Man charged in death of 4-year-old girl; accused of stealing cross from memorial

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SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The family of a 4-year-old girl killed in a car crash this past April is struggling with her death, and frustration over the on-going court battle with the man charged with causing it.

Nathan Heitzmann was back in court, and the family of Cordelia Kuether was there as well on Thursday, Oct. 19.

Heitzmann has failed to meet court order check- ins, violating the term and conditions of his bail.

In addition to skipping bail, Heitzmann faces a misdemeanor theft charge for allegedly stealing a cross at the memorial where Cordelia  Kuether died. It's the latest in a series of events that's left the family of the 4-year-old devastated.

"He doesn’t seem to care that he took somebody’s life, and not only took somebody's life but a 4-year-old, a child," said Katelyn Lallemont, a mother figure to the 4-year-old.

The family of Kuether still grappling with their new reality, that their little girl is gone.

"It took away her future, it took away us seeing the way she grows into the person she was going to be," said Lallemont.

The family meeting at 21st and Seamann, where a memorial marked the spot where Kuether was hit and killed in a crash allegedly caused by Heitzmann.

"What might have started off as an accident he has shown no remorse for," said Lallemont.

The gathering at the memorial happened just hours before they were due in court.

Twenty-four-year-old Heitzmann was there in the Sheboygan courtroom, sitting quietly, with his lawyer speaking on his behalf.

Heitzmann's attorney saying Heitzmann missed his court-ordered check-ins because he didn’t think he had to attend them.

"I truly believe that there was a misunderstanding on Mr. Heitzmann's parts that there was an expectation that he was required to report and provide a test sometime in September," said, Christopher Eippert, Heitzmann's attorney.

The Sheboygan judge placed Heitzmann into custody and raised his cash bond to $50,000.

Despite the new terms, a family is still left grieving.

"We are so sick of hearing about what he wants, what about what we want? We want Cordelia back," said Lallemont.

If convicted of all three felonies, Heitzmann could face up to 32 years in prison.

A status conference for Heitzmann is set for Nov. 22.



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