Patricia Ripley, 47, admitted to killing her 9-year-old autistic son, who was found dead in a canal in Miami, FL. Patricia originally said that two black men kidnapped her son from her van. Patricia was booked into the Miami-Dade County Jail at 2:47 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2020. She was charged with first-degree murder in the death of her son, Alejandro Ripley.
Alejandro was found dead on May 22, 2020 in a canal at a Country Club in western Miami-Dade County.
Patricia claimed her son, who was autistic and nonverbal, was abducted by two black men driving a light blue, four-door sedan.
Patricia said the two men cut her off while she was driving, forcing her to the side of the road. Patricia said the black men had demanded drugs, and when she said she didn’t have any they took her cellphone and her son.
An Amber Alert for Alejandro was issued, but was later canceled after Alejandro Ripley’s body was found.
Detectives became suspicious after watching surveillance video at a Home Depot showing Patricia waiting in her parked car for 15 minutes before reporting that her son was missing. During police questioning Patricia continued giving conflicting statements.
However, Patricia eventually admitted to killing Alejandro, saying she led him to a canal where he drowned as she watched.
