Pleading “Not Guilty” to Murder, Torture, Cruelty
Posted by TulipGirl | Under Pearls / TTUAC / NGJ Saturday Mar 20, 2010Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz have each been charged with “Felony 187(a) PC MURDER;” “Felony 206 PC TORTURE W/ S.A. 12022.7(a) 1192.7(C)(8);” and Misdemeanor (A) 273a(b) PC CRUELTY TO CHILD BY INFLICTING INJURY” according to the Superior Court of California, County of Butte.
On Thursday, 3/18/10, they were in court and each pleaded “not guilty.” You can read the news stories from the Chico Enterprise Record and the Oroville Mercury Register.
(Note: In some news stories Kevin Schatz is being referred to as Kenneth Schatz, but the legal records are in the name of Kevin Paul Schatz.)
According to the above news stories, Michael Harvey, defense attorney for Kevin Schatz, has stated the parents are “heartbroken and still in shock over this tragedy… We have heard what the district attorney has said and is saying, and we are exploring extensively other explanations for the death of this child… This is a close-knit family of nine and for the past 16 years.”
Attorney Kevin Sears is representing Elizabeth Schatz, said states he is continuing to “aggressively investigate,” but is not commenting yet.
DA Michael Ramsey explained the autopsy on Lydia Schatz showed she died from “blunt force trauma” and that they pathologist reported “multiple whip-like striations between the child’s lower back and knees.” The autopsy shows there was a rapid breakdown of muscle tissue which leads to damage to the kidneys and other organs.
According to the news article, “Ramsey said some the couple’s six biological children told investigators of being chastised by their parents with a quarter-inch rubber or plastic “plumbing supply line” that was found in the ridge home, along with a book written by a fundamentalist religious group in Tennessee [Michael Pearl of No Greater Joy Ministries] which espoused using the device to help train children to be more obedient to God and their parents. “The older daughter indicated that they did follow that as a discipline philosophy in the family,” the district attorney said.”
Later in the article, “Dr. Thomas Resk, the county medical examiner, concluded the younger girl died from “multiple complications caused by blunt-force trauma to the muscles and soft-tissue … resulting in the release of the injured cell content into the bloodstream” and damaging her heart, kidneys and other organs. … Asked whether the child had any prior health problems that could have contributed to her death, Ramsey said that “other than prior scarring … we know of none.”
I do not know what the legal strategies will be for DA Ramsey or the attorneys for the Schatz parents. I do not excuse or justify or pass off the responsibility that Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz hold as the ones who “disciplined” their child to death.
And neither will I excuse Michael and Debi Pearl. They may not be legally responsible for the death of Lydia Schatz, but morally, ethically? Michael and Debi Pearl seek to influence parents. They do not teach “beat your child until she dies.” They DO teach to train (spank, whip) until they child is completely submitted, to use a “rod” of plumbing supply line, a “switch” or even a “belt or tree branch;” that a parent ought to defeat a child totally with no mercy; and that 5, 10, 15 or more strikes may be needed; may be needed over a period of hours or even days. These teachings are rife throughout their published writings online and in books. People, these teachings are abhorrent! These are not “Biblical” in the least, as much as the Pearls may like to label them so!
Michael and Debi Pearl may not intend to teach abuse, but their words and their philosophy lead to a logical conclusion of actions which are abusive. And in the end, as people who seek influence, they are responsible for what they communicate and how they communicate it.
Lord, have mercy on us all.
Don’t forget how they teach parents to sit on their children if necessary in order to spank them.
I am in complete agreement with you. Its a shame that they can’t be held legally responsible for their teachings. They belong in jail.
I totally agree. Well said.
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Michael Pearl has “answered” his critics again, this time taking aim at those who declare him a heretic. It’s a lengthy screed, and I found it reprinted on my facebook wall. Is there any way to do the same here?
Well, turns out the article was from 2007, and is still extant at the NGJ site. The issues of the Pearls’ theology were commented on back in 2005, and he responded two years later.
Here is the rebuttal to his “answer”: http://www.wayoflife.org/files/c5ccd452e472c98aa8c108eff911f701-120.html
I apologize for assuming this was a recent development.
Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
When in doubt, check your Bible folks. Do a simple search to see what the Word says about “the rod”. This has nothing to do with the Pearls, but everything to do with God.
P.S. Blunt force trauma is impossible with 1/4 inch plumber’s supply line.
Shannie, the coroner who examined the girl apparently disagrees with you.
This is such a heartbreaking tragedy. I’m heartbroken when I see pictures of the parents and I’m heartbroken when I imagine those girls, enduring because apparently they were wired to endure rather than “submit”, and I’m heartbroken when I think about the other children, missing their parents, and I’m heartbroken, too, by Christian parents who look in the face of this tragedy and the first thing they think of doing is quote Bible verses about the rod and defending their guru. Not even a, “our prayers go out to the family” or anything. For shame. Find your hearts, people.
Hi Shannie, I have checked my Bible and I do not believe it teaches hitting children as a parenting method.
Here is a great article by Dr. Sears on reasons not to hit your child (and spanking IS hitting), and #6 addresses “biblical chastisement.”
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/6/T062100.asp
Shannie, I suggest you do a study on what the word translated at “rod” in English, actually means in Hebrew. There are several places online you can find this out; the Gentle Christian Mothers website has a page on it. You’d be surprised that what we visualize as a stout stick can also be something else entirely.
Shannie, the Bible says that if you beat a child with a rod, he will not die.
And yet, Lydia Schatz was beaten with a rod until she died.
Proverbs are proverbial, after all… they are not commands.
Yes, the death of this child is a tragedy, but it is far removed from Michael Pearl and his teaching. Have any of you actually read Michael Pearl? Read these quotes from his teaching and then come back and tell me these people were following it.
http://www.squidoo.com/Pearls_2Train_Up_A_Child
Hi, Shannie!
Welcome to TulipGirl.com.
And, yes, I have read much of what Michael Pearl has written — starting with the NGJ early volumes in the early ’90s through TTUAC.
I have previously read the linked article, but instead of deconstructing it here, I invite you to read through some of the concerns raised about Michael Pearl and his teachings.
You could start with:
On the Pearls and Parenting, Repeat
Perfectionism and Parenting
Welcome, NGJ Readers!
Fruits of Pearl Parenting
Avoiding Millstones
Remembering Sean Paddock
Shannie, I have read the Pearl’s and even followed their teachings. Sadly, what these parents did is just what the Pearl’s ordered. No mercy.
These parents were following Michael Pearl’s teachings to the letter.
And the letter kills.It was our Saviour Who taught us that fact.
He Who said, “Let the little ones come unto me” trumps the Pearls, IMHO.
This the shock story. I can in now ay understand such people, these do not have the right to be addresses as ‘parents’ they are NOT parents, because real parents do not do such things to their children.
I am in despair at our world !
Sincerely,
Marina – Ukraine.
FTR, I’ve read the Pearls (TTUAC, No Greater Joy 1, 2, 3 and any number of the articles on their website). Their teachings are inhuman and deplorable. The Schatz’s did exactly what Michael Pearl trains parents to do, down to the letter.
I’m starting to wonder if people who defend the Pearls have actually read their materials. How anyone can defend their abusive tactics is beyond my understanding both as a Christian and as a mother.
BTW Shannie, I post this here in the hopes that you will read it thoughtfully and prayerfully:
http://parentingfreedom.com/2010/03/18/literally-spanked-to-death-withhold-not-correction-from-the-child-for-if-thou-beatest-him-with-the-rod-he-shall-not-die/
This is incredibly sad, makes me want to weep, ask them, Where are you, the real you?
This is the type of abuse I suffered as a child growing up in a cult and the type of abuse I must protect myself from believing is acceptable. It comes naturally to people growing up in this falsity to re-enact it upon their children.
So incredibly sad.
Thanks for all your recommendations. I will stick with what works for my happy, creative, well-adjusted, fun-loving 7 blessings. We’re having a great time “training our children in the way they should go”.
Hope you all find peace with your thoughts toward others.
Shannie,
I want you to know that no one is condemning you or your family.
I would like to urge you to consider — in light of the impact these teachings have on other families, the mixed messages in the Pearls teachings, and the deaths of Sean Paddock and Lydia Schatz — would you consider refraining from recommending these materials to other parents?
At the very least, prior to recommending these materials, please prayerfully read this article:
http://www.fix.net/~rprewett/millstones.html
Please consider whether you can in good conscience recommend these materials outside of a close, personal, one-on-one mentoring relationship. If you DO recommend these teachings, please do so only in the context in which you intimately know the parents’ past histories, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities.
Marina, you will be shocked and saddened to know that the book being discussed has been translated into Russian and is available in Ukraine.
http://www.tulipgirl.com/index.php/2005/10/pearls-po-russki/
And I am embarrassed (as a Christian and as an American) that Michael Pearl gives money to an American “missionary” in Lviv who promotes these teachings. Sigh.
Thankfully, there are many American missionaries in Ukraine who do NOT support these teachings!
I’m going anonymous on this one to protect identities (you know who I am, TG). But I was talking with a dear friend, someone who is a lovely person, and seems like she has parenting and everything completely together and under control.
But it turns out that she had a history of being abused in her family. And she has to be very careful to keep her history from affecting the way she interacts with her children. I never, ever would have guessed at this, and we are good friends.
What if someone had handed her materials that said that she had to “whip” her children until they were completely broken, and that if she didn’t raise her kids in the particular way recommended by this author, she didn’t deserve to have children? What might have happened? She knows that given the “right” set of circumstances, anyone of us could hurt our children(it gives me pause to even write that, but I know it in my own heart).
Thankfully, she has a very good support system, and a very kind husband, and they’ve worked on many positive tools to use with their children. But I just keep thinking about what we don’t know about people, even when we think we know them well, and that should give us pause before we recommend materials to others, especially when they do contain mixed messages.
concerned,
Exactly.
Exactly. Which is why. . . even IF what the Pearls taught was “Biblical” (which I believe careful study of the Bible shows it most definitely isn’t.
Even IF what he teaches actually “works” (which it may in some situations, depending on your definition of “works.”)
Even IF a parent uses “common sense”. . .
Even then. . . we do NOT know people’s backgrounds. We cannot see into people’s hearts. We do not know their sins. We do not know their vulnerabilities.
We do not know who, loving and well-intentioned though they may be, would be pushed across the line of abuse with materials such as these.
I do hope that people who still do not see the connection between the Pearls’ teachings and the deaths of Lydia Schatz and Sean Paddock, will still see that danger of recommending these teachings to parents.
What qualifies these Pearls to be regarded as teaching authorities on anything, within the Body of Christ? Nothing, from what I can see.
As a pastor, this tragedy touches on an area that is almost never addressed: ministry qualifications. Deacons are supposed to be examined prior to being recognized. Elders are supposed to be proven, then ordained by the laying on of hands. But in American evangelicalism, any Tom, Dick, or Harry with access to a computer or Xulon Press can declare himself a teacher with authority, and build a following, regardless of how under-qualified he is. Men launch parachurch foundations, with politically incestuous boards comprised of family members and best buddies.
We American Christians need to ask, when we read a new book or website, “Who is this person? Where does he come from? Where did she go to school? Have they ever been examined, commissioned, or ordained? To whom is he or she accountable? What are his or her qualifications to teach or preach the Word of God to anyone?”
But we never ask those questions, because we’re ignorant of the New Testament’s teachings about church, pastoral authority, and leadership qualifications; or we ignore them, and claim to be directly inspired by the Holy Spirit, so no one has the right to question what we do or how we do it.
Interesting. I just posted my own post on the Pearls today but myu post was a rebuttal to his book Jumping Ship. I dont disagree with everything they have to say…just 98% of it. Their child discipline is particularly off base! It scares me to think of the people that are following his teachings. I have a brother who thinks Pearl is Gods answer to child rearing. I can only pray that he sees it differently real soon!!!!
A CBS local news show ran this http://www.khsltv.com/news/default.aspx Not sure how long that link will work.
I happened upon your web site after reading about the horror of the death of the child from beating.
If I saw someone beating a child or a dog anywhere, i would intervene and try to change the outcome.
One of the reasons, and I am interjecting some politics for the sake of making a point, I voted for BO after thirty years of always dutifully voting Republian, just for the sake of confounding the rabid and very nasty folks of the religious fundamentalists such as the Pearls and those that follow them. Anything that ruins their day – and politically it has been ruined – of these sychophants makes my day. We as adult Christians must renounce them, must distance ourselves from them and all like them. Brainwashing all claiming they speak for, or have some special revelation, and in this case, how to discipline a child. I truly wish ill on their ilk, now and forever.
Great, I have already bookmarked your this page…Now I don’t have enough time for read but by reading beginning part I must say…it was a positive start .. Would love to read further too…Thanks for great post!
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