Shannon Ryan, a self-professed witch doctor who was convicted last month of the murder of Georgia resident Leila Cavett in Broward County in 2020, was sentenced Friday to life in prison.
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Broward Circuit Judge Michael Usan spent no time justifying or explaining his sentence, though a life sentence was not mandatory for the second-degree murder conviction. The judge heard briefly from several family members of the victim before curtly announcing he was sentencing Ryan to the maximum penalty allowed by law.
Ryan, 44, had testified that he did not kill Cavett, 21, but that he knew her, taught her how to read Tarot cards, agreed to buy a truck from her, and last saw her when he dropped her and her son off outside a Miramar neighborhood where the 2-year-old boy was later found wandering alone.
The child, now 8, had a message read on his behalf by a member of the State Attorney’s Office Victim’s Advocate office. “I don’t remember much about my mom because I was so little,” he said. “I wish she was here so we could go to Dollywood together.”
Prosecutors Elizabeth Lipella and Taylor Collins presented evidence during the weeklong trial in September showing that the defendant and victim were in the same area when she was last seen, that Ryan looked up information on chloroform, alcohol and bleach. He also bought duct tape, cleaners and carpet deodorizer.
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According to the prosecutors, Ryan killed the victim and disposed of her body, possibly in a dumpster, but it was never found.
The closure that could come with the discovery of a body still eludes the family, said the victim’s sister, Gina Lewis, who testified via Zoom at Friday’s sentencing hearing.
Defense lawyer Dameka Davis said she would withdraw from the case after sentencing, and Usan appointed the Broward Public Defender’s Office to take over.
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Ryan did not make a statement during Friday’s sentencing.
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at [email protected] or 954-356-4457