Dad jailed for 50-years after 'missing' boy found dead in washing machine
An adoptive dad will spend 50 years behind bars after his seven-year-old son was found dead inside a washing machine.
Troy Koehler was tragically discovered crammed inside a washing machine on July 28, 2022, at their family home in Spring, Texas.
As the Mirror reports, Jermaine Thomas had reported Troy missing, an hours later, officers discovered the child's body inside the home appliance, fully clothed..
'Now, we will never know what he could have become,' his former teacher, Sheryl Reed, said during the sentencing. 'His future, his dreams, his life–were stolen by someone who was supposed to love, protect, and nurture him.'
The post-mortem examination revealed that Troy had sustained fresh and historic injuries, but there was no reference in the report to drowning.
His death was classified as a homicide and, according to courtroom documents, he died from asphyxiation and blunt force trauma.
He had numerous bruises and scars across his body, along with facial injuries. Troy's body was covered with fresh and old bruises.
Investigators also discovered blood on the drum of the washing machine and other parts of the house, according to court documents.
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Thomas has been charged with capital murder and faces 50 years in prison, which is often regarded as a "virtual life sentence," ruling out the possibility of parole. Thomas' wife, Tiffany Thomas, has also been charged in the case with injury to a child by omission. She is seeking community supervision.
In court on Wednesday, devastated teacher Reed remembered the seven-year-old as a"son I never had."
'Today a reader, tomorrow a leader. That was always Troy,' Reed said. 'He loved reading. If he finished early, he'd head straight to our class library. Then he'd go right back to share those stories with classmates…always lifting others up with the joy he carried.'
'He was the son I never had. I loved that boy and wanted to see him succeed,' she added.
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