Mom beat, threw adopted 4-year-old into pool with hands tied behind his back

DAVENPORT, Fla. (TCN) — A mother has been convicted of murder in connection with her 4-year-old son’s abuse-related death in 2024.

The Florida 10th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office announcedthe conviction of 38-year-old Patricia Saintizaire on July 8. She was convicted of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated child abuse, and tampering with a witness.

On May 2, 2024, hospital staff told authorities that 4-year-old Brian Boyer had died while under his mother’s care. He had gone to school the previous day but became unresponsive that evening during mealtime. Another child in the home noted that Boyer was struggling to sit upright.

Following the child’s death, authorities opened an investigation. His mother, Saintizaire, denied causing him harm, according to the state attorney’s office. The child’s older sibling told authorities he had witnessed Saintizaire abusing Boyer and had been instructed not to tell law enforcement about it.

Home surveillance footage showed Saintizaire tying Boyer’s hands behind his back and throwing him in a swimming pool, and also showed Saintizaire hitting Boyer on the back with an object, according to the state attorney’s office. 

An autopsy revealed Boyer’s cause of death was a deep laceration to the liver. In addition, he had scars on his body consistent with abuse.

Law & Crime reportsSheriff Grady Judd said Boyer reportedly treated the beatings like a normal occurrence and did not resist them. He said, “It is beyond my wildest imagination how anyone could abuse a beautiful little fellow like this child was abused and neglected.”

According to a 2024 press releasefrom the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Saintizaire, a Haitian national, adopted Boyer from Haiti and brought him to the United States in 2023 at age 3. Boyer and his brother underwent physical discipline before being adopted and moving to the U.S. The press release states that they were hit with a belt and a homemade hitting device.

Saintizaire is scheduled to be sentenced to life in prison on Aug. 14, according to the state attorney’s office.

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