A man from Florida has been sentenced to life imprisonment for causing the death of a 2-year-old girl who suffered a severe spinal injury while in his care. This incident occurred about a week after the girl’s mother ended her relationship with him.

Travis Ray Thompson, aged 27, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the tragic event that led to the death of Jacklyn Schwingel in May 2022.

Earlier in the week, the jury deliberated for almost two hours before delivering a guilty verdict. Following this decision, Fifth Judicial Circuit Judge Barbara Kissner sentenced Thompson to life in prison.

“This monster stole the life of an innocent child, and today, the justice system made sure he will never walk free again,” State Attorney Bill Gladson said in a press release issued Thursday – referring to Wednesday’s sentencing. “Life in prison is too good for this kind of evil.”

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On the day in question, Thompson abused the girl in such a way that left her spine “completely severed” and then waited 30 minutes before taking her to the hospital, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

“Based on the severity and nature of the break, it was determined that Thompson applied significant, gradual force to the victim’s upper and lower body from the front with a fulcrum point on her lower back,” the sheriff’s office said in their initial press release about the charges.

Jacklyn was found to have died from traumatic injuries resulting in the “disarticulation of the lumbar spine,” according to an autopsy report cited by Fort Pierce-based CW affiliate KTVX, The document said the break “was caused by significant, gradual force being placed simultaneously on the front of (the victim’s) upper torso/head and lower body.” Those injuries also resulted in the girl suffering large amounts of internal bleeding.

The TV station reported that investigators learned Jacklyn’s mother was staying in Thompson’s camper on the night of May 2, 2022 in order to help him with an automotive repair the next day. Early the next morning, the defendant dropped an older child off at a school bus stop and returned back to the camper. The little girl was allegedly left in his care during the late morning when her mother went off to work.

Thompson allegedly said he and Jacklyn went down to a nearby lake for 15 minutes and then returned to the camper so he could use the bathroom. The last place he left the toddler, he allegedly said, was on a futon. The defendant told law enforcement he heard a loud sound and came out of the bathroom to find Jackyn limp and “gurgling,” according to the arrest report, but still taking shallow breaths.

Several phone calls were then made, the arrest report alleges, before the girl’s mother made it back to the camper.

The two then took Jacklyn to the hospital together.

“While en route to the hospital, the victim’s mother directed Thompson to call 911 when she realized the victim had stopped breathing altogether,” the sheriff’s office said.

Jacklyn died three hours after arriving.

Staff at the AdventHealth Waterman hospital in Tavares – a small city located some 40 miles northwest of Orlando – reported the girl’s injuries and presence in the emergency room as suspicious. Sheriff’s deputies arrived in response and begin their investigation.

Thompson consistently maintained his innocence, repeatedly insisting that he has no idea “how or why” Jacklyn died.