A 21-year-old man from Wisconsin and his father are currently in custody linked to the tragic death of a 2-year-old boy named Leo Escalante.
On June 22, Leo’s mother returned home from running errands to find her ex-boyfriend, James Vanderleest, attempting CPR on the child. Vanderleest stated that Leo had fallen down the stairs. Sadly, Leo passed away a few days later.
During a recent court hearing, Brown County Deputy District Attorney Wendy Lemkuil pointed out that the injuries Leo sustained were inconsistent with a simple fall. Authorities also claim that James’ father, David, allegedly assisted in hiding information about the incident.
Lemkuil further revealed that James urged Leo’s mother to mislead officials about who was looking after Leo at the time of the incident.
A relative, Keri Tucker, shared her memories of Leo, describing him as a joyful little boy who brought happiness to everyone around him. Overcome with emotion, she expressed the pain of losing Leo and emphasized her hope for justice through the court system.
David Vanderleest has asserted that he was responsible for Leo’s care on the night the child was injured, not his son, James. Reports indicate that James, who is not Leo’s father, faces additional legal troubles related to domestic abuse. The pair allegedly attempted to evade authorities by fleeing to a cabin in Florence County, where they were apprehended.
In an unexpected twist, James claimed in court that much of the information presented is false. Meanwhile, Keri Tucker has initiated a fundraiser to honor Leo’s memory and help cover the cost of his headstone, expressing that he should never have been taken from his family at such a young age.
