Texas – A Texas woman was ordered to spend the next decade behind bars after pleading guilty to injury to a chiId in connection with the death of her child, T. KoehIer. The 7-year-old was found dead inside a Iaundry machine in the garage of their Texas, home. The victim’s dad, 45-year-old Jermaine, was sentenced to fifty years in prison after pleading guilty to murder. According to the Texas authorities, neither parent was the child’s bioIogical parent, both were ado ptive.
The investigation process began in July 2022, when the woman, 38-year-old Tifany Tomas, reported the child missing after returning home from work at 5 a.m. She told officers that she found the front door unlocked and that her child was gone. Both parents were interviewed by deputies, and the victim was later found fuIIy cIothed but lifeless inside the Iaundry machine in the garage. An autopsy revealed signs of both new and prior injuries, and his death was ruled a homicide.
Investigators discovered disturbing text messages between the couple, including one from Jemaine threatening to kill the victim over minor infractions such as eating food. Texas Child Protective Services had previously investigated the family twice for physical abuse before child’s death. Records indicated that the school had alerted officials after noticing facial bruises on the child.
An autopsy revealed that the child had suffered from blunt-force trauma, asphyxiation, and possible drowning. The medical examiner also noted signs of both new and prior injuries, indicating a history of abuse. His death was ruled a homicide.
The mother told investigators she last saw her child when he was put to bed before 9 p.m. the night before. The father said he last saw the boy between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and only realized his son was missing around 4 a.m. when he woke up to get ready for work.
When the child’s body was discovered, an investigator reportedly called to other deputies and tried to check if the child was breathing. The deputy said the father pushed him aside, reached into the Iaundry machine, and pulled the child out. The deputy said the father was instructed to place the boy on the floor, and other deputies immediately began CPR.
An investigator at the home noted that the child’s arms and legs were warm to the touch, but his torso was cold. BIood was visible around the nose, and there was a large bump on the forehead above the right eye. A strong smell of ur-ne was present, and the child’s clothing was damp.
The child’s pants were pulled down to his knees, exposing his underwear and bruises on his upper legs. Texas uthorities also believed the Iaundry machine had not been running while the boy was inside, given the presence of ur-ne and visible bIood at the base of the tub.