We are obviously disappointed and respectfully disagree with the courts decision, the statement said, adding that prosecutors would take a fresh look at the evidence and applicable law in this tragic and troubling case to determine the best course forward. Burns also wrote that the jurors heard expert testimony that suggested, incorrectly, that the slides designers did not adhere to legal standards, and that the expert mentioned another, unrelated death at the Schlitterbahn park in Texas. Portfolio Management and Personalized Advice at Charles Schwab. In his ruling, Judge Robert Burns of Wyandotte County wrote that there was illegal evidence that should not have been presented to the grand jury and called into question videos and expert testimony presented to jurors. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Caleb Thomas Schwab Birth 23 Jan 2006. The two women in Calebs raft sisters who suffered facial injuries and bone fractures also received settlements from the park. TWOteenagers have described the horrific moment they saw a trail of blood following Caleb Schwab's body down a waterslide - after he was tragically killed on the 168ft-high ride. It's the scariest thing I've done.". Yeah i sort of agree with the child endangerment but I think gross negligence and manslaughter would be more appropriate charges. Not all products and services listed are available outside the U.S. and some are subject to country specific restrictions. Riders slide down Verruckt, the world's tallest water slide, at the Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark on Wednesday, July 9, 2014 in Kansas City, Kan. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images). I obviously recognize that the circumstances and events giving rise to these indictments are indisputably tragic, Burns said. Caleb Schwab was decapitated in August 2016 when the raft he was riding in went airborne and struck a metal support for netting on the slide. "I think, they figured since stuff was flying out, we better do something to keep people from flying out," said Martin, who has not seen or tested the ride. 2. And so it sounded like, you know, they were going to do something about it.". According to the Associated Press, Calebs family reached a nearly $20 million settlement with Schlitterbahn and affiliated companies. The ride, which is taller than both the Statue of Liberty and Niagra Falls, left even its creator terrified. A Kansas judge dropped charges Friday against the owners of the world's tallest waterslide after a child was decapitated on it, local media reported. Winter Prosapio, a spokesperson for Schlitterbahn, said the company welcomed the decision. He hit a metal pole and was decapitated. The 10-year-old boy who died at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City over the weekend died of a neck injury that has been described as a decapitation, according to reports. The defendants included Jeffrey W Henry, a co-owner of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts, which is based in Texas; John T Schooley, a designer of the slide; and Tyler Austin Miles, a former operations director. We pay for your stories! "We are thankful for all the support and encouragement weve received," Prosapio said. Did you encounter any technical issues? All Rights Reserved. It says the experts found several violations of standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. Caleb, the son of a Kansas lawmaker, was in a raft with two women who were not related to him when he was killed. Web315k members in the TrueCrimeDiscussion community. Soon after arriving, Caleb and his brother Nathan set off into the park with friends. WebTWO teenagers have described the horrific moment they saw a trail of blood following Caleb Schwabs body down a waterslide after he was tragically killed. Other thrill-seekers have since shared their experiences on the ride, including Paul Oberhauser, who told local station KCTV that his shoulder restraint had "busted loose". The attraction features two tracks with 80 degree drops. This bill is really not about Caleb, he said last year, according to the Kansas City Star. He told ABC News his raft failed to slow down and crashed into a concrete wall at the end of the pool. Send a breaking news alertReport a correction or typoLearn more about the 6abc apps, How to fight rising energy costs amid PGW rate hikes, Bus driver could face 400 years in prison in 'upskirt' photos case, Calisthenics teacher returns to alma mater to help Philly students. She said: "There was a woman being treated for some kind of injury on her face and head. Schwab family photo It was a horrible tragedy. The Verrckt water slide was demolished last year. Asking for privacy to grieve, they said: Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those he came in contact with.. This evidence in question reportedly included clips from a Travel Channel show that defense attorneys said was dramatized to play up the ride's danger. (Contributed photo/Facebook) NEW! In his statement after Miles and Schlitterbahn were indicted, Calebs father said that while we have no control over the investigation, we have full faith and trust in Attorney General Derek Schmidt and his office as relates to last weeks indictments, as well as any other decisions that office may make going forward.. Schwab said it was surreal he didnt even remember driving home. He said: "As we were going down, we went down the first one, and as we were approaching the second one, he was in the back and you could hear him say that his strap came off and when we hit, he was real tense, shaken, because his strap had come completely off and literally he was using all of his force to hold him onto the slide. Schlitterbahn which, like Miles, has strongly denied wrongdoing was also charged with one count of interference with law enforcement. Caleb was with his family at the park during an event for elected officials. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Caleb, the son of Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, was decapitated after his raft went airborne and collided into equipment attached to the slide. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. I said, I just need to hear you say, is my son dead? and he just shook his head, Scott Schwab said. All Rights Reserved. Schwab, a Kansas House representative from Olathe, took his wife, Michele, and four sons to the Schlitterbahn Vacation Villages water park in Kansas City, Kan., on Aug. 7 a day on which admission was free for Kansas state legislators and their families. Important information about our relationship with you: Our Client Relationship Summaries offer a brief summary of our services, fees and obligations when we work with you in a broker-dealer or an investment advisory relationship. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Police said investigations into the incident were ongoing. Caleb, the son of Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, was decapitated after his raft went airborne and collided into equipment attached to the slide. The murder charges against the designers and owners of a water slide that decapitated a 10-year-old boy in the US have been dropped. "However, the most obvious and potentially lethal flaw was that Verrckt's design guaranteed that rafts would occasionally go airborne in a manner that could severely injure or kill the occupants.". Henry was arrested Monday in Texas and his next court date is scheduled for Thursday. Miles and the park's management were also charged with involuntary manslaughter. Conrad's wife snapped a photo at the end of the ride showing the strap missing. Period.". The Guinness World Records has certified the ride as the tallest in the world. KANSAS CITY, Kan. A 10-year-old boy was decapitated as he rode a 168-foot tall waterslide at a water park in Kansas, a person familiar with the investigation said Wednesday. A Warner Bros. Two lawsuits involved mishaps on the 3,000-foot King Kaw inner tube ride in man-made rapids and the third involved a man who said he caught his toe on a surfing ride and fell on his face. Oberhauser said he reported the matter to park workers. Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368, Strictly star bags life-changing EastEnders role as part of new family, Baby's body found after huge search as cops quiz Constance Marten & lover, Bianca Gascoigne reveals very unusual name for her newborn daughter, I took pic of son, 18, before his first night out then the worst thing happened, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Caleb Schwab was just 10 years old when he was killed while riding the 168-foot-tall "Verrckt" slide in Kansas City's Schlitterbahn water park in 2016. In seeking the indictment, state attorneys showed grand jurors video footage filmed for a Travel Channel show, Xtreme Waterparks, which featured the slide in an episode. Boy thrown from water slide. Kansas statutes governing amusement rides don't specifically mention waterslides. Not only had Tyler ridden the slide numerous times, but, as the State is aware, he had scheduled his wife to ride it on the day of the accident, the Baths said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. Criminal indictments came in 2018. The person, who is not authorized to speak about the boy's death, told The Associated Press that Caleb Schwab was decapitated Sunday on the "Verruckt" raft ride at theSchlitterbahnWaterPark in Kansas City, Kansas. This site is designed for U.S. residents. Two media sneak preview days in 2014 were canceled because of problems with a conveyor system that hauls the 100-pound rafts to the top. Usage will be monitored. [Nathan] was screaming, He flew from Verrckt, he flew Verrckt, Calebs mother Michelle Schwab said. We have a box of greeting cards from around the world, and we just want people to know that one, were thankful, Scott Schwab said. WebScott and Michele Schwab appeared in an interview that aired Monday on Good Morning America. They spoke about the day their 10-year-old son, Caleb, was killed on the Giving him hugs, she said, hearing about his day, watching him play soccer, I mean, so much, so many things.. The state requested documentation fromSchlitterbahn"to ensure all safety requirements have been followed." Riders are harnessed in with two nylon seatbelt-like straps one that crosses the rider's lap, the other stretching diagonally like a car shoulder seatbelt. Riders go down the slide in multi-person rafts and have to be at last 54 inches tall, according to the parks website. Clearly the issues with Schlitterbahn go far beyond Calebs incident, Scott Schwab said in his statement, and we know the Attorney General will take appropriate steps in the interest of public safety.. The 2 other adult female riders in the boat, not related tothe victim, sustained minor facial injuries, and were transported and treated at area hospitals.". A lawyer who represented the Schwab family did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. Caleb Schwab was killed on the 170-foot-tall Verruckt water slide at Kansas Citys Schlitterbahn Waterpark after the raft he was on went airborne and his head struck a pole. The slide, known as Verrckt, which is German for crazy or insane, opened in 2014 and was marketed as the tallest water slide in the world. WebOn Sunday, ten-year-old Caleb Schwab died at the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City while on a 168 foot high slide. Id like to know why this happened to this child and not others of similar dimensions. Verruckt's 2014 opening repeatedly was delayed, though the operators didn't explain why. State law leaves it to the Kansas Department of Labor to adopt rules and regulations relating to certification and inspection of rides, adding that a permanent amusement ride must be scrutinized at least once a year by "a qualified inspector.". Unauthorized access is prohibited. The Schwabs recounted that day during a four-minute segment on Good Morning America.. The rafts sometimes lifted from the chute momentarily, and the slide was covered with netting, supported by metal poles, so riders would not fall off. WebThe Kansas House representative's 10-year-old son Caleb was decapitated in front of his older brother during a family day out to the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. 2023 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc, All rights reserved. When she tried to get closer, a man would not let her. The Owners Of The "World's Tallest" Waterslide Have Been Indicted After A 10-Year-Old Boy Was Decapitated, World's Tallest Waterslide Is Closing After 10-Year-Old Boy Decapitated, Boy Who Died On World's Tallest Waterslide Suffered Neck Injury. "I think we have a serious issue with the restraint system. But on Friday, a judge dismissed the charges and said prosecutors had submitted improper evidence. 2 To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. "The Kansas City, Kansas Police and Fire Departments responded to the scene and located Caleb Schwab, 10 years old, dead from a fatal neck injury at the end of the ride, in the pool. It appeared those who reached him first "just realised he was dead and didn't try to revive him", she added. Despite this, Henry, a high school drop-out, allegedly rushed the Verrckt into operation and skipped fundamental steps in the design process, the indictment states. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Caleb, the son of Republican state Rep. Scott Schwab, and his family were visiting the park on Elected Officials Day, at which the park provided lawmakers with free admission and lunch. Calebs brother Nate, Many of us, and our children and grandchildren, have ridden the ride with complete confidence as to its safety.. Check the background of this firm or one of its investment professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck. No one had ever done anything like this.". A promotional video about building the slide includes footage of two men riding a raft down a half size test model and going slightly airborne as it crests the top of the first big hill. WebCaleb Schwab was killed Sunday at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Brea 3421 E. Imperial Highway Brea, CA 92823. The 168ft-high Verruckt, which means "insane" View our online Press Pack. We feel its the right thing to do, said Schlitterbahn spokeswoman Winter Prosapio. Exactly. Julia Reinstein is a reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York. WebMake the Most Out of Schwab.com. After a 10-Year-Old's Waterslide Decapitation, Why Were the Ride Designers Charged with Murder? Press J to jump to the feed. Six went to the park, and five came back, Scott Schwab said in an interview that was broadcast Monday on Good Morning America.. Non-U.S. residents are subject to country-specific restrictions. WebScott and Michelle Schwab, who took their four sons to the water park, recalled the moments before Caleb and his 12-year-old brother Nathan went up to the top of the 170 Each "Verruckt" rider must be at least 54 inches tall, and the combined body weight of the riders on each raft is limited to 400 to 550 pounds. Before they took off I said, Brothers stick together and [Caleb] said, I know, dad, Scott said. Working closely with Schwab Bank can help you make home lending decisions with confidence. Caleb was killed on Aug. 7, 2016, when the raft he was riding down the 17-story Verrckt waterslide went airborne and collided with the overhead netting and metal hoops, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE. ", "Verrckt suffered from a long list of dangerous design flaws," the indictment read. The 168-foot-high Verruckt (German for insane) is the tallest water slide in the world, according to Guinness World Records. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. The shock was so great, Scott Schwab demanded that someone actually confirm his sons death. I obviously recognise that the circumstances and events giving rise to these indictments are indisputably tragic, Mr Burns wrote. Two adult women on the raft were also severely injured. "The court has grave doubts as to whether the irregularities and improprieties improperly influenced the grand jury and ultimately bolstered its decision to indict these defendants," the judge said. A Wyandotte County grand jury indicted the following on counts of reckless second-degree murder: Jeffrey Wayne Henry, a co-owner of Schlitterbahn Companies and a designer of the waterslide; John Timothy Schooley, also a designer of the slide; and Henry & Sons Construction Company, Inc., the corporation involved in the slides construction. Nathan was waiting for Caleb at the bottom of the slide when the accident happened. But riders sometimes struck the netting or the poles, and some injuries had already occurred when, in August 2016, Caleb Schwab, 10, got into a raft with two other riders. His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. WebCaleb Schwab, 10, was decapitated on a water slide in Kansas five years ago ( Image: KMBC.com) Caleb was killed when his raft became airborne over the slide's 50-foot The slides two designers, John Schooley and Jeffrey Henry, are among the five defendants who have been charged with aggravated battery and aggravated child endangerment related to the incident. 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