A Florida man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of his ex-girlfriend’s two-year-old daughter, in a case that shocked the community and prosecutors alike.
Travis Ray Thompson, 27, was caring for Jacklyn Schwingel on May 3, 2022, while her mother was at work. The child’s mother had trusted Thompson to watch her daughter for a short time. However, only about 25 minutes after she left, Thompson called her and claimed that something was wrong with the toddler.
When the mother rushed back home, she found Jacklyn in critical condition. The child was barely responsive, struggling to breathe, and her abdomen was noticeably swollen. Emergency services were called, and Jacklyn was rushed to the hospital, but despite doctors’ efforts, she died shortly afterward.
Medical examinations revealed devastating injuries. Doctors determined that Jacklyn had suffered catastrophic internal damage, including massive internal bleeding. Most disturbingly, her spine had been completely broken, an injury doctors said could only have been caused by extreme, deliberate force. Experts testified that Thompson had intentionally bent the child’s body backward until her spine snapped.
The investigation found no evidence of an accident. Prosecutors argued that the injuries were the result of intentional and prolonged abuse, not a sudden or unintended act.
After a trial, a jury found Thompson guilty of first-degree murder on June 4, 2025. The verdict reflected the jury’s conclusion that the killing was intentional and especially cruel.
At sentencing, the judge immediately imposed life imprisonment without parole, meaning Thompson will never be released from prison. Prosecutors described the killing as a “monstrous and incomprehensible crime” and stated that justice had been served by ensuring Thompson will never harm another child.
The case has been remembered as one of the most disturbing child abuse murders in Florida in recent years, and Jacklyn’s death has been mourned widely as a tragic loss of an innocent life.
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