Domestic ServitudeArchive 2008–2016

Domestic Servitude in Tracy, California (2008)

A domestic servitude case from 2008 in Tracy, California, United States.

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Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don’t have a verifiable source on file yet. Know one?

What happened

Michael Luther Schumacher, 34, Kelly Layne Lau, 30, and Caren Ramirez, 43, all were arrested during the first two days of December, 2008 for suspicion of conspiracy, torture, kidnapping, child abuse, and false imprisonment. They held a teenage boy (name not yet disclosed due to the fact that he is a minor) shackled and chained in their garage, and forced him to do domestic labor, for up to 18 months (exact length of time to be determined). Schumacher and Lau are married and have 4 children of their own under the age of 10 (1 year, 3, 7, 9). There was no legal relationship between the married couple and the enslaved boy, Ramirez won custody for the boy in Sacramento Count prior to his imprisonment, but lost custody after she was arrested on charges of felony abuse in 2005. Neighbors of Schumacher and Lau said they say Ramirez at the couple's Tracy home regularly, and some neighbors said they were told that Ramirez was the boy's mother. The boy ran away from a Sacramento group home 15-18 months prior to his emancipation from the Tracy couple. Neighbors saw him doing yard work and other domestic chores. The boy apparently was chained in the garage of the Tracy house when he was not working or otherwise being closely watched.

Response and intervention

Police have arrested Schumacher, Lau, and Ramirez. They are awaiting trial as of this date. The boy escaped his garage prison, scaling an 8-foot wall from the backyard and running to a local fitness center. He still had the shackle and chain on his ankle, wearing only men's boxers, and limped into the In-Shape Sports Club on South Tracy Boulevard on the afternoon of Monday, December 1. District manager of the gym, Chuck Ellis, told reporters that the boy begged, "Hide me, hide me, please," before hunkering into a crouch underneath the counter and covering his face. Employees called 911, wrapped him in a towel, and gave him water. He repeated, according to Ellis, "They're coming to get me!" He is receiving health and other social services. Child Protective Services from the local county. The boy escaped

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Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016

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1 source

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Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016