FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Authorities in Florida have charged a woman with the murder of her 6-year-old son, whom she allegedly died during an attempted exorcism, as reported by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.

St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro stated that school resource officers at Samuel Gaines Academy requested a wellness check on Ra’myl Pierre after he had been absent from school since May 14.

A deputy went to Ra’myl’s house on Bedford Drive in Fort Pierce and found the boy’s mother, 31-year-old Rhonda Paulynice, in the driveway. 

Paulynice escorted the deputy to the boy’s room, where Ra’myl was found lifeless, Del Toro said. 

The residence was secured and detectives responded to the home to begin their investigation. 

The cause of death could not be determined for the child following a search warrant and preliminary investigation, Del Toro said. 

During an interview with Paulynice, detectives found out that the mother had her last communication with Ra’myl on May 18, according to the sheriff. It is believed that the child has been deceased since that date.

“She believed she was being told by God to basically exercise demons out of the child’s body,” Del Toro said. “When the child had stopped moving, and had basically passed away, at that point she felt the child had been released of those demons and was waiting for him to basically come back.” 

Paulynice was charged with second degree murder. 

“From what I understand, this kid just lit the room up and was just loved by everybody and so they’re all going to be having a very difficult time getting through this,” Del Toro added.

Paulynice was also charged with failure to report a death and altering body after death.