Topline: The mother claimed the children ate “the basics” and were homeschooled — investigators found signs of abuse and no food.
Published: April 29, 2025 7:30 am ET
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Dashja Turner (via Racine County Jail)
RACINE, WI — A Wisconsin woman was sentenced to prison on Friday after pleading guilty to multiple counts of child neglect tied to a 2023 case involving five malnourished children.
Dashja Turner originally faced five felony counts of neglecting a child causing great bodily harm. In a February plea deal, she pleaded guilty to three counts; two others were dismissed but read in, FOX 6 Milwaukee reported.
She was sentenced to two years of initial confinement and three years of extended supervision for each count, to be served consecutively — totaling six years in prison and nine years of supervision.
Turner was arrested on July 31, 2023, after Racine police joined CPS on a welfare check prompted by a landlord’s concerns.
Officers found five children, ages 14 months to 14 years, living in an unfinished basement with no food, no bathroom, and only a single overhead light. Four children were found lying on a twin mattress, while Turner and a fifth child were in an adjoining room. One window was painted over.
The children were described as “frail, lethargic, and unkempt,” according to the criminal complaint.
Social workers took custody of the children, who were then hospitalized at Children’s Wisconsin. Prosecutors said they were severely malnourished, with one showing signs of physical abuse. One child told investigators they had been “whooped with a belt” by a man who stayed in the basement.
“There’s complete neglect and abuse — no food, completely malnourished children basically washing away and in the .01 percentile in the weight that they should be,” said Racine County Assistant District Attorney Brooke Erickson.
Turner denied neglect, telling police the children used an upstairs bathroom and were bathed using soapy water from a bucket. She said they ate “the basics,” though none of the listed foods were found in the home.
She attributed their condition to “genetics” and said injuries came from the children fighting. She also claimed they were homeschooled.
Turner made her initial court appearance on August 10, and her bond was set at $1 million.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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‘Completely Malnourished’: Racine Mom Gets 6 Years for Neglecting Several Children in Basement
The mother claimed the children ate “the basics” and were homeschooled — investigators found signs of abuse and no food.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 29, 2025 7:30 am ET
Dashja Turner (via Racine County Jail)
RACINE, WI — A Wisconsin woman was sentenced to prison on Friday after pleading guilty to multiple counts of child neglect tied to a 2023 case involving five malnourished children.
Dashja Turner originally faced five felony counts of neglecting a child causing great bodily harm. In a February plea deal, she pleaded guilty to three counts; two others were dismissed but read in, FOX 6 Milwaukee reported.
She was sentenced to two years of initial confinement and three years of extended supervision for each count, to be served consecutively — totaling six years in prison and nine years of supervision.
Turner was arrested on July 31, 2023, after Racine police joined CPS on a welfare check prompted by a landlord’s concerns.
Officers found five children, ages 14 months to 14 years, living in an unfinished basement with no food, no bathroom, and only a single overhead light. Four children were found lying on a twin mattress, while Turner and a fifth child were in an adjoining room. One window was painted over.
The children were described as “frail, lethargic, and unkempt,” according to the criminal complaint.
Social workers took custody of the children, who were then hospitalized at Children’s Wisconsin. Prosecutors said they were severely malnourished, with one showing signs of physical abuse. One child told investigators they had been “whooped with a belt” by a man who stayed in the basement.
“There’s complete neglect and abuse — no food, completely malnourished children basically washing away and in the .01 percentile in the weight that they should be,” said Racine County Assistant District Attorney Brooke Erickson.
Turner denied neglect, telling police the children used an upstairs bathroom and were bathed using soapy water from a bucket. She said they ate “the basics,” though none of the listed foods were found in the home.
She attributed their condition to “genetics” and said injuries came from the children fighting. She also claimed they were homeschooled.
Turner made her initial court appearance on August 10, and her bond was set at $1 million.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
‘Completely Malnourished’: Racine Mom Gets 6 Years for Neglecting Several Children in Basement
The mother claimed the children ate “the basics” and were homeschooled — investigators found signs of abuse and no food.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 29, 2025 7:30 am ET
Dashja Turner (via Racine County Jail)
RACINE, WI — A Wisconsin woman was sentenced to prison on Friday after pleading guilty to multiple counts of child neglect tied to a 2023 case involving five malnourished children.
Dashja Turner originally faced five felony counts of neglecting a child causing great bodily harm. In a February plea deal, she pleaded guilty to three counts; two others were dismissed but read in, FOX 6 Milwaukee reported.
She was sentenced to two years of initial confinement and three years of extended supervision for each count, to be served consecutively — totaling six years in prison and nine years of supervision.
Turner was arrested on July 31, 2023, after Racine police joined CPS on a welfare check prompted by a landlord’s concerns.
Officers found five children, ages 14 months to 14 years, living in an unfinished basement with no food, no bathroom, and only a single overhead light. Four children were found lying on a twin mattress, while Turner and a fifth child were in an adjoining room. One window was painted over.
The children were described as “frail, lethargic, and unkempt,” according to the criminal complaint.
Social workers took custody of the children, who were then hospitalized at Children’s Wisconsin. Prosecutors said they were severely malnourished, with one showing signs of physical abuse. One child told investigators they had been “whooped with a belt” by a man who stayed in the basement.
“There’s complete neglect and abuse — no food, completely malnourished children basically washing away and in the .01 percentile in the weight that they should be,” said Racine County Assistant District Attorney Brooke Erickson.
Turner denied neglect, telling police the children used an upstairs bathroom and were bathed using soapy water from a bucket. She said they ate “the basics,” though none of the listed foods were found in the home.
She attributed their condition to “genetics” and said injuries came from the children fighting. She also claimed they were homeschooled.
Turner made her initial court appearance on August 10, and her bond was set at $1 million.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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