How Could You? Hall of Shame-Bradley J. and Kimberly M. Fahrenkrug UPDATED

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 Wrightstown, Wisconsin, adoptive parents Bradley,40, and Kimberly Fahrenkrug, 38, “subjected their adopted 5-year-old son to “mental and physical abuse and torture” by denying him food, making him sleep in a crib, making him walk laps with a weighted backpack while treating their other children normally, criminal complaints allege.

The charging documents, obtained by Green Bay’s WBAY-TV, accuse Bradley J. Fahrenkrug, 40, and Kimberly M. Fahrenkrug, 38, of first-degree reckless injury, mental marm [harm,sic] to a child, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, child neglect resulting in great bodily harm, and false imprisonment.

According to the complaints, the alleged abuse happened between Oct. 1 2016 and April 12, 2017.

In April, the boy was taken to American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison for what doctors said was a case of “severe malnutrition.” Doctors said they were concerned about the child’s living environment, and concerned Kimberly Fahrenkrug was “intentionally starving” the child by controlling his food and restricting what he eats.

Kimberly Fahrenkrug told officials that the boy’s weight loss was attributed to his refusal to eat food at home, but doctors who saw the boy in October said they were concerned with the mother’s interactions with the child, saying she tried to control his food intake while in the hospital.”

Wisconsin couple accused of starving adopted son, feeding biological kids normally

[WAOW 7/10/17]

“A Wrightstown couple is being held in Brown County Jail on $100,000 cash bonds on suspicion they intentionally starved and abused their 5-year-old son.

A prosecutor said the couple’s abuse of the boy resulted in several visits to hospitals since October 2016 for malnutrition and “refeeding syndrome” — a condition in which the body experiences metabolic disturbances from the reintroduction of nutrients from food after previously being in starvation mode.”

“When he was admitted to the hospital April 6, the boy weighed just 29 pounds, putting him in the 0.08 percentile on the Centers for Disease Control’s growth chart and at risk for heart failure.”

“Barbara Knox, a physician and child abuse expert at Children’s Hospital, told investigators that the boy had experienced the “most egregious example of child starvation and torture” that she has seen, according to the criminal complaints.

According to the criminal complaints, the couple’s other children told investigators that the parents made the boy wear a helmet, a compression vest, flippers and a backpack filled with weights, and forced him to “march” and perform other exercises, and was only allowed to have small amounts of food, mostly soup. Meanwhile his siblings could eat and do as they pleased.

The boy was also often “swaddled” in a crib, so he wouldn’t be able to get out and get food, according to court documents.

The parents claimed the vest, flippers and backpack were recommended by a doctor to strengthen the boy’s legs. They also said the boy had stopped eating and denied withholding food from the boy, the complaints state.
Brown County Assistant District Attorney Wendy Lemkuil called those claims “unfounded.”

However, the couple told authorities and the child’s doctors that the boy refused to eat and threw tantrums. The helmet was necessary because he hurt himself during his tantrums, the couple told investigators.

Staff at the hospital and the foster parents that he lived with after release from the hospital described the boy as “sweet, polite and very normal.” They told investigators he never refused food.

The Fahrenkrugs’ lawyer argued for a lower bond, citing the couple’s lack of criminal histories and that they voluntarily brought the child to the hospital to get him help.

But the complaint states that Kimberly Fahrenkrug would get angry at hospital staff whenever they gave her son food. Staff also saw her not give the boy food and walk out of the room when he told her he was hungry.

She told hospital staff and investigators she believed her son manipulated her and others in order to get a “vacation” at the hospital, the complaint states.

If convicted of all charges, the parents each face up to 68 years in prison. Their next court appearance is July 25.”
Wrightstown parents accused of child abuse and starvation

[Green Bay Press Gazette 7/10/17 by Shelby De Luc]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: “ A Wrightstown man has been sentenced to jail for the starvation and abuse of his adopted son. The judge handed down a tougher punishment than recommended by the state and the defense.

On Monday, a judge sentenced Bradley Fahrenkrug, 41, to 120 days in jail, two years on probation and community service. He was found guilty of Neglecting a Child (Consequence is Bodily Harm) after pleading “no contest” to the felony charge.

Four other counts were dismissed but read into the record.

Fahrenkrug’s wife, Kimberly, was sentenced in May for the same charge. The judge gave her nine months in jail, five years on probation, and 100 hours of community service.

He also ordered a psych evaluation for the mother.

A Children’s Hospital doctor has called the abuse “the most egregious example of child starvation and torture” she has seen and compared it to malnourished children in concentration camps.

Prosecutors say the Fahrenkrugs denied their then 5-year-old adopted son food and made him walk laps with a weighted backpack. He weighed 29 pounds when the Fahrenkrugs took him to Children’s Hospital in Madison in April, 2017.

Doctors said they were concerned about the child’s living environment, and concerned Kimberly Fahrenkrug was “intentionally starving” the child by controlling his food and restricting what he eats.

A sibling told investigators the boy was forced to wear a backpack with a weighted blanket and made to do laps before breakfast. The sibling said the boy was sometimes forced to wear flippers on his feet.

The victim was sometimes forced to eat only soup while the rest of the family would eat pizza or macaroni and cheese.

The Fahrenkrugs have two biological children.

According to a criminal complaint, Bradley Fahrenkrug told investigators that the parents portioned out the boy’s food so “he wouldn’t get sick.” Fahrenkrug said the family has rules in the home about healthy eating, and the boy was asking for large portions. Fahrenkrug said the parents needed to monitor that behavior.

Fahrenkrug told investigators that the child was a liar who made up stories and snuck food. He said he thought the boy was manipulating doctors at the hospital to get more food, according to the complaint.

During Monday’s sentencing hearing, the state asked the judge to sentence Bradley Fahrenkrug to probation and parenting classes. Prosecutors say he was less involved in the abuse of the child than his wife.

Fahrenkrug’s attorney agreed with the recommendation, saying Bradley has accepted responsibility despite allegations that were never proven.

Bradley Fahrenkrug insisted that he and his wife were determined to give the adopted child a good future. He told the court that the child had behavior and weight issues and refused food.

Judge John Zakowski replied by saying that the child was treated differently from the other children in the home when it came to food, and that the boy was being malnourished.

“Both parents are responsible,” Judge Zakowski told the court.

The judge, saying the consequence had to go beyond probation, gave Fahrenkrug jail time. Bradley will begin serving his sentence after his wife, Kimberly, serves her nine month sentence.”

Wrightstown dad sentenced to jail for starving, abusing adopted son

[WBAY 6/25/18]