A mother in Florida has been arrested and charged with the murder of her 6-year-old son, Ra’myl Pierre. Authorities discovered his body during a welfare check at their home in Fort Pierce on May 30.
Rhonda Paulynice, 41, allegedly told detectives that she believed she was instructed by God to perform an exorcism on her son. According to Sheriff Richard Del Toro, Paulynice thought she was trying to rid the child of demons.
Ra’myl, a student at Samuel Gaines Academy, had been absent from school for over two weeks, raising concerns from a school resource deputy, which prompted the welfare check.
When the deputy arrived, Paulynice welcomed them inside, where they found Ra’myl lying deceased on his bed. Investigators suspect he died on May 18, but they are awaiting autopsy results for further details.
The sheriff indicated that the last time Paulynice had spoken to her son was on May 18. She reportedly mentioned that she believed her son was released from the demons and that he was “waiting to come back” after he stopped moving.
During the investigation, Paulynice exhibited unusual behavior, alternately laughing and crying, according to Sheriff Del Toro.
On May 30, she was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, failure to report a death, and moving or touching the body. She is being held on a $150,000 bond.
Before the tragedy, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office had responded to this residence for domestic issues, but none were connected to Paulynice and Ra’myl. On May 17, they had also visited due to a medical issue concerning Paulynice.
The day after Ra’myl’s death, Paulynice made an inspirational post on social media and continued to share similar messages in the following days. Her last post featuring Ra’myl was dated December 8, 2024.
Sheriff Del Toro offered condolences, describing Ra’myl as a bright child who was loved by everyone around him.
