Fourth Arrest Made in Shackled Teen Case

TRACY, Calif. — Police arrested a fourth suspect Tuesday in connection with the case of a 16-year-old boy who showed up emaciated and shackled at a Tracy gym last week.

Anthony Waiters, 29, was taken into custody at his place of work in Pleasanton, Tracy police said in a news release. He was booked at San Joaquin County Jail on charges of torture, conspiracy, child endangerment, corporal injury to a child and false imprisonment.

Police did not release any additional information about the arrest, citing a judge's gag order on parties to the case.

Tracy police spokesman Matt Robinson said prosecutors would only allow him to disclose what was in the news release.

Three other people face torture, kidnapping and multiple child abuse charges in connection with the case.

Michael Schumacher, 34, his wife, Kelly Layne Lau, 30, and the teen's one-time guardian, Caren Ramirez, 43, are each being held in lieu of more than $2.2 million bail at San Joaquin County Jail.

They have yet to enter pleas and are due back in court Jan. 5.

Authorities say Schumacher, Lau and Ramirez had held the boy captive since mid-2007, beating him frequently, denying him food for days at a time and keeping him chained to the fireplace or a heavy table.

The teen has told investigators he was seriously burned on his left arm when someone purposely lit a fire in the fireplace while he was chained there and sleeping. Authorities who later searched the home where the boy allegedly was held reported finding a blanket inside the fireplace. The boy also recounted being choked with a belt until he lost consciousness.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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