Ryan Patrick O’Leary, 33, of Cape Coral, was adjudicated guilty and sentenced in two cases this morning. The defendant was sentenced to 30 years in prison for one count
of Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child. Mr. O’Leary was also sentenced to 30 years in prison, followed by lifetime Sex Offender Probation, for one count of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation. He is also now designated a Sexual Predator.
Mr. O’Leary was indicted by a Lee County Grand Jury in December 2019, along with his wife Sheila O’Leary, a co-defendant in the first case. They were arrested after an 18-month-old child in their care died. The evidence in the case proved the child died due to complications from severe malnutrition and dehydration. Three other victims, a 3-year-old, 5-year-old, and an 11-year-old child, also suffered from extreme neglect and child abuse. It was discovered during preparation for the trial of his wife that he had also molested a child under the age of twelve during this same time frame.
Sheila O’Leary was found guilty at trial and sentenced to life in prison in August 2022, for First Degree Murder. She was also sentenced to 30 years in prison for Aggravated Child Abuse, 30 years in prison for Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child and 5 years in prison on two counts of Child Neglect and one count of Child Abuse.
Assistant State Attorney Francine Donnorummo, Special Victims Unit Chief, and Assistant State Attorney Sara Miller, of the State Attorney’s Office Homicide Unit, prosecuted the case.
The Cape Coral Police Department investigated the case with the assistance of the Children’s Advocacy Center.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office