A Florida woman, Patricia Saintizaire, was arrested in connection with the death of her 4-year-old son, Bryan Boyer, who she had adopted from Haiti. Bryan died on May 2 from a suspicious liver injury. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced that Saintizaire is facing charges of murder, aggravated child abuse, and tampering with a witness in his death. Saintizaire had adopted Bryan the previous year, but details surrounding his death raised suspicions.
The investigation revealed that Bryan’s adoptive brother found him struggling to walk or sit up on his own on the day of his death. Despite Bryan’s condition, Saintizaire dismissed his symptoms as him “faking it” and asked his brother to feed him. Bryan eventually became unresponsive, and his brother attempted CPR before urging Saintizaire to take him to the hospital. However, Bryan’s condition continued to deteriorate, and he was pronounced dead after emergency surgery failed to stop the abdominal bleeding caused by the liver injury.
Detectives found evidence of abuse in Saintizaire’s home, including blood on a bedroom door and in the bathroom. They also discovered freshly plastered holes in the bedroom wall. Bryan’s autopsy revealed fresh scarring on his back and a severe liver laceration caused by blunt force trauma, leading the medical examiner to rule his death a homicide. Saintizaire repeatedly denied physically abusing Bryan during the initial interview with detectives, but her son’s older brother later revealed threats she had made against them, including a statement about using a gun.
A video obtained from Saintizaire’s phone showed her physically assaulting Bryan on multiple occasions, including one where she struck him while he was unresponsive on the ground and another where she threw him into a pool with his hands tied behind his back. The videos were taken at the family’s home, and Saintizaire’s son revealed that she instructed him to remain silent to avoid getting in trouble. The Polk County School District issued a statement expressing condolences for Bryan’s tragic death and highlighting the community’s shock and sorrow.
Saintizaire is scheduled to appear in court on June 6, and a public defender has been appointed to represent her. The details of Bryan’s death and the evidence of ongoing abuse have sparked outrage and sadness in the community. The tragic circumstances surrounding Bryan’s adoption and subsequent death have raised questions about the oversight and protection of vulnerable children in adoption cases. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of adopted children, and the need for thorough investigations into any suspicions of abuse or neglect.
