Lauren Courtney, 23, was sentenced to life in prison on December 14, 2022 for the murder of 5-year-old Ryan Peralto in Las Vegas. Lauren plead guilty to murdering Ryan while babysitting him.
In March 2021 Lauren was babysitting 2 kids while the kid’s father was at work. Lauren dragged Ryan into the bathroom after taking off his underwear. Lauren kicked, punched, and slapped Ryan while also yelling at him for no reason.
Lauren got angry and shoved Ryan making him hit his head on the floor. She also slapped Ryan on his mouth.
That is when Lauren called Ryan’s dad and said that the little boy was apparently not feeling good and coughed up blood. The police were called to the home due to Ryan being unconscious.
Ryan was taken to the hospital where he later died.
Lauren told police that Ryan had an accident and needed to take a shower and when he was showering, he fell.
Ryan’s dad arrived home, and Lauren then went home for the day. Ryan’s dad reviewed home surveillance footage and saw that Lauren was being dishonest. Lauren was seen hitting Ryan and throwing him to the ground.
Ryan’s dad then showed police the video, and police arrested Lauren, charging her with murder.
Ryan had a skull fracture, brain bleed, and fractured spleen. The Clark County Coroner’s office ruled Ryan’s cause of death as blunt force injuries to the head, chest and abdomen, and the manner of death a homicide.
Lauren told detectives that she had mental health issues and that is why she beat Ryan to death. On December 14, 2022 Lauren pled guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.
