13/04/2025
Patricia Stallings is an American woman wrongfully convicted of murdering her son, Ryan Stallings, in 1989 due to suspected antifreeze poisoning.
Patricia three-month-old son, Ryan, was hospitalized in Missouri after showing symptoms like lethargy and difficulty breathing. Tests indicated high levels of ethylene glycol (a component of antifreeze), leading authorities to suspect poisoning. Ryan died shortly after being placed in protective custody, and Patricia was arrested and charged with his murder. Antifreeze was found in the family's home, further supporting the accusation. She was convicted in 1991 and sentenced to life without parole.
While awaiting trial, Patricia gave birth to her second son, David Jr., who was placed into foster care. David Jr. began exhibiting similar symptoms to Ryan despite having no contact with his mother. He was diagnosed with methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), a rare genetic disorder that can mimic antifreeze poisoning by producing substances like propionic acid that resemble ethylene glycol in tests.
The diagnosis led experts to reexamine Ryan's death. A biochemist tested Ryan's blood and confirmed that he had also died from MMA, not poisoning. This revelation prompted prosecutors to dismiss the charges against Patricia Stallings in 1991, and she was released after nearly two years in prison.
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