Texas man convicted of fatally beating girlfriend’s son, bleaching and abandoning his body

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (TCD) -- A 35-year-old man was found guilty of killing his girlfriend’s 11-year-old son after the jury deliberated for only 15 minutes.

The Wichita Falls Times Record News reports a jury convicted Corey Trumbull of capital murder Tuesday, Aug. 29, for the 2020 death of 11-year-old Logan Cline. He will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Trumbull’s public defender reportedly called Trumbull a "sadistic bastard," but said Trumbull didn’t kill Cline on purpose, therefore the jury should only convict him of felony murder rather than capital murder. His attorney argued Trumbull sought to keep Cline alive in order to torture him.

Cline was extremely malnourished at the time of his death and was 40 pounds under the normal weight for a child his age. He died from blunt force trauma and had injuries all over his body.

According to KAUZ-TV, Trumbull forced Cline to sleep under the sink and the bed, and Cline’s sister often had to clean up blood from the abuse. Cline suffered from seizures and brain bleeds as a result, which caused him to be immobile and nonverbal.

Wichita Falls Police discovered Cline’s remains in a car in February 2020, but the Wichita Falls Times Record News reports he was killed in December 2019. Following his death, Trumbull reportedly put ice all over the body, bleached it, and then dumped his body in the car.

On Feb. 26, 2020, Las Vegas Metro Police Department officers were called to a Walgreens at 3375 Glen Ave. after Johnson ran in and said she was "scared and hiding from a male," adding that her 15-year-old daughter was in the car with Trumbull. An officer spoke with Trumbull, who denied hitting Johnson but said she had a black eye and injured lip. He claimed she ran away for three days, then called him to pick her up.

He admitted to detectives that he and Johnson moved to Las Vegas and started doing illegal drugs.

Johnson reportedly told police Trumbull hit her with a stick, and another time, "wrapped a metal chain dog leash" around her neck and strangled her. He beat her and she suffered multiple broken bones.

According to the Wichita Falls Times Record News, during their relationship, Trumbull allegedly started a polyamorous relationship with an underage girl. Trumbull is reportedly a white supremacist and told the girl it was important to grow the race.

Jail records show Johnson also faces charges of murder and tampering with evidence.

MORE:

• Jury takes just 16 minutes to send child-killer Corey Trumbull to prison for life - Wichita Falls Times Record News
• Details on murder revealed during Corey Trumbull’s trial - KAUZ
• Corey Trumbull arrest report - Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
• Police report: Trumbull said if he 'wanted it, he would take it no matter what', 3/27/2020 - Wichita Falls Times Record News