In this article, we will reveal the shocking truth about Dylan Schumaker, the teen who killed a toddler, and his current whereabouts.
You won’t believe what he said in court and how he tried to manipulate the jury with his tears. Read on to find out more.
How Dylan Schumaker Met His Girlfriend And Her Sons
Dylan Schumaker met his girlfriend, Ashlee Smith, through a mutual friend in 2012. They started dating soon after, and Schumaker moved in with Smith and her two sons, Austin and Brayden, who were fathered by different men. Smith was 19 years old at the time, and Schumaker was 15.
Schumaker claimed that he loved Smith and her sons, and that he treated them like his own family. He said that he helped Smith with the household chores and the childcare, and that he was a good boyfriend and a father figure to the boys. He even called Austin his “little buddy” and said that he was his favorite.
How Dylan Schumaker Killed Austin Smith
On March 19, 2013, Smith left her sons in Schumaker’s care while she went to work at a restaurant. She said that she trusted Schumaker and that he had never harmed her sons before. She said that she kissed Austin goodbye and told him that she loved him.
That night, Schumaker beat Austin to death while Brayden was sleeping in another room. He later admitted that he hit Austin several times with his fists and a wooden rod, and that he threw him against a wall and a couch. He said that he did this because Austin wouldn’t stop crying and that he was frustrated and angry.
Schumaker then called his mother and told her that Austin was not breathing. His mother told him to call 911, which he did. He told the dispatcher that Austin had fallen off the couch and hit his head, and that he was trying to perform CPR on him. He also said that he didn’t know what happened and that he was scared.
How Dylan Schumaker Tried To Manipulate The Jury
Schumaker’s trial began in November 2013. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of second-degree murder, and his defense lawyer argued that he acted recklessly, but not intentionally. He said that Schumaker was a troubled teenager who had a difficult childhood and a low IQ, and that he lacked the ability to control his impulses and emotions.
The prosecution, however, presented evidence that Schumaker acted deliberately and with depraved indifference to human life. They said that Schumaker was a cold-blooded killer who tortured and killed a defenseless child for no reason. They said that Schumaker showed no remorse or empathy for his victim, and that he lied to the police and the 911 dispatcher to cover up his crime.
They also played a recorded phone call that Schumaker made from jail, in which he said that he was not sorry for killing Austin, and that he hoped that Smith would die too.
Where Is Dylan Schumaker Now?
Dylan Schumaker was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of Austin Smith. He was 17 years old at the time of his sentencing, and he cried again when he heard his fate. He said that he was sorry for killing Austin, and that he hoped that Smith and her family would find peace.
However, in 2016, Schumaker’s sentence was reduced to 18 years to life, after the Court of Appeals ruled that the trial judge had made a mistake in instructing the jury. The court said that the jury should have been given the option to consider a lesser charge of manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years.
The court said that Schumaker’s age and mental capacity should have been taken into account, and that there was a reasonable possibility that the jury would have reached a different verdict if they had been given the proper instructions.
He killed a toddler in a brutal and senseless way, and then tried to manipulate the jury with his tears and lies. He showed no remorse or empathy for his victim, and he even said that he was not sorry for what he did. He is a shocking example of how evil can lurk in the hearts of young people, and how they can destroy the lives of innocent children.