Waupun Man Accused Of Killing Foster Child, Injuring Another

WAUPUN, Wis. - Prosecutors say a Waupun man punched his two young foster children in the stomach as hard as he could, killing one and injuring the other.

A criminal complaint filed in Dodge County said Shane Marquardt told investigators he punched the boys, ages 2 and 3, as hard as he hits the heavy punching bag in his basement.

Camron Gardner, 3, was taken to Waupun Memorial Hospital, where he died Friday. An autopsy showed the young child bled to death from internal injuries.

The 2-year-old is hospitalized at Children's Hospital. His condition has not been released.

The complaint says Marquardt discovered one of the boys had vomited his bed and he "snapped," punching them as hard as he could.

He told police he was also upset because the boys were whiny and cranky.

Neighbors said they had no idea.

"It was a shock. It really was a shock. It was something no one here believed would have been the case... It's inexcusable. Never would have seen that coming," a neighbor said.

Police said the foster mother was not home at the time.

If convicted, Marquardt could face up to 85 years in prison.