Warrant: Chained Teen Forced To Stay In Fireplace

Right: Carin Rameriz, family "friend"

Tracy Search Warrant Shows Knives, Alcohol Taken From Home
December 5, 2008

mid right Kelly Lau

near right Michael Schumacher

TRACY, Calif. -- Detectives say a 16-year-old boy who escaped from a Tracy home on Monday was forced to stay in a wood-burning fireplace and endure violence such as strangulation with a belt.

A search warrant obtained from the Tracy Police Department shows that several knives were taken from the home, along with bricks from a fireplace hearth, chains attached to punching bags and bottles of hard alcohol.

Police said that the boy appeared much younger than his age due to malnourishment and that his body was covered with soot, sores and scars.

The teen said one of the suspects lighted the fireplace on purpose one night as he was chained there asleep, and he suffered a burn to his left arm. Officers said they found a blanket inside the fireplace.

His sprained ankle has a permanent indent from a chain that was used to keep him attached to the fireplace or a heavy table at all times, according to the search warrant.

Detectives also said that the teen told them he was forced to consume unknown pills, drink alcohol and smoke marijuana in order to keep him in a lethargic state.

The teen told police that his captors drove a white SUV, and they were able to track down the vehicle at the house on Tennis Lane.

A nearby neighbor told police that they sometimes saw the teen at the house, and that he appeared to be maltreated, the search warrant said.

Kelly Layne Lau and husband Michael Schumacher, of Tracy, were charged with 13 counts of abuse and former guardian Caren Ramirez was charged with 10 counts.

The boy's relation to Ramirez is unclear. Authorities had earlier identified Ramirez as the boy's aunt but said Thursday they had learned she was a family friend that he called his aunt.

Probation documents show that Ramirez claims to be the teen's mother, but the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office said that is not a fact. The office also said that there is no DNA or biological relationship between Ramirez and the teen.

Ramirez had become the Tracy boy's guardian after child-welfare officials took him from his abusive father three or four years ago, police said. After Ramirez was arrested on suspicion of abusing the boy, the youth was placed in another foster home, police said.

A CPS worker reported that the boy ran away from the Sacramento Children's Receiving Home and was missing since May 9, 2007.

Police said Wednesday that the boy detailed his escape from the home, saying he found a brief moment of freedom to slip out the back of the house and jump over a fence that divided the couple's property with a fitness center. He limped into the gym with a chain shackled to his leg, wearing only boxer shorts and pleading for help. Appearing emaciated and bruised, gym employees contacted paramedics and police.

The three defendants in the case will be in court on Monday for a continued arraignment when they are expected to enter a plea.