A 32-year-old Wisconsin woman was charged this week in the death of her boyfriend’s 3-year-old son nearly a year ago.

Samantha Wishman reportedly called 911 and said she’d found the toddler not breathing the morning after he had fallen down the stairs, WLUK reported. The boy was taken to a hospital but died from significant injuries, including bruising on his head and other parts of his body, a distended abdomen, multiple rib fractures, a lung laceration, and other injuries.

In the course of the investigation, detectives uncovered text messages Wishman sent to the boy’s father, including one that said, “I’m ready to hurt these m*********** kids nobody f***** understands I can’t breathe so this is so much harder n now I’m having more problems breathing.”

Another child who lived in the house told detectives that Wishman used a belt or a brush on the six children, spanked them with a wooden spoon, and slapped them, the criminal complaint said.

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About two weeks after the boy’s June 15, 2023, death, investigators interviewing Wishman told her the injuries the child had were not consistent with falling down the stairs. “Doesn’t make sense,” she replied.

“In summary, the finding of multiplanar patterned bruising; bruising in anatomically protected locations; and severe internal injuries would not be expected after a stairway fall. In my opinion, (the victim) has likely been a victim of non-accidental trauma which led to his death,” Dr. Kristen Iniguez, Director of the Marshfield Child Advocacy Center said in a January 31 report that was quoted in the complaint.

Police did not say why they waited until the end of March this year to charge Wishman with reckless homicide and child neglect resulting in death.

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[Featured image: Samantha Wiseman/Marinette County Jail]