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Tracy, California (The Weekly Vice) -- A Tracy, California couple has been arrested on torture, kidnapping and child abuse charges after a half-naked, bruised and bleeding teen showed up at an area health club - telling club staff he had just escaped torturous captivity.
Michael Schumacher, 34, and Kelly Lau-Schumacher, 30 have been arrested and charged with torture, kidnapping, false imprisonment, child endangerment and corporal injury to a child in a mysterious case investigators are still unraveling.
Police say a 17-year-old boy escaped from captivity at the couple's rented home Monday night and sought help at the In-Shape Sports Club on south Tracy Blvd. Police say the teen arrived at the gym wearing only boxer shorts and a bloodied shackle around his ankle. Police say the boy was disoriented, bruised, dirty, covered with urine and appeared emaciated.
The victim told health club workers that he had just escaped captivity and repeated "They're going to find me," numerous times. The boy then curled up in a fetal position on the floor while staff members called police.
After taking the boy to an area hospital, investigators were able to glean enough information to locate and arrest the couple. Two children at the couple's residence were also reportedly taken into protective custody. A search warrant was issued overnight and alleged evidence was collected from the home that allegedly corroborated statements made by the teen.
The teen told investigators he had been picked up by the couple nearly a year ago after he ran away from a foster group home to find his family. Held against his will, the teen told police he had been burned, beaten with baseball bats, choked with a belt and starved by the couple.
Investigators announced that they are still investigating the case, noting that interviews with the boy were being delayed until he had a chance to get healthier.
Neighbors and acquaintances of the couple have stated that they saw nothing unusual about the boy during moments of contact over the prior months. One neighbor did however comment that the teen appeared really skinny and pale when she last saw him bringing trash cans into the couple's house.
Police are now seeking Caren Ramirez, a 43-year-old woman who is believed to have participated in the abuse and may be the victim's aunt. Ramirez is also wanted on an outstanding felony warrant stemming from a prior abuse of the same teen.
Michael Schumacher and Kelly Lau-Schumacher have been booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on a $1.2 million dollar bail.
The Weekly Vice Opinion:
Those who are interested in this story might want to give the details here a good study, because this case is likely going to split into two directions - perhaps three. It sounds like this poor kid was abused by everyone he knew. There had to be a reason why he was removed from his parent's home to begin with. Then the aunt, and now this couple. However it unfolds, I don't think this is going to be a two-day story. There's some seriously twisted things going on with this entire situation.
Danny Vice
The Weekly Vice
http://www.theweeklyvice.com
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5 comments:
Can you say "major therapy", ladies and gentlemen?
Yes, the boy was initially removed from his home after being abused by his father. He was placed with the aunt, who is obviously an abuser because she's been convicted of child abuse. No details yet about the foster home.
This is one strange combination of a person. She seems normal in some ways and quite strange in other ways.
But there's no way a kid would pop up half starved with bruises and chains for nothing. Def. some wierd sh*t going on with these two.
Funny. Lots and lots of pictures and doting over the kids - not zero mention of this boy?
Sounds like they turned him into a slave. And I mean that literally.
That's a damn shame...kid leaves the foster home to find his family and runs across these sickos...foster care is bad enough (in some cases)...he ran from one hellhole and ended up in another...I hope they bring these clowns to justice.
UPDATE: The Schumachers, the boy's "aunt" Caren Ramirez, and the Schumacher's next-door neighbor have all been indicted:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/01/BAVH16R1H0.DTL&tsp=1
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