SAGINAW (WJRT) -
(02/10/12) - A Saginaw County woman, charged with torture and child abuse of two of her foster children, was back in court on Friday.
Forty-seven-year old Kathleene Schattilly was arrested last month following an investigation that began in May.
In court with her were several friends who have a difficult time believing she could commit such crimes.
Schattilly is accused of two counts of torture and first degree child abuse. The alleged victims are two of her foster children, ages now 17 and 13.
Frankenmuth Police say the abuse happened at her home on Reimer in Frankenmuth Township.
"I've known, not only Kathy, but the children too, the children who are in question," said Pastor Mark Karls.
Karls is the pastor of the Ames United Methodist Church in Saginaw, where Schattilly is a member.
"I want to have an open mind and that people can have secret lives, but I find it very difficult to believe that is the case here," Karls said.
Her friends says she has three other foster children and two biological children.
"This case just doesn't make any sense when you got five other kids that say nothing happened," says Jim Piazza, Schattilly's attorney.
Kirk Ellsworth is the attorney for the alleged victims, who are now in another foster home.
"They are both in foster case, academically and socially they are doing well," Ellsworth said.
He says Schattilly still has a right to supervised visits with the children.
"At this time the kids do not want to exercise parenting time with their mom," Ellsworth says.
Her preliminary hearing was adjourned and rescheduled for a later date. When that happens, her friends, like Jackie Konesko, will be with her.
"I do think when you take in special needs children, you have special problems and I think this is just one of them," Konesko said.
"Our prayer is not necessarily that one side be vindicated, our prayer is the truth will come out and that's the bottom line, the truth will set us free," Karls said.
Schattilly remains free on bond.
