GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Nearly a month after a 2-year-old’s suspicious death, a 21-year-old Green Bay man was officially charged with homicide.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by Local 5, 21-year-old James Vanderleest was charged with first-degree reckless homicide and seven other charges in relation to the death of a two-year-old child.
The Green Bay Police Department identified the child as Leo Escalante.
On June 22, officers were called to a residence on Alpine Drive for a report of a child who was not breathing. The mother of the child was reportedly driving the child to the hospital but pulled over so someone could do CPR.
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Authorities spoke with James’ father, who said he was the only one at the residence. Which was later debunked, and James admitted to being home alone with the child.
The child was later airlifted to a hospital, where he died from his injuries on June 23.
On June 23 authorities spoke with the child’s doctor, who said the injuries were not consistent with a fall down the stairs. James claimed that he left to get toilet paper and came back to find the child at the bottom of the stairs.
On June 24, authorities met with the child’s mother who wanted to provide the ‘full’ story of what happened on June 22. She reportedly said she left the residence and got a call from James saying the child was not breathing.
She reportedly told authorities that the child was not a fan of James.
On June 27, both James and his father were arrested at a cabin in Florence County.
Two days later on June 29 authorities spoke with James. He claimed he left to grab a roll of toilet paper and was gone for maybe a minute. When he came back, he found the child unconscious, James told authorities.
When detectives asked him why he didn’t call 9-1-1, James reportedly said he panicked and thought the child’s mother had called 9-1-1.
James continued to deny that he harmed or injured the child. After detectives told James that the child’s injuries were not consistent with him falling down the stairs, he said ‘nothing else happened,’ according to the complaint.
Later that day, detectives spoke with James again. Authorities reportedly explained to James that the injuries appear to be consistent with shaking baby.
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James reportedly said he did not make any mistakes and is telling the truth. In the complaint, James mentioned multiple times to authorities that he had a no-contact order with the mother of the child, and that played a role in some of his actions.
James is charged with:
- First degree reckless homicide
- Felony
- Up to 60 years in prison
- Obstructing an officer
- Misdemeanor
- Up to nine months in prison
- Bail jumping (four felony counts)
- Felony
- Up to six years in prison (per count)
- Bail jumping (two misdemeanor counts)
- Misdemeanor
- Up to nine months in prison (per count)
Court records show Vanderleest was in court on July 16 for his initial appearance. His cash bonds is at $2,050,000. He is scheduled to be back in court on August 16.
No additional information was provided. Local 5 will update this story as the case progresses.
