A man convicted of murdering his adoptive son has been sentenced to 50 years in jail.
Jemaine Thomas, 45, was charged with capital murder after the 7-year-old was discovered dead in a washing machine in July 2022. Thomas pleaded guilty to the murder charge and accepted a 50-year sentence.
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The sentence was announced by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
The District Attorney’s Office posted the following quote from Troy’s old first-grade teacher, Sheryl Reed:
“Now, we will never know what he could have become. His future, his dreams, his life—were stolen by someone who was supposed to love, protect, and nurture him.”
Tiffany Thomas, Troy’s adoptive mother, 38, pleaded guilty in February to a lesser charge of child injury and is awaiting sentencing on September 10.
What happened?
On July 28, 2022, at 5:20 a.m., Precinct 4 constable deputies responded to a missing people call in the 4400 block of Rosegate Drive in the Birnamwood community.
When deputies arrived, Troy’s parents told them he had been missing since 4 a.m.
During the investigation of the house, deputies discovered the youngster inside a top-load washing machine in the garage.
Court records state: Troy died from asphyxiation, blunt-force injuries, and possibly drowning. He had several bruises on his body, as well as facial injuries. Investigators discovered blood on the washing machine and other sections of the house.
Troy had eaten some of Tiffany Thomas’ oatmeal cream pies, according to court documents, and was threatened with being placed inside an oven until he confessed. Prosecutors said Jemaine Thomas was outraged after realizing the toddler had eaten his doughnut sticks and texted, “I need to get the [locks]. “I am going to end up killing him.”
According to investigators, Troy was a foster child adopted by the Thomases in 2019. Officials verified to KPRC 2 that Child Protective Services had a history with the family.
