A Florida woman is behind bars after police say she beat her adopted boy to death after throwing him into a swimming pool earlier this monthy.
According to a news release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Patricia Saintizaire, 36, is facing charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and tampering with a witness. The charges stem from the death of her son, Bryan Boyer, whom she adopted from Haiti and brought to the US in April 2023.
Investigators allege that Saintizaire tied up and threw Bryan into a swimming pool before allegedly beating him to death.
“What we’ve learned during this investigation just turns our stomach,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said during a news conference Wednesday. “We have a video clip of where that 3-year-old baby’s hands were tied behind his back, and she threw him in a swimming pool in the backyard.”
“We don’t believe we know all that this child suffered…We have another video clip where he’s face down on the floor and she’s beating him on the back, and he’s not even resisting it. It’s like it’s a normal occurrence.”
The incident started on May 1, when Bryan returned home from school. Officials said he appeared happy at the time and had no injuries, according to school and bus security footage.
His 16-year-old sibling was in another room for around two hours, unaware of what occurred when the victim returned home. Then, Saintizaire ordered the teen to bring food to the younger sibling.
The teen told investigators that he found Bryan unable to walk, struggling to sit up, and unresponsive. The teen then initiated CPR and urged Saintizaire to get medical help. Saintizaire took the child to a hospital in Davenport. He was then airlifted to a hospital in Orlando, where he passed away.
Hospital staff reported the death to police on May 2.
According to the Herald-Tribune, the defendant’s husband is not facing charges.
“Her husband was clearly at work at the time this event occurred,” Judd said. “She was the disciplinarian.”
The defendant remains behind bars without bail.
Check back for updates.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to a previous episode on the case below.
[Feature Photo: Bryan Boyer/Polk County Sheriff’s Office]
