How Could You? Hall of Shame-Kevin and Shayna Arndt

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.

From West Salem, Wisconsin, adoptive and guardianship parents, Kevin and Shayna Arndt are facing “serious felony charges after a 10-year-old in their care was hospitalized with injuries that doctors determined were caused by strangulation.”

“Kevin Arndt, 43, and Shayna Arndt, 42, appeared in La Crosse County court Friday following their arrest on multiple child abuse charges. The case began when a 10-year-old was taken to the hospital on July 26 for treatment of severe injuries.

Doctors diagnosed the child with “strangulation with high risk for physical abuse.”

Kevin Arndt faces four felony charges: two counts of repeated physical abuse of a child, one count of intentionally causing great bodily harm to a child, and one count of strangulation and suffocation.

Shayna Arndt is charged with two counts of chronic neglect of a child and one count of failing to prevent bodily harm to a child.

According to the criminal complaint, the couple had custody of three children between ages 10 and 12. Two were adopted by the Arndts in May 2022 after being placed in their foster care in 2017. The third child, who suffered the strangulation injuries, had been placed under their guardianship in July 2025.

In a 2017 News 8 Now report regarding foster care in La Crosse County, Kevin Arndt is quoted as wanting to get involved because of the growing need in the area. [Why is it that lot of these foster and adoptive parents has been interviewed by the press?]

“It’s something you’re not prepared for, especially when you know all of the abuse and things that could happen,” Arndt said.

During forensic interviews, all three children disclosed ongoing physical abuse in the home. The children described being abused by Kevin Arndt, typically when they failed to complete household chores.

The children said Shayna Arndt was often present during the abuse but would not intervene to stop it.

The 10-year-old initially told investigators her injuries came from bullying at a swimming pool. However, she later disclosed that Kevin Arndt had instructed her to blame the pool because “people get hurt a lot at the pool.”[Oh please!]

“Child Protective Services had received 13 reports about the family since March 2021, with most involving allegations of physical abuse by Kevin Arndt. Many of these reports originated from concerns raised by the children at school.

According to court documents, the children were afraid to report abuse because Kevin Arndt would use previous CPS reports as evidence that “reporting these incidents would do no good.”

When Shayna Arndt was told at the hospital that a CPS report would be filed, she responded by saying, “All my kids have been through stuff and if they didn’t, I wouldn’t have a job.”

“When police executed a search warrant at the family’s home on West Hamlin Street, they found conditions that were “bordering unhabitable.” The house was filled with clothes covering the floors, dog feces in the children’s bedroom, and a strong odor of urine throughout the residence.”

“udge Scott Horne set Kevin Arndt’s bond at $5,000 cash, while Shayna Arndt was released on a $5,000 signature bond. Both defendants are prohibited from having contact with children as a condition of their release.

Assistant District Attorney Julie Nelson requested cash bonds for both defendants, citing the serious nature of the allegations.

“The child with the strangulation injuries eventually disclosed the injuries were caused by Kevin Arndt by dragging her by the ear and then putting pressure on her neck,” Nelson said during the court hearing. “The other two children in the home disclosed that they could hear the child being injured by Kevin, including her screaming that she could not breathe.”

All three children have been removed from the home and are currently in protective custody. The case remains under investigation by the West Salem Police Department and La Crosse County Child Protective Services.”

UPDATE: West Salem couple faces child abuse charges after 10-year-old hospitalized

[News 8 Now 9/3/25 ]

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