A tragic incident has unfolded in Rogers, Arkansas, where a two-year-old boy named Ryland Macdonald has died after spending a day with his mother’s boyfriend, Gustavo Enrique Pereza. The shocking events surrounding Ryland’s death have led to investigations and arrests, raising concerns about child safety and parental responsibility.
On August 24, 2021, Ryland was taken to Mercy Hospital, where medical staff reported that the child was unresponsive and showed multiple signs of trauma. Dr. Mercy Medical staff contacted authorities after observing bruising on Ryland’s body, which prompted a police investigation. Ryland’s mother, Briana Sawyer, explained that her son had been experiencing stomach issues for weeks and had vomited several times leading up to the tragic day.
Briana reported that on August 23, she left Ryland in the care of Pereza while she worked at Casey’s Pizza. Pereza later informed Briana that Ryland had fallen at a park and subsequently began to vomit. Alarmed, Briana rushed her son to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. An autopsy determined that Ryland had died from blunt force trauma to the abdomen, consistent with severe injuries likely inflicted intentionally.
As investigations unfolded, authorities uncovered troubling evidence. Bruising indicative of trauma was found on Ryland’s torso, arms, and legs, raising suspicions about the nature of his injuries. Pereza claimed that Ryland had appeared weak and had suffered a fall, but his explanations were inconsistent with the medical findings. Furthermore, Briana admitted to giving her son an adult dose of Dramamine to manage his car sickness, a decision that has come under scrutiny.
The timeline of events leading to Ryland’s death was filled with inconsistencies. While Pereza reported spending time at a park and then at a Chick-fil-A parking lot, evidence suggested significant gaps in the timeline, with hours unaccounted for during which Ryland was in his care. Text messages exchanged between Briana and Pereza revealed his growing concern about Ryland’s health, contradicting Briana’s initial portrayal of the situation.
Following the autopsy results and police interviews, both Pereza and Briana were arrested. Pereza faced charges of capital murder, while Briana was charged with permitting abuse and hindering an investigation. The evidence pointed to a pattern of neglect and potential abuse, with Ryland showing signs of injury on multiple occasions while in Pereza’s care.
Briana’s behavior during police questioning raised further questions. Despite the gravity of the situation, she appeared to defend Pereza and downplayed the seriousness of her son’s injuries. In interviews, she suggested that Ryland’s bruises were due to normal childhood accidents, even attributing some of his injuries to her father, who had no involvement in the case.
Ultimately, Pereza was sentenced to 30 years in prison for second-degree murder, with the possibility of parole after 20 years. Briana received a significantly lighter sentence of six years probation, a decision that has sparked outrage among child advocacy groups and the community. Many are left questioning the justice system’s handling of cases involving child abuse and the apparent disparities in sentencing.
Ryland Macdonald’s tragic death serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by children and the critical importance of vigilance and accountability in caregiving. As investigations continue, the impact of this heartbreaking case resonates throughout the community, highlighting the urgent need for systemic changes to better protect vulnerable children from abuse and neglect.
