Self-Described “Witch Doctor” Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Murder of Missing Mom

Shannon Ryan, 44, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2020 murder of Leila Cavett, a young mother whose body has never been found. Her family pleaded with him in court to reveal what happened to her and where her remains might be.

Life Sentence After Six Years of Unanswered Questions

A Florida judge sentenced Shannon Ryan to life in prison without parole on October 23, 2026, after a jury convicted him of second-degree murder in September in connection with the disappearance of 21-year-old Leila Cavett.

Cavett disappeared in South Florida in July 2020 while visiting from Georgia. More than six years later, investigators have never recovered her body, leaving her family without the opportunity to give her a proper burial.

Ryan, who has described himself as a witch and chakra practitioner, showed no visible reaction as the judge announced the sentence, according to CBS Miami.

His defense attorneys had requested a substantially shorter sentence. Ryan has said he plans to appeal his conviction and has 30 days to file a motion.

Young Mother Disappeared in July 2020

Cavett was last seen on July 25, 2020, at a gas station in Hollywood, Florida. The following day, her two-year-old son was found wandering alone near an apartment complex in nearby Miramar.

The discovery triggered an urgent search for the child’s mother. Authorities later located Cavett’s white Chevrolet pickup truck in a Walmart parking lot near the border of Miramar and Hollywood.

Investigators worked to reconstruct Cavett’s final known movements and determine who had last seen her. Their investigation eventually focused on Ryan, who had told authorities that Cavett came to Florida to sell him her truck.

Ryan claimed that she had subsequently left with two unidentified men. Prosecutors challenged that account, pointing to surveillance footage and other evidence they said contradicted his version of events.

Surveillance Footage and Purchases Examined

Because Cavett’s body was never recovered, prosecutors built their case largely on circumstantial evidence, including surveillance recordings, purchases and Ryan’s statements to investigators.

Court documents described footage that allegedly showed Ryan carrying a large garbage bag toward a dumpster at a nearby gas station around the time of Cavett’s disappearance.

Investigators also said Ryan purchased trash bags, duct tape and carpet odor eliminator at Walmart. Prosecutors argued that the purchases and other evidence supported their case against him.

During the trial, Ryan testified that the items were used to clean garbage from his vehicle and the truck he had purchased from Cavett.

The defense argued that prosecutors had not established beyond a reasonable doubt that Ryan murdered her. Nevertheless, the jury found him guilty of second-degree murder in September 2026.

Family Pleads for Answers in Court

The sentencing hearing brought renewed attention to the pain Cavett’s family has endured since she disappeared.

Her sister, Gina Cavett, told the court that Leila was more than a victim: she was a daughter, sister and mother.

Her brother, Curtis Cavett Jr., directly challenged Ryan to explain what happened to her and disclose where her remains could be found.

The family hopes that Ryan will eventually provide information that allows investigators to recover Cavett’s body and bring her home for burial.

Ryan declined the judge’s invitation to make a statement before sentencing.

Son Shares Heartbreaking Message

Cavett’s son, who was only two years old when his mother vanished, was represented at the hearing by a victim advocate who read his statement aloud.

Now eight years old, the boy said he remembers little about his mother because he was so young when she disappeared. He expressed a wish that she could be there to spend time with him, go riding and share meals together.

His message underscored the lasting impact of Cavett’s disappearance on her family, particularly the child who was left without his mother.

Body Has Never Been Found

Investigators previously searched areas where they believed Cavett’s remains might have been discarded, including a landfill in Broward County. Those searches did not recover her body.

Despite the life sentence, the family continues to face uncertainty about the final moments of Cavett’s life and the location of her remains.

Ryan’s conviction brings the criminal case to a significant milestone, but it has not answered every question surrounding the disappearance.

For Cavett’s family, the hope remains that Ryan will eventually reveal what happened and help them bring Leila home for a proper burial.

Sources: PEOPLE