Green Bay Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Child Neglect Leading to Death

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Derrick Young Jr. was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Tuesday for his role in the neglect that led to the death of his 18-month-old son, Derrick Young III, in May 2022. The tragic incident occurred while Young and the child's mother, Putzlocker, were napping. Young expressed remorse in court, stating, “I take responsibility for my actions that led up to this. Never would I thought this would happen or wish this on anybody.” According to the criminal complaint, the child was removed from the couple's custody and placed with Young's mother after the incident. Young reported to police that the child appeared sick before they all laid down for a nap. He later woke to find the boy unresponsive, prompting him to perform CPR and call 911. The circumstances surrounding the child's death raised serious concerns about drug exposure. Putzlocker, who was also arrested, initially claimed ignorance regarding any drug exposure to the child, denying selling fentanyl. However, during her sentencing, she and her attorneys acknowledged her drug use. In contrast, the complaint indicated that Young was actively using and selling fentanyl at the time of his son's death, with evidence suggesting he feared the child might have ingested one of his pills. The case highlights the tragic consequences of drug abuse and neglect, leading to a devastating loss for the family involved.