A man who was found guilty of murdering his adoptive son has been sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Jemaine Thomas, 45, was charged with capital murder after the 7-year-old was found dead in a washing machine in July of 2022. Thomas entered a guilty plea on the murder charge and accepted the 50-year sentence.
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The sentenced was announced by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
The District Attorney’s Office’s posts included the following quote from Sheryl Reed, Troy’s former first grade teacher:
“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.”
Troy’s adoptive mother Tiffany Thomas, 38, entered a guilty plea in February to a lesser charge of injury to a child, and she is awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for Sept. 10.
What happened?
July 28, 2022, Precinct 4 constable deputies responded to a missing persons call in the 4400 block of Rosegate Drive in the Birnamwood subdivision around 5:20 a.m.
When deputies arrived, the parents told them Troy had been missing since 4 a.m.
During a search of the home, deputies found the boy inside a top-load washing machine located in the garage.
Court documents state Troy suffered from asphyxiation, blunt-force trauma, and possible drowning. He had multiple bruises on his body and injuries to his face. Investigators also found blood on the washing machine and other areas of the home.
According to court documents, Troy had eaten some of Tiffany Thomas’ oatmeal cream pies and was threatened with being put inside an oven until he confessed. Prosecutors said text messages revealed Jemaine Thomas was upset after discovering the child had eaten his doughnut sticks and wrote, “I need to get the [locks]. I’m going to end up kill[ing] him.”
Investigators said Troy was a foster child adopted by the Thomases in 2019. Officials confirmed with KPRC 2 that Child Protective Services had a history with the family.