Month: January 2017

Settlement reached in Verruckt case

A settlement was reached Wednesday in a civil case filed by the family of a boy who died on a ride on the Verruckt water slide at Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, Kan.

The amount of the settlement in the case in Johnson County District Court was not disclosed.

Caleb Schwab, son of Rep. Scott Schwab, died while riding the Verruckt water slide in August in Kansas City, Kan.

In a statement in November, Schlitterbahn officials said they would tear down and permanently close the Verruckt water slide. Schlitterbahn officials did not have a statement Wednesday.

An attorney for the Schwab family confirmed that settlements were approved Wednesday by a state court judge. Those involved in the settlement were two local Schlitterbahn entities and the manufacturer of the raft in which Caleb was riding at the time, the attorney stated.

Additional claims are being pursued against others that were not subject to Wednesday’s approved settlements, according to the attorney for the Schwab famly.

“The Schwab family remains determined to hold all those responsible for this tragedy accountable, while doing all they can to ensure this never happens again to another family,” the statement read from attorneys Michael C. Rader and Todd Scharnhorst, representing the Schwab family.

Two plead guilty in aggravated robberies against clergy

Two persons have pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated robbery, according to the Wyandotte County district attorney’s office.

Three victims on Oct. 21, Oct. 28 and Aug. 10 included a pastor and a priest, the district attorney’s office stated.

Ladarious Racquez-Barkers and Marvin Antonio Moore will face sentencing at 2:45 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Feb. 24 in Division 8 of Wyandotte County District Court, the spokesman said.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Tatum prosecuted the case.

“The fact that we were able to reach a plea in this case, shows that we have hardworking assistant district attorneys in this office that are going to pursue cases until the end, whether it’s a plea or all the way to trial,” said Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree, in a statement.

“And Assistant District Attorney Tatum, through negotiations and hard work, let it be known that she will fight to the end,” he added. “I think this shows that the Wyandotte District Attorney’s Office, moving forward, will prosecute any case that violates a community member, a citizen … whether it’s robbery, burglary, or theft. All of it is against the law. It violates our citizens, and we are standing with our citizens, in fighting crime.”

Police conduct death investigation near Coronado Middle School

Police are investigating a deceased male found in a field behind Coronado Middle School this afternoon.

According to a spokesman for the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, officers were sent to the 1700 block of North 64th Terrace about 2:30 p.m. Jan. 11 to investigate.

When they arrived, they found a victim in a field behind the middle school, the spokesman said.

The cause of death is not apparent at this time, and is pending an autopsy, the spokesman said.

The victim’s identity is being withheld until there is positive identification and family notification, according to the spokesman.

The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department’s Major Case Unit is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.