An 11-year-old girl, D., was allegedly singled out for starvation and torture by her foster mother, Kimberly Howell. D. was homeschooled. Her four siblings, who were also Howell’s foster children, attended school and were allegedly forced to participate in the abuse.

D. was allegedly forced to provide childcare for her siblings, including a 1-year-old. She was allegedly forced to cook all the family’s meals, but not allowed to eat them; she was allegedly only allowed to eat rice and milk or water. While the other children had beds, D. allegedly had to sleep on the floor in Howell’s room, and she was sometimes allegedly forced to sleep in the bathroom. As punishment for “stealing” food, Howell allegedly forced D. to do push-ups and forced her siblings to beat her. Howell allegedly told D. she couldn’t go to school like her siblings because there wasn’t “enough money to pay for [her] ‘tuition’ at Wilson Junior High.” Howell allegedly threatened to beat D. in her sleep and allegedly did so the week before she was rescued. Howell allegedly instructed D.’s mother to cut off her ponytail. D. attempted suicide to escape the alleged abuse.

The alleged abuse came to light after an anonymous source reported it to authorities. Howell was charged with child abuse.

Date: December 16, 2019
Location: Manitowoc, Wisconsin

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