Spalding County parents sentenced in adopted son's child neglect case
Spalding County parents sentenced in neglect case
Krista and Tyler Schindley pleaded guilty on all counts during the middle of their trial in Spalding County. The couple were arrested in 2023 after their son was found wandering the streets in search of food. Prosecutors say the couple locked their son in his room for extended periods of time with no lights, or even clothes, at their home in Griffin.
SPALDING COUNTY, Ga. - Two Spalding County foster parents will spend decades in prison after pleading guilty to child cruelty, false imprisonment, and other charges.
Krista and Tyler Schindley were accused of starving and neglecting their 10-year-old son and pleaded guilty to all charges against them and received their sentence in court on Thursday.
Tyler and Krista Schindley (Spalding County Jail)
The backstory:
The Schindleys were arrested in May 2023 after a neighbor found the boy wandering the streets barefoot in search of food. When police arrived, the child, who weighed just 37 pounds at the time, reportedly begged officers not to take him back home.
The child was rushed to the hospital, where he was treated for malnutrition and a low heart rate.
Arrest warrants in Griffin starvation case
FOX 5 has obtained the arrest warrants for Tyler and Krista Schindley, who are charged with the attempted murder of their 10-year-old son. The document outline the alleged home life of the child before being found by a neighbor.
In the copies of the Schindley's arrest warrants obtained by FOX 5, prosecutors allege that the couple locked their son in his room for extended periods of time with no lights, or even clothes, at their home in Griffin.
The warrants also state the parents were aware that their son had dental injuries and disfiguration, but did not provide medical treatment. According to the warrants, the couple inflicted abuse against the boy with other children present.
After their arrests, neighbors told FOX 5 the Schindleys often left their older children at home for days while they vacationed. Their other four children were taken into the custody of the Georgia Division of Family and Children's Service.
What we know:
In 2023, a grand jury indicted Krista Schindley in 2023 on 12 charges and Tyler Schindley on nine charges. Their charges include criminal attempt to commit a felony — with murder listed as the attempted felony — as well as four counts of cruelty to children in the first degree, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and other offenses.
In court, both Krista and Tyler Schindley pleaded guilty to all charges.
Prosecutors say they had planned to bring medical professionals who treated the young boy and his siblings to testify in the upcoming days.
What they're saying:
During testimony at the sentencing hearing, Rock Springs Elementary School counselor Sophia Gutierrez described how the boy would often have limited food in his lunch box.
She said that sometimes the victim would have only a few almonds of celery in his box, which made her and other teachers talk to DFCS about the situation.
Gutierrez emotionally described one time interacting with Krista Schindley where, during a meeting, Schindley expressed that the boy was "being forced on her."
School counselor describes concerns over victim's adoption
Rock Springs Elementary School counselor Sophia Gutierrez described how she was told by Krista Schindley that the Spalding County felt like they were being ''forced'' to adopt the 10-year-old victim.
"She only wanted the kids - the sisters, the twins - and he was being forced on her," she said. "After the meeting I emailed the caseworker and I said, ‘Please do not allow them to adopt him. I don’t think they love him."
She said they received "a lot of pushback from DFCS" over her and other teacher's concerns over the boy's health and safety.
A Spalding County caseworker who had worked with the Schindleys prior to the victim's adoption said that she also heard the couple say repeatedly "that they did not want him," and that "he "
"was a problem."
The other side:
Speaking in court, Krista Schindley apologized to everyone affected by the case and the children who were impacted.
"I just pray that God would bring the right parents along to be able to give the younger children a wonderful life," she said. "I know the love of God is able to do many things, and I'm trusting him with our children."
What's next:
After hearing the testimony, Judge Benjamin D. Coker said that he had never seen "a human being do what you two did to another human being."
"When Evan ran away from your residence, and you were stopped by police, you never even asked ‘Is Evan OK?’ That would have been the first thing I would have asked," he said.
While Judge Coker said he appreciated that the parents pleaded guilty before their children were forced to testify, "You sure showed a hell of a time to show mercy on them," he said.
Krista and Tyler Schindley were both sentenced to 40 years to serve consecutively, followed by 20 years on probation. They were also sentenced to additional time that will be served concurrently.
The couple can have no contact with their children or be in any contact with minors.
Judge sentences Krista and Tyler Schindley
Saying that he ''had never seen "a human being do what you two did to another human being,'' a Spalding County judge sentenced Krista and Tyler Schindley to 40 years in prison for the abuse of their adopted son.
The Source: Information for this story came from court testimony and previous FOX 5 reporting.