Baby found alone in smoke filled Neenah apartment after parent killed in crash

A fatal crash in Neenah caused authorities there to go searching for a baby because it wasn’t with the parent at the scene of the crash. They found the baby in a smoke filled apartment.

The series of events started Saturday, January 4, 2025, when 22-year-old Justin Hartjes crashed his vehicle on south Park Avenue in Neenah, around 10:30 at night. Hartjes died in the car which became engulfed in flames. Through investigation, it was learned Hartjes should be caring for his baby, and it was thought it was in the car with him, but after the fire was extinguished, there were no signs of the baby.

Police went to Hartjes’s apartment where they found smoke due to food burning in the oven. The baby was found safe in the apartment. Authorities are still trying to piece together how Hartjes ended up doing 80 mph on a city street and crashing while the baby was at home with the oven on.