Texas man pleads guilty to manslaughter after forcing his adopted daughter to endure extreme heat
A Texas man, Daniel Schwarz, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after forcing his 8-year-old adopted daughter, Jaylin Anne, to jump on a trampoline in 110-degree heat without food or water as punishment. The horrific incident resulted in Jaylin’s tragic death from dehydration in August 2020.
Father sentenced to 18 years in prison
According to the New York Post, Schwarz, 49, will serve 18 years in prison as part of a plea deal.
On August 29, 2020, authorities responded to a medical emergency at Schwarz’s residence, involving his 8-year-old adopted daughter, Jaylin.
Investigators from the Ector County District Attorney’s Office discovered that Schwarz and his wife, Ashley, had subjected Jaylin to a brutal punishment, forcing her to jump on a trampoline for an extended period without food or water in the extreme heat.
The trampoline’s surface temperature reached 110 degrees Fahrenheit during the incident. Police also reported that she was not allowed to drink water after jumping, KMID reported.
Autopsy confirms cause of death
The Ector County District Attorney’s Office stated that Schwarz and his wife Ashley had subjected Jaylin to severe punishment, which ultimately led to her death.
An autopsy confirmed that Jaylin died from dehydration, and her death was ruled a homicide.
Ashley Schwarz was previously sentenced to three life terms for capital murder in 2023.
District attorney praises legal efforts
“This outcome is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our prosecutors and the Odessa Police Department in seeking justice,” stated Ector County District Attorney Dusty Gallivan.
Biological mother expresses grief
Jaylin was the adopted daughter of the Schwarz couple, and at the time of her death, her biological mother, Alysha Anderton, was engaged in a custody battle with them.
The Schwarz’s also had custody of Jaylin’s sister.
Following Jaylin’s death, Anderton took to Facebook to express her grief, revealing that she had been denied contact with her daughter for three years.
“All I can think about is her leaving this world, not knowing how much I love her and how much I wanted her. It’s not fair that they got so many memories with her, and all I’m left with is a hole in my heart that’s so big that I’m completely numb and empty. A part of my soul has died, and I will never be the same ever again,” she wrote.
