Tina Beauprey, 51, was arrested Jan. 23 on a charge of child neglect causing death after her 12-year-old son, Jeremiah, was found dead at SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital on Dec. 5, 2025. Prosecutors allege the boy starved and say his condition worsened in the days before his death; an autopsy ruled the death a homicide by starvation. The defense says Jeremiah suffered from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and expected weight loss. A probable cause report noted his weight fell from 80 lbs in Nov. 2024 to 56 lbs at death; Judge Laura Lavey set a $500,000 cash bond.
Wisconsin Mother Arrested After 12-Year-Old Son Dies; Autopsy Says Homicide by Starvation, Defense Cites Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Legacy.com; Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office
Tina Beauprey, 51, was arrested Jan. 23 and is being held on a charge of child neglect causing death after her 12-year-old son was found dead at SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital on Dec. 5, 2025. Prosecutors allege the boy was starved, while defense attorneys say he suffered from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive and ultimately terminal condition.
What Happened
Fond du Lac authorities say officers responded to the hospital around 1 a.m. on Dec. 5 after a child who had been brought to the emergency department was reported deceased. More than a month later, law enforcement arrested Beauprey and she remains in the Fond du Lac County Jail pending formal charges, according to online jail records.
Prosecutors' Account
Assistant District Attorney Kristin Menzl told the court that prosecutors believe Beauprey failed to provide adequate food and medical care as her son’s condition deteriorated. Officials say the child's health declined markedly in the two days before his death and that Beauprey had been at a hospital for a separate emergency shortly before her son died but did not seek care for him.
Defense Statement
Beauprey’s attorneys say the child, identified in his obituary as Jeremiah, had Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a degenerative neuromuscular disease. The defense maintains that weight loss can be an expected feature of the child’s terminal illness.
Medical Findings
A probable cause document cited in court noted Jeremiah’s weight fell from 80 pounds in November 2024 to 56 pounds at the time of his death, with roughly 15% of that loss occurring in the final five weeks of his life. An autopsy report described the cause of death as homicide by starvation and did not list the child’s underlying medical condition as a contributing factor, according to media accounts.
Judge Laura Lavey set a $500,000 cash bond at a bail hearing. Police have said additional details will not be released while the investigation and legal proceedings continue.
Family Remembrance: Family members remembered Jeremiah for his sense of humor and love of sports—especially the Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers—along with video games, McDonald’s chicken nuggets and chatting with Alexa devices.
The case remains under investigation, and officials say more information will be shared as it becomes available through the proper legal channels.
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