A Rhinelander man’s conviction following the death of his daughter will be reviewed by the State Supreme Court. Matthew Lonkoski was given 12 years in prison after he left a morphine pill where his ten month old daughter Peyton could reach it. The girl swallowed the pill and later died. The 25 year-old Lonkoski was convicted of child abuse and neglect for not seeking medical treatment when he knew she took the pill.
Lonkoski is seeking to have statements made to police before his arrest thrown out as a violation of his Miranda rights. Lonkoski talked more to investigators after his arrest, but the Supreme Court will have to decide which of his statements, if any, are admissible as evidence. They need to determine what counts as interrogation before and after Lonkoski was taken into custody.
WSAU