A Texas woman, Shawna Hooey, 33, was recently sentenced to 50 years in prison for the 2019 killing of her boyfriend's 4-year-old daughter in Tomball, according to the Harris County District Attorney's Office.
Hooey was taking care of her own five children and the 4-year-old girl, Jakyzia Alexander, when she took her to a 24-hour emergency center on Sept. 7, 2019. Alexander's body was found cold at the clinic, and Hooey provided conflicting stories about what happened to the child, who had visible injuries including a black eye.
Prosecutors stated that Alexander had been living with Hooey due to her father's work schedule, and the child's father had limited contact with her in the months leading up to her death.
On the day of Alexander's death, Hooey claimed the child was having difficulty breathing and took her to the emergency clinic after driving her around in a hot car in an attempt to help her breathe normally. However, further investigation revealed signs of repeated abuse on the child's body.
An autopsy confirmed that Alexander died from blunt force trauma to the head, which would have caused immediate severe symptoms. Witnesses testified that the child appeared normal the day before her death.
Following a nine-day trial, a Harris County jury convicted Hooey of murder and sentenced her to 50 years in prison. Assistant District Attorney Gilbert Sawtelle emphasized the importance of recognizing and reporting child abuse to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Hooey will be eligible for parole after serving at least half of her prison sentence.
