A 36-year-old Florida woman named Patricia Saintizaire was arrested for the murder, aggravated child abuse, and tampering with a witness in connection with the death of her 4-year-old adopted son Bryan Boyer. Bryan, who was adopted from Haiti last year, died on May 2 of a liver injury that hospital staff deemed suspicious, leading to the investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in central Florida. The case unfolded after Bryan’s adoptive brother came home from school and noticed that Bryan was struggling and unable to walk or sit up on his own. Despite his condition, Saintizaire allegedly told her son to feed Bryan and insisted he was “faking it,” but Bryan became unresponsive, prompting his brother to attempt CPR and request to take him to the hospital.
Upon investigating Saintizaire’s home, detectives found blood in the bathroom, blood on the bedroom door, and freshly plastered holes in the wall, indicating possible signs of abuse. Bryan was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery to stop the abdominal bleeding, but unfortunately, he was pronounced dead soon after. The autopsy revealed fresh scarring on Bryan’s back and a deep laceration on his liver caused by blunt force trauma, leading the medical examiner to classify his death as a homicide. Bryan’s older brother was placed in protective custody, and during interviews with detectives, he revealed threats made by Saintizaire against both children, along with video evidence showing her physically assaulting and mistreating Bryan.
In a tragic turn of events, videos found on Saintizaire’s phone depicted her striking Bryan multiple times and throwing him into a pool with his hands tied, showing a terrifying posture and struggle from the victim. These disturbing acts of violence were alarming and further supported the evidence of ongoing abuse leading to Bryan’s untimely death. The Polk County School District issued a statement expressing condolences for Bryan’s passing, emphasizing the need for child protection and safety within the community. Saintizaire is scheduled to appear in court on June 6, with a public defender representing her in the case. The heartbreaking outcome of Bryan’s story highlights the importance of awareness and intervention to prevent child abuse and protect vulnerable youth from harm.
