Pewaukee mother accused of killing autistic daughter enters plea, avoids trial
PEWAUKEE, Wis. - Prosecutors say a Pewaukee mom starved her own daughter to death.
53-year-old Amy Laszkiewicz's daughter had autism. With a plea on Thursday, Jan. 2, Laskiewicz will avoid a trial.
Two years ago, investigators say they found Laskiewicz's 23-year-old daughter dead in their Pewaukee condo. Deputies say the daughter was, quote, "severely autistic" and had not left the condo since the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Prosecutors charged Laszkiewicz with "recklessly subjecting an individual at risk to abuse – causing death." Laszkiewicz called 911 on Jan. 4, 2023 after finding her daughter dead in bed. Investigators say the woman appeared "extremely thin" with "sunken eyes and cheeks."
Amy Laszkiewicz
According to the Waukesha County Medical Examiner’s Office, the woman weighed only 70 pounds.
By comparison, medical records indicate the woman weighed 135 pounds during a doctor’s visit seven years earlier.
"I feel I’m innocent," Laskiewicz said.
Laszkiewicz was the woman’s legal guardian and sole caretaker. The medical examiner determined the death to be a homicide because Laskiewicz failed to give her daughter adequate food and water.
In court Thursday, she entered an alford plea.
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"My client disputes that she is guilty, however she does feel that the state has enough evidence that she could be found guilty at a jury trial," defense attorney Paul Bucher said.
As part of the plea, prosecutors agreed her sentence will not exceed 15 years in prison. She was facing up to 25 years.
Sentencing will take place in March. Laszkiewicz remains out on bond.