Self-described ‘witch’ sentenced to life in connection with murder of young mother
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (TCN) — A 44-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for second-degree murder in connection with the death of a woman who disappeared in 2020.
On July 26, 2020, 20-year-old Leila Cavett’s 2-year-old son was found wandering around the parking lot of an apartment complex. CourtTV reportsthat a good Samaritan who found the child dialed 911. When police released the boy’s photo, Cavett’s family came forward and said that he and his mother had recently traveled to Florida from their Alabama home in a new pickup truck.
Cavett’s truck was found in Hollywood, Florida, two days later.
According to a criminal complaint, Ryan, who described himself as a witch, posted a 51-minute Facebook video on Aug. 9 saying he was the last person to see Cavett.
When he was interviewed by police, Ryan said he had known Cavett for approximately a year and she had traveled to the area to sell him he pickup truck for $3,000. He claimed he last saw her at a gas station.
Detectives learned Ryan used another person’s debit card to purchase garbage bags, duct tape, and odor eliminator. When detectives searched his phone, they found searches for “What day does commercial garbage pickup for Hollywood, Florida?” and “Does bleach and alcohol make chloroform?” per the criminal complaint.
NBC Miami reports Ryan was seen on gas station surveillance footage placing a plastic garbage bag into a dumpster.
Ryan was charged with Cavett’s death in September 2021, and he was convicted of second-degree murder in September 2026, WVTM reports. Her body has never been found. NBC Miami reports Ryan testified at trial that the footage of him with the bag at the gas station was from him cleaning out his vehicle.
In court, a victim advocate read a statement from Cavett’s son, who is now 8 years old, CBS News reports. The statement read, “I don’t remember much about my mom because I was so little. … I wish she was here so we could go to Dollywood and go ride dirt bikes together and eat sushi.”
Ryan was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Oct. 23, per CBS. He declined to make a statement in court but did say that he plans to appeal.
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