FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A mother has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of her 6-year-old son, Ra’myl Pierre. Authorities found the boy’s body during a welfare check at their home on May 30, after school officials raised concerns about his unexplained absence from class.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a school resource deputy who was worried about Pierre’s wellbeing, as he had not attended classes for over two weeks. When deputies arrived at the home, they were greeted by 41-year-old Rhonda Paulynice, who led them inside, where they discovered the boy unresponsive on his bed.
Investigators believe that Pierre likely died on May 18, prompting an autopsy to confirm the cause of death. Due to the passage of time since his passing, authorities could not determine the manner of death immediately. Notably, that date was also marked as the last time Paulynice had spoken to her son.
During questioning, Paulynice allegedly told detectives that she believed she was receiving divine instructions to perform an exorcism on her son. Sheriff Richard Del Toro reported that she expressed a belief that she was purging the child of demons, and upon his death, she felt he had been freed from these supposed entities. Del Toro described her emotional state throughout the investigation as erratic, fluctuating between laughter and tears.
Following the discovery of Pierre’s body, Paulynice was taken into custody and is being held on a $150,000 bond. In addition to second-degree murder, she faces charges for failure to report a death and for willfully interfering with the child’s remains.
Previous interactions with law enforcement at the family home included prior domestic issues involving Paulynice and her sister but did not appear to involve her son. Officials had been called to the residence on May 17 for a medical issue concerning Paulynice, raising further questions about the family’s dynamics.
In the days leading up to the tragedy, Paulynice maintained an active presence on social media, posting inspirational messages, including one the day before her son’s death. Her last shared photo of Ra’myl dated back to December 2024.
Sheriff Del Toro expressed condolences for the loss, describing the young boy as a vibrant presence who brought joy to those around him. “He just lit the room up, and was loved by everybody,” he remarked, underscoring the shock and sorrow felt by the community in light of this devastating event.