Wisconsin mother pleads guilty after 4-year-old found dead outside dairy queen — Photo: #post_seo_title

WEST ALLIS, WI – A 31-year-old Wisconsin mother has pleaded guilty to charges tied to the death of her 4-year-old son, a case that prosecutors say involved prolonged abuse and a failure to intervene as the child was beaten inside their home. Charlotte Kurek entered pleas to child neglect resulting in death and chronic child neglect in Milwaukee County court and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 29.

Her boyfriend, Devario Cruz, who is also the boy’s father, remains charged with first-degree reckless homicide, repeated acts of physical abuse of a child causing death, repeated physical abuse of a child causing bodily harm, and neglect. His next court appearance is set for Sept. 11.

According to criminal complaints, the child, Dante Campbell, was found unresponsive after the couple drove him to a Dairy Queen parking lot near a West Allis fire station, where emergency responders attempted lifesaving measures before he was pronounced dead at a hospital. Officers noted the boy was “stiff,” with gums described as “bone white,” indicating he had been without oxygen for an extended period.

Timeline of events and emergency response

Court records state Cruz woke around 7 a.m. on Oct. 18 and found Dante in his bedroom “stiff” and looking “unreal.” He told investigators the child had fallen down a flight of stairs the previous evening and “smelled bad.” The affidavit says the boy appeared “blue” and let out a final gasp when picked up.

Cruz then told Kurek, “I don’t think [the victim] is alive, I think he is dead,” according to authorities. Although Kurek reportedly began screaming and said they needed to go to a hospital, neither adult immediately called 911.

Instead, after 8 a.m., the pair drove to a friend’s home, leaving three children behind, and dropped off Dante’s twin sister. Kurek then called 911 and was directed to pull over near a fire station. While waiting, Cruz allegedly said, “I killed my kid, I want to kill myself.”

Emergency crews met the couple in the Dairy Queen parking lot. Dante was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Allegations of ongoing abuse inside the home

Investigators documented “substantial bruising” across Dante’s body, and his clothing smelled of urine, according to court filings. One law enforcement officer cited in the complaint stated, “This was the most extensive and severe injuries that I have witnessed on a child.”

Kurek initially told investigators Dante’s injuries were caused by a fall down the stairs, but authorities said the injuries did not match that explanation. She later admitted she lied “out of fear for her own safety,” despite previously denying any history of domestic violence.

She also told investigators, “My son looked like he got his a— beat by a grown man.” Authorities said she acknowledged Cruz was “heavy-handed” but believed she had “addressed the issue.”

According to the complaint, Kurek admitted she did not report the abuse and instead turned up music to drown out Dante’s cries. Investigators wrote, “Defendant Kurek watched Defendant Cruz abuse the twins and did not call the police or threaten Defendant Cruz in order to try and get Defendant Cruz to stop. It appeared as Defendant Kurek cared more for Defendant Cruz than the twins.”

Evidence and witness accounts

Police also interviewed Dante’s twin sister, who had visible injuries including a swollen eye and scratches. When asked what happened, she told an officer, “Daddy hurt me.”

Investigators reported finding children’s shoes in the home with a red substance believed to be blood, along with more than a pound of marijuana. A neighbor told authorities the children were sometimes left home alone overnight and could be heard crying.

Cruz allegedly admitted to striking Dante the day before his death. When asked to rate the force on a scale of one to 10, he said it was “a 7 or 8,” according to the affidavit, adding, “I only used my hands.”

A GoFundMe created in Dante’s memory described him as “a happy and loving boy that deserved so much better than what happened to him,” adding, “He loved life and had the most amazing smile and laugh.”

Charlotte Kurek guilty plea, Devario Cruz charges, Dante Campbell case, West Allis child death, Wisconsin child neglect case

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