Update on Tracy Teen Torture Suspects

[gorbal]

[QUOTE]

Teen with chain and padlock on ankle flees Tracy residence
By Mike Martinez
Tri-Valley Herald
Posted: 12/01/2008 08:22:15 PM PST

TRACY — Police arrested a Tracy couple Monday afternoon in connection with a case involving a 16-year-old boy who — wearing only a pair of baggy boxers and carrying a heavy chain padlocked to his ankle — stumbled into a local gym asking employees to hide him.


http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11116164

Copyright © 2008 - San Jose Mercury News

To think there are people that evil out there still.

[Details]

It's horrible that there are evil people in the world - but I can't help just being overjoyed that he's alive! Normally they're never found - or their bodies are.

[Kip]

http://www.koat.com/news/18183689/detail.html

Two people were questioned after a missing teenager apparently escaped captivity and ran into a fitness center Monday with an inch-thick chain shackled to his ankle police in Tracy, Calif., said.

Wearing just boxer briefs, the 17-year-old burst into an InShape Fitness Center at about 4 p.m., said Chuck Ellis, who works at the gym...

Ellis said the boy looked scared and said, "Hide me, please hide me."


Covered in dirt or soot, the teenager was also bleeding on his back and had a significant cut on his arm,...

:eek: Thank goodness this boy escaped. I heard about this on the radio.They said the boy looked emaciated.

[dinojen]

They were talking about this this morning on our local news channel out of San Francisco.
The EMT's that transported him said it was one of the most disturbing things he had seen. The boy reportedly is 17 and looks the age of a 10 or 11 year old.

Seems the house is in a nice suburb, why no one knew anything about the children in this home I have no idea, you would think CPS would be legally obligated to make house calls and check on these kids welfare and that they are properly being cared for. Disgusting is all I can say.

They removed two smaller children (diaper age) to and put them in protective custody, just imagine these people are paid to take care of these children.

Really really is horrible.

http://cbs5.com/crime/male.teen.chains.2.877888.html

The link has a video also.

[Kip]

It's not clear to me from these stories that CPS was paying this couple. The stories say he was either missing from a Sacramento group home or that he was taken from a Sacramento group home - and now shows up in Tracy.

That video link - the house looks so normal with a Christmas tree in the window. A neighbor said he'd see the boy out doing yard work and thought he was part of the family. [That reminds me of the true story "The Girl in the Box" about a teenage girl who was kidnapped, raped, and tortured and kept in a coffin-sized box. Her captor eventually let her out to do various things (even trips out in public with them), but she was so terrified of being punished and his threats to kill her family that she didn't try to escape for 7 years.)

From the two accounts by the health club employees, you can tell the boy was terrified of being found by his captors. They said he was running holding a 2-ft-long chain that was attached to his ankle.

[annalyzer]

From what I understand he is a runaway who these people have been holding captive in their house. Now who and why would anyone want to keep some teenage boy in their home? Was he being sexually molested or something?

[gorbal]

I know, we only here about the children people care about...I couldn't even find any Sacramento teens listed as missing.

The couple faces charges for kidnapping and torture.

http://www.my58.com/news/18186249/detail.html

[Jpanda]

From this article:
http://www.mantecabulletin.com/main.asp?SectionID=28&SubSectionID=58&ArticleID=60470&TM=17655.95

"Neighbors reportedly confirmed they knew the boy was there but failed to call authorities despite knowing some of the conditions he was living under."

What a horrible life this young man has had. :(

[dinojen]

From what I understand he is a runaway who these people have been holding captive in their house. Now who and why would anyone want to keep some teenage boy in their home? Was he being sexually molested or something?

From the link I just read and will post, he ran away from his foster home in Sacramento to look for his family, he was picked up after running away and placed in the foster home in Tracy. Either way it doesn't sound like this young man has had the best care in his foster home situations.

This link also says they are looking for a third suspect in this boy's false imprisonment and other charges.

Can you imagine a 17 year old looking like a ten year old, somehow this is another child that fell through the cracks in CA's CPS system..:cuss:

http://cbs13.com/local/male.teen.chains.2.877592.html

[Jpanda]

From the link I just read and will post, he ran away from his foster home in Sacramento to look for his family, he was picked up after running away and placed in the foster home in Tracy. Either way it doesn't sound like this young man has had the best care in his foster home situations.

This link also says they are looking for a third suspect in this boy's false imprisonment and other charges.

Can you imagine a 17 year old looking like a ten year old, somehow this is another child that fell through the cracks in CA's CPS system..:cuss:

http://cbs13.com/local/male.teen.chains.2.877592.html

Absolutely breaks my heart that so many ADULTS in his life messed him up so badly. Makes me want to run out and adopt him. :(

[gorbal]

According to MSNBC the neighbors are saying at least four other children lived there...and supposedly they only found two others?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28014820/

(there is new info in the video that isn't in the text)

[BorderCollieMom]

So sad. Sounds like finding his REAL parents wont be too hard. He said he ran away from a foster home "to find his family".

I have wonder what this story is about....why did his family put him in foster care ? or did some court take him from his bio family ?

:rose:

[Shelby1]

Those people are just sick.:flamemad: That poor boy!

[Heidi J.]

Girl scout leader arrested (http://www.ktvu.com/news/18183765/detail.html)

:eek:

[Amy]

They were talking about this this morning on our local news channel out of San Francisco.
The EMT's that transported him said it was one of the most disturbing things he had seen. The boy reportedly is 17 and looks the age of a 10 or 11 year old.

Seems the house is in a nice suburb, why no one knew anything about the children in this home I have no idea, you would think CPS would be legally obligated to make house calls and check on these kids welfare and that they are properly being cared for. Disgusting is all I can say.

They removed two smaller children (diaper age) to and put them in protective custody, just imagine these people are paid to take care of these children.

Really really is horrible.

http://cbs5.com/crime/male.teen.chains.2.877888.html

The link has a video also.

It doesn't say why this couple would keep a teenage runaway. But, it doesn't sound like this is a foster home, or a home where CPS would be obliged to investigate--just a couple who picked up a runaway. The neighbor said they all just looked like a family, and the teenage had been out and about, helping w/the yard work.

[Amy]

From the link I just read and will post, he ran away from his foster home in Sacramento to look for his family, he was picked up after running away and placed in the foster home in Tracy. Either way it doesn't sound like this young man has had the best care in his foster home situations.

This link also says they are looking for a third suspect in this boy's false imprisonment and other charges.

Can you imagine a 17 year old looking like a ten year old, somehow this is another child that fell through the cracks in CA's CPS system..:cuss:

http://cbs13.com/local/male.teen.chains.2.877592.html

This article still doesn't say the place he had been staying was a foster home:

Although it's not clear how the teenage victim ended up in Tracy, Robinson said the boy ran away from a Sacramento foster home last year.

--------------------------------------------------------------
It sounds like someone who picked up a runaway and kept him captive for whatever reason.

[Breazy]

WHAT? Talk about twisted.............:eek::eek:

According to this article, the third person that they are looking for in this case is the boys AUNT!!!!!!

http://www.kcra.com/cnn-news/18186249/detail.html


According to this article it also states . . .

The teen told gym employees that he was taken from a group home about a year ago, Ellis said. That group home is about 70 miles north of Tracy, in Sacramento.

Sounds to me like he was picked up from the group home by this supposed aunt under the pretense that she would take him to his "real family" and was later passed off to this couple for money or drugs.

I sob for this child as his physical wounds may heal but the psychological wounds are irreversible.

[n/t]

OMG!! That poor kid :(

[VC2]

This article still doesn't say the place he had been staying was a foster home:

Although it's not clear how the teenage victim ended up in Tracy, Robinson said the boy ran away from a Sacramento foster home last year.

--------------------------------------------------------------
It sounds like someone who picked up a runaway and kept him captive for whatever reason.

no reason i can think of is good :(

what really ticked me off when i listened to a reporter earlier today is they kept saying "it seems police believe his story" or "so it might be true". There is a bias against males, as if a guy cant be kidnapped or tortured. I wanted to throw something at the screen.

[gorbal]

According to this article the mother has a myspace page-

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/02/BAIF14G1FQ.DTL&tsp=1

[n/t]

According to this article the mother has a myspace page-

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/02/BAIF14G1FQ.DTL&tsp=1

I don't think the woman is his mother. Good lord, they have 4 children. :cuss:

[gorbal]

She's the mother of the other children...please don't post her myspace page if you happen upon it because it has pictures of children on it. Hopefully they will close it down soon.

(I was coming back to edit my post but I can't...)

[dinojen]

It doesn't say why this couple would keep a teenage runaway. But, it doesn't sound like this is a foster home, or a home where CPS would be obliged to investigate--just a couple who picked up a runaway. The neighbor said they all just looked like a family, and the teenage had been out and about, helping w/the yard work.

He was picked up by the police as a runaway, this couple didn't just take him in off the streets, he was placed there, by whom it wasn't reported as yet... at least that is what is being reported here.

[VC2]

According to this article it also states . . .

The teen told gym employees that he was taken from a group home about a year ago, Ellis said. That group home is about 70 miles north of Tracy, in Sacramento.

Sounds to me like he was picked up from the group home by this supposed aunt under the pretense that she would take him to his "real family" and was later passed off to this couple for money or drugs.

I sob for this child as his physical wounds may heal but the psychological wounds are irreversible.

it is horrific, and at his age i bet there is no one who will help him after he turns 18 so he will be on his own.

even a couple of years younger and there was time for state paid therapy and a caring home to help him deal with it but at 17 i bet the state turns him loose. God forbid if his birthday is in a month or two :(

[dinojen]

More children than previously reported taken from the home... this is one bizarre story... wonder how they came by having all these children in their home and if they are theirs or placed there... really odd.

<snippet>

Police are also searching for 43-year-old Caren Ramirez who lived off and on with the Schumachers. She is described as 5 feet tall, weighing 100 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She was often seen wearing a bandana around her forehead. Tracy police believe she may be headed to East Palo Alto where she has relatives. They also say she has a pre-existing felony warrant.

Police took two children ages one and three out of the Schumacher's home yesterday and now two older children are also in protective custody. Police believe they are 11 and 9-years-old. Police don't yet know the relationship between the Schumachers and the children.


http://cbs5.com/crime/shackled.teen.torture.2.877888.html




Here's another link from the local paper in Tracy...

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16612/2268/

[VC2]

there is a link in the amber alerts/missing forum for this too, apparently the 3rd person they are looking for is the boys AUNT :eek: and the link posted had her name, they think she is heading for Palo Alto (dial up is being slow so havent gone back to get the link therefore imo)

[VC2]

finally opened. Here is the link:

http://www.kcra.com/cnn-news/18186249/detail.html

TRACY, Calif. -- A woman who police think could be the aunt of a 17-year-old boy who ran into a fitness center Monday afternoon in shackles is being sought in the case, a Tracy police spokesman said Tuesday.

[dinojen]

It's now being reported the woman that was arrested in this case is a GIRL SCOUT LEADER... yep.. nice. The GS Organization runs background checks before anyone can be a leader, but this woman has only been one for two months... more odd stuff in this story...

A Tracy woman who was a Girl Scout leader and her husband were in custody and a second woman was the subject of an intense Bay Area police search after an emaciated 17-year-old boy ran into a fitness center with a chain wrapped around his ankle and claimed he had been held against his will, according to authorities.


http://www.ktvu.com/news/18183765/detail.html

© 2008, KTVU.

[dinojen]

Some info from SFGate.com, sounds like more and more is coming out.

The boy had apparently been staying in the garage of the couple's home, Espinoza said. Police were trying to determine how long he had been there. "We don't absolutely know yet," Espinoza said.

On her MySpace page, Lau described herself as a stay-at-home mother and diehard Oakland Raiders fan who was "happily married to a man who I love to death."

Schumacher, she wrote, is a contractor. "He is my best friend and a wonderful father to our four kids and I wouldn't trade him for anything in this world," she wrote.

A third suspect, 43-year-old Caren Ramirez, is being sought in connection with the alleged abuse, said Tracy police Capt. John Espinoza.

There was no legal relationship between the couple and the boy, who ran away last year from a foster home in Sacramento, police said. Ramirez's relationship with the boy and the circumstances of the youth's alleged kidnapping were not immediately known.


From this article it sounds like the other four children are their own children.. but they have all been taken into protective custody.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/02/BAIF14G1FQ.DTL&tsp=1

[airportwoman]

It's not clear to me from these stories that CPS was paying this couple. The stories say he was either missing from a Sacramento group home or that he was taken from a Sacramento group home - and now shows up in Tracy.

That video link - the house looks so normal with a Christmas tree in the window. A neighbor said he'd see the boy out doing yard work and thought he was part of the family. [That reminds me of the true story "The Girl in the Box" about a teenage girl who was kidnapped, raped, and tortured and kept in a coffin-sized box. Her captor eventually let her out to do various things (even trips out in public with them), but she was so terrified of being punished and his threats to kill her family that she didn't try to escape for 7 years.)

From the two accounts by the health club employees, you can tell the boy was terrified of being found by his captors. They said he was running holding a 2-ft-long chain that was attached to his ankle.

My first thought was of Bob Berdella, "The Butcher of Kansas City", who kidnapped, drugged, and tortured men and is known to have killed at least six in the late 1980s. He was caught when he left the house and another young man jumped out a second-story window wearing nothing but a dog collar with a leash attached to it.

You can see interviews with him on You Tube, as part of that infamous Geraldo Rivera satanism special; while what Berdella did was definitely evil, he was not known to have been involved in any kind of cult.

A book has been written about this, and a documentary that is available on Netflix but isn't very good.

[Kip]

My first thought was of Bob Berdella, "The Butcher of Kansas City", who kidnapped, drugged, and tortured men and is known to have killed at least six in the late 1980s. He was caught when he left the house and another young man jumped out a second-story window wearing nothing but a dog collar with a leash attached to it..... [snipped]

I hadn't heard of Berdella (or repressed it). Just read a brief bit about him. I'm glad he received the death penalty.

In this current case, I know the other children were young, but still I have to wonder what they told the children about the boy in the garage.

[dinojen]

Recent update on our local channel, waiting for the live report.. got this off their website, would love to know the connection between the supposed aunt, the couple and the boy... the aunt's felony warrants are also dealing with abuse of this boy...

<snippet>

Police still were seeking Caren Ramirez, 43, the boy's aunt, on suspicion of participating in the alleged abuse. Ramirez also has an outstanding felony warrant for an earlier alleged assault against the boy, police said.

Ramirez was thought to be traveling to her brother's home in East Palo Alto on Bay Area Rapid Transit, Tracy Police Capt. John Espinoza said.

Ramirez, sometimes known as "Carmen," was described by police as black, 5 feet tall and about 100 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair.

Authorities said they believe Ramirez, Lau-Schumacher and Schumacher were all responsible for torturing the boy.

Schumacher and Lau were set to appear in court Thursday, according to jail records. The two suspects faced charges of torture, kidnapping, false imprisonment, child endangerment and corporal injury to a child, police said.

They were both being held at San Joaquin County Jail on bail of nearly $1.2 million each. A search of the home turned up evidence implicating the couple, police indicated.


http://cbs5.com/crime/shackled.teen.torture.2.877888.html

[VC2]

Recent update on our local channel, waiting for the live report.. got this off their website, would love to know the connection between the supposed aunt, the couple and the boy... the aunt's felony warrants are also dealing with abuse of this boy...

<snippet>

Police still were seeking Caren Ramirez, 43, the boy's aunt, on suspicion of participating in the alleged abuse. Ramirez also has an outstanding felony warrant for an earlier alleged assault against the boy, police said.

Ramirez was thought to be traveling to her brother's home in East Palo Alto on Bay Area Rapid Transit, Tracy Police Capt. John Espinoza said.

Ramirez, sometimes known as "Carmen," was described by police as black, 5 feet tall and about 100 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair.

Authorities said they believe Ramirez, Lau-Schumacher and Schumacher were all responsible for torturing the boy.

Schumacher and Lau were set to appear in court Thursday, according to jail records. The two suspects faced charges of torture, kidnapping, false imprisonment, child endangerment and corporal injury to a child, police said.

They were both being held at San Joaquin County Jail on bail of nearly $1.2 million each. A search of the home turned up evidence implicating the couple, police indicated.


http://cbs5.com/crime/shackled.teen.torture.2.877888.html

thanks dino. This is one sick crime

[gorbal]

There's an update

UPDATE: Third suspect in teen torture case may flee to brother's


The aunt of a 17-year-old boy who was allegedly tortured and held against his will at a Tracy home has been named a third suspect in the case and is believed to be headed to East Palo Alto, a Tracy police captain said today.

Caren Ramirez, 43, may be traveling to her brother's home in East Palo Alto on BART, Capt. John Espinoza said.

The two other suspects, Kelly Lau-Schumacher, 30, and Michael Schumacher, 34, were arrested after the boy appeared Monday afternoon at an In-Shape Sports Club on Tracy Boulevard with a chain and padlock wrapped around his ankle, police spokesman Matt Robinson said.

The boy had escaped from a home near the fitness center where he had allegedly been burned, beaten with baseball bats, choked with a belt and starved for the past year, police said.

He is now receiving medical treatment, according to police.

Link (http://thecalifornian.com/article/20081202/NEWS01/81202014/1002)

And I'm not certain if that myspace page mentioned on the other site is really the Kelly Lau in question....it doesn't look like her.

[interested]

All of these reports are stating as fact the boy "ran away" from the foster/group home a year & three months ago. The boy himself is in such bad shape the police have yet to go back and interview him in depth, he was "confused" during the initial interview be it due to physical condition or simply total fear of being returned to the home.

How do they know the aunt didn't pick him up from the group home, claiming she's help him "find his family" only to put him in this situation? How do we know he ran away, rather than he was abducted by the aunt from the start?

She's currently facing a felony warrant for abuse of this same boy, the circumstances of that charge must predate his "disappearance" from the group home. The aunt has every reason in the world to make sure this kid doesn't show up to testify in that pending case against her, doesn't she?

[n/t]

Nancy Grace transcripts - discussion about this case.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0812/02/ng.01.html

[RainyNiteNTx]

This case is heartbreaking. I think of Shawn Hornbeck and the loving support he had when he returned home. I just hope and pray that this young man will be supported and given the help he will need from somebody.

As for his perverted captors, now they will know what it feels like to be caged.

[n/t]

This case is heartbreaking. I think of Shawn Hornbeck and the loving support he had when he returned home. I just hope and pray that this young man will be supported and given the help he will need from somebody.

As for his perverted captors, now they will know what it feels like to be caged.

This poor kid endured hell on earth. I hope and pray someone will take good care of him. Can he be admitted to psych hospital and get all the help he needs until he's able to care for himself?

[dinojen]

Update on the aunt Caren Ramirez, local news is reporting that she was arrested last night and is in custody in Berkeley, just heard it on the morning news.

They are reporting that the boy was originally abused by his father, I believe they said the aunt also resided with them, he was put into the foster care system in Sacramento from which he eventually ran away from.

Somehow he ended up in Tracy, it's not clear of the relationship between his aunt and the couple in custody:shrug:

Doesn't sound like this boy has had a very loving and warm relationship with anyone for awhile.

Glad to know the third suspect is in custody, it's being reported that she also will be charged as the other two were and be taken to Tracy.

Let me see if any of the local tv websites have updated their info yet.

Nothing updated yet, she was arrested late last night.. will post a link soon as I find an update.

It's on the news again just now..




Found some links on Ramirez's arrest.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview/localnews/ci_11120251?source=rss

Third Person Arrested In Suspected Abuse Of Teen
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) ― Berkeley police have arrested a woman suspected of participating in the alleged abuse of a 17-year-old who showed up at a gym with a chain locked to his ankle.

Caren Ramirez was arrested late Tuesday.

Police say the 43-year-old Ramirez is possibly the boy's aunt.

A Tracy police spokesman says she became the teen's guardian after child protective services took him from his father three or four years ago.

Authorities say the boy showed up at a Tracy gym Monday, wearing only boxer briefs and covered in what appeared to be soot.

Police arrested Kelly Layne Lau and Michael Schumacher late yesterday after questioning the couple.


http://cbs2.com/national/caren.ramirez.shackled.2.878635.html





They will be holding a news conference today at 10 am PST, cbs5.com said they will be covering it.

[dinojen]

cbs5.com just updated their website.

This aunt chosen as a "guardian" after the boy was taken from his father three or four years ago... great choice... so she can continue the abuse, that's what her felony is for... disgusting...


http://cbs5.com/national/chained.teen.escapes.2.878599.html

[dinojen]

From SFGate...


Ramirez is facing the same charges as well as a felony warrant for allegedly abusing her nephew, police said. Ramirez was charged with four counts of child abuse and pleaded no contest to one of the charges in November 2007, according to Sacramento County Superior Court records.

She was sentenced to five years of probation, but it was revoked after she failed to appear at a court hearing in April, records show. Details of the case were not immediately available.

Robinson said today that the boy had been staying with at least one biological parent, but that parent abused him. The boy was taken away by Child Protective Services and then placed with Ramirez, but she, too, abused him, authorities said. The boy was then taken to a foster home in Sacramento, but he ran away, Robinson said.

How the boy ended up back with Ramirez was still unclear. Ramirez reportedly begged Schumacher and his wife to let her and the boy stay with them at their two-story home in central Tracy, but police said that could not yet be verified.


Plus in reading this article come to find out Schumacher was making demands of the gym to raise the wall that seperated his yard and the back of the gym area... the reason sounded really pretty flakey IMO.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/03/BAAG14GOOG.DTL&tsp=1

[Jpanda]

OMG this story just gets more and more horrifying every day. How in the world can these so-called human beings treat other human beings this way?? How does that thought process even work??? I say put all these abusers away and throw away the key....if they have such disregard for human life then they don't deserve to be out with the rest of society.

I'm sorry for the rant, I just can't even imagine what that boy has been through in his life. The people who were supposed to be protecting him abused him. Sick, sick sick. I'm so angry and so sad about this case all in one. :(

jmo

[VC2]

OMG this story just gets more and more horrifying every day. How in the world can these so-called human beings treat other human beings this way?? How does that thought process even work??? I say put all these abusers away and throw away the key....if they have such disregard for human life then they don't deserve to be out with the rest of society.

I'm sorry for the rant, I just can't even imagine what that boy has been through in his life. The people who were supposed to be protecting him abused him. Sick, sick sick. I'm so angry and so sad about this case all in one. :(

jmo

I so agree. Its even sadder that bc of his age it is unlikely he will have anyone to care for him beyond whatever months left until he is 18. I dont think the state pays for kids care if they are over that, so even if he is put in a decent foster home he will be on his own in less than a year, heck it could be a couple of months if his birthday is soon.

i have an awful feeling that he will become one of the lost children in society with no one to turn to and no help for his abuse issues. They normally end up with drugs or alcohol to deal with the pain. He sure cant afford therapy himself. :(

god if only someone would step forward to talk to him, develop a relationship and take him in. Someone who will actually be a parent to him even when he reaches 18 and doesnt care about not getting state funds.

[Keegan]

I am thinking he is a contractor alright. He contracts making porn so mommy can stay home. Mommy helps. I hope the babies were not involved.

I just have a feeling it is something more than the abuse...something much bigger. JMO :flamemad:

[anyonesguess]

She's the mother of the other children...please don't post her myspace page if you happen upon it because it has pictures of children on it. Hopefully they will close it down soon.

(I was coming back to edit my post but I can't...)

It was brought up in one of the news articles I read late last night (early this morning) that her baby was in one of the pictures sitting next to a plastic bac and had scabs on its body. Well I did go to her myspace and clicked on her picture link, and sure enough. There is a small tot sitting by a plastic bad, and his FACE, ARMS, LEGS, and FEET are covered with horrible scabs. The foot looks swollen.

That child was either hurt by it's parents or had a horrible accident to cause that type of scabbing IMO.


People that have done this to that teenage child do should not be walking on this earth. They do not deserve the right at all.

It appears to ME IMO that the ONLY child that received a lot of attn was the child that was in dance class to me from the mothers myspace page.

[Kip]

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16628/2268/

To some who knew 30-year-old Kelly Layne Lau and her husband, Michael Schumacher, 34, the news that police had charged them with kidnapping and torture was a surprise....

Neighborhood kids disagreed.

Lau and Ramirez were nice enough people when nothing bothered them, said Mariah Sanchez, 11 — a sixth-grade student at Williams Middle School who spent the night once with Lau’s daughters and regularly talked to them on the phone. But they sometimes showed another side when they lost their temper.

One time, Mariah said, Lau got in a tussle with the teenage boy, held him to the floor and made him eat a housefly "just because she was upset."

Other times, Lau would hit him with a broom, Mariah alleged, and Ramirez would punch him in the arm....

A photo posted on Lau’s MySpace profile shows her youngest child, a 1-year-old baby, with what appears to be scabs on his face, arm and leg while sitting next to plastic bags. Neighbors said the youngest two of Lau’s four kids were often sick and that she would frequent local hospitals, as well as the Oakland Children’s Hospital....

[dinojen]

This gets weirder and weirder as it goes along... just read this on SFGate..

Many people thought Ramirez was the 17-year-old boy's mother, according to Lau's mother, Stephana Brown.

Lau told her mother that she had met Ramirez through a mutual friend and had invited her to live in the Tennis Lane home. Ramirez told Lau that she was left blind in one eye and deaf in one ear as a result of an abusive relationship, Brown said, adding she didn't know if that was indeed the case.

Ramirez was on disability and appeared to have no income, but gave Lau some money from time to time and helped around the house, Brown said.

Lau is a gullible person, her mother said. "She'll hear everything and listen to everything and if you're a friend to her, you're a friend and she'll try to protect you and whatever."

Brown said she was at a loss to explain what had happened with the teenage boy. She said she frequently speaks to her four grandchildren, including the oldest, a 9-year-old girl born to Lau and her previous husband from whom she divorced. Brown said that relationship had been abusive.





Brown is Lau's mother...


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/03/BAAG14GOOG.DTL&tsp=1

[Pinetree]

Pic of the aunt.....looks like a man, to me. And, Lau isn't that feminine looking, either! Two of the MOST unattractive women! Must be their evilness affecting their appearance. :flamemad::flamemad:

[dinojen]

Her MySpace page has been deactivated.

I can't believe her mother can't see what has been going on, was reading comments from the SFGate article.. and hadn't really thought of it.. but she does have the "meth head" look about her... IMO...

I feel so bad for this boy, seems like no one was ever there for him, wonder what happened to his biological Mom and where she is since he was living with his Dad before he was removed due to the abusive situation.

[Jpanda]

Respectfully snipped

i have an awful feeling that he will become one of the lost children in society with no one to turn to and no help for his abuse issues. They normally end up with drugs or alcohol to deal with the pain. He sure cant afford therapy himself. :(

god if only someone would step forward to talk to him, develop a relationship and take him in. Someone who will actually be a parent to him even when he reaches 18 and doesnt care about not getting state funds.

ITA. My heart is seriously breaking and I really think I need to step away from this case....I'm just praying for some sort of happy ending. Like you said, I hope someone can come forward and take him in, even though he'll be 18 soon. It sounds like this kid never really had any sort of childhood, and he certainly deserves one...IMO he's not ready to be an adult. I wish I were a little older and could take him in myself, but I'm only 26 and I can't even pretend like I could care for an 18 year old....but I hope someone thinks like us and can and will do it.

Hoping and praying for this young man...I wish there was more that we can do. :rose:

[Breazy]

no reason i can think of is good :(

what really ticked me off when i listened to a reporter earlier today is they kept saying "it seems police believe his story" or "so it might be true". There is a bias against males, as if a guy cant be kidnapped or tortured. I wanted to throw something at the screen.

I felt exactly the same way. On one of the television links, the anchor kept saying, "he CLAIMS he had been held and tortured close to a year." That made my blood boil, aside from the fact of his physical condition, did they really think he put that chain around his ankle himself? It broke my heart as I felt he was continuing to be victimized. He had lived in h*ll itself and that being said that way was just WRONG!

I pray for his healing . . . both physically and emotionally.

:rose:

[txsage]

I was hoping to see a link to the news conference earlier today.
Anyone? TIA!

[jtazzy]

When I heard about this yesterday on baynews9 here in Florida I was so shocked. They said that he left a foster care house and these "people" took him in. Then after reading the articles you all supplied I see his Aunt was involved. That just breaks my heart. I would be more than happy to give him a good home. How can people be so cruel and sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gorbal]

So the aunt was finally arrested thank god.


http://www.mercurynews.com/crime/ci_11128173

I'm glad they deactivated the myspace page on behalf of the children....I didn't notice the picture with the cuts but I thought it strange how normal the family seemed. Also, the woman in the photo on the page looks WAY different from the woman on the mugshot, so much so I would doubt it was the same person if everything else didn't point to it being them.

I thought the playboy bunny ears next to pictures of the couples kids was kinda odd too.

[gorbal]

Only double posting cause it seems I can't edit-

It seems the boy is finally talking-

The boy detailed his getaway to investigators saying he had been chained inside a sport utility vehicle that pulled up to the home, and after going inside, he climbed through a rear window and jumped the tall fence between the backyard and a fitness center.link (http://www.examiner.com/a-1724059~Police_detail_escape_in_Calif_shackled_tee n_case.html)

[Kip]

This woman identified as an "aunt" must not be a blood relation. She looks like a Black woman- actually looks like a guy, and this boy has blue eyes. I do wonder i f the father he reportedly left was in fact his real father. I ask because it is a longshot, but in Clearwater Fl a 9 yr old boy with blue eyes, named Zach was abducted from his bed- 8 years ago, which would make him seventeen now. Last I heard on news was that "aunt" had mutual friend with couple in whose house the boy was found. Reports are still very sketchy.

Welcome, raud e. That's intriguing -- the dates fit-- wouldn't it be something if this was the missing Clearwater boy. Here's a link about Zach Bernhardt:

http://www.clearwaterpolice.org/cid/missing/ZBernhardt.asp

[gorbal]

I would think it he was in a foster home only a year ago they would have checked him out, but who knows.

One article said when the gym employees typed his name in in a search engine they found him right away....so I guess he WAS listed as missing.

[gorbal]

MOre details from a interview with Mrs Schumacher-

(snip)

Schumacher said that she invited Ramirez and the teenage boy to live in her home on a temporary basis, but said they never moved out.

She claims Ramirez kept the boy chained to a coffee table and was the only one who could unlock him. Schumacher also said the boy received daily beatings, sometimes with an aluminum bat that had been heated in a fireplace.

"She burned him with a bat. She stuck it in the fireplace and pressed it against him," Schumacher said. "I knew it was wrong in the back of my head."

Schumacher also admitted beating the boy herself, claiming Ramirez told her it was how the boy needed to be disciplined.

Schumacher claimed she was afraid that if she'd didn't also beat the boy that Ramirez would harm her or her four children.

link (http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=51443&catid=2)
:flamemad:

[Keegan]

I wish I could take the kid. I would call the President and ask for secret service protection for the kid for the next five years so he might feel safe in this world. I would ask that state of pay for all the years of therapy he is going to need. And that is just a start. They are responsible for the education he missed and would be paying his living expenses until he was capable of caring for himself.

Again, no responsibility. A child falls through the cracks. He will soon be l8 with nothing..not even an education to care for himself. To be younger and have the fight left. He would be mine.

[RainyNiteNTx]

MOre details from a interview with Mrs Schumacher-

(snip)



link (http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=51443&catid=2)
:flamemad:

She knew "in the back of her head it was wrong"???? What an idiot. Why didn't she call the cops? They are all guilty IMO.

[n/t]

She knew "in the back of her head it was wrong"???? What an idiot. Why didn't she call the cops? They are all guilty IMO.

I think it's BS, Rainy. She could've called the cops at any time and saved that boy from hell. This is sickening. How anyone can sit back and watch a child being tortured and do nothing about it is beyond me. I hope they all rot.

[dinojen]

More news coming out this morning, the boy is out of the hospital and back in the hands of Sacramento's CPS.

It is not believed that the supposed aunt is a blood relative after all, the cbs5.com is reporting that the biological mother gave guardianship to Ramirez after her son was taken from the bio dad for abuse.. (they aren't reporting why the bio mom isn't in the picture)

The boy also told investigators that the day he escaped he was chained inside a SUV and once they got home and he was out of the car he took the opportunity to crawl out a window in the home or garage, used a pole or tree limb to help himself get over the wall in the backyard to the gym area.

<snippet>

TRACY (CBS 5 / AP) ― After being held for nearly a year, a 17-year-old boy stole a moment away from the watchful eyes of his captors to climb out a window in their Tracy home while shackled and bruised and jump a backyard fence in search of help, police said Wednesday.

The boy's alleged imprisonment and abuse by a Tracy couple was still being investigated but authorities said interviews with the boy were making details of his escape clearer.

The 17-year-old was also released from a Tracy hospital Wednesday, only a day after his one-time guardian was arrested and accused of assaulting the boy alongside the couple.

The teen was now in the custody of child protective services in Sacramento, according to police.

Law enforcement officials were hopeful the arrest of a woman initially thought to be the boy's aunt would help uncover the mystery of how the boy ended up at the home and what his relationship was with the couple, who have been booked on suspicion of torture, kidnapping and other charges.

The boy detailed his getaway to investigators, saying he had been chained inside a sport utility vehicle that pulled up to the home. After going inside, police said, he climbed through a rear window and jumped the tall fence between the backyard and a fitness center.

"He found his opportunity and he took it. It's basically luck that this all occurred," Tracy police spokesman Matt Robinson said.

The woman initally thought to be the boy's aunt, Caren Ramirez, 43, was arrested late Tuesday after police received a tip she was in Berkeley.

Tracy police told CBS 5 late Wednesday that they had now determined there was no blood relationship between Caren Ramirez and the boy.

http://cbs5.com/crime/shackled.teen.torture.2.879401.html




They are to be arraigned in court today so maybe more will come out.
As for Kelly Layne Lau saying she knew it was wrong... B.S. She's just as wrong as the others for not reporting it. I still say all of them look like meth heads...

Wonder where the other brother is if Ramirez was given guardianship of both boys?

Going to check SFGate...

[dinojen]

Great read... nice to know there are still concerned and loving people willing to help.. I can't imagine how this boy can even begin to understand their kindness being he has never been shown any.

The police officers got him a Nintendo DS portable video game system and PIZZA, he said he hadn't had that in over a year.

The nurses caring for him said it brought them to tears to see how tragic this young man had been living.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16635/2268/






Found out also by listening to the CBS 5 news this morning, the biological mother has passed away, they just reported this. She passed away shortly after giving guardianship to Ramirez.

[dinojen]

Transcript of KGO interview...


http://webblog.abc7news.com/2008/12/the-exclusive-i.html



She can deny her envolvement all she wants or try to lessen what she actually did by saying she was forced to or feared for her own children.. I'm not buying it.. and doesn't sound like the neighbor's are either.


<snippet>

I'm sure psychologists will have a field day picking this one apart. It all sounds like a classic case of a dominating abuser taking both physical and mental control over her victims -- which include the family as well. But let's keep in mind that some neighbors say they wouldn't let their children play at the Schumacher's house because the mother [Kelly Schumacher] yelled and used fowl language in front of their children. Schumacher claims she never abused the boy in front of her children, but at least two neighborhood kids tell me they witnessed her beating the boy and forcing him to eat a dead fly.
Let's face it, this story is twisted on many different levels.



So glad this young man finally got away..

[Jpanda]

I just read that interview the reporter did with the wife (sorry, I refuse to use their names). I'm glad she's talking because she's only incriminating herself. There is absolutely NO excuse for what she did - NONE. She had plenty of time to get help and if she was really "afraid" of the "aunt," then she should have called the police. No way would I ever let any human being abuse another human being in my house or anywhere I'm at - EVER.

What trash all three of them are and I hope they rot.

jmo

[tisamystery]

Is this Caren Ramirez his LEGAL guardian?

I'm my son's legal guardian. He's disabled and I had to apply for legal guardianship when he turned 18. There were interviews and a lot of forms to fill out, the it had to be approved by a judge. I can't believe Ramirez could have passed this sort of scrutiny. Did the legal system fail this poor boy?

Is this young man developmentally disabled? We know he was undersized, possibly due to poor nutrition. Perhaps the neighbors thought he was younger not only because of his size but by his behavior. Maybe he functioned at a 14-year-old level due to developmental disability, possibly caused by poor nutrition, abuse. If this is the case, it's all the more disturbing that he was treated this way.

My heart goes out to him but, sadly, I don't think there's any way to fix a lifetime of abuse. I'm a "rescuer" by nature but, at my age, I've finally learned that some things can't be reversed.

[dinojen]

Is this Caren Ramirez his LEGAL guardian?

I'm my son's legal guardian. He's disabled and I had to apply for legal guardianship when he turned 18. There were interviews and a lot of forms to fill out, the it had to be approved by a judge. I can't believe Ramirez could have passed this sort of scrutiny. Did the legal system fail this poor boy?

Is this young man developmentally disabled? We know he was undersized, possibly due to poor nutrition. Perhaps the neighbors thought he was younger not only because of his size but by his behavior. Maybe he functioned at a 14-year-old level due to developmental disability, possibly caused by poor nutrition, abuse. If this is the case, it's all the more disturbing that he was treated this way.

My heart goes out to him but, sadly, I don't think there's any way to fix a lifetime of abuse. I'm a "rescuer" by nature but, at my age, I've finally learned that some things can't be reversed.

From what I have found or read so far is.. he was taken away from his biological dad due to abuse, I'm not sure where the biological mother fits in here or why she gave guardianship to Ramierz after the boy was removed from the father's home, maybe she did it because she was ill and knew she was dying, as she is deceased. I have no idea how she passed the requirements to be his guardian. Once she was also charged with abuse he was removed from her care and that's when he was put in CPS care in Sacramento. He then as we know ran away from that foster home.. why... who knows.. Seems like this poor young man didn't have a chance from the get go.

And I agree with the other poster.. Schumacher can say all she wants.. what she allowed to happen in her own home, and what she did herself makes her just as guilty as the others.. they all disgust me. I can't believe her mother is that blind to believe her crap.:flamemad:

[gorbal]

Are we absolutely certain he ran away from the foster home? (still hoping he has some family out there to care for him.)

Mrs "S" admits to hitting the boy with a bat herself...she is every bit the monster the other woman is. "naive" my...*$%"

[dinojen]

Are we absolutely certain he ran away from the foster home? (still hoping he has some family out there to care for him.)

Mrs "S" admits to hitting the boy with a bat herself...she is every bit the monster the other woman is. "naive" my...*$%"

I heard this morning also he has a older brother floating around out there somewhere.. wonder where he is at.:shrug:

[taylor63]

[QUOTE]

Teen with chain and padlock on ankle flees Tracy residence
By Mike Martinez
Tri-Valley Herald
Posted: 12/01/2008 08:22:15 PM PST

TRACY — Police arrested a Tracy couple Monday afternoon in connection with a case involving a 16-year-old boy who — wearing only a pair of baggy boxers and carrying a heavy chain padlocked to his ankle — stumbled into a local gym asking employees to hide him.


http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11116164

Copyright © 2008 - San Jose Mercury News

To think there are people that evil out there still.

What is so tragic to me is that this young man has probably never known the love and security of having a home with parents, and a family who loved him uncondiotionally.

In time, his outer wounds will heal, but the inner emotional scars from all the cruelty and abuse infilcted on him will take a lifetime of healing and love.

It's so heartbreaking. Where was the school? Why didn't they report he didn't attend classes? Where was CPS? Their supposed to be protecting kids like this well they sure did a lousy job in his case. And finally,why didn't the other kids in the home report this abuse?

Alot of people let him down bigtime, and I hope they all feel guilty because they deserve it.

[Kip]

My heart aches for this young man. I hope he can be one of those survivors who makes it through and becomes "whole" again.

It's fascinating to me how people like these three adults charged find each other. It would be horrible enough if this boy was living with only Ramirez. But to have two other adults there who stood by and did nothing -- and at least one who participated in the torture -- ups the evilness factor considerably.

[dinojen]

Got this info from the Sac. Bee in regards to how they treat teen runaway's in the CPS system.. it's different than younger children where they do a Amber Alert.. quite a interesting read.. so much about this kid.. just breaks your heart.. so many seem to be trying help now though.

<snippet>

While Sacramento County CPS officials would not comment on the boy's condition or his history with the agency, program manager Roderick Howze detailed the process CPS follows for runaways in its care.

A missing person report is filed with police. For younger children, that can trigger an Amber Alert or other measures to find the child, Howze said.

When older children run away, the agency will check their familiar locales, such as schools, friends' homes and relatives, he said.

He said the agency checks at least monthly to find the teen. Typically, a relative will alert the agency to a missing teen, he said.

Of the 3,900 children under the agency's care, about 100 are runaways at any given time, he said.

For a teen to go missing for a year is "not typical," he said.

Sacramento Child Advocates, whose attorneys represent children in dependency court, said they are setting up a fund for cash donations for the teen allegedly held by the Schumachers and Ramirez.



Check this part out... I guess the Schumacher home really affected those that went inside and those that had dealings with the teen...

The boy's condition and circumstances inside the Schumacher home deeply affected seasoned law enforcement and emergency medical workers.

"It was just the totality of what they saw, what they heard, what they could smell," said Tracy Police Capt. John Espinozo.

"It was a very traumatic event for medical staff and officers. In 24 years of law enforcement, this is only the second torture case I've been involved with," he said.

Espinozo declined to give details about what investigators found in the Schumacher home.



The three are being arraigned today at 1:30, will have to keep my eyes open for updates.. That's two hours from now...


http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1447668.html

[dinojen]

Only new thing I have learned is regarding Ramirez... this from cbs5.com

From the article...

On Thursday, jail officials said Ramirez was under psychiatric observation and could not see visitors. Lau, Schumacher and Ramirez did not yet have attorneys, according to police.


http://cbs5.com/crime/shackled.teen.torture.2.879998.html

[gorbal]

A woman accused of abuse in the case of the Sacramento teenager who allegedly was kidnapped and tortured in Tracy is not the boy's aunt as authorities initially believed, police said this morning.

And a probation report out of Sacramento County Superior Court that recently was unsealed details how the woman, 43-year-old Caren Ramirez, allegedly abused the boy and another child.

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1449097.html

According to the article she has been charged with abusing at least two other boys under her care.^ read the whole article.

[dinojen]

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1449097.html

According to the article she has been charged with abusing at least two other boys under her care.^ read the whole article.

The other child could of been his older brother that was being discussed this morning on the news, no one knows his where abouts though.. I just recall they stated he is several years old than this young man so the age would be about right...

[dinojen]

The other child could of been his older brother that was being discussed this morning on the news, no one knows his where abouts though.. I just recall they stated he is several years old than this young man so the age would be about right...

Tracy's newspaper is reporting more on Ramierz's probation report.

In the 2005 incident, a 16-year-old named Austin who called Ramirez his step-mother said she’d hit him with a martial arts stick in the head and chest.

According to the report, she’d told him, “I’m going to (expletive) you up” and told him to “get on his knees” for saying that she wasn’t his mom.

She’d also hit him earlier that day, the report said, because she’d told him to “panhandle” for her, and he’d returned with only $9.

In May 2006, deputies got a call that she was abusing her son, then-13-year-old Kyle, according to the report. He showed officers severe bruising on his buttocks, legs and arms and a split and swollen lip.

The boy, whose name hasn’t been released by Tracy authorities but has been identified by neighbors as Kyle, is the one discovered Monday who told police he had been tortured in a Tennis Lane home.

According to the probation report, dated October 2007, Austin was placed in a foster home somewhere in Central California and was reported to be doing fine. Kyle had been in a group home in Sacramento but had run away on May 9, 2007, and his whereabouts were unknown.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16643/2268/




Boy and I thought Mommy Dearest was hard to take...

[emdragon]

Tracy's newspaper is reporting more on Ramierz's probation report.

In the 2005 incident, a 16-year-old named Austin who called Ramirez his step-mother said she’d hit him with a martial arts stick in the head and chest.

According to the report, she’d told him, “I’m going to (expletive) you up” and told him to “get on his knees” for saying that she wasn’t his mom.

She’d also hit him earlier that day, the report said, because she’d told him to “panhandle” for her, and he’d returned with only $9.

In May 2006, deputies got a call that she was abusing her son, then-13-year-old Kyle, according to the report. He showed officers severe bruising on his buttocks, legs and arms and a split and swollen lip.

The boy, whose name hasn’t been released by Tracy authorities but has been identified by neighbors as Kyle, is the one discovered Monday who told police he had been tortured in a Tennis Lane home.

According to the probation report, dated October 2007, Austin was placed in a foster home somewhere in Central California and was reported to be doing fine. Kyle had been in a group home in Sacramento but had run away on May 9, 2007, and his whereabouts were unknown.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16643/2268/




Boy and I thought Mommy Dearest was hard to take...

Just get's stranger and more horrific as the days go by.

So "Kyle" is the same kid who escaped- I wonder if he really ran away from the group home or if she went and took him.

[gorbal]

Update-

SACRAMENTO — The three suspects in the Tracy torture case have all been charged with 13 counts of child abuse, according to the Sacramento County district attorney, for allegedly using belts, knives and baseball bats on a 16-year-old boy who said he was held captive in their home for 15 months.

In a 14-page complaint, filed shortly before noon today, Caren Ramirez, Michael Luther Schumacher and Kelly Layne Lau were charged with aggravated mayhem, kidnapping, inflicting corporal injury to a child, felony injury to a child, cruel and inhumane punishment, false imprisonment by violence, child abuse and endangerment. Four of the child endangerment counts against Schumacher and Lau involve their four children, ages 1 to 9, who were placed into protective custody when the couple was arrested on Monday afternoon.

Ramirez, the guardian of the boy, known as Kyle, had previously been arrested on suspicion of beating him with martial arts sticks, a spatula, a broomstick and a clothes hanger while they were living in Sacramento County, court documents show. Sheriff's deputies responded several times to child abuse calls regarding Ramirez, who has children of her own and a stepchild, in 2005 and 2006.

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime/ci_11138954

[dinojen]

cbs5.com is updating as info comes out..

Kelly Layne Lau, 30, and her husband Michael Schumacher, 34, were arraigned Thursday afternoon in San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton. They were charged with 13 counts related to the alleged abuse including kidnapping, torture, false imprisonment by violence, child beating, child abuse and other offenses.

The boy's one-time legal guardian, Caren Ramirez, 43, was charged with 10 counts in court Thursday. Those included torture, kidnapping and child abuse, as well as a misdemeanor "pay for adoption" offense.

Court documents alleged that the boy was beaten with a baseball bat and belt and cut with a knife, which was also confirmed by Lau in a jailhouse interview prior to her arraignment.

http://cbs5.com/crime/jailhouse.interview.abuse.2.879998.html

[dinojen]

Ramirez is being held in San Joaquin County jail on a no-bail warrant out of Sacramento County.

Schumacher and Lau were being held in the jail's administrative segregation unit to keep them away from the general population. Ramirez was expected to be similarly placed.

I read earlier she Ramirez is under psycho care and won't be arraigned until Monday.

Can you believe she ALSO has a 21 year old daughter (she was 21 several years ago when the original abuse charges were filed against her)

The daughter called and reported the abuse..

Like I said before this just gets weirder and weirder. ALSO.. they must of had some evidence in that home for the Schumacher's to be charged with 4 counts of abuse of their own children..

http://www.mercurynews.com/lifestyle/ci_11138954

[Kip]

[snip]...
Like I said before this just gets weirder and weirder. ALSO.. they must of had some evidence in that home for the Schumacher's to be charged with 4 counts of abuse of their own children..

http://www.mercurynews.com/lifestyle/ci_11138954

Oh...so that's why the Schumacher's are charged with more counts than Ramirez. Either evidence or charges based on interviews with the children. Heck, it should be child endangerment just having a person like Ramirez in the house.

[dinojen]

Oh...so that's why the Schumacher's are charged with more counts than Ramirez. Either evidence or charges based on interviews with the children. Heck, it should be child endangerment just having a person like Ramirez in the house.



I know... I agree with you... that alone should be a charge. These people almost seem inhuman... but hey they got their tree up and all ready for a make believe Cleaver Xmas... god they just disgust me. Wish some of the neighbor's that were suspicious would of come forward before this.


In a 14-page complaint, filed shortly before noon today, Caren Ramirez, Michael Luther Schumacher and Kelly Layne Lau were charged with aggravated mayhem, kidnapping, inflicting corporal injury to a child, felony injury to a child, cruel and inhumane punishment, false imprisonment by violence, child abuse and endangerment. Four of the child endangerment counts against Schumacher and Lau involve their four children, ages 1 to 9, who were placed into protective custody when the couple was arrested on Monday afternoon.

[VC2]

Ramirez is being held in San Joaquin County jail on a no-bail warrant out of Sacramento County.

Schumacher and Lau were being held in the jail's administrative segregation unit to keep them away from the general population. Ramirez was expected to be similarly placed.

I read earlier she Ramirez is under psycho care and won't be arraigned until Monday.

Can you believe she ALSO has a 21 year old daughter (she was 21 several years ago when the original abuse charges were filed against her)

The daughter called and reported the abuse..

Like I said before this just gets weirder and weirder. ALSO.. they must of had some evidence in that home for the Schumacher's to be charged with 4 counts of abuse of their own children..

http://www.mercurynews.com/lifestyle/ci_11138954

ohhh these ppl are so evil :cursing: there is no way that any of them should see the light of day again. weird isn't the word.

This just broke my heart from the interview:

Schumacher says the first time she tried to feed the boy, Ramirez slapped the food out of her hand and demanded that she be the only one to feed him. So at dinner time, Schumacher says she, her husband, their four children and Ramirez would eat at the dinner table while the boy sat in the living room and watched.

the beatings are bad enough but then for him to have to just watch the family eat!!

[dinojen]

If found guilty of all charges they could face life in prison... good for them, that's where they belong.. non-segregated to for that matter.


Their hands shackled at the waist, Michael Luther Schumacher, 34, and his wife, Kelly Layne Lau, 30, made their first appearance this afternoon in a packed Stockton courtroom.

A third suspect, Caren Ramirez, 43, is expected to appear in court Monday. She had been described as the boy's aunt, but authorities said today they were not related.

Lau smiled briefly and nodded as she spoke with her attorney. She and her husband otherwise sat stone-faced with their hands clasped, occasionally glancing at the gallery packed with journalists and onlookers.

Judge Franklin Stephenson of San Joaquin County Superior Court spent several minutes reading the 13-count complaint aloud. Lau, a stay-at-home mother, was referred to the public defender's office. Schumacher, who makes $4,000 a month as a contract cable TV installer, was appointed an attorney.

The judge ordered bail set at more than $2 million for each defendant and told the couple to return to court Monday.

Schumacher, Lau and Ramirez were charged with torture, aggravated mayhem, false imprisonment by violence, kidnapping, child abuse and corporal injury. The three were accused of abusing the boy from July 2007 to December of this year.

If convicted of the torture or mayhem charge, the defendants could face life in prison.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/04/BABU14I6MH.DTL&tsp=1

[RainyNiteNTx]

I think it's BS, Rainy. She could've called the cops at any time and saved that boy from hell. This is sickening. How anyone can sit back and watch a child being tortured and do nothing about it is beyond me. I hope they all rot.

Me too - she can pretend to be Ms Innocent all she wants but it won't change the fact she is a child abuser.

[Amy]

I hope that becomes LWOP. Don't know how long "life in prison" in CA is, when they would be eligible for parole. But, if they are ever out on parole, hope their kids have changed their names and are far, far, away, cuz even if the kids would be too old to be "abused" God forbid they would be able to be anywhere near their grandchildren.

Surely, since Rameriz is a repeat offender, she would NEVER get out on parole.

[dinojen]

More breaking this morning, was just watching cbs5 this morning and they interviewed two new people, Austin, the tortured teens older brother and also a teacher that knew the boy back in 2002. This teacher reported suspected abuse in the family way back in 2002 to CPS along with several other teachers. The link below has a video clip of the interview.

Hopefully www.cbs5.com updates their website with the brother's interview. He said he hasn't grown an inch since he had last seen him, that he could lay down on a bed and you wouldn't even know he was there.

I missed if he has seen his brother since all this has happened the last few days, he did say the abuse this boy endured was horrendous.

Going to see if I can find another link... hopefully cbs5 will put the video of the interview of his older brother..


http://cbs5.com/crime/jailhouse.interview.abuse.2.879998.html




Ramirez will be arraigned on Monday and both Schumacher's will be back in court on Monday to enter their pleas.

[dinojen]

Here is the link to the interview of Kyle's brother Austin. It's long and some of it is difficult to listen to what these people did to that young man... It's approx. 20 mins long.

He has seen his brother, they hugged, they cried and he's not losing him again. He's talking to his big brother about what he has endured, sometimes he can talk about it and sometimes he just stops he can't get it out.

Ramirez is evil.. you should listen to what he says about her.

Thank god they will be together this Xmas.. and maybe now his big brother can begin to start taking care of him and give him the love he needs...

Just heart breaking listening to these two boys story.

http://cbs13.com/video/?id=43382@kovr.dayport.com

[dinojen]

Just finished watching the entire video, it is definately worth watching, heart wrenching but worth learning all that these young men have been through since early years. Austin mentioned their mother who he said he saw and visited while she was in hospice before she died. That explains what happened to her, he spoke fondly of her.

Like I said it's quite long and it's raw video.. but he explains alot. He also said he can't wait for the day Ramirez is in court and he can face her. He also mentioned they are talking of re-opening his case and charging her with his abuse also.. these two really got forgotten by the system.

Austin said he had called Kyle when he first went to the Sacramento receiving station for CPS (the one he ran away from). But when he called back a few days later he found out that Kyle had run away, it now turns out he ran away to look for Austin.

Turns out, Austin has been in Patterson and that is about 20 mins from Tracy and looking for Kyle the whole time not knowing he was so close by..:sad:

[gorbal]

That was truly hard to watch...I don't want to know what he isn't saying. Still though, it's nice to know Kyle has someone out there that cares about him....Hopefully someone will offer him a good job, enough that he can take care of his brother.

According to Greta he is 16, not 17-

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,462346,00.html

Here is another in-depth article on the subject-

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11141443

Police officers — touched by the boy they describe as a polite, "great kid" — reached into their pockets and spent hundreds dollars to buy him a video game system. Hospital staff members bought him a pizza when he said he hadn't tasted any in the past year.

According to court records that paint a grim picture of his life, Kyle was born in September 1992.

[Indy]

That was a heart wrenching video to watch. I really hope there will be some resources out there to assist Austin with gaining some kind of guardianship over his little brother. Sounds like Austin is the only family member his little brother can trust. Hopefully with counseling and financial assistance, both boys can be a family again.

Such a sad case.

For Kyle and Austin.:rose:

[dinojen]

For those of you that have issues with video links.. here's a link for the interview with Austin, Kyle's older brother from the same station that supplied the video link.


http://cbs13.com/local/chained.teens.brother.2.880533.html

[Kip]

Re the video:

I am very impressed with the big brother.

Austin says Kyle is the same size as when he last saw him four years ago.

Kyle wondered if one of the kids or the mother left the key there for him.

OMG...Kyle had to listen to discussions of how to do away with him (dump him in the aquaduct, shoot a vein with a syringeful of air...)

[kitty1182]

I believe there is a special place in he!! for people like this:cursing:

[gorbal]

On the video of the video of the former teacher- (dino posted it on other page)

http://cbs13.com/local/chained.teens.brother.2.880533.html

Gets to me a bit as well, especially after hearing Austin's story. I don't understand why they only removed Austin from the home at that point....I don't understand how alot of this crap went down.

[VC2]

Re the video:

I am very impressed with the big brother.

Austin says Kyle is the same size as when he last saw him four years ago.

Kyle wondered if one of the kids or the mother left the key there for him.

OMG...Kyle had to listen to discussions of how to do away with him (dump him in the aquaduct, shoot a vein with a syringeful of air...)

omg. I wish there was a transcript of the interview since i cant watch video's.

Thanks dino for all the links, this is evil and horrid and a disgrace. I wish it got more national attention, watching casey anthony jailhouse tapes is not as important as this story i think.

i would love to hear more about austin and kyles reunion. these evil people, its beyond bearable to think of what this child suffered. I am thrilled he is only 16 though, it gives a chance for some care.

[Breazy]

This woman identified as an "aunt" must not be a blood relation. She looks like a Black woman- actually looks like a guy, and this boy has blue eyes. I do wonder i f the father he reportedly left was in fact his real father. I ask because it is a longshot, but in Clearwater Fl a 9 yr old boy with blue eyes, named Zach was abducted from his bed- 8 years ago, which would make him seventeen now. Last I heard on news was that "aunt" had mutual friend with couple in whose house the boy was found. Reports are still very sketchy.


Apologies if this has been addressed further down the thread . . . always playing catch-up.

Do you have a picture of the Sacramento boy? If not, how did you know he had blue eyes? I just haven't seen a picture of him on any of the links and wondered where that info came from. I might have just missed it and I'm curious to see a photo.

[Breazy]

MOre details from a interview with Mrs Schumacher-

(snip)



link (http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=51443&catid=2)
:flamemad:

This is the biggest BS I've ever seen. Even if the aunt was the instigator of all this, this woman and her husband should have called authorities from the get-go. This just makes me mad as h*ll . . . this couple deserves to spend the rest of their life in prison, even if they personally had never raised a hand to the boy, for allowing such a travesty to go on in their home with their knowledge. I don't buy for one second that she feared for her family's safety. The only way to ensure her kids safety is to strip this couple's parental rights away so they can begin to heal in a loving environment. Although her kids may not have suffered any abuse themselves first-hand (I have my doubts), they had to have seen the abuse against the boy which would cause psychological scars on those children for the rest of their lives. I wonder the older children ever questioned mom about this going on?

[Breazy]

Please disregard my post above about the blue eyes unless a picture is available, which is not likely. I read the link containing the gym employee's quote about his blue eyes. Thank you anyway.

[dinojen]

This is the biggest BS I've ever seen. Even if the aunt was the instigator of all this, this woman and her husband should have called authorities from the get-go. This just makes me mad as h*ll . . . this couple deserves to spend the rest of their life in prison, even if they personally had never raised a hand to the boy, for allowing such a travesty to go on in their home with their knowledge. I don't buy for one second that she feared for her family's safety. The only way to ensure her kids safety is to strip this couple's parental rights away so they can begin to heal in a loving environment. Although her kids may not have suffered any abuse themselves first-hand (I have my doubts), they had to have seen the abuse against the boy which would cause psychological scars on those children for the rest of their lives. I wonder the older children ever questioned mom about this going on?


Four of the charges against them have to do with abuse to their own children.. and they have been ordered to not have any contact at all with their kids.. thank god. I don't think Granny should have them either.. especially since she thinks her daughter is so innocent.:angry:

[Indy]

On the video of the video of the former teacher- (dino posted it on other page)

http://cbs13.com/local/chained.teens.brother.2.880533.html

Gets to me a bit as well, especially after hearing Austin's story. I don't understand why they only removed Austin from the home at that point....I don't understand how alot of this crap went down.

ITA Gorbal! Why was only Austin removed? I would think if one child was reported abused, it should be assumed that the rest of the children are being harmed in one way or another.

Also, I don't know if this was discussed, but how on earth did Karen Ramirez enter into these children's lives? I understand it was Austin and Kyle's mother that allowed Ramirez to have guardianship of Kyle. Seems odd that their mother chose Ramirez to care for Kyle. How come the mother was never able to care for the kids? Was she ill back then? Of course we know the father won't be involved because Kyle was removed originally from him because of abuse. So many questions.

Just glad Kyle is safe now.

[dinojen]

ITA Gorbal! Why was only Austin removed? I would think if one child was reported abused, it should be assumed that the rest of the children are being harmed in one way or another.

Also, I don't know if this was discussed, but how on earth did Karen Ramirez enter into these children's lives? I understand it was Austin and Kyle's mother that allowed Ramirez to have guardianship of Kyle. Seems odd that their mother chose Ramirez to care for Kyle. How come the mother was never able to care for the kids? Was she ill back then? Of course we know the father won't be involved because Kyle was removed originally from him because of abuse. So many questions.

Just glad Kyle is safe now.


I don't know the whole reason why the biological mother wasn't in the picture at the time she gave guardianship of the boys to Caren Ramirez, Austin did mention being with his biological mother when she was in hospice prior to her passing away I think he said last year. Not sure what he illness was.

I'm thinking one of the major networks needs to follow this story and interview at least Austin, I don't think his younger brother is going to be up to discussing his treatment for awhile. I'm glad at least he has his big brother to depend on that he won't be hurt again.

[Breazy]

Four of the charges against them have to do with abuse to their own children.. and they have been ordered to not have any contact at all with their kids.. thank god. I don't think Granny should have them either.. especially since she thinks her daughter is so innocent.:angry:


Yes, according to this, 4 of the charges were in regard to their own children:
In addition, Lau and Schumacher were charged with child endangerment relating to their own four children, ages 1 to 9, who were placed into protective custody when the couple was arrested Monday.
http://www.mercurynews.com/lifestyle/ci_11138954

Then from another link:
Those children, between ages 1 and 9, were placed with Child Protective Services after their parents' arrest. Authorities have said they showed no signs of abuse.

which leads me to believe that the 4 Child Endangerment charges stem from the fact that the children were present in the same home and witnessed the horrid abuse of Kyle. If the mother of the children truly did not abuse them in any way makes it even more incredulous to me that she would not have gone to the authorities right at the very beginning or would have inflicted that kind of abuse on some other kid, right in front of her own. It's hard to believe that someone who could do the things she did to Kyle and readily admit it to a newspaper reporter, wouldn't have that evilness carry over with her own children.

There's a lot of things about this that has my head spinning and quite frankly, what we've heard so far doesn't make sense. There's much more to all this and I want to know the STORY BEHIND THE STORY. Will post more about my thoughts soon.

[Breazy]

Did anyone else catch in the interview with Austin that he stated they had another brother older than himself, that there were 3 boys?

Or

Did anyone else catch in the interview with the teacher that Ramirez referred to herself as "Carmen" and not "Caren" and that Kyle referred to Ramirez as "mom"?

I'm telling you, there's something really strange and out-there about this. Will get all my thoughts together and post later. May not be until Monday though as I spend most of my time here from work and it's almost time to end the day and start the weekend. Don't have time to get online at home due to little one, lol.

[Breazy]

Sorry, but I just realized that I forgot to insert the link that the "no signs of abuse" quote came from. Here it is:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/04/BABU14I6MH.DTL&tsp=1

[Breazy]

I must be going crazy because between the time I read the link about "no signs of abuse", which I copied the quote directly from, to the time I clicked on it in my post to make sure it worked, that wordage was gone and had been replaced with "ordered to have no contact" which was mentioned previously. I am not trying to be misleading in any way, but I promise it was there earlier. And for some reason I can't figure out, my Mercury News link doesn't work at all but it was posted upthread near the beginning of this page.

I guess it's time to call it a day, lol. Hope everyone has a great weekend. Thoughts and prayers for Kyle's healing!!!

[Kip]

It's hard to believe that someone who could do the things she did to Kyle and readily admit it to a newspaper reporter, wouldn't have that evilness carry over with her own children.


It's not uncommon (as far as child abuse goes) that one child will be a victim and the others treated normally. If you get a chance, "A Child Called It" by Dave Pelzer is a compelling (and painful) read. Dave came from a suburban family (his father was a firefighter) and his mother horrifically abused him. The father looked the other way. The mother didn't abuse the other children at all.

[dinojen]

Did anyone else catch in the interview with Austin that he stated they had another brother older than himself, that there were 3 boys?

Or

Did anyone else catch in the interview with the teacher that Ramirez referred to herself as "Carmen" and not "Caren" and that Kyle referred to Ramirez as "mom"?

I'm telling you, there's something really strange and out-there about this. Will get all my thoughts together and post later. May not be until Monday though as I spend most of my time here from work and it's almost time to end the day and start the weekend. Don't have time to get online at home due to little one, lol.

Yes I did hear Austin speak of an older brother, but he made no further mention of him. Now whether he is a full brother or half brother I'm not sure. I believe Kyle is a half brother to Austin.. alot of info out there that needs to be verified.

I do know that both boys said that Carmen or Caren.. let's just call her Ramirez as she doesn't deserve a first name IMO.. forced them to call her Mom, if they didn't they were abused. Ramirez also has a daughter.. supposedly she abused these boys also.

After reading much today on this, when Austin's abuse by Ramirez was reported it was by his biological mother, one of his friends told his mother and she called the police (so I read on the ktvu article I believe)

The judge has asked that this case not be discussed so I don't know how much more we will learn, but these three people should burn in hell for what they did to these boys.

In the video of Austin, he stated he looks forward to looking her in the eye in court, he said she is just plain evil.

I saw photo's today of the chains they brought out of the home.. I would love to know what other evidence they have against the Schumacher's that they have four charges against them for abusing their own children. I don't believe it's just for them being in the home while Kyle was being abused.. these people are as psycho IMO as Ramirez.

[Kip]

[snip]...
I saw photo's today of the chains they brought out of the home.. I would love to know what other evidence they have against the Schumacher's that they have four charges against them for abusing their own children. I don't believe it's just for them being in the home while Kyle was being abused.. these people are as psycho IMO as Ramirez.

This is the California penal code regarding child endangerment:

(B) Section 273(a) of the Penal Code states:

Any person who, under circumstances or conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or death, willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or having the care or custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the person or health of such child to be injured, or willfully causes or permits such child to be placed in such situation that its person or health is endangered, is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or in the state prison for 2, 4 or 6 years.

Any person who, under circumstances or conditions other than those likely to produce great bodily harm or death, willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or having the care or custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the person or health of such child to be injured, or willfully causes or permits such child to be placed in such situation that its person or health may be endangered, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

I wonder if the child endangerment charges stem from "mental suffering" or "willfully causes or permits such child to be placed in such situation that its person or health may be endangered"????

[gorbal]

Thanks for posting that Kip.

There are new details on the search warrant.

From the record.

(snip)

According to papers filed in the San Joaquin County Superior Court, the boy identified by neighbors as Kyle told investigators he was kept for long periods inside the wood-burning fireplace and given pills, alcohol and marijuana to keep him lethargic.
HOW TO HELP

Sacramento Child Advocates Inc., a nonprofit organization, has set up a trust for the Tracy boy. Donate by visiting www.sacchildadv.org, and click on a button to the left that says "Tracy Youth Fund."

"He was regularly hit on the head with a baseball bat and was once cut with a knife and strangled with a belt until he lost consciousness,"

(snip)

The documents also say the boy described once being chained to - and asleep in - the fireplace when somebody purposefully ignited a flame, which seriously burned his left arm. Entering the home, detectives said they found a blanket in the fireplace.

He was denied food for days at a time and remained attached by a chain to the fireplace or a heavy table.

"His ankle was injured and seemingly permanently indented from the chain that encompassed it," the detective wrote in the search warrant.

Link to article (http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081206/A_NEWS/812060323/-1/A_NEWS)

[VC2]

Thanks for posting that Kip.

There are new details on the search warrant.

From the record.

(snip)



(snip)



Link to article (http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081206/A_NEWS/812060323/-1/A_NEWS)

:angry: i have read a lot of abuse cases but this one ranks at the top. Made him sleep in the fireplace?????????

[dinojen]

Found this at SFGate this morning, I also remembered in Austin's interview the mentioned the severe burn on Kyle's arm. He said how it had not gotten infected he doesn't know.. he said the burn was horrible.

In the link below one of Schumacher's neighbors recalls Mrs. S. coming over and borrowing bolt cutters several times in recent months...

I hope these people get life for what they have done.. it's despicable.



http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/05/BAH514INTI.DTL&tsp=1

[i4doors]

this is just one of the worse:mad: how could the adults be so evil? why?:cursing:

[taylor63]

Found this at SFGate this morning, I also remembered in Austin's interview the mentioned the severe burn on Kyle's arm. He said how it had not gotten infected he doesn't know.. he said the burn was horrible.

In the link below one of Schumacher's neighbors recalls Mrs. S. coming over and borrowing bolt cutters several times in recent months...

I hope these people get life for what they have done.. it's despicable.



http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/05/BAH514INTI.DTL&tsp=1

These people must have no conscience at all. There's nothing much more painful than a burn injury, for the adults involved, to allow that boy to suffer like that infuriates me beyond words. No one should have to suffer the way this kid has, and what they ate in front of him? And stuffed their faces while he was starving? I have rarely been this outraged by a case like this. I too hope these creatures get put away for ever.

[gorbal]

:angry: i have read a lot of abuse cases but this one ranks at the top. Made him sleep in the fireplace?????????


Not only did he sleep in the fireplace, reportedly he spent much of his time there.

I'm not trying to make light of this, but it is kind of Ironic that this was on the cached copy of Kelly Lau's myspace page-


You scored as Cinderella. Your alter ego is Cinderella! You often find yourself doing a lot of housework, but if you are patient, your hard work usually pays off. You are prone to losing things, so dont rush through everything.

Cinderella

100%
Donald Duck

75%
Ariel

75%
Cruella De Ville

69%
Goofy

56%
The Beast

56%
Peter Pan

56%
Sleeping Beauty

50%
Pinocchio

44%
Snow White

38%

Which Disney Character is your Alter Ego?
created with QuizFarm.com

[dinojen]

He must of spent quite a bit of time in the fireplace, Austin was saying when he goes to visit him he is usually in a fetal position or laying with his knees curled up, I guess he isn't use to sitting in a normal position or standing for that matter.

Sure hope these two brothers can have a wonderful holiday together and a beginning of a new life for the two of them, while fake Mommy Dearest rots in hell...along with her co-conspirators.. Can you imagine what those four little kids must be thinking.. what a mess of so many young lives they have caused.:cursing:

[Indy]

Thanks for posting that Kip.

There are new details on the search warrant.

From the record.

(snip)



(snip)



Link to article (http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081206/A_NEWS/812060323/-1/A_NEWS)
This is so sickening. They probably made this poor child lethargic, so he wouldn't cry or scream as much when they abused him. I wonder if the neighbors would have done anything anyway if they heard cries coming from that house? I would hope so. This poor child has been let down by a lot of people. It's not too late, he still has a chance at a proper life if given a loving, caring, and therapeutic environment.

Please God, give this child a chance!!

[gorbal]

Her eis another interview with his brother-

link (http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=51566&catid=2)

More details that you might not want to hear, but it's nice to know they are going to have Christmas together.

His brother noted that he was also 16 when he got away from his aunt; police were supposed to bring his brother as well but they "failed" I wonder what that is about?

[dinojen]

Found this today at Tracy Press...

Search warrants released today shed more light on the depth of abuse suffered by a 16-year-old boy who ran away from his alleged captors Monday night, bleeding profusely and emaciated.

The documents say the boy was denied food for days on end and forced to stay inside the 630 Tennis Lane home’s wood-burning fireplace, which explains why he was covered in ashes when he ran for shelter at the nearby In-Shape Fitness Center.

The husband and wife and the boy’s legal guardian were arrested earlier this week on charges of torture, kidnapping and of inflicting permanent bodily injury to the boy.

Michael Schumacher, 34, his wife Kelly Lau, 30 and the teen’s guardian Caren Ramirez, 43, forced him to smoke marijuana, drink alcohol and swallow pills to keep him lethargic, the boy told investigators.

The boy’s ankle was swollen and "seemingly permanently indented from the chain that encompassed it," warrants show.

He was never allowed to leave and was at all times chained to either the fireplace or a heavy, "practically unmovable" table.

Police found a blanket in the fireplace where the boy said he was forced to sleep.

Schumacher, Ramirez and Lau at different times hit the boy on the head with a baseball bat, cut him with a knife and strangled him with a belt until he blacked out, the warrant alleges.

One time, when the boy slept in the fireplace, the suspects purposefully lit a fire in it, according to the warrant, resulting in the burn marks on his severely undernourished body.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16649/2268/


The comments posted after the article are pretty much I think how everyone feels about this horrific treatment of this young man.

Don't forget Ramirez is arraigned tomorrow, will check in the morning as to what time that is going to be... and also her cohorts the Schumacher's appear in court also to make their pleas... How could any attorney defend these evil people.. just doesn't seem right..:angry:

[Indy]

I watched one of the news reports on this case describing how when you first entered the home, it was decorated with Christmas decorations and a tree ect. I wonder what the kids are thinking when they see mom and dad and perhaps themselves decorating the tree. A perfectly happy and festive moment shared among family all the while a child is suffering, chained to a fireplace looking on...boggles the mind!!

I guess these monsters are good examples of sociopaths.

At least Kyle will be able to spend the rest of his Christmases free, while those three creatures will spend the rest of their Christmases behind bars hopefully until they die.

[MyHope]

What a horrific story. I am always interested in the "whys" with the hope that horrific stories like this can be prevented in the future. I wonder if it will be possible to follow the lives of the children who were "not" abused in that household. (Wierd to describe them that way....being a helpless witness to such atrocity is abuse in and of itself.) I wonder how their lives will turn out? They need a lot of careful, insightful help. The cycle must be broken. As for Kyle and Austin....wow....I don't even know what to hope for for them. I can't imagine what it is going to take to repair the damage that has been done.

[dinojen]

Austin appeared on the Early Show today, I'm glad this story is being made national.. stuff like this just can't continue to happen.

Here's a link from Tracy Press

http://cbs13.com/national/chained.teen.brother.2.882239.html

Video link to the Early Show..

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/08/earlyshow/main4654098.shtml


The three appear in court today, Ramirez to be arraigned and the Schumacher's to plea..:cursing:

[Kip]

What a horrific story. I am always interested in the "whys" with the hope that horrific stories like this can be prevented in the future. I wonder if it will be possible to follow the lives of the children who were "not" abused in that household. (Wierd to describe them that way....being a helpless witness to such atrocity is abuse in and of itself.) I wonder how their lives will turn out? They need a lot of careful, insightful help. The cycle must be broken. As for Kyle and Austin....wow....I don't even know what to hope for for them. I can't imagine what it is going to take to repair the damage that has been done.


Good post. I was just thinking about the four children this morning. Their lives have been turned upsidedown. Even if they weren't threatened by Ramirez or their parents directly, the children would have drawn the conclusion that if they misbehaved, the treatment Kyle was receiving would be in store for them.

I have to wonder about other family members. Did grandparents, aunts, or uncles visit at all? If they did and saw Kyle mistreated (even chained to the coffee table), I would hope the children wouldn't be placed with any of them.

There will be effects on other children as well -- lots of children in Tracy will have had their innocence taken away. I was thinking about the girls in the mother's scout troop -- they now know the face of evil can be anyone they know.

I'm actually optimistic about Austin and Kyle. Austin is very well-spoken (especially for a teenager these days) and seems to have a good head on his shoulders. He said you never get over the abuse, but go on. I am hopeful that Austin will be able to help Kyle learn to deal with everything.

[Kip]

Three Suspects in Court (http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11170504)

After failing to make it to court last Thursday, due to an unspecified illness, Caren Ramirez, 43, was arraigned on nine felonies — including torture, aggravated mayhem, kidnapping and corporal injury to a child...
She said, through her attorney, her name is spelled with an accent over the `e' in Caren and pronounced, "Carmen.''

...None of the defendants entered a plea. All are being held on more than $2.2 million bail and are scheduled to return Fox's courtroom at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 5.

...After allowing nearly a dozen television cameras and photographers into the courtroom Monday, Fox issued a gag order preventing parties involved in the case, their attorneys, potential witnesses and investigators, from commenting on the case....

The suspects are being segregated from the general population while being held in San Joaquin County Jail...

[VC2]

Three Suspects in Court (http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11170504)

After failing to make it to court last Thursday, due to an unspecified illness, Caren Ramirez, 43, was arraigned on nine felonies — including torture, aggravated mayhem, kidnapping and corporal injury to a child...
She said, through her attorney, her name is spelled with an accent over the `e' in Caren and pronounced, "Carmen.''

...None of the defendants entered a plea. All are being held on more than $2.2 million bail and are scheduled to return Fox's courtroom at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 5.

...After allowing nearly a dozen television cameras and photographers into the courtroom Monday, Fox issued a gag order preventing parties involved in the case, their attorneys, potential witnesses and investigators, from commenting on the case....

The suspects are being segregated from the general population while being held in San Joaquin County Jail...

this gag order is going to help the evil ones not the child imo. sad.

[dinojen]

Ramierz was arraigned yesterday and her charges were read, she was squinting and looking down the whole time the judge was reading them.
All three are due back in court on Jan. 5th and none of them entered their plea's yesterday.

<snippet>

Ramirez walked into the room today crowded by reporters and a few other onlookers with her body hunched, chin to her chest and — like Schumacher and Lau — wrists shackled to her waist. She walked stiffly to the dais and spoke only once, to tell her court-appointed lawyer Douglas Jacobsen to tell the judge to pronounce her name “Carmen,” despite its spelling.

Schumacher, Lau and their houseguest Ramirez have yet to enter any pleas. The three are being kept in solitary confinement at the San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp, each in lieu of $2.2 million bail.

Though the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said the “medical reason” that sent Ramirez to the hospital last week had nothing to do with a suicide attempt, an employee of the San Joaquin County Jail said suspects wearing just socks, as Ramirez was this afternoon, are typically on suicide watch.

Judge Cinda S. Fox scheduled a third arraignment for 10:30 a.m. Jan. 5 because defenders and investigators need more time to sort through the evidence before the trial begins. She also reiterated that there’s a gag order on the case barring anything outside of open records from being disclosed to the public by police, lawyers and potential witnesses. Fox also appointed Jacobsen to represent Ramirez.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16679/2268/

The photo's of "CARMEN" (she corrected the judge in how to pronounce her name...:scared:).. love them, shackled at the feet and the wrists, now put her in a cage the size of a fireplace...:angry:

Here's another link from cbs5.

http://cbs5.com/crime/chained.teen.arraignment.2.882711.html

[Amy]

I don't think a gag order will affect the prosecution in any way. If even a portion of what is "out there" is true (and I'm thinking that is likely to be about 100% of what has been reported so far) they have enough to successfully try these 3 POS's. Even if it takes some time to go to trial, when a jury, or if any choose just a judge, hears the evidence, their gooses will be cooked. I just hope the sentence is FOREVER.

[Kip]

this gag order is going to help the evil ones not the child imo. sad.

I don't think a gag order will help the evil three. If it makes it so they have one less thing to base an appeal on after their conviction, I'm all for it.

Also, as much as I would like to know more details about this case, I think it's better for Kyle and Austin that their story disappear from the news for a while.

[Breazy]

Have had the weekend to think about all this and I truly wonder why the biological mother would give Ramirez custody of these boys. I pray the circumstances of them being in her care are investigated thoroughly. I feel like there is something hinky about it all. I pray these boys will have access to therapy and someday will be able to put these demons behind them. I'm so scared that the psychological scars that Kyle must carry will be irreversible. I continue to pray for his healing and that he will be able to experience some happiness with being reunited with his brother.

[Amy]

Perhaps Ramirez had not shown her true colors to the bio mom? The I don't know how long she lived after signing over custody. Wonder if she lived long enough to know how this POS treated her sons?

[dinojen]

Perhaps Ramirez had not shown her true colors to the bio mom? The I don't know how long she lived after signing over custody. Wonder if she lived long enough to know how this POS treated her sons?

Been wondering alot about the bio Mom, someone reported that she was very ill and Ramirez was "supposedly" a friend of hers... I'm thinking she wasn't aware of the treatment her boys were receiving. I do know Austin has spoke of seeing her while she was in hospice care..

I'm sorry but Ramirez looks just plain evil.. and the other couple look like tweaked out meth heads... JMO...:cursing:

[Charms]

TRACY, CA - Tracy police arrested a fourth suspect in connection with a case involving a teen who was allegedly tortured and held captive for a year.

The latest suspect to be taken into custody was Anthony Waiters, 29, of Tracy.

On Dec. 1, a 16-year-old boy ran into a health club begging for help. He was dressed in boxer shorts and had a chain around his leg with a padlock on his ankle. Police soon arrested three adults who'd been living at the home where the boy escaped. The house was less than 500 yards away on Tennis Lane.

search warrant released late last week indicated the boy was kept lethargic with a combination of pills, alcohol and marijuana. Police also wrote the boy was often forced to stay inside the home's fireplace.

Caren Ramirez was formally charged Monday with torture, kidnapping, child abuse, false imprisonment and other crimes. Sacramento court records identify Ramirez as the boy's mother. Michael Schumacher and Kelly Lau were charged last week.

Each of the suspects is being held on $2.2 million bail.

Tuesday officers were back at the home on Tennis Lane. Investigators also searched a nextdoor neighbor's home, where Waiters reportedly lives. After the search, police arrested him at his job in Pleasanton. He was booked into the San Joaquin County jail on charges of torture, conspiracy, child endangerment, corporal injury to a child and false imprisonment.

[dinojen]

Schumacher's neighbor was arrested yesterday and evidence taken from his home .. the news mentioned Pleasanton which is a short distance from Tracy.. will try to find a link for the info.

Just heard it on CBS5. He is in custody

[Indy]

Schumacher's neighbor was arrested yesterday and evidence taken from his home .. the news mentioned Pleasanton which is a short distance from Tracy.. will try to find a link for the info.

Just heard it on CBS5. He is in custody
www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,464724,00.html

WTH???!!!

When it's all over, just how many people will we find out hurt this child? This story get's worse and worse. Thank God this child had the courage when the opportunity came to escape. Because if he didn't, I don't think he would have ever made it out of the house alive. The way he looked proved that his body wasn't going to last much longer to all that abuse and neglect. Unbelievable!!

[dinojen]

Not much due to the gag order.

It was said on the local news that this guy was a neighbor of the Schumacher's and was arrested at his place of employment in "Pleasanton"...that's about maybe 30 mins. from Tracy approx.


4th Suspect Arrested In Tracy Teen's Torture
PLEASANTON (CBS 5 / AP) ― A fourth person was in police custody in connection with the case of a teenager who recently stumbled into a Tracy health club nearly naked, emaciated and shackled while begging for help, authorities said Tuesday night.

Detectives from the Tracy Police Department arrested 29-year-old Anthony Waiters at his place of work in Pleasanton on Tuesday for allegedly participating in the torture of the 16-year-old boy.

Waiters was booked at the San Joaquin County jail on charges of torture, conspiracy, child endangerment, corporal injury to a child and false imprisonment.

Police did not release any additional information about the arrest, citing a judge's gag order.

http://cbs5.com/crime/tracy.teen.torture.2.883843.html

<snippet from Tracy Press>

Hours before Waiters’ arrest, police returned to search the Tennis Lane house that was allegedly the place where a boy identified in court records as Kyle R. was tortured and kept prisoner for more than a year. Police removed several bags of evidence, including a baseball bat.

Police also searched the house next door at the corner of Tennis Lane and Tracy Boulevard and confiscated a Dell computer.

In interviews with a Press reporter last week, a man living in the second searched house who called himself "Tony" and matched the description of Waiters said he occasionally talked with Lau and that he was surprised at what was apparently going on next door.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16685/2268/

Read the comment section in the second link.. the one for the Tracy Press, this guy just arrested was on Lau's my space page... and he gave an interview when all this broke.. I can't believe these people.. unbelievable..:cursing: Some of the comments are by people that actually know this recent suspect and they are shocked, he's a coach for kids also...

[VC2]

Not much due to the gag order.

It was said on the local news that this guy was a neighbor of the Schumacher's and was arrested at his place of employment in "Pleasanton"...that's about maybe 30 mins. from Tracy approx.


4th Suspect Arrested In Tracy Teen's Torture
PLEASANTON (CBS 5 / AP) ― A fourth person was in police custody in connection with the case of a teenager who recently stumbled into a Tracy health club nearly naked, emaciated and shackled while begging for help, authorities said Tuesday night.

Detectives from the Tracy Police Department arrested 29-year-old Anthony Waiters at his place of work in Pleasanton on Tuesday for allegedly participating in the torture of the 16-year-old boy.

Waiters was booked at the San Joaquin County jail on charges of torture, conspiracy, child endangerment, corporal injury to a child and false imprisonment.

Police did not release any additional information about the arrest, citing a judge's gag order.

http://cbs5.com/crime/tracy.teen.torture.2.883843.html

<snippet from Tracy Press>

Hours before Waiters’ arrest, police returned to search the Tennis Lane house that was allegedly the place where a boy identified in court records as Kyle R. was tortured and kept prisoner for more than a year. Police removed several bags of evidence, including a baseball bat.

Police also searched the house next door at the corner of Tennis Lane and Tracy Boulevard and confiscated a Dell computer.

In interviews with a Press reporter last week, a man living in the second searched house who called himself "Tony" and matched the description of Waiters said he occasionally talked with Lau and that he was surprised at what was apparently going on next door.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16685/2268/

Read the comment section in the second link.. the one for the Tracy Press, this guy just arrested was on Lau's my space page... and he gave an interview when all this broke.. I can't believe these people.. unbelievable..:cursing: Some of the comments are by people that actually know this recent suspect and they are shocked, he's a coach for kids also...

:cursing: wtf? is it something in the water?? A freaking coach!!!! it was bad enough there were 3 adults who would do this, but then to have a neighbor who got his kicks torturing a child?

This story gets worse and worse. Thanks for the links jen

[Kip]

Schumacher's neighbor was arrested yesterday and evidence taken from his home .. the news mentioned Pleasanton which is a short distance from Tracy.. will try to find a link for the info.

Just heard it on CBS5. He is in custody

When you think it can't get any worse, it does. I had wondered about other family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles) who might have seen Kyle being mistreated and not said anything, but I never thought anyone else would have actively participated. I can't imagine what the evidence is unless this guy took photos.

[BorderCollieMom]

Its like they are a pack of rabid animals !!!

Prayers for all of our babies.

[dinojen]

When you think it can't get any worse, it does. I had wondered about other family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles) who might have seen Kyle being mistreated and not said anything, but I never thought anyone else would have actively participated. I can't imagine what the evidence is unless this guy took photos.


Got me, but they took his computer and a bat from his home...:thumbdown: Loser. Lau had pictures of him sitting in their garage drinking beers with her and her husband on her my space page.

Now think about it... the police took chains and something else, I can't recall that were attached to a punching bag that was hanging in the garage.. also if he hung out at the home would you not think he would of seen this guy chained to a table or have cause of concern about his health and appearance.. and should of reported it if he wasn't involved in the abuse... I tell ya.. like you and others have said, this just keeps getting uglier and uglier.. animals are treated better than this poor kid was.

[dinojen]

<snippet>

Waiters is the fourth suspect in custody in connection with what authorities have described as the abuse of a teen held captive at a home on Tennis Lane in central Tracy from July 2007 until he escaped on Dec. 1.

Waiters' mother, Alice Waiters, and a neighbor, Rachel Portillo, said Waiters at one point worked at the same gym. Waiters, who also coaches the Tracy Cougars youth football team, was frequently seen at the Schumacher residence, neighbors said. Both homes were searched Tuesday, Portillo said.

The comments after this article are pretty much I think how everyone feels.. like the first one states, "This story will make a grown man cry."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/09/BALK14LC1O.DTL

Here's another great link...

Neighbors said Waiters was well acquainted with the other people accused of abusing the boy. They also said he was one of the few people who spent time inside their house while the alleged abuse was taking place.

Earlier on Tuesday Tracy Police searched the home of Schumaker and Lau, then they turned their search next door where Waiters, lives with his mother. They removed several items from his home including a bottle of bleach and a computer.

Investigators also confiscated two aluminum bats from the Schumaker's house. At Waiter's home tonight, ABC7's Alan Wang broke the news to his aunt.

"No. I don't believe that. I don't believe that at all. I don't know, now I think it's a witch hunt. I don't know," said Ernessa Waiters, Anthony Waiters' aunt.

"Oh no. It's just so hard to believe. Like I said I've seen him grow up since he was 10 years old at least," said Mary Wagener, a neighbor.

"Like I said, he was good friends with them. They were there together," said Mike Portillo, a neighbor.
"He was in the house?" asked Wang.
"Oh yes, at times he would be there just visiting most of the time," said Portillo.

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/state&id=6547754

[Indy]

You know, it seems like there are always people that say the same thing...."I know him, he wouldn't do such a thing", or "They seemed like such nice people", "I don't believe it"... blah blah blah

Well believe it folks. You think you know someone, but behind closed doors, people behave very very differently. There are a lot of sickos in this world who just haven't gotten caught yet. Thank goodness these four were caught.

[dinojen]

You know, it seems like there are always people that say the same thing...."I know him, he wouldn't do such a thing", or "They seemed like such nice people", "I don't believe it"... blah blah blah

Well believe it folks. You think you know someone, but behind closed doors, people behave very very differently. There are a lot of sickos in this world who just haven't gotten caught yet. Thank goodness these four were caught.

I know a couple of families that I thought were the "Cleavers" and the "Anderson's".. and found out nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors... really really sad this happened both of these young men actually, Austin was abused also, but Kyle got a double dose.:crying:

[Amy]

Not much due to the gag order.

It was said on the local news that this guy was a neighbor of the Schumacher's and was arrested at his place of employment in "Pleasanton"...that's about maybe 30 mins. from Tracy approx.


4th Suspect Arrested In Tracy Teen's Torture
PLEASANTON (CBS 5 / AP) ― A fourth person was in police custody in connection with the case of a teenager who recently stumbled into a Tracy health club nearly naked, emaciated and shackled while begging for help, authorities said Tuesday night.

Detectives from the Tracy Police Department arrested 29-year-old Anthony Waiters at his place of work in Pleasanton on Tuesday for allegedly participating in the torture of the 16-year-old boy.

Waiters was booked at the San Joaquin County jail on charges of torture, conspiracy, child endangerment, corporal injury to a child and false imprisonment.

Police did not release any additional information about the arrest, citing a judge's gag order.

http://cbs5.com/crime/tracy.teen.torture.2.883843.html

<snippet from Tracy Press>

Hours before Waiters’ arrest, police returned to search the Tennis Lane house that was allegedly the place where a boy identified in court records as Kyle R. was tortured and kept prisoner for more than a year. Police removed several bags of evidence, including a baseball bat.

Police also searched the house next door at the corner of Tennis Lane and Tracy Boulevard and confiscated a Dell computer.

In interviews with a Press reporter last week, a man living in the second searched house who called himself "Tony" and matched the description of Waiters said he occasionally talked with Lau and that he was surprised at what was apparently going on next door.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16685/2268/

Read the comment section in the second link.. the one for the Tracy Press, this guy just arrested was on Lau's my space page... and he gave an interview when all this broke.. I can't believe these people.. unbelievable..:cursing: Some of the comments are by people that actually know this recent suspect and they are shocked, he's a coach for kids also...

Another comment was about LE would be questioning everyone on her MySpace--and rightly so. And the poster wondered if any of them had seen anything. I wonder just what she would have posted on her site. Surely she wouldn't have even MENTIONED the things that were going on--cuz for sure she knew it was all wrong. But, you never know.

[penguin01]

But wouldn't Tony have to be blind, deaf and dumb (I mean really ignorant) not to notice something was wrong? He was hanging out with them - in their garage; and one might suppose, in their house. Something VERY wrong with the man!

[VC2]

But wouldn't Tony have to be blind, deaf and dumb (I mean really ignorant) not to notice something was wrong? He was hanging out with them - in their garage; and one might suppose, in their house. Something VERY wrong with the man!

agreed. the only thing that i could understand is if he has some sort of deficient intellect, perhaps not to an extreme level but if he was mentally challenged he didn't understand what he saw.

Dont buy it though. Even a 3 year old would know something was wrong.

[gorbal]

One thing you should keep in mind is that many of those pictures on the myspace page were taken quite some time ago...those pictures of Kelly almost look like a different person.

Also, about the mother, I can't remember where it was, but I remember Austin saying it was his mother, not his sister, that reported that Ramirez abused them.

This part of Wangs interview got to me though-

Wang spoke with Waiters in his driveway the day after the boy escaped and asked him if he knew the family. Waiters said in a very stoic voice, "No. I mind my own business."

[penguin01]

One thing you should keep in mind is that many of those pictures on the myspace page were taken quite some time ago...those pictures of Kelly almost look like a different person.

Also, about the mother, I can't remember where it was, but I remember Austin saying it was his mother, not his sister, that reported that Ramirez abused them.

This part of Wangs interview got to me though-If Tony said to Wang that he didn't know the family well and "minded his own business" I should have added LIAR to my to my blind, deaf and dumb assessment, shouldn't I? It there are pictures he is another guy saying "ya gonna believe me or your eyes?"
The poor mother - she was in a hospice dying and her kids were being abused.

[penguin01]

Good links on the recent information: Its under Current Crimes.

[dinojen]

One thing you should keep in mind is that many of those pictures on the myspace page were taken quite some time ago...those pictures of Kelly almost look like a different person.

Also, about the mother, I can't remember where it was, but I remember Austin saying it was his mother, not his sister, that reported that Ramirez abused them.

This part of Wangs interview got to me though-



I thought the same thing that it was Austin's mother that reported Ramirez to the police, it actually wasn't his biological mother, it was his friend who went to his own mother and told her that Austin was being abused. I think this is the family he eventually went to live with. He mentioned this the other day in a interview.. will see if I can find her name. He has mentioned her before and how she changed his life.

[gorbal]

If Tony said to Wang that he didn't know the family well and "minded his own business" I should have added LIAR to my to my blind, deaf and dumb assessment, shouldn't I? It there are pictures he is another guy saying "ya gonna believe me or your eyes?"
The poor mother - she was in a hospice dying and her kids were being abused.

Yeah, I saw the pictures...he did know them. Didn't he admit to knowing them when interviewed though? I was just thinking he might have lied to his relative cause he was sick of talking about it.

He's the only one I might give the benefit of the doubt, but just barely.

[Breazy]

Been wondering alot about the bio Mom, someone reported that she was very ill and Ramirez was "supposedly" a friend of hers... I'm thinking she wasn't aware of the treatment her boys were receiving. I do know Austin has spoke of seeing her while she was in hospice care..

I'm sorry but Ramirez looks just plain evil.. and the other couple look like tweaked out meth heads... JMO...:cursing:

I agree about all their looks. IIRC, it was also reported that the bio mom died a short time after Ramirez was given custody. Gets me wondering if Ramirez getting guardianship was on the up and up. Wonder if coercion or worse came into play? I just can't fathom why anyone in their right mind would give guardianship of her children to that woman. JMO.

[dinojen]

How you can have 4th of July bbq's with this family, your son is in their home watching Raider games and no one questions this boy's appearance or where he is when he isn't there... something just doesn't fit. Are they that blind to this boy being in the home... Where did they hide him when people were there.. just doesn't make sense... Trumped up charges my butt... please... you don't get arrested and held on 685,000. bail for nothing.. they have something on this guy and if all it is is that he knew the abuse was going on, he's just as much at fault as the other three IMO..


<snippet>
Mom 'Shocked' By 4th Tracy Torture Suspect Arrest
TRACY (AP) ― The mother of a fourth suspect held in the case of a shackled teenager said Wednesday that her son would occasionally watch football games at the house where the boy allegedly was tortured, but her son didn't know he even lived there.

"This is shocking. I know my son, the child that I raised, and he couldn't have done something like that. This is a bunch of trumped-up charges," Alice Waiters said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Waiters' son, 29-year-old Anthony Waiters, was arrested Tuesday night by Tracy police and booked on suspicion of torture, conspiracy, child endangerment, corporal injury to a child and false imprisonment.

"I'm not saying that boy wasn't abused," Alice Waiters told AP. "But he wasn't abused by my son."

The elder Waiters said the couple and their four kids have lived in the neighborhood for about two years. Her son would sometimes have a beer with Schumacher and occasionally go over to the house to watch an Oakland Raiders game. She said the families barbecued together last July 4 at her home.

Alice Waiters said she has never been inside the Schumacher-Lau house.

She and her son were interviewed by a police officer for an hour last week and told authorities they never saw evidence of abuse at the home, nor did they see a teenage boy.

"I would say Michael seemed to be quiet and respectful. Kelly on the other hand, her attitude is questionable," Alice Waiters said. "She gives off the impression of living a rough-type life."


http://cbs5.com/crime/tracy.teen.torture.2.884432.html

[Kip]

"I would say Michael seemed to be quiet and respectful. Kelly on the other hand, her attitude is questionable," Alice Waiters said. "She gives off the impression of living a rough-type life."

And this is the Girl Scout leader!:ohmy:

Not saying it's true in Tony's case, but it wouldn't surprise me if they kept Kyle out of sight when people were over. Though neighbors apparently saw Kyle taking out the garbage and neighborhood children saw the mother abuse Kyle. I wonder if the parents of these neighbor children thought their children were making things up or exaggerating.

I think one unintended consequence of so many kids being homeschooled is that no one pays much attention when they see kids not in school. When I was growing up, all kids went to school and if adults saw you not in school on a school day, they'd ask you about it (plus there were truant officers back then who would actually go after kids skipping school). I remember when I was a senior three classmates and I took off school - with permission - to attend a trial in the county seat for a school report. We laughed about how many people asked why we weren't in school - a policeman in the courthouse, the judge(!), people on the street, the waitress where we went for lunch... Back then, if neighbors had seen a boy not attending school, they would have reported it. (Not saying abuse didn't happen back then; of course, it did. But the abused kids had to go to school. On the down side, there wasn't as much awareness of the child abuse problem back then.)

[Indy]

I agree that police wouldn't arrest Anthony Waiters just for nothing. Something must have been discovered in the search warrent that suspects Anthony Waiters involvement or perhaphs he was even mentioned by the victim himself (just guessing).

It's weird to me that some neighbors saw Kyle outside doing chores, but then the mom of Anthony W. never knew a boy existed? Of course she did mention in the article that she saw Caren Ramirez and waved but didn't question her presence because she "doesn't get into people's business". That seems to be a common statement among the neighbors=="not getting into eachother's business". Poor Kyle had to be his own rescuer because he probably knew no one was ever going to help him. God Bless him.

I understand it must be hard for family to even concieve that their loved ones are capable of such horrendous acts. But let's face it, like I said before, you think you really know someone...

[dinojen]

They interviewed somewhat his brother last night, didn't say much except alot that had to be bleeped out.. but I did catch you have my brother's face all over the news and get off our property.. in between the expletives. His mother has hired an attorney for him and the only thing she says is "I love my son"..

Checked out Tracy Press this morning and found this, sure seems like this gentle giant was awfully chummy with the Schumacher's.. how could someone that was that friendly not know this boy was in that home.. just doesn't make sense.

<snippet>

Thursday’s arraignment is just for Waiters, according to court spokeswoman Stephanie Bohrer. Schumacher, Ramirez and Lau — who are each being held in lieu of $2.2 million bail — are not expected to make an appearance.

To those who knew Waiters, his alleged ties to the case come as a shock.

The West High School graduate played on the football team and seemed friendly, "like a gentle giant," said one woman, who went to school with him and asked that her name be withheld to avoid association. "He was always really nice to everyone."

Members of the Tracy Cougars football team were equally surprised.

“If this is true, and I have no idea if this is true, we didn’t know what was going on,” said Sophia Wan, who coaches the Cougars cheerleaders and has a daughter who plays for the Novice team. “It’s just upsetting, because my daughter is a part of this organization. It just saddens me.”

As the media frenzy surrounding the Tracy torture case died down last week, Waiters was seen working in his yard, mowing his lawn.

In a passing conversation with a Press reporter last week, Waiters said he occasionally talked with Lau and that he was surprised at what was apparently going on next door.

Waiters once worked at the In-Shape Health Club behind his house, where the boy sought help, and fitness manager Glenna Conway said last week that Waiters was a "pretty good friend" of Schumacher and Lau and that he used to work out at the gym regularly.

Waiters used to work at the gym after school, employees said. Not long ago, he tried to convince Lau to sign up for a gym membership, Conway said.

"He came back to ask why we were charging his friend so much to join," Conway said the day after the boy's dramatic appearance. "She decided not to sign up."

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16685/2268/

Another <snippet> from San Jose Mercury News

During a Tuesday phone interview, Alice Waiters said the allegations against her son, who is known around town as Tony, did not fit his personality.

Waiters described her life in Tracy and her son's relationship with the other suspects.

"We bought the house when my children were small. My husband passed away, and Tony lives with me mainly to help out because I have cancer and medical problems," she said.

She said her son was friendly with the neighbors, whose four children, ages 1 to 9, are now in protective custody, and sometimes visited the home to watch football with Michael Schumacher, who worked as a contractor.

He did say he had an unpleasant experience with Schumacher's wife, stay-at-home mother Kelly Lau, Waiters said.

"He gave her a ride to the store, and she was acting up, picking a fight with customers. He came back, and he was so upset and embarrassed and said people just looked at her like she was crazy. He wouldn't speak to her for a while after that," she said.

Alice Waiters described Lau as "immature and loud," but said she never saw her physically abuse any of her children.

"She wants to give the impression that she's bad, tough — you know, that type," Waiters said. "She does have a real loud mouth, but I never saw her beat her kids."

"I could never quite figure out (Ramirez) role" in the household, Waiters said. But, she added, she didn't think it was her place to probe.

Waiters also said she never knew the alleged abuse victim, Kyle R., who court records show may have been kept against his will in the Schumacher-Lau residence for 15 months. The first time she learned a teenager was living there was when her granddaughter visited the home with Anthony, Waiters said.

"She went over there with (Anthony), and I heard her saying something like, 'What's wrong with him?' about the boy. But I never saw the boy," Waiters said.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11190023



From the mothers comments I posted in red, sure sounds to me like her son knew that Kyle was there, how could you not know he was abused...:angry:

[Explorer]

These people are so bad that they cant even be compared to rabid dogs. At least rabid dogs have a good excuse. This story has been haunting me ever since I heard about it. When I saw the interview with his elementary school teacher, I cried right along with her. What is wrong with these people? What makes them think that this behavior is ok? I think I know. DRUGS! They are doing major DRUGS!

[gorbal]

They probably wouldnt' arrest Waiters for no reason, it might be because of the bats they took from his house

It makes you think of the abuse that might be happening in your own neighborhood;I'm always reading about crimes occuring on my street..

[penguin01]

His mom said her granddaughter noticed enough to ask "what is wrong with him" about the boy - but Tony - a grown-up didn't pick up on anything? Doesn't sound at all reasonable to me.

[dinojen]

He is being arraigned this afternoon, will see what I can find and what charges were actually brought against him, haven't found anything yet.

His arraignment hearing was at 1:30 it's only 2:15 here now.

[dinojen]

Just in...

STOCKTON — Anthony Waiters, a 29-year-old Tracy youth football coach, was charged this afternoon in San Joaquin County court with eight felony counts in connection with the suspected torture of a teenage boy, including abuse with a baseball bat.

His bail was increased to $1.9 million.


Waiters was charged with torture, aggravated mayhem, child endangerment, false imprisonment by violence and four counts of corporal injury on a child.
Like the others, he could face life behind bars if convicted.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16717/2268/

[HandInCookieJar]

I know this is kind of off topic but this case reminds me of the torture and murder of Sylvia Likens by her guardian. (Indiana; 1965) Neighbors participated. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Likens

[penguin01]

Just in...

STOCKTON — Anthony Waiters, a 29-year-old Tracy youth football coach, was charged this afternoon in San Joaquin County court with eight felony counts in connection with the suspected torture of a teenage boy, including abuse with a baseball bat.

His bail was increased to $1.9 million.


Waiters was charged with torture, aggravated mayhem, child endangerment, false imprisonment by violence and four counts of corporal injury on a child.
Like the others, he could face life behind bars if convicted.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16717/2268/

Thank you so much! I've been anxiously waiting for the news. I wonder what is the 4th arraignment on Jan 5th? More charges - or ther arrests?

[dinojen]

Thank you so much! I've been anxiously waiting for the news. I wonder what is the 4th arraignment on Jan 5th? More charges - or ther arrests?

Your more than welcome, I was anxiously awaiting to hear also. Just the use of a bat on this poor boy is bad enough for me, that also means Tony was aware this boy was being abused... just disgusting...

The appearance on Jan. 5th I believe is for a four to make their plea's, none have done so as yet.

Going to check a few places and see if anything new is out there..

[penguin01]

Your more than welcome, I was anxiously awaiting to hear also. Just the use of a bat on this poor boy is bad enough for me, that also means Tony was aware this boy was being abused... just disgusting...

The appearance on Jan. 5th I believe is for a four to make their plea's, none have done so as yet.

Going to check a few places and see if anything new is out there..
Yup - knew of it and also played long IMO. Bet there will be more arrests - maybe other people in photos hanging out with the couple at their home?

Have y'all checked out the Mom in storm drain thread? The witness who called the police has posted.

[Indy]

I know this is kind of off topic but this case reminds me of the torture and murder of Sylvia Likens by her guardian. (Indiana; 1965) Neighbors participated. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_LikensThat does seem similar. Being singled out to be abused, plus other people being involved.

I find it crazy that it started out with Caren Ramirez feeling comfortable enough to abuse him in front of the Shumackers. Which led to the Shumackers feeling comfortable to abuse him in front of Anthony (IMO). Which led to Anthony Waiters feeling comfortable to abuse him. And who knows if others were involved. These were adults making a conscious decision to hurt a child. It's just sick that these people all thought it o.k to hurt a child. IMO it may have started out at abusive discipline by Caren Ramirez but it turned into a sadistic "sport". Sick.

[Amy]

That does seem similar. Being singled out to be abused, plus other people being involved.

I find it crazy that it started out with Caren Ramirez feeling comfortable enough to abuse him in front of the Shumackers. Which led to the Shumackers feeling comfortable to abuse him in front of Anthony (IMO). Which led to Anthony Waiters feeling comfortable to abuse him. And who knows if others were involved. These were adults making a conscious decision to hurt a child. It's just sick that these people all thought it o.k to hurt a child. IMO it may have started out at abusive discipline by Caren Ramirez but it turned into a sadistic "sport". Sick.

It's sick that one of these "people" was a Girl Scout Leader, and one was a youth league football coach. Geesh--once they finished off w/this one, look @ the whole bunch of little kids they would have to select the next victim from.

[dinojen]

Go down to the comment section and read the second to the last post by a Tracy Police Officer... he use to be a Modesto PD... worked on the Peterson case.. anyway, he's closing comments really open you eyes..

For Anthony's friends and family. Once evidence is presented and

the facts laid out on the charges are proven, my thoughts and

prayers are with you because reality is going to be hard to see.

It will be a very bitter pill to swallow.

Do not be suprised if people will still be in denial.

My professional opinion is that the judge would not have increased

his bail if there was the slightest evidence to show Anthony was

not guilty. Remember looks can be very deceiving and no one can be

trusted.


http://tracypress.com/content/view/16717/2268/

[dinojen]

I guess it might have been his brother who was nasty on camera - they look nearly identical.

http://cbs13.com/local/fourth.suspect.arrested.2.883828.html


His brother was interviewed in front of his mother's house, he had a motorcycle helmet on and his interview was laced with expletives so that might of been him.. I don't recall seeing one of Tony only reading his comments when interviewed by the newspaper when Kyle first escaped.

[dinojen]

:wub:

Great story about what the leadership classes at a high school in Tracy have done for Kyle. It says so many kids were upset about the life he has lived as a teen.. it devastated them and they wanted to do something about it.. just for Kyle.


<snippet>

Two leadership classes collected presents and $1,399.38 on Wednesday alone to buy gift cards in time for Christmas for the boy court documents call Kyle R.



The “Help Us Help Kyle” project was born out of one class’s disgust with what they heard about in the news — that several adults had allegedly tortured a kid their age, who in a better world would have bided his days in school with friends.



“It was just really shocking that something like this could happen in a small town like Tracy,” said 16-year-old West High junior Megan Anastasio, who helped collect pocket change for a related “Coins for Kyle” fundraiser on campus. “A lot of people were disappointed and felt like that could happen to anyone — like, it could be one of us in his place.”

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16718/2268/

[Indy]

:wub:

Great story about what the leadership classes at a high school in Tracy have done for Kyle. It says so many kids were upset about the life he has lived as a teen.. it devastated them and they wanted to do something about it.. just for Kyle.


<snippet>

Two leadership classes collected presents and $1,399.38 on Wednesday alone to buy gift cards in time for Christmas for the boy court documents call Kyle R.



The “Help Us Help Kyle” project was born out of one class’s disgust with what they heard about in the news — that several adults had allegedly tortured a kid their age, who in a better world would have bided his days in school with friends.



“It was just really shocking that something like this could happen in a small town like Tracy,” said 16-year-old West High junior Megan Anastasio, who helped collect pocket change for a related “Coins for Kyle” fundraiser on campus. “A lot of people were disappointed and felt like that could happen to anyone — like, it could be one of us in his place.”

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16718/2268/
That's so sweet. What a wonderful story. It's nice to see so many people helping Kyle...especially the Tracy youth. Hope his Christmas is one of some peace and hope.

Thanks Dinojen for that link.

[Indy]

www.sacbee.com/749/story/1468079.html

An interesting article about how Kyle's bio mom and Caren Ramirez knew eachother. There are still conflicting stories about how Ramirez came to care for both Austin and Kyle. But there are interesting tidbits from people that knew the boys while under her care.

The article also portrays Caren Ramirez as an unemployed person recieving disability checks, living with one friend after another, and suffering from mental problems. Geez, and the bio mom still wanted her to take care of her kids?? :cursing:

[Amy]

Could be that biomom could have had a few issues herself? I don't know about what it takes to enroll in school in CA, but I guess if Ramirez had possession of birth certificate, she could come up with being able to enroll kids who aren't hers.

I was wondering about sedating a small-for-age (from what has been said/printed) boy. But, if he was thoroughly trained in martial arts, I can see where they might have deemed it necessary to do so.

[dinojen]

www.sacbee.com/749/story/1468079.html

An interesting article about how Kyle's bio mom and Caren Ramirez knew eachother. There are still conflicting stories about how Ramirez came to care for both Austin and Kyle. But there are interesting tidbits from people that knew the boys while under her care.

The article also portrays Caren Ramirez as an unemployed person recieving disability checks, living with one friend after another, and suffering from mental problems. Geez, and the bio mom still wanted her to take care of her kids?? :cursing:

Thanks for the link Indy.. great read although sad...

Will be interesting to hear the whole story come out how this woman came about having these two boys.. there are so many versions and I have wondered also about the bio Dad.. funny Kyle's brother didn't mention him at all...

Just hope these two have a joyous happy holiday together seems like they haven't had one for many many years.

[Kip]

www.sacbee.com/749/story/1468079.html

An interesting article about how Kyle's bio mom and Caren Ramirez knew eachother. There are still conflicting stories about how Ramirez came to care for both Austin and Kyle. But there are interesting tidbits from people that knew the boys while under her care.

The article also portrays Caren Ramirez as an unemployed person recieving disability checks, living with one friend after another, and suffering from mental problems. Geez, and the bio mom still wanted her to take care of her kids?? :cursing:

Thanks for that link, Indy. An interesting glimpse into how Ramirez stretches a one-night stay into months:

Carter and her husband never intended to let two more people move into a house already packed with their own children. At first, Ramirez had only asked if she and the boy could stay for a night, while she tried to reach another friend she wanted to stay with.

But that friend never materialized, and the one night stretched into weeks.

"She'd tell (the boy) in front of me, if we don't find a place, we'll be on the street. Then I'd feel bad and tell them they can stay here," Carter said. "I always felt she kind of used the kids to get to your emotions."

[dinojen]

Well the four suspects appeared in court today... Lau, replaced her court appointed attorney with a attorney from L.A.

Not much to be found being the judge still has the gag order in place, supposedly eventually it will be lifted.. once the dust settles.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16914/2268/

http://www.kcra.com/news/18415163/detail.html

[Indy]

Thanks for that link Dinojen. Hmm, Kelly Lau hired two attorneys?! Is she or her family paying for that? I can see this case dragging on and on with the "blame game" defense. But who knows. Perhaps we'll hear more Feb. 2 when the "freaky four" go back to court.

[dinojen]

Here's another link from a local newstation in Sacramento... donations are coming in from all over the country.. for this young man. I think it's great..

This link is in regards to the gag order, eventually from the way I at least understand it, will be lifted after all parties can study all the warrants.

http://www.kcra.com/news/18415163/detail.html


This link is in regards to the donations and what will be done with them. Sure hope he had a wonderful holiday and was able to share it with people that truly love him..

http://www.kcra.com/news/18417139/detail.html

[dinojen]

They appeared in court yesterday, all three have yet to make a plea. They will be back in court on the 17th. This article also states at that time the judge could release more information and what was contained in the search orders.

<snippet>
Judge Cinda Fox ordered the four suspects back in court on Feb. 17 for a sixth hearing because “there is still ongoing discussion,” she said, that requires further arraignment.

She also announced that 16 search warrants will be released Wednesday morning, some parts redacted. Uncensored warrants might be made available after a pretrial hearing. Keeping parts of them secret for now lessens the “probability of prejudice” against the accused, Fox said.

All four appeared today again clad in red prison jumpsuits, ankles and wrists chained.


http://tracypress.com/content/view/17160/2268/


Hope Kyle is doing well and beginning the long road to recovery from what he has been put through.

[dinojen]

New Details Of Tracy Adults Alleged Teen Torture
Read The Warrants (Pdf.) Pt. 1 | Pt. 2
TRACY (CBS 5 / AP) ―



Newly released court documents in the case of a Northern California tortured teenager are providing a clearer picture of the abuse he allegedly endured as he was held hostage for more than a year.

The teenager, who was shackled and abused for months in a Tracy home, told police a neighbor was actively involved in his torture, according to the court documents released Wednesday.


The court documents are available at this link..

Hope they get what they have coming to them. They are researching Schumacher's and Waiter's MySpace accounts, they believe that's how they communicated... I really wonder how long this was going on..:angry:


http://cbs5.com/crime/tracy.teen.warrants.2.926872.html

[dinojen]

Tracy Press is reporting on it also...

Warrants say that the boy escaped form a Sacramento group home in May 2007 before he was kidnapped by two men with Spanish accents and taken to “an unknown residence,” presumably the Tracy home, where he joined his former legal guardian, a convicted child abuser.

Michael Schumacher, 34, and his wife Kelly Lau, 30, rented the home where the boy said he was imprisoned. Police arrested the pair, both of whom now face 13 felony counts of abuse, including four charges each of child endangerment in reference to their own four children, who are now in protective custody.

Police also arrested next-door neighbor Anthony “Tony” Waiters, a youth football coach, for allegedly having a hand in abusing Kyle, who said he was regularly hit on the head with a baseball bat and lit on fire one time while he was asleep in the fireplace.

In warrants released this morning, police obtained cell phone records and access to suspects’ MySpace account, which investigators believed they used to communicate with each other.

Police also seized several CDs, DVDs, disposable cameras, a camcorder and several cell phones from both the Schumacher-Lau and Waiters home — anything they felt could be used for “memorializing the victim’s abuse,” wrote Tracy police detective Nate Cogburn in one warrant.


http://tracypress.com/content/view/17188/2268/


Also a link from the Sacramento news station covering his story.

http://www.kcra.com/news/18638987/detail.html

[JohnL]

Does anyone know if the complete search warrants have been made available to the general public?


Sorry, too late to hit the "delete" button on the above post.
The Sacramento Bee has everything downloadable in five separate files.
We now return to regularly-scheduled programming...

[dinojen]

What have you found in the search warrants?

This Sacramento Bee link has all the down loadable search warrants.. haven't had a chance to read them all yet.. Have a feeling these people are going to fry... at least I hope so..

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1598361.html


There are links available to all five search warrants.

[JohnL]

What have you found in the search warrants?

It makes more sense now why LE was so uncertain back in December about how Ramirez & Kyle got to be hooked up with the Schumachers.
If he was abducted from the side of the road by two guys in Sacramento unrelated to the whole thing, how did Ramirez ever find him?
In "Warrants_4", things don't look good for the Schumachers. Kyle told LE that the guys from Sacramento took him directly to their house, but that he didn't even know what town the house was in at the time.
But how would they have known to do that?
If Kyle mentioned Ramirez to the Schumachers, who then contacted her, that could explain the coincidence of ending up with so many abusive characters.
But if that's true, that would mean the Schumachers had some kind of pre-existing arrangement with those Sacramento guys.

The rest of the warrants are for MySpace accounts, cell phone records, cell phones, cameras, etc. Anything that could store an image or text.
Belts, knives, bleach (!?), weed in two different places in the house, a pipe with Carolina Panthers logo I think was found next to the fireplace, baseball bats...
They were also after the cell phone records of Ramirez & the person in Berkeley who took her in immediately after the first arrests.

[penguin01]

We can sort of understand an adrenaline infused "herd mentality" when teenagers do awful beatings - a one shot deal. But adults involved in ongoing abuse and torture of a kid - including a coach? I can't begin to fathom what goes thru these people's minds. Not sure about the coach's mother - how could she not notice there was something wrong? She lives next door doesn't she? I hope they all fry!

[dinojen]

Will post soon as I see anything.

http://cbs5.com/local/tracy.teen.warrants.2.926872.html

They have yet to file a plea..

[dinojen]

BUT... they are taking DNA samples from all the suspects..

<snippet>

Ryan D. Knight said biological evidence was taken after three search warrants were issued, including a bat and swab samples that appear to have blood on them.

The swabs were taken from 11 different areas in and around a fireplace, Knight said.

A warrant stated that in one instance, the boy was sleeping in a fireplace where he was chained when someone purposely lit the fireplace, resulting in a significant burn injury to the youth's left arm.

The detective said he spoke to the criminalist assigned to analyze biological evidence in the case, Libby Schreiber, who told him he would need DNA samples from all four suspects in order to more clearly analyze the evidence.


Arraignment postponed till Mar. 2nd.


http://www.kcra.com/news/18735323/detail.html

[Casspian]

It makes more sense now why LE was so uncertain back in December about how Ramirez & Kyle got to be hooked up with the Schumachers.
If he was abducted from the side of the road by two guys in Sacramento unrelated to the whole thing, how did Ramirez ever find him?
In "Warrants_4", things don't look good for the Schumachers. Kyle told LE that the guys from Sacramento took him directly to their house, but that he didn't even know what town the house was in at the time.
But how would they have known to do that?
If Kyle mentioned Ramirez to the Schumachers, who then contacted her, that could explain the coincidence of ending up with so many abusive characters.
But if that's true, that would mean the Schumachers had some kind of pre-existing arrangement with those Sacramento guys.

The rest of the warrants are for MySpace accounts, cell phone records, cell phones, cameras, etc. Anything that could store an image or text.
Belts, knives, bleach (!?), weed in two different places in the house, a pipe with Carolina Panthers logo I think was found next to the fireplace, baseball bats...
They were also after the cell phone records of Ramirez & the person in Berkeley who took her in immediately after the first arrests.


Thank you for your long and thoughtful post. It's always informative to actually read the documents concerning a case.

[JohnL]

More delays in entering pleas:

http://tracypress.com/content/view/17421/2268/

I still can't figure out LE's response to the two guys who picked up Kyle in Sacramento. If LE took them seriously enough to include them in the Q&A released to the public, why no arrest warrants or wanted posters issued?
Even if Kyle got in the car willingly, couldn't they be charged with conspiracy?

[september]

How does a convicted child molester become a guardian of a minor? I should would like to know the name of the brilliant judge and social worker that made that decision.

[dinojen]

Judge should she’ll wait until the next hearing scheduled for April 1 to set a preliminary trial date, so attorneys have enough time to review the new evidence.

Hope there are no more delays in this. Will post more info soon as it's available. Not sure if it's a morning hearing or afternoon one.

Last update..
http://tracypress.com/content/view/17421/2268/

[dinojen]

AWESOME NEWS.. ALL FOUR HAVE BEEN INDICTED AND WILL GO STRAIGHT TO TRIAL.. FACE LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE

This made my night... been waiting all day to hear what they were going to do...


The indictment by a San Joaquin County grand jury, which was handed down March 23 and released today, means that the defendants will bypass a preliminary hearing and go straight to trial.

The four defendants were indicted on charges of torture, aggravated mayhem, corporal injury to a child, child abuse, false imprisonment and criminal threats.

There was a new accusation lodged against the four: assault with caustic chemicals. The indictment accused the defendants of maliciously throwing on the boy a "vitriol, corrosive acid, flammable substance and caustic chemical with the intent to injure the flesh and disfigure the body of the said victim."

In addition, Ramirez was indicted on charges of child abduction, and Schumacher and Lau were each indicted on charges that they endangered their four children, ages 1 to 9, who lived in their home on the 600 block of Tennis Lane in central Tracy

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/01/BAVH16R1H0.DTL&tsp=1


Will post more as the news comes out...

[dinojen]

This post should include a link for a pdf file of the indictment...:thumbsup:

STOCKTON, Calif. -- A grand jury has handed down an indictment in the case of a Tracy teen who was allegedly tortured.

Defendants Caren Ramirez, Michael Schumacher, Kelly Layne Lau and Anthony Waiters appeared Wednesday in the San Joaquin County Superior courtroom of Judge Cinda Fox.

PDF: Read Grand Jury Indictment

Lau, Ramirez and Waiters pleaded not guilty. Schumacher did not enter a plea.

On Wednesday, a criminal complaint against the four was dropped and replaced by the grand jury indictment, which charges them with 17 counts.

The four defendants were charged with a number of offenses, including aggravated mayhem, child abuse, torture and false imprisonment.

Schumacher and Lau's four children were named in the indictment because they were in an environment where the alleged abuse took place.

The grand jury met over a two-week period to look over evidence and interview witnesses. The transcript, at 1,000 pages, is still being prepared. Defense attorneys may try to have the transcript sealed.

The defendants' next court date is on Apr. 28.

Wednesday was Fox's first day back in open court since a murder suspect attacked her inside a courtroom in March. The attacker, David Paradiso, was shot and killed by a detective.

http://www.kcra.com/news/19069402/detail.html

[Indy]

Thanks for the update Dinojen.

I'm disturbed upon hearing that they were accused of throwing caustic chemicals on this child...good Lord!! It really is amazing Kyle survived. Hope the four get theirs in prison.

[dinojen]

Thanks for the update Dinojen.

I'm disturbed upon hearing that they were accused of throwing caustic chemicals on this child...good Lord!! It really is amazing Kyle survived. Hope the four get theirs in prison.


And just think the Schumacher's had children of their own...:scared:.. I hope they never see the outside again...

Will post as the news updates... wonder when the trial is going to be... can't be soon enough for me.

I'm glad this young man found his biological brother and hopefully they are bonding and he is healing.. it's going to take years I'm sure.. but I can't even imagine living the life he lived.

[dinojen]

Grand jury indicts torture suspects
Written by Jennifer Wadsworth
Wednesday, 01 April 2009



Three of four defendants pleaded innocent, and a fourth has yet to enter a plea in a case where they're charged with 17 counts related to the alleged kidnapping and torture of a 16-year-old boy.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/17694/2268/



Can't wait for the local comments to be posted....

[Kip]

Grand jury indicts torture suspects
Written by Jennifer Wadsworth
Wednesday, 01 April 2009



Three of four defendants pleaded innocent, and a fourth has yet to enter a plea in a case where they're charged with 17 counts related to the alleged kidnapping and torture of a 16-year-old boy.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/17694/2268/



Can't wait for the local comments to be posted....

Can't wait to see what their not-guilty defense is going to be. I honestly can't imagine.

I hope the prosecution can make their case without the older children having to testify against their parents.

[JohnL]

Grand jury indicts torture suspects
Written by Jennifer Wadsworth
Wednesday, 01 April 2009

Three of four defendants pleaded innocent, and a fourth has yet to enter a plea in a case where they're charged with 17 counts related to the alleged kidnapping and torture of a 16-year-old boy.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/17694/2268/

Can't wait for the local comments to be posted....

This article mentions a glass sex toy removed from the house along with everything else, but there's definitely no such item listed in the search warrants as being found in the house. Not sure where the reporter picked that up.

The false imprisonment charge against all of them begins July 2008, but the earliest offense in the indictment is against only Ramirez for abduction in May 2007.
The "Warrants_4" search warrant released in February mentioned that Kyle left the group home in Sacramento in May 2007, and that shortly after he ran away, was abducted by two unknown males and taken straight to the Schumachers' house.
I had thought there might have been an arrangement between the Schumachers and the people who transported Kyle to Tracy, but now that doesn't look possible.
So how did Kyle get to Tracy in a way that leaves only Ramirez charged with his abduction? And why would the False Imprisonment charge begin fourteen months later?
The 1000-page indictment won't be ready for another month, and it might not be released.

There's also two additional charges against the Schumachers for child abuse involving two of their own kids.

This is an article from Feb. 9, but I don't think it's been posted here:
"Tracy torture case illustrates complex nature of why people hurt kids"
http://www.contracostatimes.com/top-stories/ci_11654093

[gorbal]

This article mentions a glass sex toy removed from the house along with everything else, but there's definitely no such item listed in the search warrants as being found in the house. Not sure where the reporter picked that up.


I can't seem to open the pdf's right now, but did the warrants say anything about "sculptures?"

[dinojen]

I can't seem to open the pdf's right now, but did the warrants say anything about "sculptures?"



Not that I read.... :confused:

Just read through it again.. only objects mentioned were a belt and baseball bat.

[aproudmom]

Update on the aunt Caren Ramirez, local news is reporting that she was arrested last night and is in custody in Berkeley, just heard it on the morning news.

They are reporting that the boy was originally abused by his father, I believe they said the aunt also resided with them, he was put into the foster care system in Sacramento from which he eventually ran away from.

Somehow he ended up in Tracy, it's not clear of the relationship between his aunt and the couple in custody:shrug:

Doesn't sound like this boy has had a very loving and warm relationship with anyone for awhile.

Glad to know the third suspect is in custody, it's being reported that she also will be charged as the other two were and be taken to Tracy.

Let me see if any of the local tv websites have updated their info yet.

Nothing updated yet, she was arrested late last night.. will post a link soon as I find an update.

It's on the news again just now..




Found some links on Ramirez's arrest.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview/localnews/ci_11120251?source=rss

Third Person Arrested In Suspected Abuse Of Teen
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) ― Berkeley police have arrested a woman suspected of participating in the alleged abuse of a 17-year-old who showed up at a gym with a chain locked to his ankle.

Caren Ramirez was arrested late Tuesday.

Police say the 43-year-old Ramirez is possibly the boy's aunt.

A Tracy police spokesman says she became the teen's guardian after child protective services took him from his father three or four years ago.

Authorities say the boy showed up at a Tracy gym Monday, wearing only boxer briefs and covered in what appeared to be soot.

Police arrested Kelly Layne Lau and Michael Schumacher late yesterday after questioning the couple.


http://cbs2.com/national/caren.ramirez.shackled.2.878635.html





They will be holding a news conference today at 10 am PST, cbs5.com said they will be covering it.

breaks my heart :crying:

[aproudmom]

OMG so dino still reading but is the trial to start soon? this is horrible I remember the coverage of when he ran to the gym but had not heard to much since...how sick is this so many let this child down...:cursing:

[aproudmom]

Just in...

STOCKTON — Anthony Waiters, a 29-year-old Tracy youth football coach, was charged this afternoon in San Joaquin County court with eight felony counts in connection with the suspected torture of a teenage boy, including abuse with a baseball bat.

His bail was increased to $1.9 million.


Waiters was charged with torture, aggravated mayhem, child endangerment, false imprisonment by violence and four counts of corporal injury on a child.
Like the others, he could face life behind bars if convicted.

http://tracypress.com/content/view/16717/2268/

omg why has this not been on tv I had not heard of another person..a freaking coach

[aproudmom]

http://cbs13.com/crime/tracy.teen.warrants.2.926612.html

Warrants Unsealed In Tracy Teen Torture Case
Read The Warrants: Part 1 | Part 2

[dinojen]

omg why has this not been on tv I had not heard of another person..a freaking coach

Yep... pretty horrible what these people did to that young man. AND THEY HAD KIDS THEIR OWN KIDS LIVING IN THE HOME. They have charges against them for child endangerment against them for their own kids too.

I think those children are still in CPS.

All I know is they go to court on Tuesday, I think Schumacher still hasn't made a plea..

This is from April 1st.

April 1, 2009

STOCKTON--Three of the four people accused of torturing and shackling a teenage boy at a home in Tracy for more than a year have pleaded not guilty.
The pleas by homeowner Kelly Layne Lau, the boy's one-time guardian Caren Ramirez and next-door neighbor Anthony Waiters came after a San Joaquin County judge unsealed a grand jury indictment against them Wednesday.
The fourth defendant, Lau's husband Michael Schumacher, hasn't entered a plea. He's expected to do so at the next court hearing April 28.
The charges in the indictment include aggravated mayhem, torture and false imprisonment. The four also were charged with assault with caustic chemicals for allegedly throwing acid on the boy with "the intent to injure the flesh and disfigure the body."

The grand jury indictment likely means that the case will bypass a preliminary hearing and go straight to trial.


Maybe they will set a trial date next week... I hope so...

[DesertWalker]

Is there a case number we can follow in the Tracy courts yet, Dino?

[DesertWalker]

I can't seem to open the pdf's right now, but did the warrants say anything about "sculptures?"
Warrants in HTML format:
http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:JeaXkAOcmCgJ:www.kcra.com/download/2009/0204/18639765.pdf+08-11100-009&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

[dinojen]

Is there a case number we can follow in the Tracy courts yet, Dino?

Here is the case # that is on Michael Schumacher's record Case# SF110319A here is the second one.. Case# SF111345A


Court date for all four is tomorrow April 28th at 9 AM.

Will have to check to see if any of it will be televised. I think the last time they didn't allow cameras.. heck they have been in and out of court so much I can't keep track.

They were booked into jail on Dec. 2, 2008 and they still don't have pleas for all of them... Michael S. being the one still not having made a plea.

[Amy]

Thanks to all who posted updates.

[aproudmom]

Here is the case # that is on Michael Schumacher's record Case# SF110319A here is the second one.. Case# SF111345A


Court date for all four is tomorrow April 28th at 9 AM.

Will have to check to see if any of it will be televised. I think the last time they didn't allow cameras.. heck they have been in and out of court so much I can't keep track.

They were booked into jail on Dec. 2, 2008 and they still don't have pleas for all of them... Michael S. being the one still not having made a plea.

Thanks dino for posting this and reminding me had to look for this thread..wow so all 4 are in court tomorrow..keep me updated this is so sad..

Has anyone heard how the boy is thought I read he was in hiding could have been a old media link I read that in..

[dinojen]

He's in CPS system right now and being protected. More than likely he will remain in their care until this trial is over.. at least I hope he does. I know his older brother has been in contact with him after he escaped and was hospitalized. Will see if I can find anything on him.. but nothing has been reported since the holidays after he went back to Sacramento.

[aproudmom]

He's in CPS system right now and being protected. More than likely he will remain in their care until this trial is over.. at least I hope he does. I know his older brother has been in contact with him after he escaped and was hospitalized. Will see if I can find anything on him.. but nothing has been reported since the holidays after he went back to Sacramento.

I saw a video of his brother the other night..he said he was also abused by this aunt..so who escaped from a hospital??how old is he know...sorry dino I am trying to read up on it..

[dinojen]

I saw a video of his brother the other night..he said he was also abused by this aunt..so who escaped from a hospital??how old is he know...sorry dino I am trying to read up on it..


Here's a couple links for you to play catch up with...

http://cbs5.com/crime/brother.interview.abuse.2.880859.html

http://cbs5.com/local/tracy.teen.torture.2.893853.html


Nothing much has been in the media since this news.. he's really been kept pretty much protected.

[aproudmom]

Here's a couple links for you to play catch up with...

http://cbs5.com/crime/brother.interview.abuse.2.880859.html

http://cbs5.com/local/tracy.teen.torture.2.893853.html


Nothing much has been in the media since this news.. he's really been kept pretty much protected.

Cool thanks a bunch will read up sorry asking so many questions but I remember it was on every news channel and then I heard nothing it happens all the time I know but I hate watching these horrible things and then hear nothing more.. so when you brought it up I remembered it so well..down to him hiding under the desk and begging them not to let them take him:crying:

[dinojen]

Four people accused of torturing a 16-year-old boy are scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Tuesday for further arraignment.

Kelly Layne Lau, 30; Carén Ramirez, 43; and Anthony Waiters, 29, pleaded not guilty last month. Lau’s husband Michael Schumacher, 34, is expected to enter a plea this week.

All four face charges of torture, aggravated mayhem and several charges of child abuse and endangerment.

Schumacher and Lau lived at a Tennis Lane home in Tracy, where police said a boy identified only as Kyle R. was chained to a fireplace and beaten with belts and baseball bats. He escaped from his alleged captors on Dec. 2, when he scaled a soundwall bordering the home and a health club.

The boy is now in state custody.

The arraignment will be held in Dept. 36 at the San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton.

http://tracypress.com/pages/full_story?page_label=home&id=2456928-Torture+suspects+return+to+court&article-Torture%20suspects%20return%20to%20court%20=&widget=push&instance=home_news_lead_story&open=&

[dinojen]

Suspects due in court this morning 9 AM PST.

Will keep my eye out for any news. Only one that hasn't plead yet is Michael Schumacher.. that could possibly be what happens today and maybe a trial date set being they have already held a grand jury.

[dinojen]

Trial for torture suspects may be set in June
by Jennifer Wadsworth
19 mins 48 secs ago | 21 views | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend | print
STOCKTON — The arraignment for four people accused of torturing a teenaged boy was delayed today until June.

Husband and wife Michael Schumacher, 34; Kelly Layne Lau, 30; their neighbor 29-year-old Anthony Waiters and the boy’s one-time legal guardian Carén Ramirez, 43, appeared in court this morning. A judge postponed criminal proceedings until June 18.

The four stand accused of torturing a 16-year-old group home runaway and imprisoning him in a Tracy home until he escaped on Dec. 2.

Schumacher has yet to enter a plea, but he’s expected to in June, when a trial date could also be set. The other three pleaded not guilty last month.

San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Angela Hayes took the case to a criminal grand jury instead of an open court.

The teen is in protective custody in Sacramento County, where his older brother lives.

Called Kyle R. in court records, the boy fled the Schumacher-Lau’s Tennis Lane home five months ago. He scaled the backyard wall with a chain shackled to his ankle. He stumbled into a nearby health club, where police took him back to Child Protective Services.

Search warrants say the four accused assaulted the boy with belts, baseball bats and caustic chemicals. They say the two men and two women force-fed the boy drugs and liquor and starved him to keep him docile.

http://tracypress.com/pages/full_story?page_label=home&id=2461014-Trial+for+torture+suspects+may+be+set+in+June&article-Trial%20for%20torture%20suspects%20may%20be%20set% 20in%20June%20=&widget=push&instance=home_news_lead_story&open=&


Going to see what else I can find...:angry:

[Amy]

Wonder what the strategy is that Schumacher does not plan to plea until trial? Why not plea when the others did? Why not plea today? How will not making a plea will benefit him, and if there is a benefit, why did the others plea?

[aproudmom]

Thank you dino appreciate you keeping me updated..hate to see another delay this child needs to get his JUSTICE..:angry:

[aproudmom]

Search warrants say the four accused assaulted the boy with belts, baseball bats and caustic chemicals. They say the two men and two women force-fed the boy drugs and liquor and starved him to keep him docile.

http://tracypress.com/pages/full_story?page_label=home&id=2461014-Trial+for+torture+suspects+may+be+set+in+June&article-Trial%20for%20torture%20suspects%20may%20be%20set% 20in%20June%20=&widget=push&instance=home_news_lead_story&open=&


Going to see what else I can find...:angry:

bolding mine <snipped>
OMG FGS Actually if I said what I wanted to I would be banned for life on here..these people are monsters I think they need to have the same done to them..this is so sick I can not imagine what this child has went through:cursing:

dino did I snip that right have never done it before

[aproudmom]

Wonder what the strategy is that Schumacher does not plan to plea until trial? Why not plea when the others did? Why not plea today? How will not making a plea will benefit him, and if there is a benefit, why did the others plea?

heck I have no idea but all the delays is so sad this kid went through H**:cursing:

[Kip]

Wonder what the strategy is that Schumacher does not plan to plea until trial? Why not plea when the others did? Why not plea today? How will not making a plea will benefit him, and if there is a benefit, why did the others plea?

I wonder if he's trying to negotiate a plea deal for his testimony in exchange for lesser charges.

[dinojen]

Got me... was wondering the same thing... and if you read the Tracy Press comment section.. all their defenders ... even the football coach's fans have poofed.. I think people finally believe what these four did to that young man...

I am almost afraid to hear during the trial what they did to him and what that Ramirez woman did to him before he even got to Tracy.:angry:

[Amy]

I wonder if the parents of the kids the coach "coached" worry about whether or not he treated their kids well, or if there are any cases of abuse of some kind?

[Kip]

[snipped]...I am almost afraid to hear during the trial what they did to him and what that Ramirez woman did to him before he even got to Tracy.:angry:

Me, too. I feel so bad that Kyle will have to re-live all of his abuse during the trial. I hope, hope, hope that in having to describe his abuse it will be cathartic for him and that he'll get a measure of satisfaction in telling his story with the hope that these people will be put behind bars for a long time.

And thanks for providing updates on this case.

[dinojen]

Just a thought on this case... been bugging me why Schumacher hasn't plead... but maybe he's working on a deal... lesser charges if he talks and tells everything he knows....just a thought... but that would be throwing his wife under the bus... guess we have to wait till JUNE.. can you believe it.. JUNE.. they first went to jail the first week of Dec. Can't believe they are taking this long. Going to check his inmate and the others inmate records.. see what they say.:confused: Need to see who their counsel is also... Boy Tracy is going to be busy this summer in court.

[penguin01]

I wonder if the parents of the kids the coach "coached" worry about whether or not he treated their kids well, or if there are any cases of abuse of some kind? I seem to remember that was looked into and no other abuse was found. But I really think the Coach's mother should be charged. She live with coach right next door - didn't notice anything going wrong for the boy. Sorry, but I don't believe her. :angry:

[dinojen]

Judge taken off Tracy torture case
By Mike Martinez
San Joaquin Herald
Posted: 05/26/2009 04:52:35 PM PDT
Updated: 05/27/2009 07:27:36 AM PDT

STOCKTON — After missing the last hearing for an unspecified reason, the judge in a case involving a tortured teenager in Tracy has been taken off the case at her own request, according to the court's presiding judge.

San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Cinda S. Fox asked for the case accusing four adults of abusing a 16-year-old boy to be reassigned, according to Judge William J. Murray, Jr.

He said the case is been transferred to Judge Terrance Van Oss.

Fox may still be suffering from anxieties after being stabbed in her courtroom March 4 by David Paradiso. Paradiso — who was on trial for murder in the stabbing of his 20-year-old girlfriend, Eileen Pelt — was shot and killed by an officer immediately after he attacked the judge with a sharp metal object.

Fox made her first appearance on the bench after the attack during an April 1 hearing in the torture case but wasn't present — and no explanation was given for her absence — when Michael Luther Schumacher, Kelly Layne Lau, Caren Ramirez and Anthony Vincent Waiters were arraigned on a 17-count grand jury indictment April 28.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12453847


Judge Van Oss is the judge that recused himself from the Cantu case.

http://cbs5.com/crime/judge.recuses.cantu.2.990177.html


Trial in this case is to begin on the 18th of June if no further delays come up. Michael Schumacher still has yet to enter a plea.

[dinojen]

Just a reminder...

Schumacher is due back in court on the 18th, that's next Thursday to either to enter a plea or whatever.. once he does that they can go straight to trial being they are not having a preliminary hearing.

Will post more on this when I read it... Can't wait for these monsters to go on trial..

[Amy]

Thanks for the update.

[VC2]

this is truly despicable. I hope we can get a link to the full transcripts.

I remember they said they would try to, like cut me up and everything and throw me in the delta, and one time he, Michael, asked Kelly for a syringe so he could, like, pump air into my veins and stuff like that," the teen said, according to the documents.

He recounted one incident for the jury, saying Waiters, who later joined in the abuse, sliced his arm with a knife while Ramirez held him down and Lau watched.

"'You better not scream or anything,'" the boy said Waiters told him. "They just told me to shut up."

The teen said Ramirez would pour bleach and salt on his open wounds.

and then their 5 year old testifying to them beating him and starving him bc he "did bad things and thought he was the boss of us all"
http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/1942677.html

eta i sort of have to wonder at a gag order when the grand jury transcripts have been released publicly lol

[JohnL]

Here's a four-page excerpt from the document:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_12578896?nclick_check=1

Does anyone know if the full document is available anywhere officially?

[VC2]

Here's a four-page excerpt from the document:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_12578896?nclick_check=1

Does anyone know if the full document is available anywhere officially?

Thanks john! i would love to see the whole thing too. hopefully it will be somewhere

ETA for some reason the link takes me to secure.boards.insessions and says it cant find that particular place, not contra costa but secure board

[R~O~S]

Attempting to repost the link, I found the article, but the link seems to read exactly the same.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/crime/ci_12578698?nclick_check=1

this is the same story via a different path.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/crime/ci_12578698


Well, they work, but I haven't found a transcript of the proceedings. Aren't GJ proceedings usually secret?

[dinojen]

WOW is all I can say.. I am surprised this young man is still alive.. just brutal what this young man endured. And to think of these people under arrest.. one woman was a girl scout leader and one of the men a youth football coach...:sad:

A 16-year-old allegedly tortured for a year inside a Tracy home told a grand jury that he escaped because his captors talked about killing him and dumping his body in the Delta.

Afraid for his life, the boy — called Kyle in court papers — fled the Tennis Lane home on Dec. 1 by unlocking himself from the fireplace to which he was chained and using a trampoline to hop over the backyard wall. He then limped across an adjacent parking lot and into the lobby of a sports club, where employees called police for help.

After he heard his alleged captors talking on speakerphone about how they planned to cut off his fingers with a meat cleaver, Kyle said he knew then that he had to find a way out.

“I had to hurry up and leave or it was just going to be the end from there,” he said in a newly unsealed 928-page transcript of a grand jury hearing that led to a slew of indictments against the four adults accused of imprisoning Kyle.

Husband and wife Michael Schumacher and Kelly Lau were arrested in December along with next-door neighbor Anthony Waiters and a woman named Carén Ramirez who called herself Kyle’s mom. Police said they starved, drugged and beat the boy for as many as 18 months after he fled a Sacramento group home in spring 2007.

The four could spend life in prison if found guilty of the several charges of torture, kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault with caustic chemicals and other forms of abuse. All except Schumacher pleaded not guilty to all charges. He has yet to enter a plea. The four are due in court again on June 18.

http://tracypress.com/pages/full_story?page_label=home&id=2716740-Tortured+teen+testimony+released&article-Tortured%20teen%20testimony%20released%20=&widget=push&instance=home_news_bullets&open=&


Also an update in the SF Chronicle.. so far can't find a copy of the GJ Transcript.. not sure if they released them to the public.. maybe just the media got a leak.. not sure... will keep looking.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/13/BAMI186D6T.DTL

[VC2]

here is a direct link to the 4 pages
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_12578896

[Steph]

Will they post the whole grand jury document?

And I am kinda disturbed by this case grr...

[dinojen]

If I am disturbed by just reading this article in the Tracy paper, I can't even begin to imagine how distressing it would be to read the entire grand jury report as to what was done to this young man. These people are animals.. and I hope they are caged for the rest of their lives.

I still think about the people in Tracy defending the youth football coach, Tony Waiters .. how he would never be involved in anything like this.. obviously they didn't know him as well as they thought.

This young man Kyle had been missing in the system for over a year.. only a few calls were made, no answer, so no follow up.. imagine that, yet Ramirez was receiving SS checks for Kyle's care.. this whole thing is disgusting.

Schumacher is due in court tomorrow, he's the only one that hasn't entered a plea as yet.


<snippet>

A 16-year-old boy allegedly held captive and brutally tortured for more than a year in Tracy wasn’t reported missing to the police until nearly a year after he ran away from a Sacramento group home.

The teen called Kyle Ramirez in court papers — but who has a different legal surname — met up with his “aunt,” Carén Ramirez, after she convinced him to leave the Children’s Receiving Home in Sacramento in early May 2007, according to his testimony in a 928-page grand jury transcript unsealed Friday.

It wasn’t until March 27, 2008 — 11 months after he ran away — that the Sacramento County Department of Social Services reported the child missing to the police. Until then, a couple of social workers made a few phone calls every month to Ramirez and her daughter, Cristina Sanchez. No one ever answered.

Meanwhile, police say Ramirez and three other adults imprisoned the boy inside a two-story home in the heart of Tracy. They said a married couple, their houseguest Ramirez and a next-door neighbor allegedly starved, drugged and regularly tormented, beat and burned Kyle from about July 2007 until the boy’s Dec. 1 escape.

Linda Hirsch, a Sacramento social worker assigned to find the missing teen, said she learned months before Kyle’s escape in Tracy that Ramirez had been collecting a Social Security check in the child’s name. She called the Social Security office, but they refused to give her Ramirez’s mailing address.

http://tracypress.com/pages/full_story?article-Tracy%20torture%20victim-s%20disappearance%20long%20unknown%20to%20police%2 0=&page_label=home&id=2737490-Tracy+torture+victim-s+disappearance+long+unknown+to+police&widget=push&instance=home_news_lead_story&open=&

5'4, 120 lbs, 16 years old and not even begun to go through puberty.. thank god he got doctors that cared for him and are seeing that he regains his health... I'm praying he gets the mental care he definately is going to need also... terrible terrible story...:crying:

[dinojen]

Hearing is at 10 AM PST.. so soon as I get some info will post. Not sure what the whole hearing will be, all I know is that three of the defendants have plead not guilty.. Michael Schumacher is the only one that hasn't made a plea yet and that should take place tomorrow. Soon as that is done they can set a trial date.

The grand jury transcript is over 1000 pages long.. that could be why we haven't seen a pdf copy also.. not sure I could stomach reading it all anyway.. just what I read from the Tracy paper was bad enough..:sad:

Glad the Schumacher's kids got out when they did... poor things seeing what their parents were doing to that young boy... wonder what affect that will have on them.. hopefully they won't think it's okay to treat people like that. They are going to seriously need some psychological help also just like Kyle..

Will post tomorrow soon as I know something. This trial is going to be a hard one to listen to I think.

[dinojen]

He's the one that hasn't made a plea as yet. He was due in court at 10 this morning..

Did find this on the Sac Bee though.. what Kyle has been through in his young life is just horrible.. really really sad. Glad to hear he is thriving and being protected by the courts and CPS.. finally.. :crying:

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1956404.html

[dinojen]

Waiting for the Tracy link to update.. All it says is all defendents will challenge the grand jury report.

Torture suspects to challenge grand jury claims

http://tracypress.com/pages/full_story?article-Torture%20suspects%20to%20challenge%20grand%20jury %20claims%20=&page_label=home&id=2752991-Torture+suspects+to+challenge+grand+jury+claims&widget=push&instance=home_news_lead_story&open=&

Going to check a few other places..

[dinojen]

Defendants accused of torturing teen expected to challege indictment (12:10 p.m.)

By The Record
June 18, 2009 3:08 PM

STOCKTON – Four people accused of torturing a shackled 16-year-old boy known as Kyle inside a Tracy home appear ready to fight a grand jury’s indictments charging them in a list of counts that make them each eligible for life imprisonment.

The four appeared today before San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Terrence Van Oss, who set a schedule for attorneys to file their written challenges leading up oral arguments in August.

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090618/A_NEWS/90618009

[dinojen]

Not much coming out yet..

TOCKTON, Calif. -- The suspects accused of kidnapping and torturing a teenager in Tracy were back in court this morning.

Michael Schumacher entered a not guilty plea.

He was the last of the four defendants to enter a plea on charges that include torture, mayhem and child endangerment.

The three other suspects had already entered not guilty pleas.

On Thursday, a new judge took over the case..

Judge Terrence Van Oss ordered the four to return to court on Aug. 24.

http://www.kcra.com/news/19791972/detail.html

[JohnL]

The Stockton Record has a three-part story on the neighbourhood & history beginning here:

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090620/A_NEWS/906200324

If the link doesn't load, go to www.recordnet.com and find the story labeled "Always, Kyle was just out of reach" in the Local box. The first story is dated June 20.

[aproudmom]

thank you so much dino and John for the updates..appreciate it..