A couple has been apprehended and charged with abusing and neglecting the woman’s 14-year-old son, with the mother confessing to making him drink approximately two gallons of water each day. Stephanie Linke, aged 36, and Michael Gruchacz, aged 35, are now facing allegations of two counts of severe child abuse dating back about four months. The disturbing acts were uncovered when they brought the teenager to the hospital, alleging that he had been depriving himself of both food and fluids. However, Linke later admitted to medical staff that she had been compelling her son to consume 2 gallons, equivalent to around 7.5 liters, daily. At the time of admission to the hospital, the boy measured 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed roughly 92 pounds, according to officials in Cowboy State. Following his hospitalization, he has reportedly gained 11 pounds.
Linke purportedly attributed her son’s dangerously low weight to behavioral problems, claiming he refused to eat because he was restricted from consuming junk food or soda. Nevertheless, observant medical staff detected signs of alleged physical abuse, including an untreated wound behind one of his ears and bruises and scrapes on other parts of his body.
Furthermore, the excessive water intake by the boy resulted in hyponatremia, a condition arising from low salt levels in the body due to continuous flushing of electrolytes from excessive liquid consumption. Medical specialists at the hospital indicated that without prompt medical intervention, the child would likely have experienced organ failure leading to death.
During questioning by investigators, the boy reported that Linke shouted at him, struck him, and dragged him across the floor. Gruchacz is also accused of hitting him in the neck and shoulder with a “karate chop” at one instance. The couple is alleged to have subjected the boy to severe mental and emotional harm through cruel treatment and serious physical injury, as stated in official reports.
Evidence includes footage from home surveillance where Gruchacz was seen pacing back and forth in front of the 14-year-old before taking him to the hospital and warning him, “We will report everything you have done since that is the only way we can protect your mom.” Additionally, a disturbing conversation between the couple on October 13, five days before the boy’s hospitalization, reportedly involved them discussing hitting him in the throat.
Linke remarked, “He is eating now,” to which Gruchacz responded, “Punch him in the throat.” Linke then mentioned, “First [he] just walked upstairs without being called,” and Gruchacz replied, “I see. Was he looking for open kitchen hours?” The affidavit also mentions another surveillance video where Gruchacz allegedly suggested to the boy’s mother, in front of her son, “Ya know, if you suspend him by his feet and make a small slit, all the blood in his body will drain out.”
According to the affidavit, in separate interviews with law enforcement, the boy’s siblings disclosed that their brother resided in the basement and was usually only permitted to eat leftovers, ramen, and peanut butter unless he “earned” the right to have a meal with the family. While Gruchacz has been released on bond from the Laramie County Jail, Linke remains in custody on a $50,000 bond.