From Jessica Schwarz’ appeal: Defendant’s husband found Andrew dead in the family swimming pool around 6:30 a.m. He was nude, and his body was covered with bruises. The pool was less than four feet deep, and Andrew, who was taller than that, was a good swimmer. Defendant, who would normally have slept late on Sunday, the morning that Andrew’s death was discovered, awakened her husband around 6:00 a.m. when she couldn’t find Andrew.
In her trial, defendant’s counsel attempted to show that Andrew’s death was either a suicide, an accident, or that defendant’s husband, 
Andrew’s father, murdered him. She argues that the largely circumstantial evidence of her involvement was insufficient, and that the court should have granted her motion for judgment of acquittal.
Although Andrew’s life had been made miserable by the defendant, who had abused him physically and mentally on many occasions, the pathologist who performed an autopsy on Andrew, Dr. Burton, testified that “there’s a medical certainty that this is not a suicide.” Dr. Burton testified that Andrew had bruises on his buttocks, the insides of his thighs and one arm, and in the small of the back, none of which could have resulted from falling down. He also had other soft tissue injuries, including to his lip and cheek. More specifically, he had lacerations behind each ear almost in the same place, which were consistent with pressure from fingers having forced him into the pool and holding him underwater.
Find-A-Grave: Andrew James Schwarz
AJ’s Place
A.J.’s Story — Facts
Schwarz Denies Killing Stepson, Accuses Others On Tv Talk Show
Jessica Schwarz v State of Florida 1997 (conviction and sentence affirmed)
Books
No One Can Hurt Him Anymore
INMATE INFORMATION
DC Number: 391272
Name: SCHWARZ, JESSICA
Race: WHITE
Sex: FEMALE
Hair Color: GRAY OR PARTIALLY GRAY
Eye Color: BROWN
Height: 5’02”
Weight: 182 lbs.
Birth Date: 12/07/1954
Custody: CLOSE
Current Release Date: DECEASED
