A Texas man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of his eight-year-old adopted daughter.
The young girl, named Jaylin, died after being "forced to jump" on a trampoline in extreme heat as a form of punishment, authorities say.
Daniel Schwarz, 48, of Odessa, entered the guilty plea last week, according to a statement from the Ector County District Attorney's Office, per USA Today.
His wife, Ashley Schwarz, was convicted of capital murder in May 2023 and sentenced to life in prison without parole for her role in Jaylin's death.
A Brutal and Fatal Punishment
The case began on August 29, 2020, when Odessa police responded to a medical emergency involving an unresponsive eight-year-old girl.
“Investigators later discovered that Daniel and his wife, Ashley, had forced their daughter to jump on a trampoline for an extended period without food or water as a form of punishment,” the district attorney’s office stated.
Horrifically, the DA's statement added that "the trampoline’s surface temperature was approximately 110 degrees at the time".
Jaylin was pronounced dead at the scene, and an investigation revealed even more horrifying details.
Authorities found that she had been denied breakfast and was required to jump without stopping for a prolonged period. Adding to the horrific situation, police determined that she was not allowed to drink water unless she continued jumping.
Her autopsy confirmed that she died of dehydration, and her death was ruled a homicide.
Justice for Jaylin
Daniel and Ashley Schwarz were not Jaylin’s biological parents but had been acting as her "guardians" at the time of her death, according to the child's family members.
Ashley Schwarz’s capital murder conviction last year ensured that she would spend the rest of her life in prison.
Now, with Daniel Schwarz’s 18-year sentence, prosecutors say justice has been served.
“This outcome is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our prosecutors and the Odessa Police Department in seeking justice,” said Ector County District Attorney Dusty Gallivan in a statement.