A Texas father has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after his 7-year-old adopted son was discovered dead inside a washing machine at the family’s home.
Jermaine Thomas, from Spring, Texas, was convicted of murder nearly three years after the horrific 2022 death of little Troy Koehler, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
Troy was reported missing on July 28, 2022, when Jermaine told deputies he came home late and found the front door open and his son gone.
But police soon discovered Troy’s body inside the washing machine in the garage.
Troy’s body was found stuffed inside the top-loading machine just hours after Thomas called police claiming the boy had vanished in the middle of the night.
But investigators revealed that Troy had been abused leading up to his death.
An autopsy showed the child had suffered multiple injuries, both new and healing, with evidence of asphyxiation, blunt-force trauma, and possible drowning, according to KPRC.
Prosecutors say Troy’s adoptive parents were enraged over missing snacks like oatmeal cream pies and donut sticks, and used them as justification for the abuse.
Troy Koehler (pictured), 7, was reported missing on July 28, 2022, when Jermaine told deputies he came home late and found the front door open and his son gone. But police soon discovered Troy’s body inside the washing machine in the garage
At one point, Troy’s adoptive mother, Tiffany Thomas, allegedly threatened to put him in the oven until he confessed to eating her food.
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Court records reveal the chilling message Jermaine sent to his wife: ‘I need to get the [locks]. I’m going to end up [killing] him.’
During the sentencing hearing, Sheryl Reed, Troy’s first-grade teacher, recalled the bright, book-loving boy who once dreamed of becoming a leader.
‘Today a reader, tomorrow a leader. That was always Troy. He loved reading. If he finished early, he’d head straight to our class library.’
She recalled how Troy would rush to the classroom library and then happily share stories with classmates.
‘Then he’d go right back to share those stories with classmates…always lifting others up with the joy he carried.’
Jermaine Thomas, from Spring, Texas, was convicted of murder nearly three years after the horrific 2022 death of little Troy Koehler, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office
An autopsy showed the child had suffered multiple injuries, both new and healing, with evidence of asphyxiation, blunt-force trauma, and possible drowning
‘But Troy wasn’t just leading his classmates-he led me, too. He led me to become a better teacher, a better mentor, and a better person,’ she continued.
‘His energy, his smile, and his love for learning reminded me daily why I chose this path.’ It’s unclear if the boy’s mother ever faced charges.