Mother accused of killing 6-year-old son in attempted exorcism

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (WPEC) - A Florida mother is charged with second-degree murder after her 6-year-old son was found dead. Deputies say she believed she was told by God to exorcise the demons out of the boy’s body.

Deputies with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office conducted a welfare check around 10 a.m. Friday at a home in Fort Pierce after a tip from a school resource officer at Samuel Gaines Academy. The officer reported 6-year-old Ra’myl Pierre hadn’t been to school since May 14.

When deputies arrived at the home, the boy’s mother, 41-year-old Rhonda Paulynice, met them in the driveway, according to Sheriff Richard Del Toro. She took the deputies inside and to her son’s bedroom, where Ra’myl was lying dead in his bed.

Deputies say that while talking to Paulynice, she said she was told by God to exorcise demons out of her son’s body.

“When the child had stopped moving and basically ed away, at that point, she felt the child had been released of those demons and was waiting for him to basically come back,” Del Toro said.

Deputies found Ra’myl’s body wrapped in fabric with only his face exposed, according to the criminal probable cause affidavit. He had visible signs of decomposition, indicating he may have been dead for several days. It’s believed his mother was preserving his body.

Deputies say Paulynice told them she last spoke to Ra’myl on May 18. They believe that’s when the 6-year-old was killed, according to Del Toro.

Del Toro extended his condolences to Ra’myl’s school community.

“From what I understand, this kid just lit the room up and was just loved by everybody, so they’re all gonna be having a very difficult time getting through this,” he said.

Paulynice is charged with second-degree murder, failure to report a death and altering a body. She appeared in court Saturday over Zoom from jail, where a judge denied bail.

An autopsy was expected to be performed Saturday to determine Ra’myl’s cause of death.

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