Authorities in Texas found a 7-year-old Black boy inside a washing machine hours after he was reported missing, according to KHOU.
Troy Khoeler's parents filed a missing person report at 5:20 a.m. on Thursday (July 28), Lt. Robert Minchew of the Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit says during a press conference. Officers responded to a home in the 4400 block of Rosegate Drive in Spring and spoke with parents upon arrival. During the interview, Minchew says observations led them to "thoroughly" search the home.
"It was early in the morning, there was no indication that the door had been opened, or a window opened," the lieutenant explains. "After searching the neighborhood, they were unable to find the child. So the next logical step, I believe, is to search the house."
A few hours later, they reportedly found Troy's body inside the top-loading washing machine in the garage.
Troy's parents were separated and detained as per "standard police procedure," according to Minchew. Officials say Troy was a foster child that taken under the family's care in 2019. They're working to confirm if the parents adopted them.
Homicide detectives came to the scene, but Minchew says he couldn't comment about any potential foul play. No arrests have been made either.
"It's obviously a traumatic situation for the family and anybody involved. It's just more conducive to get them away from the house," Minchew says.
Authorities say couldn't confirm whether the washing machine was closed or open when they found Troy's clothed body. His cause of death hasn't been determined yet.
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