A Wisconsin mother, Amy S. Laszkiewicz, 53, pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges related to the starvation death of her 23-year-old daughter, Cora Laszkiewicz, who had severe autism.
Cora passed away on January 4, 2023, from malnourishment. Her mother was charged in June 2023 with recklessly causing abuse that led to her daughter’s death... Continue reading here ▶
According to the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office, Amy claimed she restricted her daughter’s diet partly to avoid upsetting her about sensitive issues like her weight.
Amy was arrested on June 21, 2023, but released on bail. After further court hearings, she was detained briefly before being allowed bail again.
On Thursday, she entered an Alford plea, meaning she did not admit guilt but acknowledged that evidence could likely lead to a conviction. She now faces up to 40 years in prison, with prosecutors seeking a 15-year sentence.
Amy called 911 the morning she found her daughter unresponsive in bed. As Cora’s legal guardian and full-time caregiver since 2017, Amy admitted to law enforcement that her daughter had not left their home since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Cora, who was 5’5”, weighed just 70 pounds at the time of her death. Medical examiners described her as “extremely thin and emaciated,” with visible bones, sunken eyes, and severely dehydrated skin. The report determined her death was a homicide caused by inadequate nutrition and hydration.
Amy told investigators that Cora hadn’t seen a doctor since 2019 and had last visited her primary care physician in 2017 when she weighed 135 pounds.
She also admitted that Cora’s diet consisted mainly of gluten- and dairy-free foods and that she avoided seeking medical help to keep her daughter calm.
“I probably should have taken her in,” Amy reportedly told detectives. “I didn’t want to upset her. That was always my goal – to keep her calm.”
During the hearing, prosecutors requested that Amy’s bail be revoked, arguing she might flee now that she has been convicted. However, the court allowed her to remain free until sentencing, scheduled for March 21 at 9:30 a.m.
