Mother charged in 2022 homicide of 6-year-old daughter
By Sam Schmitz
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KENOSHA, Wisconsin (WISN) — The mother of a 6-year-old 2022 homicide victim has been charged in April 2026.
On April 20, 2022, deputies and detectives from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home near Sheridan Road and 15th Place for reports of an unresponsive child. The sheriff’s office said the victim, 6-year-old Layla Stahl, was found dead in her bedroom.
At the time of the initial investigation, no obvious signs of trauma or foul play were found, according to the sheriff’s office. The Kenosha County Medical Examiner’s Office, with help from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office, determined the cause and manner of the death to be undetermined.
In July 2024, detectives with the sheriff’s office were involved in a separate investigation involving Stahl’s mother, now 33-year-old Christina Torchia, in which she tried to solicit the homicide of another person, the sheriff’s office said. Torchia later plead guilty to solicitation of first-degree intentional homicide and was sentenced to the maximum penalty.
Investigators re-examined Stahl’s death early this year. The sheriff’s office said detectives conducted an extensive review of evidence, interviewed witnesses again and pursued additional investigative leads. Through this renewed effort, investigators developed new information regarding the circumstances of Stahl’s death.
On March 12, 2026, detectives interviewed Torchia again. During the interview, the sheriff’s office said investigators found multiple inconsistencies and statements contradicted evidence.
The sheriff’s office said a court order was obtained to amend the manner of Stahl’s death after the newest investigation and consulting the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office and medical examiner. A Kenosha County judge then approved the request, officially changing Stahl’s death to homicide. As a result of the investigation, Torchia has been formally charged with first-degree intentional homicide.
“Time does not erase responsibility, and it does not diminish our duty to seek justice,” Sheriff David Zoerner said. “This case remained a priority for our investigators, even when the answers were not immediately clear. Through persistence, professionalism, and a refusal to give up, we are now in a position to move forward with charges. Layla deserved better, and we will continue to pursue justice on her behalf.”
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