Last Thursday morning at approximately 5:20 a.m.,Troy Khoeler’sparents filed a missing persons report. They were looking for their 7-year-old son, who had last been seen the night before in the family’s Houston-area home.
When homicide officers arrived at the home, they interviewed the parents and searched the house. About two hours later, they found Troy’s body, fully clothed, in a garage washing machine. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
While authorities continue to investigate the shocking case, they have not yet made any arrests — or made public statements about what they think happened to the outgoing boy with a big smile and a love of cartoons.
Here are some unanswered questions in the case:
How Did Troy Get Inside the Washing Machine?
That the washing machine was a top-loading unit in the garage, and was a newer model. The garage door from the home’s living area was unlocked, and accessible via a short hallway from Troy’s bedroom. His bedroom door was found opened.
The Sheriff’s office has not said whether the lid to the washing machine was closed, or whether the appliance had been turned on. It’s also unclear whether Troy was wet or dry when he was found.
How Did Troy Die?
Minchew also wouldn’t comment on whether Troy had suffered any visible injuries or if there were signs of foul play.
Troy Khoeler.twitter
Who Had Access to The Home?
“I came home, I was fixin' to walk in the door,” he told the station. “I put my keys to the door handle and then it just opened,” he said. “Anything else after that, I don’t know.”
Are Troy’s Parents Considered Suspects in the Case?
After Troy’s body was found, the sheriff’s office called in the homicide unit. The child’s parents – who fostered Troy and later adopted him in 2019 – were “separated and detained, which is standard procedure,” Minchew said.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation is ongoing. A spokesperson for the HCSO emphasizes to PEOPLE that “the case continues to be investigated and nothing has been ruled out.”
Other than Troy and his parents, nobody else lived in the home.
source: people.com
