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SPALDING COUNTY - On May 1, 2025, Krista Washburn Schindley and Tyler Matthew Schindley entered non-negotiated pleas of guilty to charges including Attempted Malice Murder, Aggravated Battery, False Imprisonment, and multiple counts of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree against their ten year old son. Krista Schindley also entered a non-negotiated plea of guilty to two additional counts of Aggravated Assault and one count of Aggravated Battery against her teenage autistic stepson.

The change in plea followed one day of testimony in the joint trial in which District Attorney Marie Broder and Administrative Chief Kate Lenhard began to lay out the case against the pair.

The case stemmed from a 911 call on May 12, 2023 when a neighbor saw a small child walking barefoot down the street and asked if he was okay. The neighbor testified that the boy was terrified, weak, and hungry, but he was determined to get away from his home and begged her not to call his parents.

He was rushed to Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital in Griffin for treatment for a low heart rate and obvious signs of malnutrition. He was stabilized and later admitted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta where teams of doctors, nurses, and staff helped him to physically heal.

A subsequent investigation by the Griffin Police Department revealed that the boy had been subjected to years of maltreatment by his adoptive parents. Following the entry of their guilty pleas, the Honorable Benjamin Coker sentenced both defendants to serve 40 years in prison followed by 20 years on probation.

“This was the worst case of child abuse I have seen in my fifteen years as a prosecutor,” said DA Broder. “The shame and humiliation that this innocent child was forced to bear did not belong to him. Today, that shame and humiliation is back where it belongs, on the heads of Tyler and Krista Schindley. I am so proud of my team, including my trial partner Kate Lenhard, my investigator Misty Gresham, and my victim advocate Maricarmen Dobson. The months of preparation for trial have been worth this moment. I would also like to recognize the amazing men and women of the Griffin Police Department, including Investigators Jodi Spears and Annadia Ruiz for their tireless efforts on behalf of the Schindley children, as well as the phenomenal staff of Spalding Regional Emergency Department and EMS, and Children’s Hospital of Atlanta. This was a team effort, and every member of the team was essential in bringing justice for these children.”