A Texas jury has convicted Shawna Hooey, 33, of murdering her boyfriend's 4-year-old daughter, Jakyzia Alexander, in 2019.
Hooey was sentenced to 50 years in prison after a trial that revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse and conflicting stories.
Jakyzia's father, who had sole custody, began dating Hooey and moved in with her and her children.
Due to his work schedule, he rarely saw Jakyzia in person.
On September 7th, 2019, the day Jakyzia died, Hooey rushed the unresponsive girl to the emergency room.
Medical personnel found Jakyzia's body already cold with visible injuries, including a black eye.
Hooey offered inconsistent explanations for the injuries, claiming Jakyzia bumped into a doorknob and fell against a toilet paper holder days earlier.
However, witnesses testified Jakyzia seemed healthy the day before her death.
An autopsy revealed the horrifying truth: blunt force trauma to the head caused Jakyzia's death.
Further examination uncovered additional signs of past abuse in various stages of healing.
Faced with overwhelming evidence, the jury found Hooey guilty of murder.
During the sentencing hearing, Jakyzia's heartbroken family shared their grief. "How could she do this to such a tiny child?" an aunt expressed.
Assistant District Attorney Sawtelle emphasized the importance of recognizing child abuse and reporting it to authorities.
He highlighted the abuser's tactics, like dressing children in clothing that hides injuries.
Hooey's sentence reflects the severity of her crime.
However, Jakyzia's life is forever lost.
The National Child Abuse Hotline is available 24/7 in over 170 languages. If you suspect a child is being abused, call 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. Your intervention could save a life.
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