A 29-year-old Wisconsin man, Domenic Robert Falkner, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in the 2021 death of his girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter, Zoey Chafer, who had severe cerebral palsy. The child died from acute ethanol toxicity, with a blood alcohol content (BAC) well above lethal levels.
Details of the Case
Falkner pleaded no contest to repeated physical abuse of a child causing great bodily harm and chronic child negligence resulting in death. In exchange for his plea, the charge of first-degree intentional homicide was dismissed but read into the record.
Sawyer County Circuit Judge Anthony J. Stella Jr. also sentenced Falkner to five years of probation following his incarceration. He has already served 1,522 days in jail, which was credited to his sentence.
Zoey Chafer, who was diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy as a newborn, was nonverbal, unable to move, and required a feeding tube for nutrition and hydration. Falkner, who had moved in with Zoey’s mother, Samantha S. Smith, in 2020, was an approved caregiver for Zoey. The state had paid him to provide care for the child.
On July 28, 2021, a 911 call led medics to an apartment complex in Hayward, Wisconsin, where they found Zoey unconscious. She was declared dead at the scene. Initial investigations did not include an autopsy, but a blood sample from Zoey was analyzed, revealing a blood alcohol content of 0.572 g/100mL, more than seven times the legal intoxication limit for an adult in Wisconsin.
Findings and Medical Examination
The child’s BAC level of 0.572 was considered lethal, especially for a non-ambulatory child. According to a medical report, such a BAC level is typically associated with alcohol poisoning, and it was determined to be the direct cause of her death. The medical examiner noted that the presence of ethanol in Zoey’s system was consistent with intentional administration, given her condition and inability to move.
The report also revealed physical signs of abuse, including abrasions, contusions, and healing fractures, indicating that Zoey had been physically mistreated prior to her death. These injuries were deemed non-accidental and pointed to the involvement of an adult in her mistreatment.
Involvement of Zoey’s Mother
During interviews with law enforcement, both Falkner and Zoey’s mother, Samantha Smith, admitted that they were the only adults present when the alcohol was introduced into Zoey’s system. They were also the ones responsible for operating Zoey’s feeding tube, which raised further suspicion regarding the circumstances of the child’s death.
Sentencing and Legal Consequences
Falkner’s sentencing to 15 years in prison follows a similar sentence given to Zoey’s mother, Samantha Smith, who pleaded to the same charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in March 2026. Both Falkner and Smith’s sentences are a result of their involvement in the abuse and negligence that led to Zoey’s tragic death.
Falkner will also be required to serve five years of probation once he completes his prison sentence.
