Sayra Barros: 8-Year-Old Girl Beaten To Death By Stepmother, Police Say
Eight-year-old Sayra Barros was in trouble again with her stepmother. On this winter day just outside Atlanta, Natiela Barros got so upset that Sayra didn’t eat all of her breakfast and didn’t do her schoolwork that she got physical with her. After spanking the child, Barros beat her to death, according to Gwinnett County law enforcement.
Court documents allege that on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, Sayra was continually hit by her stepmother Natiela Barros "with a wooden rolling pen 10 to 20 times” near the back of her neck. The girl went down.
After the abuse, the elder Barros didn’t call 911, but opted to contact her husband instead, “refusing to get [Sayra] medical care afterwards,” according to a court affidavit.
"The father had called 911 when he arrived home and attempted to give CPR to the child," said Cpl. Ryan Winderweedle with Gwinnett County Police.
The couple were both arrested and appeared before a Gwinnett County judge in a hearing. "Bond has been denied on two of these," the judge told Natiela. "It says you’re a danger to somebody. You’re going to be here for a while."
Sayra’s loved ones are trying to get her back home to Cape Verde, Africa, so that she can be buried with her family.
To donate, click on the website of Levettfuneralhome and type in “Sayra Barros” in the search bar. You will be given a code to donate.
When Sayra’s father, Cledir Mendes Barros, came home, he called 911 and attempted to do CPR, but to no avail. When EMS officials arrived just after 2:15 p.m., medics determined the girl was dead.
The child’s father is not all who Natiela Barros called after the beating, according to the Gwinnett District Attorney’s Office. Barros also called a friend and a priest, prosecutors said.
Cledir Mendes Barros told his wife to pray over the girl after she became ill and fell unconscious, officials said. Once he arrived, they continued praying over Sayra for 10 to 20 minutes before calling 911, prosecutors said.
Both Cledir and Natiela Barros are facing murder charges as well as child cruelty counts. Both remain in the Gwinnett County Jail without bond,