The investigation led to the indictment of Tyler Austin Miles and Jeff Henry on charges including second-degree murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated child endangerment. Although the charges were later resolved (Miles pleaded no contest to lesser charges in 2021, and Henry entered a diversion agreement), autopsy materials were considered evidence. Kansas limits access to such evidence even after a case concludes.
Based on testimony from Dr. Michael Handler, a forensic pathologist who reviewed the autopsy, the following details were disclosed in open court:
The two women seated behind him sustained serious facial injuries, including bone fractures, but survived the incident. ⚖️ Investigation and Findings
The autopsy results were a central piece of evidence in the criminal proceedings that followed. caleb schwab autopsy report
A Kansas grand jury later indicted the park's co-owner, the lead designer, and the construction company on multiple charges, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. The indictments alleged that park officials knowingly maintained a dangerous attraction and hid evidence of previous injuries on the ride. Case Dismissal and Settlements
The Wyandotte County Coroner’s Office conducted the post-mortem examination. The core forensic findings reveal the immediate mechanism of death:
The clarity provided by the autopsy and engineering reports allowed the Kansas Attorney General’s Office to pursue unprecedented criminal charges. In March 2018, a grand jury indicted Schlitterbahn’s co-owner, Jeffrey Henry, and the ride’s designer, John Schooley, for second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and aggravated endangering of a child. The investigation revealed a pattern of gross negligence: The investigation led to the indictment of Tyler
The incident prompted major water parks to re-evaluate their thrill-ride designs to prioritize safety over height and speed.
The official cause of death was a "fatal neck injury".
The release of the autopsy report sparked controversy, with some questioning the accuracy of the findings. Caleb's family and friends expressed concerns about the inconsistencies in the report, citing that the injuries seemed more severe than what would be expected from a simple drowning. Based on testimony from Dr
: The Verrückt was permanently closed and decommissioned following the investigation. 5. Conclusion
Practical step: Institutions hosting minors should operate under simple, durable rules—ratios of adults to children, pre-visit safety briefings, blocked access to hazardous zones, and staff trained in anticipation of common, high-risk behaviors (climbing, exploring confined areas, touching controls). Those measures are low-cost and high-impact.
On August 7, 2016, Caleb Schwab was visiting Schlitterbahn in Kansas City for "Elected Officials Day" with his family. He boarded the Verrückt—the world’s tallest waterslide at 168 feet—in a three-person raft with two women.
Early statements from the park suggested the ride functioned as intended and that guest behavior might have played a role. The autopsy report, paired with the structural damage to the slide's hoops, definitively proved that the physical layout of the ride forced human passengers into direct contact with static structural elements. Criminal Indictments and Corporate Negligence
A human story behind numbers Beyond policy memos and safety checklists lies the person whose life was lost. Caleb was a child on a school outing—an ordinary boy with family, friends, and a future cut short. Public responses that focus solely on compliance miss the human toll. Commemoration must include both grief and obligation: to remember him and to act so another family need not suffer the same fate.