It is essential to note that Caleb Schwab was a child. His death was sudden, violent, and entirely preventable. Repeatedly circulating requests for his autopsy report can cause ongoing harm to his parents and siblings. Scott Schwab has spoken publicly about how the tragedy galvanized his family’s faith and focus on public service, but he has also described the "unimaginable horror" of learning the specific details of his son’s injuries during the criminal trial.
Most reputable journalists and true crime outlets have chosen not to republish graphic details from courtroom testimony, recognizing that doing so serves no journalistic purpose beyond sensationalism.
The Office of the District Attorney for Wyandotte County, Kansas, released a summary of findings following the investigation, but the full autopsy report has never been released to the public. According to Kansas state law (K.S.A. 22-4701 et seq.), autopsy reports are generally closed records, especially when they involve a minor and are part of an active or closed criminal investigation. caleb schwab autopsy report
However, information from the autopsy was presented as evidence during the 2018 preliminary hearing for the criminal case against Schlitterbahn’s operations director, Tyler Austin Miles, and Verruckt’s designer, John Timothy "Jeff" Henry, co-owner of Schlitterbahn.
Based on testimony from Dr. Michael Handler, a forensic pathologist who reviewed the autopsy, the following details were disclosed in open court: It is essential to note that Caleb Schwab was a child
These details are not from the autopsy report itself but from sworn witness testimony describing the report's conclusions.
Beyond the autopsy testimony, multiple investigations — by the Kansas Department of Labor, the Wyandotte County District Attorney, and private engineering firms hired by Schlitterbahn — uncovered systemic safety failures: These details are not from the autopsy report
These findings led to Schlitterbahn closing Verruckt permanently in 2018. The ride was demolished later that year.