LAKE WALES, Fla. — Patricia Saintizaire, a 36-year-old woman from Lake Wales, Florida, is facing charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and tampering with a witness in connection with the death of her 4-year-old adopted son, Bryan Boyer. Saintizaire, who had adopted Bryan from Haiti, brought him to the United States in April 2023, as confirmed by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Bryan’s death investigation has uncovered distressing details, shocking law enforcement officials. Sheriff Grady Judd expressed his disbelief and outrage during a news conference, revealing that video evidence showed Bryan with his hands tied behind his back before being thrown into a swimming pool.
The tragic events leading to Bryan’s death unfolded on May 1 when he returned home from school seemingly unharmed. However, later that day, an older sibling discovered Bryan in a state of distress, unable to walk, struggling to sit up, and unresponsive. Despite Bryan’s condition, Saintizaire insisted he was “faking it” and urged the sibling to feed him. Bryan eventually lost consciousness, leading the older sibling to perform CPR and plead with Saintizaire to seek medical attention. Bryan was initially taken to a hospital in Davenport but was airlifted to an Orlando hospital due to the severity of his injuries. He later passed away.
On May 2, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was notified of Bryan’s suspicious death by hospital staff. An autopsy revealed that Bryan had suffered severe physical abuse, including a significant tear in his spleen caused by a forceful blow to the abdomen. The examination also exposed multiple layers of bruises, scars, and injuries from prior beatings, as well as a deep laceration on his liver from blunt force trauma. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as assault/blunt force trauma and declared it a homicide.
In addition to the video evidence of Bryan being thrown into the pool, another video showed Saintizaire beating him while he was defenseless on the floor. Despite the damning evidence, Saintizaire denied using physical discipline as punishment, although her husband confirmed that she was the primary disciplinarian in their household.
Initially, the 16-year-old sibling denied witnessing any abuse during the investigation. However, after being placed in child protective custody and with Saintizaire in jail, the teen revealed that he had been instructed to stay silent to protect her. Furthermore, he disclosed that his adoptive mother had threatened to kill him with a gun.
School staff reported that despite the horrific abuse that Bryan endured, he was a happy child. Sheriff Judd expressed his shock at the extent of the abuse and neglect Bryan suffered, offering solace that the young boy was now “in the arms of God” and free from the torment he had experienced. Saintizaire is scheduled for arraignment on June 11, according to online court records.