Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of 2-Year-Old Girl After Mother Broke Up with Him

27-year-old Travis Ray Thompson was convicted of first-degree murder by a jury that deliberated for nearly two hours, according to a statement from the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office. He was found guilty in the 2022 death of Jacklyn Schwingel.

The case began on May 2, 2022, when the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of suspected child abuse after Jacklyn was rushed to the emergency room in critical condition. Despite efforts by medical staff, the toddler was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

That morning, Jacklyn’s mother had left her daughter in Thompson’s care before heading to work. Approximately 25 minutes later, she received a call from Thompson, who said something was wrong with the child.

Upon returning home, she found Jacklyn unresponsive, with a shallow pulse and a distended abdomen. The two adults transported the child to a nearby hospital, where she stopped breathing en route. Emergency services met them at a nearby business to take over care and transport her for urgent treatment.

Hospital personnel, suspecting internal injuries, alerted the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Children and Families.

During an interview with detectives, Thompson claimed he had been in another room when he heard a loud noise and found Jacklyn unconscious. Despite being the only adult present, he denied knowledge of how she had been injured.

An autopsy conducted on September 1, 2022, by the Medical Examiner’s Office revealed Jacklyn died from traumatic injuries to her torso, including internal bleeding and a severed spine.

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According to the report, Thompson applied significant and prolonged force to the child’s upper and lower body, bending her backward beyond her natural range of motion until her spine broke.

“This monster stole the life of an innocent child, and today, the justice system made sure he will never walk free again,” said State Attorney Bill Gladson. “Life in prison is too good for this kind of evil.”