Seven-year-old girl shot by arrow now home, recovering

CAMPBELLSPORT -- The seven-year-old Campbellsport girl who was struck by an arrow spoke to the media for the first time Tuesday, May 29th. Aryanna Schneeberg was struck in the back while playing in front of her home on Main St. back on May 20th. She's now recovering at home.

Aryanna's family told reporters on Tuesday they talked with detectives about the case. Authorities are still looking for the person who shot the arrow. The family simply wants that person to come forward and are frustrated that no one has done so yet.

"It is really shocking because it is such a small town. Somebody has to know the person who did it, and the person who did it knows they did it," Aryanna's mom, Laura Schneeberg said.

As for Aryanna, she showed reporters where the arrow went into her back. She also showed the roughly eight-inch incision doctors made on her front to remove the arrow and repair the damage made to organs. Her stitches are expected to dissolve in about a week -- and doctors are expecting a full recovery.

Doctors at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin say the arrow pierced her back and multiple organs including her lung, diaphragm, stomach and spleen.

"I could see where it was in her back," said Laura Schneeberg, Aryanna's mother. "At the time, I didn't know it was through her lung. I underestimated how long an arrow it actually was."

Aryanna left the hospital on Friday, May 25th. Her family treated her to a banana split in Theresa on Saturday, May 27th. She plans to visit her first-grade class Wednesday, but she will not be attending class the rest of the year. Aryanna says she really missing being able to jump on her trampoline. Right now, it's too painful to do so.

Aryanna will see her doctors at Children's Hospital for a check later this week. Her biggest complaint is that the large scar on her front is itching.

The Schneebergs are now considering moving from their home. That's because all they think about when they're there is this incident involving the arrow.

Fond du Lac County Sheriff Mick Fink said in a recent interview, the bow and arrows of a neighbor to the Schneebergs had been sent to the state crime lab for analysis. This, after the neighbor consented to a search of his property. Fink says it's unclear at this point who fired the arrow.

A $500 reward is being offered for information into the arrow incident. Anyone with information that could help investigators is urged to call the Fond du Lac County law enforcement tip line at 920-906-4777.

The Schneeberg family has also set up a benefit fund to help pay hospital bills incurred because of this arrow incident. You can make a donation to the Aryanna Schneeberg Benefit Fund at any National Exchange Bank and Trust.

Related stories: