Georgia’s 10-year-old half-brother, who was found wandering in a suburb and begging for food after he was allegedly starved by his parents, has also been arrested in connection with the case.
Ethan Washburn, 19, has been charged with aggravated assault for the strangulation of his younger brother, who weighed just 36 pounds when he was rescued by police.
Washburn, a Tennessee resident, is the biological son of Krista Schindley, 47, who is accused of committing acts of child cruelty alongside her husband Tyler Schindley, 46.
Police in Griffin, Georgia said Washburn used his bare hands to choke the boy.
In addition to not feeding their son, the couple would have allowed their four other children to “see and/or hear” physical violence against the boy on several occasions.
Ethan Washburn (pictured) has been charged with aggravated assault in connection with the horrific and near-fatal starvation of his younger brother, who weighed just 36lbs
Washburn is the biological son of Krista Schindley (left) who is accused of committing acts of child cruelty alongside her husband Tyler Schindley (right)
The Schindleys’ home in Griffin, Georgia, worth around $447,000
Since Washburn lives out of state, it’s unclear when he last saw his younger half-brother or why he was charged.
Last month, FOX 5 Atlanta stopped by the nearly $500,000 Griffin home where the family lived and spoke with Washburn who said he was just babysitting the house.
“I’m not too close to the situation right now. I’m just watching the house. I don’t really have a comment at this time on this story,’ Washburn said at the time.
Ethan is listed as a branch manager for the same spa chain his mother worked for before her arrest.
Authorities said neighbors found the boy wandering on Westminster Circle on May 12 and dragged him off the street and called the police.
Upon arrival, the boy – whose weight was equivalent to that of an average four-year-old child – told police he was trying to get to Kroger to buy food.
He would have pleaded with the officers not to “bring me back”.
He was taken to hospital and his current condition is unknown.
“This child was, quite simply, starved to death, and that is tragic,” District Attorney Marie Broder said in a statement.
“I really believe that if he hadn’t come out of that house, it would be a very different case,” the DA told local media.
“I’m not too close to the situation right now. I’m just watching the house. I don’t really have a comment right now on that story,’ Washburn told FOX 5 in May.
Krista Schindley (centre right) poses with her eldest son Ethan Washburn (centre left) at a Float Spa booth. Ethan was accused of strangling his younger brother
The couple have been charged with attempted murder in the case
The back of the $447,000 Griffin, Georgia home where the Schindleys lived
The starving boy had been locked in a bedroom and left alone in the house “for long periods of time”, according to court affidavits.
During these periods, the boy would have “no access to lights, food, clothing, or adult interaction and/or assistance,” the affidavit continues.
The Schindleys are also accused of leaving a ‘dental injury and disfigurement’ suffered by the boy unattended.
The other children who were at home appeared to be doing well and are currently with the Department of Family and Children’s Services.
Additionally, Tyler’s 19-year-old son was also home and healthy.
The couple have been charged with criminal attempts to commit a felony, cruelty to children, false imprisonment and simple assault.
In May, Tyler’s ex-wife Melissa Waynette claimed one of his children who lived with the couple ran away – while a second was denied the ‘treatment’ he needed .
Waynette said those two children she shared with Tyler also lived in Griffin, Georgia with the couple until recently.
One of her sons escaped from the house two years ago after finding Waynette via social media, while the other, she said, was returned to her two months ago.
The couple have been charged with criminal attempts to commit a felony, cruelty to children, false imprisonment and simple assault. Pictured: The couple in court on May 23
Griffin police arrested Tyler and Krista Schindley after neighbors found their emaciated son wandering the streets on May 12
Bikes are seen in the driveway of Krista and Tyler Schindley’s Georgia home
The couple’s neighbor, Kim Seigler, told FOX 5 that she was once worried about the Schindley children.
“The fact that they’re my neighbors…just made me feel bad…like I should have been more observant,” she said.
Speaking to the media in May, Broder said they would not release any photos of the child “for obvious reasons” and because they are “absolutely horrific”.
“As a mother, I cannot understand it. As a human being, it breaks your heart,” she said. “Anyone with a human heart, who looks at them, should be deeply shaken.”
Krista and Tyler were scheduled to appear in court on Monday but did not have an attorney to represent them.
A judge remanded the case to a later date.
