WINNECONNE, Wisconsin — On the morning of July 31, Jeffrey Manke walked into a courtroom to finalize his divorce. By that evening, police were at his door for a welfare check.
What they found inside shook the small community.
Manke, 57, was found dead alongside his two daughters — Jaelyn, 16, and Lenora, 11. Authorities have not yet released the causes of death. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating.
A Divorce Wrapped in Red Flags
The divorce proceedings had been far from simple.
A restraining order had been issued against Manke earlier this year. Court documents flagged his access to firearms — a collection of 14 weapons, including six handguns, three shotguns, four rifles, an AK-47, and a Glock 21.
A hearing specifically to address his firearm collection and his health had been scheduled just four days before the three were found dead. Court records also showed Manke was not employed and was filing for disability due to a health issue.
“The System Failed My Babies”
The girls’ mother, Lindsay Lewandowski, broke her silence on social media after the tragedy.
She wrote that her daughters “were not safe” and “felt unsafe” with their father. The couple had shared joint custody, but Lewandowski had been seeking full custody.
She described a string of warnings that went unheard.
“The family counselor dismissed them and refused to continue working with them,” she wrote. “CPS reports were made. Cops were called.”
Her words ended with a heartbreaking conclusion: “The system failed my babies.”
Friends have launched a fundraiser to help Lewandowski cover funeral costs and living expenses as she navigates an unimaginable loss.
The investigation remains open.
Do you think the warning signs were ignored for too long? Share your thoughts in the comments.