How Could You? Hall of Shame-Troy Koehler case-Child Death UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Spring, Texas, Troy Khoeler[sic], a 7-year-old adopted child, was “found dead inside a washing machine [on July 28, 2022] at his parents’ Texas home … two hours after he had been reported missing to police.”

“Troy Khoeler’s body was found inside a top-loading washing machine in the garage of his family’s Spring, Texas, home at 7:20am, after his adoptive parents called 911 to report him missing at about 5:20am.

It is unclear if there was water in the machine or whether the lid was closed when Troy was found. He was fully clothed. His cause of death has still not been released.

Police have not commented on whether foul play is determined, but a criminal investigation is underway and homicide detectives interviewed the parents after Troy’s body was found.

They are being interviewed separately, as is standard procedure during possible criminal probes.

Troy was fostered and then adopted by his parents in 2019, police said. They said there were no prior records indicating that the home was an abusive one.

Speaking outside the Khoeler’s home, Harris County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Robert Minchew told reporters that Troy could have been missing as early as 4am.

‘We don’t know what happened, but we intend to find out,’ he said.

‘Whether he was killed by the washing machine or killed and placed in it, we’re just so far from that, I can’t comment.’

He said police had been interviewing the parents to fill out a missing persons report when they realized there was no signs of doors or windows having been left open.

They then searched the home and discovered Troy’s body.

Minchew clarified that Troy was found fully clothed inside the washing machine, and it was unclear if he had climbed in or been put in it.

Officials said Troy’s father was at home during the hours when he was missing, and that they believe his mother was out and working at a nearby hospital.

Troy lived alone with his parents and they had no other children.

Minchew said the parents were separated when they were taken to the station to be interviewed, but noted that was merely a matter of protocol.”

Adopted Texas boy, 7, is found dead inside WASHING MACHINE at his parents’ Texas home two hours after he vanished: Cops probe whether he died by accident or of foul play
[Daily Mail 7/29/22 by Alex Oliveira]

“The Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine Khoeler’s cause of death, according to Minchew. Officials were unable to determine whether there was foul play or if he entered the machine on his own. However, the officer asserted that the boy was dressed when found.”

“According to Minchew, the detectives were able to find “not a lot of history” of calls coming from the house. Troy’s enrollment in the Spring ISD was verified. He was described as a bright, active student who will be missed by one of his previous professors.”

“When KHOU11 reporter Matt Dougherty questioned the adoptive father of the seven-year-old child about the terrible situation, the father stated that when he arrived home the previous night, his front door was unlocked and his son was missing.”

Troy Khoeler: After Hours Of Missing 7 Year Old Texas Boy Body Discovered From Washing Machine
[MEDAM 7/29/22 by Payal Mishra]

“The parents were detained and taken to the sheriff’s office for further interviewing.

No other children live with the family.

A criminal investigation is underway.”

Missing 7-year-old boy found dead in family’s washing machine in Texas
[ABC7 NY 7/28/22 by Charly Edsitty]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update:“Authorities charged Jemaine Thomas, 42, with capital murder and Tiffany Thomas, 35, with injury to a child by omission after police found their 7-year-old son, Troy Koehler, dead in a washing machine at the family’s home in Spring, a census-designated place about 24 miles north of Houston, on July 28 after he had been reported missing, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.

An autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science ruled Troy’s death a homicide and said he “suffered new and previous injuries,” Gonzalez tweeted.

NBC affiliate KPRC of Houston reported that court documents state Troy experienced asphyxiation, blunt-force trauma and possible drowning and that authorities said he had face injuries and multiple bruises.

Authorities also found blood on the washing machine and elsewhere in the home, KPRC reported.

Court documents say that deputies arrived at the scene around 5:20 a.m. and that the parents told them their son had been missing since 4 a.m., KPRC reported.

Authorities found him inside a top-load washing machine in the garage, KPRC reported.Documents say the parents were upset that Troy ate some of Tiffany Thomas’ oatmeal cream — and threatened to put the boy in an oven until he confessed — and that he ate Jemaine Thomas’ doughnut sticks, KPRC reported.

Text messages included in court documents obtained by KPRC say that, after having found out the boy ate the doughnuts, Jemaine Thomas wrote: “I need to get the [locks]. I’m going to end up kill[ing] him.”

KPRC reported that Troy, a foster child, was adopted in 2019.

Online jail records show that Tiffany Thomas is being held on $150,000 bond and has a court date set for Thursday. Authorities said she did not appear in court upon her arrest “for mental health reasons,” KPRC reported.

Jemaine Thomas is listed as an inmate in Harris County Jail records, which list no charges. KPRC reported that authorities said his bond has been set at $2 million.

The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.”

Texas parents charged after 7-year-old foster son found dead in washing machine in July
[NBC 11/17/22 by Julianna Mc Shane]

Update 2:“The mother charged with injury to a child in the death of her adopted son found dead in a washing machine went before a judge Tuesday morning.

Tiffany Thomas, 35, is accused of contributing to what prosecutors call “chronic abuse” of Troy Koehler, 7, by not protecting him from Jemaine Thomas, the boy’s father, and/or mistreating and hurting him as well.

“I know that she wasn’t probably in the home when the victim died and when she was arrested there was some indication that she did want to speak with us. But she did reserve her right to an attorney so there haven’t been any further conversations about that,” said prosecutor Gilbert Sawtelle with the Harris County District Attorney’s office.

Troy’s body was found in the washing machine at the Thomas home in Spring back in July. Tiffany was the one who initially called 911 to report her son missing.

But prosecutors say she couldn’t keep her story straight.

Investigators say Tiffany told the 911 dispatcher that when her husband Jemaine arrived home from work the night before, Troy was on the couch watching TV. But when police officers arrived to take the report about Troy missing, Tiffany told them Jemaine never saw the child when he got home from work.

Text messages found on both Tiffany and Jemaine’s phones show they were angry Troy had been stealing snacks from them and playing their video games. At one point, investigators say the mother told her adopted son she would put him in the oven and “turn it on,” if he didn’t come clean to her about eating her oatmeal creme pie cookies.

Tiffany’s bond is set at $150,000. Her attorney asked the judge consider lowering bail so she could have an easier time posting it to get out and continue her psychiatric treatment. Tiffany’s attorney told the court she suffers from severe mental health issues. Prosecutors noted she’s seeing a doctor in the jail and asked the bond be kept the same. In the end, the judge ruled bond would stay at $150,000.”

Mom couldn’t ‘keep story straight’ when 7-year-old died, officials say
[ABC 13 11/22/22 by Courtney Fischer]