A Wyoming fire chief and his wife are facing trial for allegedly starving their 13-year-old adopted son to the point where he weighed just 54 pounds and appeared like a "concentration camp survivor," according to expert testimony delivered this week. Darrick Mittlestadt, the former chief of Laramie County Fire District No. 1, and his wife, Angela Mittlestadt, were charged with aggravated child abuse and conspiracy following an investigation that revealed the boy was kept in a darkened bedroom and severely malnourished.
Background
The case centers on a boy originally from Colorado who was adopted by the Mittlestadts approximately six years prior to his hospitalization. According to the Laramie County Sheriff's Office, the couple took the child in, but the home environment allegedly deteriorated into one of neglect and control. Angela Mittlestadt reportedly told investigators she had taken in a "F—ed up kid with trauma" and believed she could help him, a sentiment that seemingly shifted as the situation worsened.
The investigation timeline highlights a critical event in June 2025, when Angela Mittlestadt dropped the teen off at a Youth Development Center in Douglas, Wyoming. She instructed the boy to tell staff there that he "needed somewhere to live." When questioned by police, the boy explained that he was not being treated well, citing behaviors such as wetting the bed and "picking at himself" as reasons for his confinement and restricted diet. He was subsequently transferred to Colorado Children's Hospital on June 24, 2025, for urgent medical care.
The Charges
Dr. Andy Sirotnak, a child abuse physician, testified on the first day of Darrick Mittlestadt's trial that the victim was diagnosed with cachexia, a complex metabolic syndrome characterized by the progressive involuntary loss of body mass, including skeletal muscle and fat. "No muscle to the bone," Sirotnak stated, describing the boy's physical state upon admission. He noted that the teen "looked extremely ill" and that "common sense would tell you that if you saw a child or patient who looked like this, they needed care."
Both Darrick and Angela Mittlestadt were charged with aggravated child abuse and conspiracy. Angela Mittlestadt, 49, has pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse in a plea deal that is expected to result in a prison sentence of 15 to 17 years, down from the maximum of 25 years she faced. She is expected to testify against her husband during his ongoing trial.
According to the arrest affidavit obtained by Cowboy State Daily and Wyoming News Now, the couple allegedly starved the boy due to his behavior. The affidavit states the boy's ribs, collarbones, and other bones were "protruding and clearly visible," and he was missing much of the hair on his head. Pediatricians treating him confirmed that the malnourishment was not recent and had resulted in arrested bone growth and joint development.
Key Takeaways
- The victim, a 13-year-old boy, weighed only 54 pounds when hospitalized in June 2025.
- Dr. Andy Sirotnak testified the boy suffered from cachexia and resembled a "concentration camp survivor."
- Angela Mittlestadt pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse and faces a 15- to 17-year sentence.
- The boy allegedly told police he was allowed only one meal a day and was kept in a bedroom with a blockaded door for roughly two years.
- The Laramie County Sheriff's Office investigated the case, leading to charges of aggravated child abuse and conspiracy against both parents.
- The boy testified that he was kept in total darkness and fed mostly peanut butter or ham sandwiches.
What's Next
Darrick Mittlestadt's trial is currently underway, with Angela Mittlestadt expected to testify against her husband as part of her plea agreement. The upcoming trial schedule for Darrick Mittlestadt will determine whether he faces conviction on the charges of aggravated child abuse and conspiracy. Angela Mittlestadt is scheduled for sentencing, where she faces a recommended prison term of 15 to 17 years for her guilty plea to aggravated child abuse.