Milwaukee prosecutors filed several felony charges against a couple over the death of their four-year-old son and the alleged abuse of his twin sister.
The victims were identified as 21-year-old Devario Cruz and 31-year-old Charlotte Kurek. Cruz faces six counts, including physical abuse of a child, repeated acts causing death, first-degree reckless homicide, repeated acts causing bodily harm, chronic neglect of a child, and possession with intent to deliver THC.
Milwaukee Parents Arrested Over 4-Year-Old's Death
On the other hand, Kurek is charged with two counts of chronic neglect of a child, including one count where prosecutors allege the consequence was death. Criminal complaints noted that Kurek left the twin children in Cruz' care on Oct. 17, 2025.
Both parents initially told law enforcement authorities that the four-year-old boy, Dante Campbell, got his injuries from falling down the stairs. Kurek said that at around 8:00 p.m., her son fell down the stairs, adding that bikes and other garbage bags fell on top of him, according to WISN.
On the other hand, Cruz told investigators his account of what happened, which conflicted with Kurek's claims. He initially said that he was with the mother when the incident happened, but later changed the story about when the fall took place and who was there at the time.
Read more: Leavenworth County Mother Arrested, Sentenced to Jail Over Death of Her 1-Year-Old Daughter in 2023
Later on, in the official investigation, both parents admitted to investigators that they lied, with Kurek saying she did so because of fear for her safety, citing Cruz' two guns at the residence. Prosecutors noted that the male suspect admitted that he struck the young boy in the mouth and buttocks on the morning of his death.
Court filings noted that the boy was found to have bruising on his face, neck, torso, and limbs. A police sergeant said that in his more than a decade of experience, the four-year-old boy had the "most extensive and severe injuries that I have witnessed on a child," Fox6Now reported.
A Similar Incident
There was a similar incident in July involving another four-year-old boy in Milwaukee, where his parents were charged with his death. The suspects in the case were identified as 35-year-old Ralph Taylor Jr. and 33-year-old Casandra Taylor.
The father has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of the young victim, as well as possessing a firearm as a felon. On the other hand, the mother was charged with neglecting a child, with a consequence of death.
The boy was reportedly killed on July 10, in a home on the 9100 block of N. 75th Street in Milwaukee, as per Spectrum News1.
