JANESVILLE, WI – A chilling crime that stunned the Janesville community continues to unfold in the court system, as a young man accused of killing his 8-year-old sister is now poised to face a jury next year.
Dayveon Lathrop, 21, was taken into custody in March 2024 following the disappearance and subsequent death of his adopted sister. According to investigators, the girl was reported missing by her father on March 9 after returning home to find both his children gone. When the father pressed Lathrop for answers, Lathrop allegedly replied with a horrifying admission: “She is dead.”
Clouds of suspicion thickened as officers arrived at the family home. The search led police through hallways and into concealed corners until, in the laundry room, they uncovered the little girl’s body hidden inside a plastic tote. Police reported that she had been stabbed multiple times, casting a grim shadow over what should have been a safe space.
The investigation quickly focused on Lathrop, who was the only person home with the girl while their father was away running errands. When confronted by officers, Lathrop showed little recollection of events, claiming memory loss due to intoxication from alcohol and marijuana, according to court documents. Witnesses later told authorities they had overheard a heated dispute between Lathrop and the child earlier that afternoon.
Two knives recovered from a bathroom shower became key pieces of evidence as the case took shape, leading prosecutors to charge Lathrop with first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse.
Despite the mounting evidence, legal proceedings were delayed by questions surrounding Lathrop’s mental fitness. Initial court appearances hinted at possible competency issues. In May 2024, after an evaluation, he was ruled competent to stand trial and entered a not guilty plea. However, as the trial date approached, concerns resurfaced, and a subsequent hearing found Lathrop unfit, prompting his temporary transfer to a mental health facility.
After months in treatment, the case returned to court for a third competency assessment. This time, Lathrop was deemed able to participate in his defense, allowing judge and prosecutor to schedule a jury trial for July 2026. Until then, he remains behind bars at the Rock County Jail, awaiting what is expected to be a closely watched courtroom battle over the tragic circumstances of his sister’s death.
Court documents indicate Lathrop’s next hearing is set for May 8, 2026, as the legal process moves forward toward what many hope will bring long-awaited answers for a grieving family and shaken community.