Boy, 10, Who Was Killed On World’s Tallest Waterslide Was ‘Decapitated’
A 10-year-old boy who was killed on a waterslide was reportedly ‘decapitated.’
The tragic death of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab on the Verrückt water slide at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas, remains one of the most harrowing incidents in amusement park history.
Billed as the world’s tallest waterslide, Verrückt attracted thrill-seekers but ultimately became the scene of a fatal accident when Caleb was decapitated after the raft he was riding went airborne and struck a metal pole.
Following years of legal battles, including allegations of recklessness and negligence, all criminal charges against the water park’s owner, designer, and operations manager were dismissed in 2019.
On August 7, 2016, Caleb, the son of Scott Schwab, then a Kansas state legislator, visited the Schlitterbahn Waterpark with his family.
Caleb climbed the slide’s 264 steps and boarded a raft alongside two other riders.
Verrückt, standing at 170 feet, included a dramatic 17-story drop followed by a 55-foot crest, and was encased in netting supported by metal poles.
The netting was intended to prevent riders from falling off the slide.
However, Caleb’s raft, traveling at high speeds, went airborne over the crest. Tragically, he struck a metal pole, resulting in decapitation.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as beyond comprehension.
One onlooker told Texas Monthly: “It was as horrible a moment as you could imagine. A nightmare beyond comprehension.”
Caleb’s brother Nathan, waiting at the bottom of the slide, screamed: “He flew from the Verrückt!” while their mother, Michele Schwab, was kept back by a man who urged: “Trust me, you don’t want to go any further.”
The aftermath of Caleb’s death prompted immediate action.
The Verrückt ride was permanently closed, and Schlitterbahn dismantled the slide in 2018.
Investigators later revealed a troubling safety record for Verrückt, including at least 13 prior injuries.
Despite these incidents, the slide was featured in a dramatized Travel Channel episode that highlighted its extreme design and daring engineering, ABC News reports.
Prosecutors argued this showcased recklessness in its creation and operation.
In 2017, Caleb’s family received nearly $20 million in settlements from Schlitterbahn and other entities involved in constructing and maintaining the slide.
Two other riders on Caleb’s raft, sisters who suffered facial injuries and broken bones, also received settlements.
In 2018, criminal charges were brought against Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry, slide designer John Schooley, and operations director Tyler Miles, among others.
The charges ranged from second-degree murder to aggravated child endangerment.
Prosecutors claimed the defendants had disregarded safety standards, prioritized spectacle over safety, and concealed evidence of prior injuries.
However, in February 2019, Judge Robert Burns dismissed the charges, citing improper evidence presented to the grand jury.
Prosecutors had shown jurors video footage from the Travel Channel episode, which the judge ruled was a dramatized and fictionalized depiction, not factual evidence.
Additionally, testimony about unrelated deaths and the use of outdated safety standards further undermined the prosecution’s case.
Judge Burns noted: “The video, though, is a fictional and dramatized version of events created for entertainment purposes.”
Burns concluded that the defense’s allegations of ‘grand jury abuse’ were credible.
“The circumstances and events giving rise to these indictments are indisputably tragic,” he wrote, while emphasizing that the evidence presented to the jury was improper.
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt expressed disappointment but did not rule out refiling charges or pursuing a new investigation.
Schlitterbahn, which has since closed its Kansas City location, welcomed the dismissal of charges.
Winter Prosapio, the park’s spokesperson, stated: “We are thankful for all the support and encouragement we’ve received.”
The park emphasized its commitment to safety, claiming the incident was unprecedented in its 50-year history.
Lawyers for the defendants also praised the court’s decision.
Attorney Justin Johnston, representing John Schooley, remarked: “We agree with the court’s decision that the grand jury was not given a fair picture of the evidence relating to this tragic accident.”
Meanwhile, Tricia Bath, counsel for Tyler Miles, called the judge’s reasoning ‘legally sound.’
Caleb’s death spurred legislative changes in Kansas.
New laws were enacted requiring state inspections of amusement park attractions, an effort to improve safety and prevent future tragedies.
The Schwab family has continued to honor Caleb’s memory while advocating for safer amusement park regulations.
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