Father sentenced: Eight-year-old died after cruel punishment on trampoline

Odessa (Texas, USA) - A horrific case of child abuse shook the United States: A father was convicted after his daughter died as a result of a cruel punishment.

Daniel Schwarz pleaded guilty last week to an incident that took place in Odessa, West Texas, in August 2020, USA Today reports.

According to the district attorney's office, police were called to a medical emergency. When the emergency services arrived on the scene, they found his unconscious daughter - and could only determine that the eight-year-old had died.

Investigations revealed that Schwarz and his wife Ashley had forced the girl to endure a cruel punishment.

She had to jump on a trampoline in an outside temperature of around 43 degrees Celsius without food or water. In the extreme heat, the child quickly became dehydrated.

In court, the father was sentenced to 18 years in prison. His wife received her sentence for murder - life imprisonment without the possibility of parole - back in May 2023.

"This outcome is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our prosecutors and the Odessa Police Department," Dusty Gallivan , the district's attorney, said in a statement.