Pewaukee Mother Pleads in Case of Daughter’s Death from Starvation
Amy Laszkiewicz, a 53-year-old mother from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, has been charged with recklessly causing her daughter’s death by starvation. Laszkiewicz’s 23-year-old daughter, who had severe autism, was found deceased in their Pewaukee condo on January 4, 2023. The young woman, who had not left the condo since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, was discovered weighing only 70 pounds, significantly underweight compared to her previous medical records showing a weight of 135 pounds seven years earlier.
Investigators described the daughter as “severely autistic,” and noted that she appeared “extremely thin,” with sunken eyes and cheeks when found. The Waukesha County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death a homicide, citing the failure to provide adequate food and water as the cause. Laszkiewicz, who had been her daughter’s legal guardian and sole caretaker, reportedly did not seek medical help or intervention during the period of severe neglect.
On January 2, 2025, Laszkiewicz entered an Alford plea in court, acknowledging that the evidence against her was sufficient to support a conviction without admitting guilt. As a result, she will avoid a trial. Prosecutors charged her with “recklessly subjecting an individual at risk to abuse – causing death.”
Laszkiewicz had called 911 after finding her daughter’s body, but authorities soon determined that the woman’s extreme malnutrition had led to her death. The tragic case highlights the severe consequences of neglect, especially for vulnerable individuals with special needs. The charges and plea have drawn attention to the responsibility of caretakers in providing for the health and well-being of those under their guardianship.
