WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS

A father has been found guilty of murder after his adopted son was found dead inside a washing machine.

Jemaine Thomas, 45, has been sentenced to 50 years behind bars after he pleaded guilty to the murder of his seven-year-old adopted son, Troy Koehler.

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Troy was reported missing by Jemaine and his wife Tiffany Thomas at 5.20 am on July 28, 2022.

When officers arrived at their home in Houston, Texas, they interviewed the pair about their missing son, who was last seen inside their house the night before.

Lieutenant Robert Minchew said that “things” the officers observed while in the house led them to search it thoroughly.

Then they made a grim discovery. Troy was found dead, fully clothed, and shoved in a top loading washing machine in the garage.

KPRC 2 Houston reported that court documents stated Troy suffered from asphyxiation, blunt-force trauma and possible drowning.

His body was bruised and there were injuries to his face. The investigation found blood on the washing machine and in other areas of the home.

Troy had eaten some of his mother’s oatmeal cream pies and was then threatened with the punishment of being kept inside an oven until he confessed that he ate them.

Texts messages sent by the boy’s father were also reviewed. One message in relation to doughnut sticks eaten by Troy said “I need to get the (locks). I’m going to end up kill(ing) him”.

Troy’s adoptive mother has been charged with injury to a child. She pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on September 10.

In a statement, Harris County District Attorney’s Office said, Troy “would have been a fifth grader this year”.

His former teacher, Sheryl Reed told the court in her victim impact statement, that “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,” she said.

“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader. That was always Troy. He loved reading. If he finished early, he’d head straight to our class library. Then he’d go right back to share those stories with classmates, always lifting others up with the joy he carried.

“But Troy wasn’t just leading his classmates—he led me, too. He led me to become a better teacher, a better mentor, and a better person. His energy, his smile, and his love for learning reminded me daily why I chose this path.”

Tributes are flowing for the boy, with those who knew him taking to social media to express their grief.

“I had the privilege of meeting Troy on several occasions, This really breaks my heart, such handsome young man,” one Instagram user wrote.

“This story made me weep. This beautiful child did not deserve this abuse or to have his life taken. I’m so sorry, Troy,” another wrote.