GUILTY CA - Lydia Schatz, 7, beaten to death, sister injured, Paradise, 5 Feb 2010

[PickieChickie]

Thank you for the update!! Does anyone know where the other children are? Were they placed in foster care or with family members? It is possible that they will not be approved for adoption until their parents' right to appeal has been thoroughly exercised.

I am so hopeful that the state will move for termination of parental rights, given the evidence. That would allow a search for appropriate permanent placement to occur for these very taumatized children. I really pray they can be kept together. It's almost always in the best interest of the children.

I live 5 miles from Paradise, California where the murder took place and this is the first article I've been made aware of since the last one I posted.

 

[PickieChickie]

Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz give Nancy Schatz Power of Attorney - Sell home - June 15, 2010​

If I am reading the documents properly, it appears the Schatz's gave Nancy Schatz Power of Attorney on June 15, 2010 so she could sell their home.

You can review the documents the Schatz's have filed with the Butte County Recorder at this link. (Make sure the search date starts with 2003 and that you select "In order by date".) Simply type Schatz to see all documents rather than typing Elizabeth and/or Kevin.

Butte County recorded document search engine: http://clerk-recorder.buttecounty.net/RiimsWeb/ASP/ORInquiry.asp​

 

[Belinda]

I can't comment on this story and remain sane and lucid. To kill a child in the name of God is the most horrendous thing I can imagine.

 

[PickieChickie]

I can't comment on this story and remain sane and lucid. To kill a child in the name of God is the most horrendous thing I can imagine.

Surely the child who was so ill behaved that the Schatz's justified repeatedly striking her with a plumbing hose until she died will live life eternal with Jesus whereas the Schatz's will be destroyed with fire and brimestone as they see their little daughter standing on the wall of the Holy City looking down at them.

 

[Belinda]

Surely the child who was so ill behaved that the Schatz's justified repeatedly striking her with a plumbing hose until she died will live life eternal with Jesus whereas the Schatz's will be destroyed with fire and brimestone as they see their little daughter standing on the wall of the Holy City looking down at them.

I suppose. Unfortunately, that doesn't make her any less dead and without the future she should have had.

 

[PorcineGranny]

Belinda, just to make you feel better if possible, the Lord is always just and merciful. That child will get to grow up and feel happiness and love. (thats one of the things that will happen in the 1000 years after Christ's return)

 

[PickieChickie]

SOURCE: http://www.buttecourt.ca.gov/online_index/CMSCaseDisplay.cfm?URLCaseNumber=CM032008​

 

[Missizzy]

I was checking up on the Schatz case and also on the Andrea and Scott Bass case, from Arizona, when I stumbled upon a disturbing comment at the following link:

http://akopsa.wordpress.com/2010/02...ding-schools-and-the-trial-of-jack-patterson/

The comment was made April 14, 2010 by a poster named "Jocelyn".

This is an article and comments concerning the Reclamation Ranch. This "ranch" has come under fire for years and occasionally pops up on WS threads. I have no idea if this poster has personal knowledge about the Schatz and Bass families or is just making a generalization. She does mention a commonality of the homeschooling curriculum used by both families and the adherence to Michael Pearl's teachings on discipline.

Very worrisome.

 

[Belinda]

I have done a lot of reading on the Reclamation Ranch and that is one scary place and that is one evil, evil man. In fact, some months ago, I sent him an email telling him what I think about him and his Ranch and all of the children he is responsible for abusing over the years. Every time he gets cornered, he just picks up and re-opens in another state. The prosecutors are so happy to be rid of him, they end up letting him off the hook and he has never suffered any serious repercussions for his abuses.

 

[Missizzy]

Belinda--I know we've touched on the issues at the Reclamation Ranch and others like it on other threads. We probably should have an entire thread for that story. If you would care to start one, I will be more than happy to research the various programs and current or past charges. I do have to say that my heart sinks a little when I read that there are "survivor" sites for past students of these schools.

I was surprised to read that both the Schatz and the Bass families were using the same curriculum (per that poster). I am not a home-schooler and the use of that curriculum could be common, for all I know. Obviously, there are thousands of home-schooling families who choose to raise their children tenderly and do not beat them. I just have to wonder if this specific curriculum can be misconstrued by misguided parents.

I find it particularly disturbing, however, that both espoused the teachings of Michael Pearl. Many blog posts have been written on both families and the probability that they were "Quiverfull families".


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiverfull

 

[Belinda]

I believe the newest incarnation of Reclamation Ranch is supposed to be in New Jersey. Don't know if it is open yet or not. Let me see if I can find anything and I'll start a thread.

 

[Missizzy]

PickieChickie--You might want to check with a mod but MercyNeal and I were just reminded on the Ayres thread not to post comments from other sites. We were told all we could do was post a link and a description of how to find the comment ie. date and time and poster. Just a head's up. The comment is quite scary, isn't it? All of those comments are worth reading.

The link to the poster's name which you added is an exceptional site with lots of great info. I don't see Michael Pearl as a "new" guru", though. He's been writing about his vile and cruel discipline/abuse for years. I wonder if the above comment means that a whole new subset of parents have discovered him? That would be frightening.

As the mother of a huge family, I can attest to the fact that discipline (not abuse) and order are necessary for any quality of life. One must have "systems" in place and natural and logical consequences for all positive and negative behaviors. I fully understand the quest for anything that will work as without a system, you have chaos. Thankfully, we had access to seminars and trainings sponsored by agencies geared at special needs foster and adopted children. These trainings could never include any sort of physical punishment, isolation, or emotional abuse.

We had to learn to be VERY creative and consistent (much like a public school teacher would be). It can be done but it's also quite easy to get overwhelmed. I worry that many who choose the Quiverfull life, might (please note I said "might") get overwhelmed once the children start to develop their own personalities and some become strong spirited. Not every child is compliant and willing to go along with the family style. It makes me physically sick that Michael Pearl is standing by, at the ready, to tell you what to do with that plumbing line in order to keep that strong spirited child in his/her place.

FWIW, that's one of the most interesting perks of having a large family. You get the joy and challenge of raising children with every possible quirk and style.

 

[Belinda]

Reclamation Ranch website says they are now open in Alabama. I had heard New Jersey, but I guess not. They sure tout themselves as something other than the house of horrors that they are.

http://www.reclamationranch.com/

 

[Missizzy]

http://www.chicoer.com/rss/ci_16403542?source=rss

Trial delayed in alleged torture death of daughter


"A judge Thursday continued a trial against a Paradise couple for the alleged murder and torture of their adopted child, so attorneys can read the more than 6,000 pages of evidence, with more coming.

Butte County Superior Court Judge Kristen Lucena vacated the November trial date and set it for Feb. 28 in the case against Elizabeth Schatz, 43, and her husband, Kevin, 47...."

and

"....The Schatzes are charged with murder, torture involving great bodily injury and misdemeanor child abuse involving one of their six biological children. The charges carry up to two life terms in prison. The couple pleaded not guilty in June...."

and

"....They remain in custody at the Butte County Jail with bail set at $2 million apiece."

more at link

 

[chicoliving]

OROVILLE - A trial for a Paradise couple facing murder charges for beating one adopted daughter to death and injuring another ended before it began after the pair entered unexpected guilty pleas Friday.

~snip~

The Schatzes' defense team and Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey had spent Friday with Judge Kristen Lucena discussing final motions before starting jury selection. As Ramsey prepared to leave the courtroom, defense attorneys Michael Harvey and Kevin Sears asked him to stay about a possible plea bargain.

http://www.paradisepost.com/news/ci_17804346

 

[Missizzy]

From the link above:

"....the prosecution accepted a lesser manslaughter charge for Elizabeth Schatz because there was evidence she was under the control of her husband during and after the incidents..."


How was she "under his control"? By all accounts I've read this woman is bright and capable. She seemed to be a willing partner in the form of discipline/torture used on these children. It doesn't seem right that her sentence is half of what her husband's is.

One would think that Michael Pearl and his group would finally speak out on this travesty. I'm terrified that another family will follow his ridiculously cruel and inhumane treatment guidelines.

 

[PeteyGirl]

It sounds like the prosecution believed a version of "battered woman syndrome" was relevant enough for it to influence the plea deal.

 

[Pandora]

From the link above:

"....the prosecution accepted a lesser manslaughter charge for Elizabeth Schatz because there was evidence she was under the control of her husband during and after the incidents..."


How was she "under his control"? By all accounts I've read this woman is bright and capable. She seemed to be a willing partner in the form of discipline/torture used on these children. It doesn't seem right that her sentence is half of what her husband's is.

One would think that Michael Pearl and his group would finally speak out on this travesty. I'm terrified that another family will follow his ridiculously cruel and inhumane treatment guidelines.

MOO: They are "Christian fundamentalists." Having been raised in that type of home & having family members who are still in it, the men rule the roost. It is one of the most patriarchal "religions" out there. Women are submissive and only there to serve/follow orders. I view it as a cult, where women are brainwashed. (Yes, several family members have followed the Pearl's discipline philosophies, but all of the children so far have been very compliant and easily manipulated. I watch them carefully, prepared to report.)

 

[Linda7NJ]

From the link above:

"....the prosecution accepted a lesser manslaughter charge for Elizabeth Schatz because there was evidence she was under the control of her husband during and after the incidents..."


How was she "under his control"? By all accounts I've read this woman is bright and capable. She seemed to be a willing partner in the form of discipline/torture used on these children. It doesn't seem right that her sentence is half of what her husband's is.

One would think that Michael Pearl and his group would finally speak out on this travesty. I'm terrified that another family will follow his ridiculously cruel and inhumane treatment guidelines.

Fundamentalist Patriarchal Christians would be my guess.

 

[Missizzy]

I'm aware that the family are practicing Fundamentalist Christians. I'm just shocked that the choice to follow that religious path merits a reduction in sentence when one kills a child.