A Florida man will serve the rest of his life in prison for the death of a 2-year-old girl who suffered a severe spinal injury while in his care, about a week after the girl’s mother ended her relationship with him.
Travis Ray Thompson, 27, was convicted of one count of first-degree murder in connection with the horrific May 2022 incident that claimed Jacklyn Schwingel’s life.
Earlier this week, jurors deliberated for just shy of two hours before returning a guilty verdict. Judge Barbara Kissner of the Fifth Judicial Circuit subsequently sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment.
“This monster stole the life of an innocent child, and today, the justice system made sure he will never walk free again,” State Attorney Bill Gladson said in a press release issued Thursday, referring to Wednesday’s sentencing. “Life in prison is too good for this kind of evil.”
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Thompson abused the girl so severely that her spine was “completely severed” on the day in question, and then waited 30 minutes before taking her to the hospital.
“Based on the severity and nature of the break, it was determined that Thompson applied significant, gradual force to the victim’s upper and lower body from the front, with a fulcrum point on her lower back,” the sheriff’s office stated in the initial press release about the charges.
According to an autopsy report cited by Fort Pierce-based CW affiliate KTVX, Jacklyn died as a result of traumatic injuries that caused “disarticulation of the lumbar spine,” According to the paperwork, the fracture “was caused by significant, gradual force being placed simultaneously on the front of (the victim’s) upper torso/head and lower body.” These injuries also caused the girl to experience significant internal bleeding.
According to the TV station, investigators discovered that Jacklyn’s mother stayed in Thompson’s camper on the night of May 2, 2022, to assist him with an automotive repair the following day. The defendant returned to the camper early the following morning after dropping off an older child at a school bus stop. The little girl was allegedly left in his care after her mother left for work in the late morning.
Thompson alleged that he and Jacklyn went to a nearby lake for 15 minutes before returning to the camper to use the restroom. He allegedly said he left the toddler on a futon. According to the arrest report, the defendant informed authorities that he heard a loud noise and came out of the bathroom to find Jackyn limp and “gurgling,” but still taking shallow breaths.
According to the arrest report, the girl’s mother made several phone calls before returning to the camper.
They then took Jacklyn to the hospital together.
“While en route to the hospital, the victim’s mother directed Thompson to call 911 when she realized the victim had stopped breathing altogether,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Jacklyn died three hours after she arrived.
Staff at AdventHealth Waterman Hospital in Tavares, a small city about 40 miles northwest of Orlando, reported the girl’s injuries and presence in the emergency room as suspicious. Sheriff’s deputies arrived in response and began their investigation.
Thompson has consistently maintained his innocence, stating that he has no idea “how or why” Jacklyn died.
According to Tampa-based NBC affiliate WFLA, investigators discovered that Thompson and the girl’s mother had previously been in a romantic relationship and that she had ended things with the defendant about a week before the toddler died.
According to KTVX, detectives discovered text messages in which he expressed his anger toward Jacklyn’s mother.
“I’m incredibly proud of my Major Crimes detectives for their relentless work on this heartbreaking case,” Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said after the sentencing. “Their dedication helped secure justice for an innocent child.”
