Another great reminder, just because someone likes you, it doesn’t mean they like your child or children as well.
A Texas woman, Shawna Hooey, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the murder of her boyfriend’s 4-year-old daughter, Jakyzia Alexander, in 2019. A jury found Hooey guilty after a nine-day trial, recognizing that the girl’s death was part of a pattern of abuse, according to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.
Hooey was caring for Jakyzia and her own five children when she took the girl to an emergency room on September 7, 2019. When she arrived, Jakyzia was unresponsive and showed signs of severe injuries, including a black eye. Hooey gave conflicting accounts of how the girl was injured, claiming she had fallen or hurt herself days earlier.
An autopsy revealed that Jakyzia died from blunt force trauma to the head, indicating she had suffered past abuse. Witnesses testified that Jakyzia seemed normal the day before her hospital visit.
During the sentencing, Jakyzia’s family expressed their grief, highlighting the tragedy of her young life and the abuse she endured. Hooey must serve at least half of her sentence before being eligible for parole.
If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 for support.
