A woman and a man have been apprehended and charged with mistreating and depriving her 14-year-old son, with the mother confessing to making him drink approximately two gallons of water daily. Stephanie Linke, aged 36, and Michael Gruchacz, aged 35, are confronting allegations of two instances of severe child abuse dating back roughly four months. The situation came to light when they brought the adolescent to the hospital, alleging he had been depriving himself of both food and water. However, Linke later disclosed to hospital staff that she had been compelling her son to consume 2 gallons, equivalent to around 7.5 liters, per day. Upon his admission to the hospital, authorities from Cowboy State noted that the boy stood at 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed roughly 92 pounds. Following his hospitalization, he has reportedly gained 11 pounds.
Linke purportedly attributed her son’s dangerously low weight to behavioral problems, stating that he refused to eat because he was not permitted to consume unhealthy snacks or soda. Nevertheless, observant staff detected signs of additional alleged physical abuse, such as a longstanding untreated wound behind one of his ears, as well as bruises and scratches on other parts of his body.
Furthermore, the boy’s excessive water intake led to hyponatremia, a condition that arises when the body’s salt levels drop too low due to the constant elimination of electrolytes from liquid consumption. Medical specialists at the hospital indicated that the child would likely have experienced complete organ failure and death if he had not received timely medical attention.
During interviews with investigators, the boy recounted instances where Linke shouted at him, struck him, and dragged him across the carpet. Gruchacz is also accused of hitting him in the neck and shoulder with a “karate chop” at one point. According to official records, the couple also allegedly inflicted “substantial mental or emotional harm through the torture or cruel confinement of the child” and severe physical injury.
Evidence included footage from a home surveillance camera showing Gruchacz pacing in front of the 14-year-old before escorting him to the hospital and stating, “We will document everything you have done since that is the only way we can protect your mom.” In a distressing conversation between the couple on October 13, just five days before the boy was hospitalized, they purportedly discussed hitting him in the throat.
Linke remarked, “He is eating now,” to which Gruchacz responded, “Punch him in the throat.” “First [he] just walked upstairs without being called,” Linke mentioned. Gruchacz replied, “I see. Was he looking for open kitchen hours?” Additionally, the affidavit referenced additional footage from the home surveillance camera where Gruchacz allegedly told the boy’s mother in front of her son, “You know, if you suspend him by his feet and make a small cut, all the blood in his body will drain out.”
According to the affidavit, in separate interviews with law enforcement, the boy’s siblings claimed that their brother resided in the basement and was usually only permitted to consume leftovers, ramen, and peanut butter unless he “earned” the privilege of dining with the rest of the family. Although Gruchacz has been released from the Laramie County Jail on bond, Linke remains in custody on a $50,000 bond.
