Houston, Texas – Shawna Hooey, a Tomball woman, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the fatal beating of her boyfriend’s 4-year-old daughter. The verdict was delivered in a courtroom where emotions ran high, with Hooey and her family breaking down in tears as the sentence was read. The victim’s grandmother, Vonda Harris, expressed her disapproval of Hooey’s emotions during the sentencing, stating firmly, “You are not the victim, Shawna.”
Prosecutors revealed that Hooey, a mother of five, brutally used a blunt object to cause the death of Ja’Kyzia Alexander in her home on September 7, 2019. Despite her tears during the sentencing, Hooey had consistently denied her involvement in the crime. The motive behind the horrific act remains unclear, as Hooey never provided a competent explanation.
During the trial, it was disclosed that on the day of the incident, Hooey took Ja’Kyzia to an emergency room and concocted varying stories to explain the little girl’s injuries. She claimed at different times that Ja’Kyzia had sustained her injuries from ramming into a toilet roll dispenser and a door knob. Family members, including the victim’s aunt April Alexander, were baffled by the extent of Ja’Kyzia’s injuries given her tiny size and the severity of the damage inflicted.
The medical examiner’s report painted a grim picture of Ja’Kyzia’s injuries, revealing brain bleeding, bleeding at the base of her eyes, extensive bruising, and some injuries dating back one to two weeks before her death. April Alexander voiced the family’s anguish at the loss of Ja’Kyzia, noting the significant void her absence has left in their lives.
For Harris, the victim’s grandmother, the past four years have been an ongoing struggle in the wake of the tragedy. The impact of Ja’Kyzia’s death continues to reverberate through their family, leaving a profound sense of loss. As they navigate the aftermath of the senseless loss, the family seeks solace and justice for the young life taken away too soon.