Mystery as boy, 7, found dead in family washing machine hours after he was reported missing from home
A BOY was found dead in his family's washing machine hours after his parents reported him missing, leaving detectives puzzled.
After searching for the seven-year-old boy, Troy Khoeler, police found his body inside a top-load washing machine in the garage.
Troy's parents reported their child missing on Thursday, only for police to find his dead body a few hours later in the Spring, Texas home.
The parents told detectives that Troy went missing around 4am and reported it around 5.20am.
After doing a search of the neighborhood, police decided to do a more thorough search of the house, where they found Troy.
Police say he was clothed but wouldn't say if there was water inside the machine or if the lid was closed.
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The parents were taken in for questioning as part of standard procedure, according to police.
"We don't know what happened, but we intend to find out," HCSO Lt. Robert Minchew told .
Minchew said it's too early in the investigation to determine if it was an accident.
He would not say if there were any injuries or signs of foul play.
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"Whether he was killed by the washing machine or killed and placed in it, we're just so far from that, I can't comment," Minchew said.
Minchew also mentioned that Troy's mother was wearing a work uniform when the police came.
It's unclear if she was coming home from work when she realized her son was missing or if she was getting ready for work.
Troy used to be a foster child and had been adopted by the couple in 2019.
There were no other siblings living in the house.
Rudy Chupa, a neighbor who's lived on the street for more than 40 years, told KHOU11 that he had seen Troy playing in the neighborhood often.
Chupa was shocked to find out what happened to Troy.
"It's bad, I mean, I've got great-grandkids, I don't know how they're coping with it," Chupa told KHO11.
"It shouldn't happen to anybody. Wow."
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The Harris County Sheriff's Office will be investigating the case from this point.
The Sun reached out to the sheriff's office for further updates but has not received a response by the time of publication.
