CENTREVILLE (WKZO)  --The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled on a major court case out of St. Joseph County, upholding the original findings of the jury in the Calista Springer child abuse case.

In this case the Appellate judges have upheld the convictions of Marsha and Anthony Springer, who were convicted in a most unusual child abuse case. They had been regularly chaining their teenaged daughter to her bed because they claimed it was the only way they could keep the 16-year-old from misbehaving at night. When their home caught fire in 2008, Calista Springer couldn’t escape and died.

The couple appealed complaining that Judge Paul Stutesman had allowed improper evidence and that other mistakes had been made denying them a fair trial. The Appellate judges disagreed.

Just a few weeks ago, the appellate court also upheld the murder conviction of Doug Stewart for the killing of estranged wife Venus. Judge Stutesman also presided over that trial.