Mother Arrested After Allegedly Exorcising ‘Demons’ From 6-Year-Old Son Found Dead in His Room

A Florida mother has been charged in connection with the tragic death of her six-year-old son, Ra’myl Pierre, after authorities conducted a welfare check at their Fort Pierce home on May 30. Rhonda Paulynice allegedly told detectives she believed she was divinely instructed to “exorcise demons” from her son’s body, according to St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro.

Before his untimely passing, Ra’myl was described as a joyful and well-loved child. A deputy arrived at the residence around 10 a.m. in response to concerns from Samuel Gaines Academy, where Ra’myl had missed more than two weeks of school. When the deputy encountered Paulynice outside, she led them into the home where her son’s lifeless body was discovered on his bed.

Authorities believe Ra’myl died on May 18, although an autopsy is needed to confirm the exact time and cause of death. Due to the body remaining undisturbed for nearly two weeks, examiners were unable to determine the cause of death at the scene.

Paulynice, 41, reportedly told investigators that she had performed an exorcism on the child. “She believed she had received a divine message instructing her to rid the child of demons,” Sheriff Del Toro explained. “And when he passed, she believed he had been freed and was waiting for him to come back.”

Throughout the investigation, Paulynice was said to have displayed erratic emotional behavior, alternating between laughter and tears.

She was arrested on May 30 and booked into the local jail, facing charges of second-degree murder, failure to report a death, and improper handling of a body. Her bond was set at $150,000.

This was not the first time authorities had been called to the home. Previous visits were made due to domestic issues involving Paulynice and her sister, though no concerns were ever reported involving Ra’myl. On May 17, just one day before Ra’myl is believed to have died, deputies had visited the home due to a medical concern related to Paulynice.

Despite the deeply disturbing nature of the case, Del Toro took time to remember Ra’myl for who he was in life. “We were told he was full of joy and loved by everyone,” the sheriff shared.

In the days following the boy’s death, Paulynice continued posting religious content on social media. Her last post mentioning Ra’myl had been back in December 2024.

This heartbreaking case continues to unfold as investigators work to uncover the full circumstances surrounding Ra’myl’s death.