Dad pleads guilty after daughter dies from jumping on trampoline in heat as 'punishment'
A Texas father who police said forced his daughter to jump on a trampoline in 110-degree heat as punishment has been convicted of the crime and sentenced to 18 years in prison, prosecutors announced.
The girl, his adopted daughter named Jaylin, was 8 years old when she died.
Daniel Schwarz, 48, of Odessa, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the killing of the girl , the Ector County District Attorney's office released in a statement on social media.
Odessa is a city in western Texas about 320 miles southwest of Fort Worth.
'Without food or water as a form of punishment'
According to the statement, law enforcement responded to a medical emergency on Aug. 29, 2020 involving an 8-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 statement continues. "The trampoline’s surface temperature was approximately 110 degrees at the time."
Last week, Schwarz pleaded guilty to the charge and a judge sentenced him to 18 years in prison.
Schwarz' wife convicted of capitol murder
Schwartz's wife, Ashley Schwarz, was convicted of capital murder on May 1, 2023, and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
“This outcome is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our prosecutors and the Odessa Police Department in seeking justice,” the county's District Attorney Dusty Gallivan released in a statement.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.