A 10-year-old boy was found wandering a neighborhood in the affluent suburb of Griffin, Georgia, reportedly weighing less than an average 4-year-old child. Neighbors found the boy outside alone May 12 and called police, according to multiple reports. The child was taken to a hospital and treated for malnourishment and low heart rate. His parents, Tyler and Krista Schindley, have been arrested on charges of attempted murder and child abuse.
Sadly, this boy's heartbreaking story highlights what a serious issue child abuse is in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 7 children have experienced neglect or abuse in the past year, and that estimate is likely lower due to many cases being unreported.
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The 10-year-old boy reportedly begged not to be taken back home when police showed up.
The boy was found barefoot, hungry, and confused, and he apparently begged the police officers who showed up to “please not make me go back,” per the Daily Mail. The child told authorities he was trying to go to a grocery store to buy food, according to WSB-TV via Yahoo! News.
The couple apparently had four other children in the home, and authorities said those children — all of whom were homeschooled — appeared to be all right but have been placed with the Department of Family and Children's Services, per WSB-TV.
Court documents showed the couple also withheld hot water and toilet paper from the 10-year-old and would lock him inside his bedroom for long periods of time with no access to food, lights, or interaction, according to the Daily Mail. Authorities believe the abuse has been going on since May 2020, and they said the boy appears to be the only one of the children who was being starved.
“It’s just horrible — who could even think of doing such a thing,” neighbor Kim Seigler said, according to the New York Post. “The fact that they’re my neighbor … just made me feel bad … like I should’ve been more observant.”
‘As a mother I can’t comprehend it,' a district attorney said.
In addition to the malnutrition, the boy reportedly also suffered dental injury and disfiguration that his parents did not treat, per the Daily Mail. Police reported that he weighed only 36 pounds, the average weight of a 4-year-old, WSB-TV2 reported.
“This child was, simply put, being starved to death, and it is tragic, District Attorney Marie Broder said, per the news outlet. "I truly believe that if he had not gotten out of that home, this would be a very different case.”
The Schindleys are facing several charges including cruelty to children, false imprisonment, simple battery, and criminal attempt to commit a felony, per WSB-TV.
“This case is just disturbing. It's heartbreaking. As a mother, I can't comprehend it. As a human being, it breaks your heart," Broder said via the Daily Mail. "We aren't releasing any photos of this child for obvious reasons, but I will tell you, the photos are absolutely horrible, and anybody with a human heart, who looks at them, should be shaken to their core.”
Child abuse and neglect is a tragic problem in the US.
According to the CDC, 1,750 children died of abuse and neglect in the US in 2020. The economic burden of child abuse and neglect was $592 billion in 2018 and rivaled the cost of other public health issues such as heart disease and diabetes, per the agency. Intervention is crucial in cases of child abuse and neglect.
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Readers were outraged at the parents' actions and behavior.
As one Yahoo! News reader commented, "I hope they receive the same treatment in prison. Sad to say but every child deserves a parent but not every parent deserves a child."
"Why not be charged with attempted murder? This child was handed a very slow and painful path to death, and luckily got out before he died," another person commented. "This child’s parents should never see the outside of a prison again."
Others pointed out how important is to say something when you suspect abuse or neglect.
"I'm just glad that this little boy was helped and that the other kids have been removed from the home. If something doesn't seem right people should say something!" someone wrote.
"Get to know your neighbors. Do not turn away and think its not your business. Call authorities and let them handle it," another comment reads. "Good job by the neighbor who saw him, brought him into their home and called police."
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
