where she died, according to the trooper statement.

The death was ruled a homicide.

Palmer District Attorney Trina Sears did not respond to a request for comment.

According to a Daily News account of Caswell and Krukoff’s first court appearance Monday, Sears told the judge handling the case that Caswell had hit the child, resulting in brain damage. The newspaper reported that Sears also told the judge that the couple had withheld food from the child.

Both Caswell and Krukoff pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday. The judge ordered Caswell held on $300,000 cash bail and Krukoff held on $35,000 cash bail.

Both remained jailed as of Wednesday.

The next court hearing in the case is set for Oct. 14.[2025]”

Wasilla couple withheld food, abused 4-year-old who died in their care, prosecutors say

[Alaska Public Media 9/30/26 by Wesley Early]

“The Palmer Grand Jury included in its charges that both Caswell and Krukoff “recklessly failed to provide an adequate quantity of food or liquids to a child, causing protracted impairment of the child’s health.”

“Jackie Caswell is charged with murder in the second degree of a 4 year-old child by kicking her and causing traumatic brain injury,” Trina Sears, Palmer District Attorney, said. ”A witness to the assault also reported Caswell and her husband, the co-defendant, would deprive the child of food. The witness also tried to sneak her food.”

Wasilla man, woman arrested in connection to young child’s death

[KTTU 9/30/26 by Casandra Mancl and Lauren Maxwell]

“Caswell is accused of beating the girl as well as starving her, Sears said during Monday’s hearing.

Troopers said in an online statement that the case began on Aug. 11 when they responded to home in Wasilla for a report of CPR in progress on a child. The girl died on Aug. 24 of injuries she suffered two weeks earlier, court filings show. An autopsy ruled her death a homicide, according to troopers.”

Mat-Su couple accused of abusing 4-year-old girl who died in their care

[Anchorage Daily News 9/30/25 by Zaz Hollander]

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