A man has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of a two-year-old girl under his care. Travis Ray Thompson, 27 years old, was convicted by a jury for killing Jacklyn Schwingel on May 2, 2022. The tragic incident occurred shortly after Jacklyn’s mother ended her relationship with Thompson.
The mother left her daughter with Thompson for the day while she went to work. Less than half an hour later, Thompson called her to report that something was wrong with the child. Upon her return home, she found Jacklyn unresponsive with a weak pulse and a swollen abdomen.
Medical professionals discovered that Jacklyn was likely experiencing internal bleeding and promptly contacted the authorities. The subsequent examination revealed that the cause of Jacklyn’s death was severe trauma to her torso, including a broken spine and internal bleeding in her abdomen.
Investigations determined that Thompson had inflicted significant force on Jacklyn, causing her severe injuries. Despite being the only adult present with the child, Thompson claimed ignorance of how the injuries occurred during questioning by detectives.
State Attorney Bill Gladson condemned Thompson’s actions, emphasizing that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the heinous crime. Additionally, recent cases of grandparents Kerry and Michael Ives, who were sentenced for murdering their grandson Ethan Ives-Griffiths, highlight the severity of child abuse cases. Ethan’s tragic death resulted from severe head injuries and neglect, leading to significant prison sentences for the grandparents and his mother.