Texas parents charged after their 7-year-old son was found dead in a washing machine
The adoptive parents of a Texas boy whose body was found in a washing machine have been arrested in connection with his death, authorities said.
Jemaine Thomas, 42, has been charged with capital murder in connection with the July death of his son, Troy Khoeler, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced Tuesday night (November 15).
Thomas’ wife, Tiffany, 35, was charged with injuring a child by omission.
The couple first reported that 7-year-old Troy disappeared from their spring home in the early hours of July 28.
A search of the residence later that morning led to the discovery of the child’s body in a top-loading washing machine in the garage.
An autopsy then revealed that Troy, a former foster child adopted by the Thomases in 2019, had been “beaten, suffocated and possibly drowned”, the Sun Herald reported.
Traces of blood were also reportedly found throughout the house, including in the washing machine.
“The autopsy revealed that Troy had new and previous injuries,” Gonzalez said. “May he rest in peace.”
Court documents filed on Tuesday, Nov. 15 allege the couple threatened to put Troy in the oven after he confessed to eating some of Tiffany’s oatmeal custard pie, KPRC reported.
Prosecutors also say text messages between the couple reveal Jemaine was furious that the child ate his donut sticks, writing: ‘Gotta get the [locks]. I will end up killing[ing] him.”
Records show Jemaine and Tiffany remain in the Harris County Jail on $2 million and $150,000 bonds, respectively.
