A Wisconsin man is headed to prison for more than a decade after a heartbreaking case involving the death of his girlfriend’s young daughter, a child who prosecutors say suffered unimaginable abuse.
Court records show 29-year-old Domenic Robert Falkner was sentenced to 15 years behind bars after pleading no contest to charges including repeated physical abuse of a child and chronic neglect resulting in death. He will also serve five years of probation after his release.
The victim, Zoey Chafer, was just 4 years old.
Zoey had severe cerebral palsy and required around-the-clock care. She was nonverbal, unable to move, and relied on a feeding tube for basic nutrition and hydration. Falkner had been living with Zoey and her mother and was approved as one of her caregivers.
In July 2021, emergency crews responded to a 911 call about an unresponsive child at a home in Hayward, Wisconsin. When they arrived, Zoey was pronounced dead at the scene.
At first, the full extent of what happened wasn’t clear.
But a toxicology report later revealed something deeply disturbing: Zoey had an extremely high level of alcohol in her system — far beyond what would be considered fatal, especially for a child.
Authorities say the findings pointed to intentional administration.
After the results came in, Zoey’s body was exhumed for a full autopsy. The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide caused by acute ethanol toxicity. Investigators also found signs of physical abuse, including bruises, abrasions, and healing fractures — injuries that raised serious concerns about ongoing mistreatment.
According to investigators, Falkner and Zoey’s mother, Samantha S Smith, were the only adults in the home at the time and the only ones responsible for operating the child’s feeding tube.
Smith previously pleaded to similar charges and was also sentenced to 15 years in prison.
As part of Falkner’s plea deal, a first-degree intentional homicide charge was dismissed but still considered by the court during sentencing.