Texas Father Sentenced to 18 Years for Forcing Daughter to Jump in Extreme Heat, Causing Her Death

A Texas father has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after admitting to killing his 8-year-old daughter by forcing her to jump on a trampoline in searing heat as punishment. 

Daniel Schwarz, 48, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of his adopted daughter, Jaylin Anne, the Ector County District Attorney’s Office announced. 

His wife, Ashley Schwarz, 38, was convicted of capital murder in May 2023 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. 

The tragic child abuse incident unfolded on Aug. 29, 2020, when Odessa police responded to the Schwarz home and found Jaylin unresponsive. 

Investigators later determined she had been forced to jump on a trampoline in 110-degree heat without water as punishment. The trampoline’s surface temperature at the time was approximately 110 degrees, while the ground beneath it was around 150 degrees, police said. 

Authorities revealed that Jaylin had also been denied breakfast that morning. “She was required to jump on the trampoline without stopping for an extended period of time,” police stated. “She was not allowed to drink any water because she was not jumping.” 

An autopsy confirmed Jaylin’s cause of death as dehydration, ruling it a homicide. 

Family’s Grief and Fight for Justice 

Daniel Schwarz and Ashley Schwarz

 

Jaylin’s biological mother, Alysha Anderton, said she had been trying to regain access to her daughter and Jaylin’s sister, who was also in the Schwarz family’s care at the time of the tragedy. 

"Jaylin was full of life, loved horseback riding, ice skating, and all things outdoors,” her obituary read. “She loved all people and animals and was very interested in history and science.” 

Following Schwarz’s sentencing, the district attorney’s office emphasized the dedication of law enforcement in securing justice. 

“This outcome is a testament to the hard work of our prosecutors and the Odessa Police Department,” the office said in a statement.