A Wyandotte County grand jury indicted the following on counts of reckless second-degree murder: Jeffrey Wayne Henry, a co-owner of Schlitterbahn Companies and a designer of the waterslide; John Timothy Schooley, also a designer of the slide; and Henry & Sons Construction Company, Inc., the corporation involved in the slides construction. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The Schwabs said they are grateful for the overwhelming messages of support theyve received from well-wishers around the world during their time of grief. Two others in the raft were severely injured. The rafts sometimes lifted from the chute momentarily, and the slide was covered with netting, supported by metal poles, so riders would not fall off. Each strap is held in place by long Velcro-style straps, not by buckles. Deconstruction of the Verruckt slide at the Schlitterbahn water park will start shortly after Labor Day the end of the parks season and take about three weeks. Ken Martin, a Richmond, Virginia-based amusement park safety consultant, questioned whether the straps were appropriate, suggesting that a more solid restraint system that fits over the body similar to those used in roller coasters may have been better. In March, Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry, former operations director Tyler Miles, designer John Schooley, and Henry & Sons Construction Company Inc. were indicted by a grand jury for charges that included second-degree murder. The women were treated for facial injuries. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. "His friend was screaming for help and I think that's when staff members and medics and stuff started running.". Two adult women on the raft were also severely injured. Discovery Company. The shock was so great, Scott Schwab demanded that someone actually confirm his sons death. Kenneth Conrad told WDAF-TV that during his trip down the waterslide last year with a friend, the friend's shoulder strap came "completely off." Conrad's wife snapped a photo at the end of the ride showing the strap missing. The Owners Of The "World's Tallest" Waterslide Have Been Indicted After A 10-Year-Old Boy Was Decapitated, World's Tallest Waterslide Is Closing After 10-Year-Old Boy Decapitated, Boy Who Died On World's Tallest Waterslide Suffered Neck Injury. Web Browser Information IMPORTANT information for Windows XP users. The park has since been shut down while an investigation into the boy's death continues. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. In addition, Miles was indicted on two counts of interference with law enforcement. Criminal indictments came in 2018. After a 10-Year-Old's Waterslide Decapitation, Why Were the Ride Designers Charged with Murder? Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Caleb, the son of Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, was decapitated after his raft went airborne and collided into equipment attached to the slide. Death 7 Aug 2016 (aged 10) Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas, USA. The 2 other adult female riders in the boat, not related tothe victim, sustained minor facial injuries, and were transported and treated at area hospitals.". Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas, USA. Two media sneak preview days in 2014 were canceled because of problems with a conveyor system that hauls the 100-pound rafts to the top. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. I need to hear it from you, is he dead? And he said, Yes, your sons dead.. It's the scariest thing I've done.". He came right up and immediately went to the first aid room where he was assessed by staff," Dublin Assistant City Manager Linda Smith said. Press J to jump to the feed. Multiple injuries were reported before his incident. Leada Gore | lgore@al.com; Note to readers: if Important information about our relationship with you: Our Client Relationship Summaries offer a brief summary of our services, fees and obligations when we work with you in a broker-dealer or an investment advisory relationship. Schwab was sitting with two other women unrelated to him, who suffered severe injuries, according to the document. The video, though, is a fictional and dramatised version of events created for entertainment purposes, he wrote, concluding that it should not have been allowed as evidence. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. This site is designed for U.S. residents. Caleb Schwab, the 10-year-old son of a Kansas state legislator, was killed while riding the slide in 2016. A representative for the family said they would not be releasing further statements or giving interviews. The 10-year-old boy who died at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City over the weekend died of a neck injury that has been described as a decapitation, according to reports. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Is my son dead? he recalled asking someone. Footage of the ride being tested show rafts flying from the huge ride with it delayed twice due to safety concerns and technical glitches. CNN has reached out to Calebs father, Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab, for comment. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Caleb was with his family at the park during an event for elected officials. And he said, Yes, your son is dead. It was surreal. Courtesy Schwab Family -- A 10-year-old boy who died on a water slide in Kansas City, Kansas, suffered a fatal neck injury, officials said, as a witness recounted the "horrific scene" and the "panic" that erupted in the wake of the incident last Sunday. This latest slide incident comes on the heels of a $20 million settlement Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. WebCaleb, the son of a Kansas lawmaker, was in a raft with two women who were not related to him when he was killed. Witness Kelsey Friedrichse told PEOPLE thatshe and her boyfriend were on their way up the huge water slide when they saw crowds gathering at the bottom of the 168-foot ride. He flew from Verrckt! Michele Schwab said. The attraction features two tracks with 80 degree drops. The state requested documentation fromSchlitterbahn"to ensure all safety requirements have been followed." In order to benefit from all available online tools you will need to enable JavaScript. The video was intended to show that the defendants had exhibited a reckless attitude towards the construction of the slide, Mr Burns wrote. Soon after arriving, Caleb and his brother Nathan set off into the park with friends. Schlitterbahn Vacation Villages water park in Kansas City, Kan., on Aug. 7, during a four-minute segment on Good Morning America., Details surface on Schlitterbahns Verruckt settlement with Schwab family, Scott Schwab gives poignant speech as Kansas lawmakers begin a challenging 2017 session, $25,000 reward offered for location of missing Johnson County mother, believed dead, Kansas City police seek help to find 6-year-old missing since Wednesday afternoon, Suspected high-level drug trafficker arrested at KC house where 1 died, 3 cops shot, So talented: Kansas City jazz singer, dancer, legend Ronald McFadden dies at 66, A Kansas City musical force and light, jazz and R&B singer Ida McBeth dies at 70, Man found dead inside house where Kansas City police officers were shot late Tuesday, They dont care: Tenants without water for days at Kansas City apartment complex. Giving him hugs, she said, hearing about his day, watching him play soccer, I mean, so much, so many things.. Verruckt's 2014 opening repeatedly was delayed, though the operators didn't explain why. All Rights Reserved. The park said Tuesday that "a limited portion" of the park would reopen Wednesday, but that "Verruckt" will be closed for the rest of the season. All Rights Reserved. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Caleb, the son of Republican state Rep. Scott Schwab, and his family were visiting the park on Elected Officials Day, at which the park provided lawmakers with free admission and lunch. Reserve a spot. Scott has previously spoken out in support of a proposed law in Kansas which has since passed that would strengthen government oversight of amusement rides. State law leaves it to the Kansas Department of Labor to adopt rules and regulations relating to certification and inspection of rides, adding that a permanent amusement ride must be scrutinized at least once a year by "a qualified inspector.". Working closely with Schwab Bank can help you make home lending decisions with confidence. This subreddit is an anything and everything place dedicated to discussion of true crime, court Experts in the field of amusement ride design and safety examined Verrckt and found physical evidence which indicated that other rafts had gone airborne and collided with the overhead hoops and netting before the fatality, according to the indictment. Asking for privacy to grieve, they said: Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those he came in contact with.. A lawyer who represented the Schwab family did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. Miles and Schlitterbahn have also been indicted on involuntary manslaughter, while the designers and contractor are facing charges of second-degree murder. WebThe child suffered some bad scrapes and was briefly treated at a nearby hospital before being released. Police said investigations into the incident were ongoing. We are thankful for all the support and encouragement weve received, she added. Winter D. Prosapio, a spokeswoman for Schlitterbahn, told PEOPLE in a statement earlier this week that the company was shocked by the allegations against Miles, who has since pleaded not guilty, and the Kansas City park itself. He would have fallen down without the raft, it's kind of like a tube.". Schwab and his wife released a statement confirming it was their son Caleb Thomas Schwab, whose family were at the park with him when he died. The opening of the 17-storeyfreefall water ride has been revealed to have beenpushed back twice. Their horrific account of the tragedy comes as footage of rafts flying off the waterslide emerged, sparkingnewconcerns aboutthe safety of the ride. Before they took off I said, Brothers stick together and [Caleb] said, I know, dad, Scott said. Six went to the park, and five came back, Scott Schwab said in an interview that was broadcast Monday on Good Morning America.. Police are investigating the death as a criminal case although police spokesman Cameron Morgan said Tuesday that designation did not mean they suspect foul play. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Caleb Schwab died six years ago in the tragedy at Schlitterbahn Park, in Kansas, on a water slide called Verruckt, which means crazy in German. The Guinness World Records has certified the ride as the tallest in the world. (Contributed photo/Facebook). Its for the next kid who goes someplace in Kansas for a fun weekend.. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. WebScott and Michele Schwab appeared in an interview that aired Monday on Good Morning America. They spoke about the day their 10-year-old son, Caleb, was killed on the Usage will be monitored. "Verruckt" riders sit in multi-person rafts that begin with a steep drop, followed by a surge up a second hill before a 50-foot descent to a finishing pool. Schlitterbahnin Kansas City has been sued for negligence at least three times all in 2014 though none of those legal actions involved the waterslide. I obviously recognise that the circumstances and events giving rise to these indictments are indisputably tragic, Mr Burns wrote. "Quite simply, these defendants were not afforded the due process protections and fundamental fairness Kansas law requires.". 7:03 PM EDT, Fri July 13, 2018, Water park co-owner, slide designer indicted. Find the appropriate level of investment managemen Read More. Each "Verruckt" rider must be at least 54 inches tall, and the combined body weight of the riders on each raft is limited to 400 to 550 pounds. In the Friday ruling, Judge Burns noted the tragic nature of the case. Conrad didn't file a complaint with the park. At approximately 1430 hours an off duty officer working at Schlitterbahn notified police dispatch that an incident had occurred on the Verruckt Water Slide, and assistance was needed. Woman Whose Husband's Seatbelt Ripped off on the Water Ride That Killed Caleb Schwab Speaks Out. 2023 Cable News Network. Other thrill-seekers have since shared their experiences on the ride, including Paul Oberhauser, who told local station KCTV that his shoulder restraint had "busted loose". He said, I know Dad., I said, Look at me, brothers stick together.. The 10-year-old son of We have a box of greeting cards from around the world, and we just want people to know that one, were thankful, Scott Schwab said. Caleb Schwab was decapitated in August 2016 when the raft he was riding in went airborne and struck a metal support for netting on the slide. WebMake the Most Out of Schwab.com. "We are thankful for all the support and encouragement weve received," Prosapio said. Its broker-dealer subsidiary, Charles It says the experts found several violations of standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. The person, who is not authorized to speak about the boy's death, told The Associated Press that Caleb Schwab was decapitated Sunday on the "Verruckt" raft ride at theSchlitterbahnWaterPark in Kansas City, Kansas. Non-U.S. residents are subject to country-specific restrictions. "He seems to be shook, but seems to be OK. Terms apply. 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