MARION COUNTY, Fla. (WKRC) - A jury has found Travis Ray Thompson, 27, guilty of first-degree murder in the 2022 death of 2-year-old Jacklyn Schwingel.

The verdict was delivered after nearly two hours of deliberation, and 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. Life in prison is too good for this kind of evil," said Bill Gladson, State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit.

The case began on May 3, 2022, when the Marion County Sheriff's Office received a report of child abuse from AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares, Florida. The toddler was taken to the emergency room in critical condition and was later pronounced dead despite life-saving efforts

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