On Tuesday, two homeschool parents in Georgia were charged with various counts of attempted homicide, child cruelty, battery, and false imprisonment after their 10-year-old son was discovered emaciated and wandering the streets. Spalding County District Attorney Marie Broder shared in a press conference that had the boy not been found; the outcome would have been much different.
Friday saw the boy, described as “very thin” with discolored skin, being treated for malnutrition and a low heart rate. Residents of Westminster Circle, who first noticed the child, took him in and made the emergency call. Severe malnutrition had caused the 10-year-old to weigh 36 pounds, far lower than the healthy average for his age in the United States.
Tyler Schindley and Krista Schindley each face charges of attempted homicide and malice murder as well as cruelty to children in the first, second, and third degree, battery, simple battery, and false imprisonment. The warrants detailed that the couple inflicted “cruel and excessive physical and mental pain” on their son by withholding food for an extended period and preventing medical attention. The Schindleys allegedly have gone so far as to lock the child in his bedroom on multiple occasions, denying him any access to food, clothing, lights, or adult contact.
The abuse of the boy occurred for at least three years, starting from May 12, 2020. The father presented himself to the police soon after the child was found, and the mother was arrested following an interview. The other kids were immediately taken into Georgia’s Department of Family and Children’s Services custody so they might remain safe.
At this time, law enforcement is still trying to uncover what caused this horrific runaway of events. Broder clarified that none of the siblings had undergone “forensic” interviews, nor had the victim, leaving motives a mystery. Both spouses made their initial court appearance Monday, and a bond hearing is forthcoming in the following weeks.