The investigation revealed that the Verrückt had a troubled history long before Caleb Schwab’s death. The ride had been delayed from opening in 2014 due to numerous glitches, including early tests where rafts—even those carrying sandbags—flew off the slide. In response, the creators added more netting, Velcro seatbelts, and weight restrictions, but these measures proved to be fatal stopgaps. Eventually, a grand jury indictment described the slide as a "deadly weapon" that had injured at least 13 people—including minors—in the roughly six months it was operational. The indictment alleged that the ride "was never properly or fully designed to prevent rafts from going airborne" and that the boy's death was a "foreseeable and expected outcome".
Caleb was at the park with his parents and three brothers on "Elected Officials Day." After a brief conversation where his father told him "brothers stick together," Caleb and his 12-year-old brother Nathan headed to the top of the Verruckt slide. Nathan rode first, while Caleb was joined in a three-person raft by two adult women unrelated to him. Witnesses described a scene of immediate horror: the raft went airborne after cresting a second hill and collided with a metal pole supporting the safety netting. Emergency responders arriving around 2:30 p.m. found Caleb dead in the pool at the end of the ride. The two women with him sustained only minor facial injuries.
The autopsy and subsequent investigations revealed the following details regarding the cause of death and the circumstances of the accident: caleb schwab autopsy report
The ride was permanently closed immediately following the accident and was completely dismantled in 2018. Schlitterbahn Kansas City eventually closed down permanently.
On April 27, 2011, the death of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab inside a county courthouse elevator in Missouri shocked a community and exposed painful lapses in oversight that still matter today. The official autopsy and subsequent investigations produced a series of findings—tragic, preventable, and illustrative of broader failures in design, process, and accountability. Revisiting the circumstances of Caleb’s death is not an exercise in morbid curiosity; it is a chance to examine how institutions treat safety, transparency, and the most vulnerable among us. The investigation revealed that the Verrückt had a
Caleb’s body struck the metal hoops and netting designed to keep riders on the slide.
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The Verrückt slide was permanently closed and later demolished.
All amusement rides must undergo annual inspections by certified, independent third-party engineers. Eventually, a grand jury indictment described the slide
Caleb's death sent shockwaves through his community and the world at large. His family, devastated by the loss, established a foundation in his name to raise awareness about cardiac arrhythmias and the importance of proper medical care.
Despite the dismissal of criminal charges, the Schwab family reached a landmark civil settlement with Schlitterbahn and associated vendors worth approximately $20 million. Legacy and Changes to Amusement Park Safety