Ra’myl Pierre dies in fatal Fort Pierce, Florida child abuse incident
Fatal Fort Pierce, Florida child abuse death of Ra’myl Pierre – Obituary
Six-year-old Ra’myl Pierre was found dead in his bedroom in Fort Pierce, Florida, after his mother allegedly attempted to perform a religious exorcism on him, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
On Friday, a school resource officer requested a welfare check after Ra’myl had not attended school for two weeks. A deputy responded to the home and was met by the child’s mother, 31-year-old Rhonda Paulynice, who led the deputy to her son’s room, where the boy was discovered deceased.
Investigators believe the child was killed on May 18, the last time Paulynice claimed to have interacted with him. He had been absent from school since May 14. Authorities had previously visited the home on May 17 due to a reported medical issue involving Paulynice.
During questioning, Paulynice allegedly told detectives that she believed she was divinely instructed to rid her son of demons. According to Sheriff Richard Del Toro, she explained that when the boy became unresponsive, she assumed the exorcism had worked and expected him to revive.
An autopsy was scheduled for the following day to determine the exact cause of death. No additional individuals were living at the residence at the time.
Rhonda Paulynice now faces charges including second-degree murder, failing to report a death, and tampering with a deceased body. Sheriff Del Toro described Ra’myl as a joyful child who was cherished by those who knew him.
