Katie Koch, on the left, and Joel Manke, on the right, inset against an image of a boarded-up window of their residence in Wisc. in July 2023. (Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office; Screengrab via WISN)
The boyfriend in a stomach-turning child neglect case pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Monday to his role in two children living in filth-ridden circumstances. Joel Manke, 40, is following the mother, Katie Koch, 36, with the same punishment: 10 years in prison, and 10 on extended supervision.
He had pleaded guilty to two counts of chronic neglect of a child (consequence is emotional damage), with the court dismissing two counts of false imprisonment
Koch pleaded guilty to two counts of chronic neglect of a child (consequence is emotional damage), and one count of false imprisonment. The court dismissed one count of false imprisonment, and two counts of neglecting a child (specified harm did not occur). As previously reported, cops in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, said they got 911 calls about two boys, ages 7 and 9, running naked through the street. They were covered in blood, feces, bruises, and red marks.
