Michigan man whose autistic son was found dead in pool with his arms bound allegedly asked investigators 'if he was in trouble' before his arrest
Timothy Koets, the 50-year- old Michigan professor charged with manslaughter over the drowning death of his autistic teen son had one question to the investigators ahead of his arrest: Whether he was in trouble.
The professor is currently looking at 15 years in prison after his 16-year-old son, Samuel, was found dead in the family swimming pool in March. He was non-verbal and as reported by Daily Mail, had the cognitive functioning of a two-year-old and was allegedly left unsupervised with one of his arms bound before he entered the water.
Judge Judy Mulder on Thursday determined Koets to stand trial. Mulder listened to a recording of the interview Koets to detective David Bytwerk. "What's happening? Is it an accident? Are we in trouble?" Koets was heard asking the detective on the recording. Koets also insisted the family didn't mean to leave Sam unsupervised. He added that his wife and 13-year-old daughter would keep a lookout on the teen. During Thursday's hearing, Koets’ daughters, ages 13 and 18, both testified about witnessing their brother standing in the pool in frigid temperatures.
On March 28, the day Sam passed away, Koets woke his wife Michelle at around 1 pm to tell her the son was playing outside and while he would head out for the afternoon. However, Michelle went back to sleep. He texted his daughter around 4 pm asking: "Okay would you make sure freak is okay? Is mom still asleep?" She replied saying he was in the pool.
Investigations revealed Sam had a history of aggression towards himself. He was also kept in abasement with no windows and his mattress without sheets had fecal matter on it. The documents said, "Fecal matter was smeared on the walls and dirty diapers were found throughout the room." However, Koets and Michelle had a pediatrician who told the court the parents were loving towards their son. "I think Tim and Michelle are very appropriate, always very concerned about Sam’s acute problems and also his behavioral issues," Dr. Ruel Lirio testified, according to Michigan Live.
On his part, Koets has pleaded not guilty after being charged with second-degree child abuse, involuntary manslaughter, second-degree child abuse in front of another child and fourth-degree child abuse, according to Wood TV. He told the judge: "I have a stable job, I've lived at my home for 20 years and I have a family. I'm not a risk at all. I'm not going to run or anything."
Several police officers, paramedics and child services workers said in court that they visited the Koets' home many times after the boy was found wandering. They said Koets was instructed each time never to leave his son unattended, but no actions were taken against him. However, Defense attorney David Kallman called Samuel's death “a tragic accident.”