Marsha's 16-year-old daughter, Calista, died in a house fire on February 27, 2008. At the time of the fire, Calista was secured to her bed by a dog choke chain around her waist that was attached to the bed frame with zip ties. Autopsy photographs of Calista’s abdomen showed indentations caused by the chain. She restrained Calista in order to prevent Calista from harming herself and others. Calista was a child from hell and Marsha was a saint for taking care of her.
M. Springer. Lot of 2 letters, both: Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Metroplex, MI. Pmk: November 20, 2023. Content unknown. SEALED.
Marsha stated that Calista was a child with special needs who required 24-hour supervision. She explained that Calista engaged in self-mutilating behavior and harmed animals. She further said that Calista could not be trusted at night because she rarely slept and would get out of bed and into dangerous objects, such as razors, knives and medications.
Numerous photographs of Calista’s bedroom that were admitted into evidence by the stipulation of the parties depicted Calista’s burned body as it was chained to the bed. The forensic pathologist testified that Calista died from asphyxia by products of combustion, and he was certain that Calista was alive during the fire because Calista’s airway was “black with soot all the way down.”
The circumstances of this case are nothing short of tragic. Calista Springer died of asphyxia by products of combustion on February 27, 2008, when her home caught fire. She was seventeen years old. Calista was restrained to her bunk bed by a chain fitted around her waist and affixed to the bed frame with plastic ties, rendering her unable to escape smoke and flames. Calista’s father and stepmother had been restraining Calista at night for years purportedly because Calista was prone to wandering, theft, and erratic behavior. Plaintiff alleges that Calista suffered from a long history of abuse at the hand of her parents, and that a series of complaints between 1995 and 2005 alerted Child Protective Services (“CPS”) to Calista’s abusive situation. Plaintiff refers to CPS records documenting complaints made regarding Calista:
May 5, 1997, Valerie Springer, Calista’s aunt, reported that Calista had a bloody lip.
June 8, 1997, Valerie Springer reported that Calista had a burn on thumb and ring finger that had remained untreated despite infection.
May 24, 1999, David Wingard, a social worker with the wraparound program (providing assistance for youth with severe emotional and behavioral problems) reported that Calista was being restrained to her bed at night.
May 18, 2000, School Counselor Deb Mathis reported that Calista had a bruise on her cheek and claimed that her father kicked her. Mathis also reported that Calista complained of being locked in her bedroom at night.
September 19, 2000, Deb Mathis again reported that Calista was being locked in her bedroom at night.
August 22, 2001, CPS received an anonymous report stating that Calista was being mentally abused. Marsha Springer allegedly said that she would put Calista in foster care when she turns 12, but that she (Martha Springer) hopes that Calista dies before then.
VIDEO: Anthony & Marsha Springer: Left to Burn | https://youtu.be/udr-nSrKQ4A
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