Close Menu
Tactical AmericansTactical Americans
  • Home
  • Guns
  • Knives
  • Gear
  • News
  • Videos
  • Community

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest tactical, firearms and many more news and updates directly to your inbox.

What's Hot

First Look: Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X Series

Jul 30, 2025 12:14 pm

WeAreTheMighty: The Armed Civilians who stopped Walmart Spree Stabbing were Marines

Jul 30, 2025 12:02 pm

2026 Nissan Rogue Gets a $200 Price Bump and New ‘Dark Armor’ Trim

Jul 30, 2025 11:52 am
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 12:17 pm EDT
Trending
  • First Look: Smith & Wesson M&P Shield X Series
  • WeAreTheMighty: The Armed Civilians who stopped Walmart Spree Stabbing were Marines
  • 2026 Nissan Rogue Gets a $200 Price Bump and New ‘Dark Armor’ Trim
  • Bell Curve for Trigger Techniques
  • Advanced Knife Bro’s designing the Stump Fish – part 2
  • Bryan Kohberger traffic stop video from months before Idaho murders released
  • Trump Says It Would be 'Inappropriate' to Comment on Whether He's Considering Ghislaine Maxwell Pardon By Brenton Blanchet
  • Cigars and Guns
  • Privacy
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest VKontakte
Tactical AmericansTactical Americans
  • Home
  • Guns
  • Knives
  • Gear
  • News
  • Videos
  • Community
Newsletter
Tactical AmericansTactical Americans
Home » Father and Son Held in Investigation Into Death of 2-Year-Old Boy Who 'Brought Everybody Joy'
News

Father and Son Held in Investigation Into Death of 2-Year-Old Boy Who 'Brought Everybody Joy'

Jack BogartBy Jack BogartJul 4, 2025 9:21 pm1 ViewsNo Comments
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp
Father and Son Held in Investigation Into Death of 2-Year-Old Boy Who 'Brought Everybody Joy'
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

NEED TO KNOW

  • Authorities are holding a 21-year-old Wisconsin man and his father in connection with the death of a 2-year-old boy
  • “The injuries sustained by this two-year-old were not consistent with a fall down the stairs,” Brown County Deputy District Attorney Wendy Lemkuil said during a court hearing on Monday, June 30
  • “Leo did not deserve to be taken from his family at the young age of 2,” a relative wrote in a GoFundMe

A 21-year-old Wisconsin man and his father and being held in connection with the death of a 2-year-old boy.

On June 22, two-year-old Leo Escalante’s mother was running an errand and came home to find her ex-boyfriend, James Vanderleest, performing CPR on the child, according to ABC affiliate WBAY. Vanderleest claims the boy was hurt when he fell down stairs. Escalante died days later.

“The injuries sustained by this two-year-old were not consistent with a fall down the stairs,” Brown County Deputy District Attorney Wendy Lemkuil said during a court hearing on Monday, June 30, per NBC affiliate WGBA. The outlet also reported that prosecutors allege James’ father, David, helped to hide and harbor him.

Lemkuil added that James allegedly encouraged the child’s mother to lie to officials about who was caring for Leo, the outlet reported.

Related Stories

5-Year-Old Girl Accidentally Shot in Road Rage Incident, Leaving Bullet Stuck in Her Sippy Cup

Girl, 9, Dies After Mom Leaves Her in Car in Texas Parking Lot and Goes to Work for 8 Hours
9-Year-Old Girl Dies in Hot Car After Mom Leaves Her to Go to Work

“Leo was just a happy little snuggly bunny, lover boy, always smiling. He had such a big laugh, average two-year-old into everything. He brought everybody joy,“ a relative, Keri Tucker, told WBAY before she addressed the court.

As she became emotional, she told the outlet, “Instant anger, sorrow, hurt. Everything was just so painful. Laying our baby to rest yesterday was one of the worst things in a long time that we’ve had to deal with, so I’m just hoping that this court system gets it right.”

David, James’ father, claimed he was caring for Escalante, not his son, on the evening the toddler was injured, officials said, per WBAY.

Fox affiliate WLUK reports James, who is not Escalante’s father, is facing other cases, some of which relate to domestic abuse. James and David allegedly fled to a Florence County cabin, where authorities arrested them in late June, per the outlet.

Leo Escalante

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

“A lot of this is lies,” James told the court, per WGBA.

Tucker has since established a GoFundMe to raise money for the toddler’s headstone.

“Leo did not deserve to be taken from his family at the young age of 2,” she wrote on the fundraiser website.

Read the full article here

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Bryan Kohberger traffic stop video from months before Idaho murders released

Trump Says It Would be 'Inappropriate' to Comment on Whether He's Considering Ghislaine Maxwell Pardon By Brenton Blanchet

Vivek Ramaswamy speaks with Cincinnati assault victim Holly after viral attack

Gunman in N.Y.C. Mass Shooting Wanted to Target NFL Offices but Took Wrong Elevator, Mayor Says By Sean Neumann

Man’s grocery store reactions go viral as he celebrates food choices in America

Security Guard Aland Etienne, Killed in N.Y.C. Shooting, Was a 'New York Hero,' Union Says By Greta Bjornson, Chris Spargo, and Elizabeth Rosner

Southern Arizona battles drug smuggling despite fewer migrant crossings

Arkansas State Police Release a Sketch of the Man Wanted for Killing a Married Couple on a Hike With Their Two Kids By Sean Neumann

Didarul Islam's Relative Says Police Officer's Dad Had a Stroke After Learning of Son's Death in Mass Shooting By Angel Saunders

Add A Comment
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Editors Picks

WeAreTheMighty: The Armed Civilians who stopped Walmart Spree Stabbing were Marines

Jul 30, 2025 12:02 pm

2026 Nissan Rogue Gets a $200 Price Bump and New ‘Dark Armor’ Trim

Jul 30, 2025 11:52 am

Bell Curve for Trigger Techniques

Jul 30, 2025 11:11 am

Advanced Knife Bro’s designing the Stump Fish – part 2

Jul 30, 2025 11:01 am

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest tactical, firearms and many more news and updates directly to your inbox.

Latest News

Bryan Kohberger traffic stop video from months before Idaho murders released

By Jack Bogart

Trump Says It Would be 'Inappropriate' to Comment on Whether He's Considering Ghislaine Maxwell Pardon By Brenton Blanchet

By Jack Bogart

Cigars and Guns

By news
Tactical Americans
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Press Release
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Copyright © 2025 Tactical Americans. Created by Sawah Solutions.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.