How Could You? Hall of Shame-Carol J. Schmidt

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Verden, Oklahoma, adoptive parent Carol Schmidt, 65, had a preliminary trial on September 12, 2012 for  charges related to the abuse of 5 children she adopted from foster care in 2007.

“She could face up to life in prison.
“We are seeking jail time and the kids will be here to testify,” Grady County Assistant Attorney Leah Edwards said. “We will see if we can allow them to testify on closed circuit television.”
Although multiple incidents are sited [sic], Edwards said the prosecution rolled the charged[sic] into one count of child abuse by injury. [OMG! Wait ’til read the specifics!]

Despite her age Edwards said the crimes are gruesome enough to warrant jail time.
“Given the facts and the circumstances jail time seems fair,” Edwards said.
Schmidt is accused of multiple criminal actions including grabbing a teenage girl by the inside of her mouth and pulling a young boy by his genitals.
If no plea bargain is reached Schmidt will most likely face trial in December.” [Plea bargain? You have got to be kidding!]

 

Verden Woman Accused of Child Abuse faces preliminary hearing today

[The Express Star 9/12/12 by James Bright]

She first appeared in court on February 2, 2012 after which she was released on a $50,000 bond. Her preliminary hearing conference was scheduled to be 1:30 p.m. March 7, 2012.

“According to the charge filed by prosecutors, Schmidt “willfully/maliciously” engaged in causing both physical and mental harm to children in her care. The abuse, which came to the attention of the Grady County Sheriff’s Department on Nov. 5, reportedly occurred between January 2007 when the children came to live with Schmidt and November 2011. Schmidt adopted the children in July 2007.

An affidavit on file reports the abuse involved three girls ages 15, 13 and 6 years and two boys ages 7 and 9 years. According to the affidavit, the girls ran away and when they were located by the sheriff’s department, told the deputy that they were scared of Schmidt and didn’t want to go home.
The deputy reported one girl, who had bruising on her cheek and inside her mouth, reported Schmidt had grabbed her inside the mouth because she was upset that the house was messy. The other girl reported Schmidt had grabbed her stomach.
When the deputy and a Department of Human Services worker went to Schmidt’s home later that night, Schmidt admitted locking the boys in their room where they had a five-gallon bucket for a toilet, making the younger boy lick his own vomit, and pinching the older girl, according to the affidavit. All five youngsters were then removed from the home by DHS.
During subsequent forensic interviews, the teenage girls recounted being struck several times by Schmidt whenever she became upset.

The 13-year-old also said Schmidt banged her head against a door and then choked her until she couldn’t breathe. Schmidt also allegedly knocked the 9-year-old boy down for “messing with the dog” and threatened to “get a child molester to come and play with him” if he did that again, according to the affidavit. Schmidt is also alleged to have grabbed one of the boys by the genitals.
During another incident revealed in the interviews, Schmidt allegedly held a lit cigarette lighter to the 7-year-old’s hand because he wouldn’t eat. The boy reportedly has difficulty swallowing, according to the affidavit, and Schmidt reportedly slapped the youngster so hard for not swallowing his food that he fell from his chair at the table. She then allegedly dragged him to the bathroom, threw him into the tub and sprayed him with water. Then she reportedly placed him in the toilet and threatened to flush him. She also made the youngster sit all day on the toilet, according to the affidavit.”

Verden Woman Charged with Felony Child Abuse

[The Express Star 2/3/12 by Jeanne Grimes]

“According to a court affidavit, the five adopted children ages six to 15 were taken from the woman’s home last November, after she admitted abusing them. “

“She admitted to DHS workers that she locked the two boys in their room with a bucket to use as a toilet, pinched one of the girls, and forced one of the boys to lick his own vomit.

 

Sheriff Art Kell says it’s one of the worst cases of alleged abuse he has seen in Grady County.

 

“This one here even brought up a red flag for the district attorney’s office when they heard about it.”

 

In the affidavit, one of the teenagers claims Schmidt banged her head on the dryer, hit her with a screw driver, kitchen spatula, flip flops and a fly swatter.

 

One of the boys says Schmidt threatened him she would “get a child molester to play with him” after she caught him messing with one of her dogs and grabbed his private part.

 

The children also claim she burnt one of the boys’ hands with a lighter because he wouldn’t eat.

 

“It’s unfortunate the kids had to go through this type of torture,” Kell said.

 

Schmidt’s attorney says the allegations are not as heinous and shocking as they appear in the affidavit.”[Riiiiiight, telling a child that he is going to a child molester is “normal” and not heinous or shocking at all. Uh huh.]

 

Chickasha Woman Charged With Felony Child Abuse

[News 9 2/4/12 by Jennifer Pierce]

“Sgt. Kevin Daniels with Grady County Sheriff’s Office said, “Two boys living in the house were locked in their bedroom at night. A red five gallon bucket was placed in the bedroom where they had to use the bathroom.”

In the affidavit the children detail their abuse.

One child said, “{Schmidt} took her head and hit it against the corner of the door, then chocked her.”

Another child said he was told she would “…get a child molester to come play with him.”

It continues with accusations of Schmidt flushing their heads in the toilet and beating the children with a kitchen spatula and a screw driver.

But the harsh treatment didn’t stop there.

“One kid had a stomach problem and had a hard time chewing and swallowing food,” said Daniels. “He would often regurgitate. She thought the best form of punishment was to make the kid lick and eat his vomit.”

Neighbors are speechless.

“I’m just shocked beyond words,” said Melinda Bohnett.

She’s lived next to the suspect for about a decade.

“I had the impression she was a nice woman who took in foster kids. I could never imagine that would happen here,” said Bohnett.

Police said Schmidt adopted the children because they were in an abusive situation in the home of their biological parents.”

Abused children, one forced to eat vomit

[KFOR 2/5/12]

REFORM Puzzle Pieces