GRIFFIN, GA – The high-profile trial of Krista and Tyler Schindley, a homeschooling couple charged with attempting to murder their 10-year-old son by starvation, took an unexpected turn when both defendants entered guilty pleas on Thursday.
The trial had begun with opening statements on Wednesday but swiftly concluded with the couple’s decision to plead guilty to their charges early the following morning. Authorities accused the Schindleys of a chilling plot to starve their son, intending for him to die unnoticed.
In the courtroom, Krista Schindley, 49, issued an apology to her children, which was met with little sympathy. The prosecutors and the judge condemned the couple’s actions. “This case reveals the depths of human depravity,” the prosecutor told the court, emphasizing the deliberate cruelty inflicted by the parents. The judge criticized the couple’s failure to cherish the children they had been blessed with.
Both Krista and Tyler Schindley, 48, were charged with a range of offenses, including attempted murder, multiple counts of cruelty to children, false imprisonment, and aggravated assault. They were sentenced to serve 40 years in prison, followed by 20 years on probation, with each of the principal charges running concurrently.
The prosecution described a shocking contrast between the Schindleys’ picture-perfect home and the gruesome reality within, highlighting the dark conditions endured by their 10-year-old son. “On the outside, it appears as the American dream, but inside reveals a nightmare,” the prosecutor noted.
In May 2023, the boy, severely underweight at only 36 to 37 pounds, was discovered by neighbors as he wandered the streets looking for food. Authoritative documents allege that the defendants inflicted significant physical and mental suffering on their son by depriving him of basic needs, including food, medical care, and human interaction.
Ethan Washburn, the boy’s stepbrother, was also implicated, facing charges of physically assaulting the child. Prosecutors argue that the Schindleys’ abuse started even before adopting the boy, who was described as “constantly hungry” by his school teachers.
The Schindleys never intended to adopt the starved child, the prosecution claims. He was considered the “sacrificial lamb,” unwanted by his adoptive parents, whose cruelty extended to withholding basic necessities.
Krista Schindley’s attorney contested the characterization of his client as malicious. “All Krista wanted was a big family,” he said, rejecting the notion that she intended harm.
Despite these defenses, the guilty pleas affirmed the charges against the Schindleys, closing a disturbing case that has gripped local residents and underscored the severe consequences of parental neglect and abuse.