Patricia Saintizaire, a Florida mother, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and tampering with a witness in the death of her 4-year-old son, Bryan Boyer, whom she adopted from Haiti in April 2023. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reported that Boyer died from blunt force trauma, and his injuries were consistent with ongoing abuse. Saintizaire also has a 16-year-old son adopted from Haiti, who is now in protective custody. During the investigation, the teenage son revealed that he and his brother were physically disciplined with a belt and other homemade hitting devices, indicating a history of abuse.
The 4-year-old boy was taken to the hospital after a medical exam showed an abdominal bleed that could not be fixed by emergency surgery, raising suspicions of foul play. The autopsy revealed old and new scarring on the child’s back and a deep laceration on his liver, which ultimately led to his death. Despite the ongoing abuse, witnesses reported that the boy was a happy child and showed no signs of distress prior to his untimely death. The Sheriff’s Office uncovered videos from home surveillance cameras showing Saintizaire hitting the child with an unknown object and throwing him into a pool with his hands tied behind his back, pointing to a pattern of abuse and neglect.
Saintizaire’s teenage son initially denied any abuse or witnessing abuse, but later admitted that his adoptive mother threatened him to keep quiet about the abuse. The teenager also mentioned that he and his brother were physically disciplined in Haiti before detailing the events leading up to the 4-year-old’s death. Saintizaire’s husband, who was not involved in disciplining the children, denied any knowledge of physical abuse in the household. Additionally, the teenager reported that the 4-year-old was unresponsive after being fed by Saintizaire and that she insisted he was faking it before he became unconscious, prompting the teenager to perform CPR and rush him to the hospital.
Sheriff Grady Judd condemned the abuse suffered by the 4-year-old boy, calling it unimaginable and stomach-turning. The investigation revealed the extent of the abuse and neglect that the child endured, leading to his tragic death. Judd emphasized the importance of protecting children against predators, pornographers, abusers, and murderers, making it a top priority for law enforcement. The case highlights the need for increased awareness and vigilance in detecting and preventing child abuse to ensure the safety and well-being of all children. The tragic death of Bryan Boyer serves as a grim reminder of the importance of safeguarding children from harm and advocating for their protection in the community.
