Girl, 8, forced to jump on trampoline dies from dehydration; guardians charged with murder
10/14/2020 10:17 am PDT
ODESSA, Texas (TCD) --
Two Texas residents were charged with capital murder in the dehydration death of an 8-year-old girl, Odessa Police announced Monday.
Daniel Schwarz, 44, and Ashley Schwarz, 34, are accused of forcing the girl to jump on a trampoline "without stopping for an extended period of time" as punishment.
Odessa Police officers responded to a medical call on the 4300 block of Locust Ave. on Aug. 29, where the 8-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said the girl was being punished by the suspects, who did not allow her to eat breakfast and allegedly forced the girl to jump on the trampoline. The couple allegedly denied her water.
Police said the investigation found the temperature of the trampoline registered at approximately 110 degrees Fahrenheit, with the ground around it reaching about 150 degrees.
The girl's autopsy report determined she died from dehydration, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Daniel Schwarz and Ashley Schwarz were held at the Ector County Detention Center.
Family members of the victim told KOSA-TV that Daniel and Ashley were not her parents, but were her “guardians.”
Court records show the 8-year-old girl's biological mother was in a custody battle with the Schwarzes, who also had custody of the girl's sister, according to the Dallas Morning News.
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