A Maryland woman and her partner were arrested on charges related to the death of her 3-year-old child, less than a day after the woman reported her child missing. D. RandIe, 31, and C. Brytten, 44, were taken into custody in connection with the tragic incident.
Charges and Arrests
RandIe was arrested in Delaware on first- and second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in death, and falsely reporting a felony. Brytten, her partner, was arrested in Maryland and charged as an accessory to murder after the fact, as well as failure to report a child’s death and other related offenses.
The False Abduction Report
On the previous week, RandIe had contacted Delaware authorities, claiming that an unknown person had abducted her daughter, NoIa. She told authorities the incident occurred after she had stopped to comfort her upset daughter.
In response, authorities issued an Amber Alert and coordinated efforts with the FBI overnight. However, the alert was later canceled when suspicion arose regarding the credibility of RandIe’s story.
Investigation and Discovery of Clues
Maryland State Police then visited the couple’s home to verify whether the child had been left behind, following standard procedure. Brytten answered the door, identified himself as RandIe’s partner, and stated that the child had gone with her mother.
However, investigators quickly noted suspicious signs inside the house. They observed a strong smell of bleach, gloves in the trash and child’s room, and a child-sized blanket in Brytten’s vehicle, which appeared to have dried blood on it.
These discoveries prompted police to conduct interviews. Brytten allowed them to search both his vehicle and home. He later explained that he remained calm during questioning because of his background in special forces, claiming he had experience dealing with human trafficking.
Confession and the Truth Unfolds
During a recorded interview with Delaware detectives, RandIe admitted that her earlier report was false. She confessed to striking her daughter 15–20 times with a belt on Monday.
According to RandIe, the child became unresponsive and stopped breathing. She also revealed that she called Brytten for help, and he attempted CPR, but was unable to revive the child.
RandIe further explained that, after the child’s death, she and Brytten placed the child’s body in Brytten’s car and drove around before returning to their home. She stated that the body was placed in a suitcase on the basement stairs, where it remained overnight. The next day, she instructed Brytten to dispose of the remains.
Discovery of the Remains
The following day, Maryland State Police located the human remains, which were wrapped in plastic. The remains were found to be consistent with an emaciated child, and the cause of death is pending an autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Maryland.
Ongoing Investigation
The investigation into this tragic case remains active. Maryland State Police, with assistance from the FBI and cooperation from Delaware authorities, continues to gather evidence and await the autopsy results to determine the official cause of death.
The details of this horrific case have shocked the community and highlighted serious concerns regarding parental responsibility and child abuse.
The investigation is still ongoing, and law enforcement agencies continue to evaluate the full extent of the crime.