A Texas couple has been sentenced to prison for the horrific death of their 8-year-old adopted daughter, Jaylin Schwarz, who was forced to jump on a trampoline in extreme heat without food or water.
Daniel Schwarz, 47, was sentenced to 18 years behind bars after pleading guilty to manslaughter. His wife, Ashley Schwarz, 37, was convicted of capital murder and is now serving three life sentences.
A deadly punishment
Lately, we’ve reported on several heartbreaking cases where children have been killed by those who were supposed to protect them — some under the most horrific circumstances.
It’s truly devastating to see what some people are capable of doing to innocent children. Honestly, I thought we had come further as a society. Now, yet another case has gained widespread attention following new developments in recent days.
In 2020, Police responded to a medical call in Odessa, Texas. What they found at the scene is something no one should ever have to witness.
Officers found 8-year-old Jaylin dead at the scene.
Investigators revealed that Jaylin had been punished by her guardians, Daniel and Ashley Schwarz. The couple had forced her to jump nonstop on a trampoline in 110-degree heat (43°C) while withholding food and water. When she finally collapsed, they denied her water, leading to her death from dehydration.
A search warrant later confirmed that the trampoline surface had reached 110°F, while the ground beneath it was a scorching 150°F.
An autopsy ruled Jaylin’s death a homicide, determining the cause to be dehydration.
“I never got to say goodbye”
Jaylin and her sister, Jade, were placed in the Schwarzs’ care after their biological mother, Ashley’s stepsister Alysha Anderton, lost custody due to addiction issues.
Alysha spoke out about the heartbreaking loss in an interview with KOSA:
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“What upsets me the most is that I never got to see her alive again. When they took them, I never got to say goodbye.”
She added that Jaylin had lived with the couple for four years, and the first time she saw her daughter since losing custody was in a casket.
“That’s not fair to me. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t totally break down,” she said.
According to a GoFundMe page, Jaylin’s biological mother, Alysha , was in the process of fighting for visitation rights when Jaylin tragically passed away.
”I was too late. And all I can think about is her leaving this world not knowing how much I love her and how much I wanted her,” Alysha shared. “It’s not fair that they got so many memories with her, and all I’m left with is a hole in my heart so big that I’m completely numb and empty. A part of my soul has died, and I will never be the same again.”
No remorse
During Ashley’s trial, Jaylin’s siblings testified that their parents often used the trampoline as punishment, forcing them to jump for hours. Family members also stated that Ashley showed no emotion at Jaylin’s funeral.
On Thursday last week, Daniel Schwarz, 48, of Odessa, accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 18 years in prison, the Ector County District Attorney announced on Facebook.
His wife, Ashley Schwarz, 38, was convicted of capital murder on May 1, 2023, and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Daniel initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea after Ashley received three life sentences for her role in the child’s death.
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