Dad Arrested After Son Found Living Outside

[Deborah]

Sep 6, 2007 4:39 pm US/Central

Cops: Dad Arrested After Son Found Living Outside
(CBS 11 News) JOHNSON COUNTY Johnson County sheriff's deputies found a 12-year-old boy living in squalor conditions just outside his parent's home.

Officers say on September 2, they went to the 2900 block of E. FM 916 near Cleburne to conduct a welfare check. Reports indicate witnesses had seen the boy outside the residence for at least four days and nights.

According to police, the boy had been living outside under a dilapidated travel trailer.

When he was found, police say he had insect bites all over his body and was covered with fleas.

The boy told police that during that time, he had been fed peanut butter sandwiches and drank from a water hose. He said the sandwiches made him sick.

"We wouldn't do our dogs that way," said neighbor Rojean Granthan.

The child was taken from the home by Child Protective Services and placed under the care of family members.

Paul Schmidtke, the boy's father, was arrested and charged with injury to a child. He posted his $100,000 bond and returned home.

Injury to a child? Peanut butter and jelly. Potable water. Kid doesn't know how lucky he was. Damned ironic and a double standard that a program can subject kids to worse, even kill them, and walk scott free.

Schmidtke told police the incident was not abuse. He said that his son couldn't live under the rules of his household, so he put him outside.

Mr. Schmidtke, if you believe your son would benefit from that kind of abuse and punishment.. err BM, you must follow the proper procedure and pay tens of thousands of dollars to a wilderness program or TBS. Only under the guise of therapy can one subject a child to such 'treatment'. You screwed up by labeling it 'discipline'... remember next time.... it's 'therapy'.

The sheriff's office also plans to press charges on the child's step mother.

Video here:
http://cbs11tv.com/topstories/local_sto ... 74436.html

The travel trailer. Bet there's a bunch of kids that would've loved to have such luxurious accomodations.

[TheWho]

Paul Schmidtke, the boy's father, was arrested and charged with injury to a child. He posted his $100,000 bond and returned home.

Schmidtke told police the incident was not abuse. He said that his son couldn't live under the rules of his household, so he put him outside.

Good post,  This is a good heads up to parents.  You are responsible for your kids until they are of age even if you just kick them out of the house and make them fend for themselves.  You need to seek advice from others/professionals.  Don’t let your frustration get the best of you.

The $100,000 this man had to place for bond could have gone towards a good Boarding school where the child would receive better care, 24/7 and attend college one day.  Now this guy is out the money and pending charges which could land him in jail and his son will probably get worse.

There are many options out there if you ask, don’t just turn your back on the kids, get some advice.

[Anonymous]

Peanut butter and jelly. Potable water. Kid doesn't know how lucky he was.

You got that right. Peanut butter is a rare treat in a wilderness program and jelly is unheard of. Potable water is nowhere to be found. Even the idea of turning a knob and having water come out of a hose seems like a magical dream.