Couple Who Left Girls Home Alone Plead Not Guilty
A couple accused of leaving their two young daughters at home alone while they took a Christmas vacation to Mexico pleaded not guilty Thursday to 64 charges ranging from aggravated battery and neglect to possession of marijuana.
David Schoo, 45, and Sharon Schoo, 35, are accused of leaving Diana, 4, and Nicole, 9, alone for nine days. They also are accused of repeatedly locking one daughter in a crawl space for seven hours and another in a room, kicking one in the ribs and stomach, beating both with a belt and pulling their hair.
The couple asked for a jury trial. If convicted, they could get life in prison and be fined a total of $440,000. They remain free on $50,000 bond each.
The children are in foster care. Neither their parents nor the defense lawyers have been allowed to see them.
The Schoos were arrested Dec. 29 at O’Hare International Airport as they returned from Acapulco.
Police discovered the children were alone after they ran to a neighbor’s home when a smoke alarm was triggered accidentally in their St. Charles home.
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