As tragic story unfolds from The Milwaukee Journal - child abuse; child neglect; child murder

May 1, 2012

WEST BEND - The father of a three-year-old girl found dead in a West Bend apartment building tells TODAY'S TMJ4 he is in shock and grieving after her death.

He said to TODAY'S TMJ4's Nick Montes that Haley Kluwe died.  Autopsy results were expected Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities in West Bend confirm they are conducting an investigation into a girl's death.

According to a statement from the police department, the girl died inside an apartment building on Barton Avenue in West Bend.

Police did not initially confirm her identity.  They are trying to find clues as to how the toddler may have died.

A brief police report made no reference to any suspect or arrest, and authorities did not answer questions about any suspects in the case.  We know the girl's grandmother was on scene when she died.

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Social Services Under Pressure to Comment 

on Toddler Death

Haley Kluwe returned to mother, 

found dead three months later

WEST BEND-As more and more family members speak out, we are left to try and piece together what exactly happened to three year old Haley Kluwe.

Haley was found dead in a West Bend Apartment Tuesday.

Police say there were signs of abuse and neglect, marks on her face and body.

They also say her twin sister and older sister looked neglected.

Formal charges are pending against her mother and boyfriend.

But several family members say they objected to having Haley returned to her mother after her maternal grandfather and his wife (pictured above) had raised the girl and her sisters for most of their lives.

An aunt by marriage tells CBS 58 that the return to the mother happened in January after the grandfather's wife died from cancer.

The same source says Haley missed a February appointment with the surgeon who had successfully removed a brain tumor from Haley while in her grandparents' care.

This same caregiver says she phoned in a complaint with Washington County Social Services in March, but never heard back.

On Friday, the director of Human Services sent CBS 58 Anchor Michele McCormack the following email:

"I am sorry for not getting back to you, but given the situation, I have spent little if any time in my office in the past couple of days.

As you are aware I cannot give any comment.

Jim Strachota

Human Services Director"

McCormack made several phone calls and emails both to county and state officials Tuesday evening when family members began contacting her to say their concerns were ignored.

Privacy laws make it difficult to get a complete picture.

Right now on the Wisconisn Department of Children and Families website they have posted what they are bound to legally. It reads:

Public Notification of a Child Death, Serious Injury or Egregious Incident

Case Tracking Number:

120501DSP-Wash-198

Date of Public Notification:

5/2/12

The Division of Safety and Permanence (DSP) has received notification that a child death, serious injury or egregious incident has occurred and maltreatment is suspected, or that a child placed in out-of-home care has died and suicide is suspected.

West Bend Mother, Boyfriend in Court

Originally printed at http://www.cbs58.com/news/local-news/West-Bend-Mother-Boyfriend-in-Court-150089895.html

By WDJT Editor
May 3, 2012

WEST BEND-The mother of a toddler found dead on Tuesday had a bail hearing Thursday along with her boyfriend.

24 year old Leanne Leszysnki and her boyfriend 24 year old Justin Streicher were taken into custody when authorities did a welfare check based on a call from a doctor's office expressing concern about three year old Haley Kluwe and her two sisters.

Officers found Haley dead and said her twin sister and older sister appeared to be in need of medical attention as well.

The judge found probable cause that the two suspects committed serious felonies including physical abuse of a child, possible homicide, and drug offenses.

Bond was set at $10,000 cash each.

Shocking allegations in West Bend toddler death 

New details released in child neglect case 

UPDATED 8:19 AM CDT May 11, 2012 

A West Bend mother and her boyfriend are now charged in the death of the woman's three-year-old daughter. 

Leann Leszynski, 25, and Justin Streicher, 24, are facing more than 35 years in prison if convicted of charges of child neglect resulting in death, maintaining a drug trafficking place and possession of narcotics. 

In a criminal complaint released in court Thursday, police said they found Haley Kluwe dead on a mattress inside her mother's apartment at 2113 Barton Ave. on May 1. 

Investigators said they had received a call from Leszynski's doctor's office concerned for the girl, after Leszynski had told them she couldn't pick up a prescription in person because her daughter was dead in her apartment. 

According to the documents, when police arrived Leszynski told them a picture had fallen from the wall and hit her daughter in the face a few days prior. She said the bruising was bad but she didn't want to get help because she feared she would be accused of abuse. 

The medical examiners report also said Haley had a cut on her finger that had become infected and turned into a flesh eating bacteria. They said the infection could have contributed to her death. 

Leszynski's family members said they're trying to support her but the details of this case are shocking. 

"Coming from family and family comes first, the people that your closest too sometimes, you don't think they're capable of those things even if they say they are," said Brandon Hurst, cousin of Leszynski. 

The criminal complaint also alleges Leszynski and Streicher of using cocaine, heroin and pot and selling it out of their apartment. Witnesses told police Streicher would blow marijuana smoke in Haley and her two sister's faces to make them go to sleep and locked them in a closet while handcuffed when they were loud. The other two children were removed and are in protective custody.