Texas Woman Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for Killing Boyfriend's 4-Year-Old Daughter

Woman Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for Killing Boyfriend's 4-Year-Old Daughter

Last week, a Texas woman, Shawna Hooey, 33, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the 2019 killing of her boyfriend's 4-year-old daughter, Jakyzia Alexander, as reported by the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

Details of the Incident

Hooey, who is from Tomball, was taking care of her own five children and 4-year-old Jakyzia Alexander when she took her to a 24-hour emergency center on September 7, 2019. Alexander's body was already cold when they arrived at the emergency clinic, and Hooey reportedly provided conflicting accounts of what happened to the child. She presented at least four different stories to medical personnel and authorities. Additionally, the child had a visible black eye and other injuries.

Prosecution's Statement

"We have to work together as a community to protect our children who are particularly vulnerable to abuse from violent adults," said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. "We are thankful to the jurors who recognized that this was not a single incident, but a pattern of abuse and rightfully sentenced this woman to spend decades behind bars."

Living Arrangements and Circumstances

Alexander began living in Hooey's home when her father, who had sole custody of her, entered a relationship with Hooey. The girl’s father lived with family members at a different location closer to his job and rarely saw his daughter in the two months before her death.

Incident on the Day of Death

On the day of her death, Hooey claimed that Alexander had to be woken up and was showing signs of distress. Hooey mentioned driving the girl around "in a hot car to try to get her to breathe normally," before ultimately taking her home to change clothes and then to the emergency clinic.

Witness Testimonies and Autopsy Results

Further examination revealed that Alexander had signs of repeated past abuse, including fresh, resolving, and healed injuries. The autopsy showed she died from blunt force trauma to the head, which would have resulted in seizures, vomiting, and dazed reactions almost immediately. Witnesses testified that Alexander was acting normally the day before she was taken to the emergency clinic.

Investigation and Trial Outcome

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and charged Hooey with murder. 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, who prosecuted the case, emphasized the need to report child abuse to the authorities and stated that Hooey must serve at least half of her prison sentence before she will be eligible for parole.