Florida Mother Charged with Murder After Allegedly Attempting to Exorcise Demons from 6-Year-Old Son

Rhonda Paulynice is charged with 2nd Degree Murder in the death of her six-year-old son

A 6-year-old boy was found dead in his bed Friday morning at a residence in Fort Pierce, Florida, and his mother has been charged with second-degree murder after allegedly claiming she was attempting to "exorcise demons" from her child, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.

The child, identified as Ra’myl Pierre, was discovered during a welfare check shortly after 10 a.m., following concerns raised by school resource deputies when the boy failed to attend school. Upon arrival, a deputy was met in the driveway by the boy’s mother, 31-year-old Rhonda Paulynice, who led the officer into the home where the child's body was found.

Sheriff Richard R. Del Toro Jr. stated that Paulynice told investigators she believed God was instructing her to remove demons from her son. She reportedly indicated that once Ra’myl stopped moving, she believed the demons had left his body.

Paulynice now faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder, failure to report a death, and altering a body. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the official cause and manner of death, which was not immediately clear.

St. Lucie County Sheriff’s officials are investigating the suspicious death of a 6-year-old child in the 2500 block of Bedford Drive

The sheriff noted that law enforcement had previously responded to the residence, most recently on May 17 for a medical issue involving Paulynice. Investigators believe the child was killed the following day, May 18. During interviews, Paulynice allegedly admitted that this was the last time she interacted with her son. Authorities believe the boy had been deceased in his room since that date.

While there had been past domestic disturbances involving Paulynice and her sister, who no longer resides in the home, no prior reports involved the child. Sheriff Del Toro confirmed that only Paulynice and the child lived in the residence.

Paulynice displayed a fluctuating emotional state during the investigation, alternating between crying and laughing, according to investigators. The sheriff said he had not personally spoken with her, and it remains unclear whether she has obtained legal representation.

The investigation is ongoing, and officials await the results of the autopsy to gain further clarity on the circumstances of Ra’myl Pierre’s death.