A 911 call from Merritt Island, Florida, revealed every parent’s nightmare — a two-month-old baby, cold and unresponsive in his bassinet. But what started as a mysterious infant death soon pointed to something far darker. As investigators pieced together text messages between the parents, Belle and Donovan Winter, medical reports, and interviews, the story that emerged would expose exhaustion, anger, and fatal neglect behind closed doors.
Pictures available in the Patreon
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Visit my site for more resources: https://wp.me/PdbuVw-X4f
**************************************
Do you have thoughts about this case, or is there a specific true crime case you’d like to hear about? Let me know with an email or a voice message: https://murderandlove.com/contact
Find the sources used in this episode and learn more about how to support Love and Murder: Heartbreak to Homicide and gain access to even more cases, including bonus episodes, ad-free and intro-free cases, case files and more at: https://murderandlove.com
Music:
℗ lesfreemusic
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/love-and-murder-heartbreak-to-homicide--4348896/support.
Pictures available in the Patreon
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Visit my site for more resources: https://wp.me/PdbuVw-X4f
**************************************
Do you have thoughts about this case, or is there a specific true crime case you’d like to hear about? Let me know with an email or a voice message: https://murderandlove.com/contact
Find the sources used in this episode and learn more about how to support Love and Murder: Heartbreak to Homicide and gain access to even more cases, including bonus episodes, ad-free and intro-free cases, case files and more at: https://murderandlove.com
Music:
℗ lesfreemusic
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/love-and-murder-heartbreak-to-homicide--4348896/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
At eight thirty on the morning of June first, twenty
twenty one, a nine to one to one call came
in from Merritt Island, Florida. On the line was a
young mother, twenty three year old Bell Winter. Her voice
was frantic as she told dispatches her two month old baby, Ryder,
was cold, stiff, and unresponsive. First responders arrived at the
(00:25):
home within minutes. They found Ryder face down in his
bassinet with a pacifier still in his mouth. Rigamortis had
already set in, meaning that the baby had already been
dead for hours.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Welcome to Love and Murder, Heartbreak to Homicide were Kai's
AI co hosts bringing you your Florida Man Friday case.
Written by Kai. This case isn't going to be easy
to hear. It involves a child, so please listen with
care and step away if you need to. These are
the kinds of stories that remind us why it's it's
(01:00):
so important to keep speaking up for those who can't.
Before we get started, remember that Love and Murder is
a listener funded podcast. You can join the lambfam at
patreon dot com slash Love and Murder to get bonus
episodes add free listening and extra case files, all while
helping us continue to be a voice for the victims.
(01:21):
Patreon dot com, slash Love and Murder. Now let's get
into today's Florida Man Friday case.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Two notes before we begin. First, child abuse warning ahead,
so listener discretion is advised. Second, this case is still ongoing,
so everything said here is alleged.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Ryde As parents, Bell and twenty six year old Donovan
Winter were described as inexperienced parents by investigators, and what
unfolded that morning was the result of a long night
of exhaustion, frustration, and neglect that ended in tragedy. Donovan
had once been a rising star, the son of a
former NFL player and a standout defensive end at Bishop
(02:02):
Moore High School in Orlando. He'd earned a football scholarship
to Michigan State University, but his plans derailed when he
got into legal trouble. Years later, he was living a
very different life, one far removed from the future people
once expected for him. The night before the nine one
one call, they'd gone to a social gathering with friends.
(02:23):
Witnesses said Ryder was alive and unhurt before they left.
Photos from the night showed him alert, healthy and content.
The couple returned home around one am. Belle said she
fed Ryder then took a shower, a two hour shower,
according to her statement. Donovan got home about fifteen minutes
(02:44):
after she did. Donovan told investigators that Ryder was fussy
and overtired when he tried to get him to sleep.
He described using a vertical hold while jumping up and
down with the baby trying to soothe him. At some point,
he admitted to putting Rider face down in the bassinet
with a pacifier, something that quieted him. Later, Donovan told
(03:07):
investigators he may have been a little rough with the baby,
but claimed he didn't realize his own strength and insisted
he didn't mean to hurt him. Belle said that after
her shower, she didn't check on Ryder. She simply climbed
into bed beside Donovan. The couple slept through the night
six full hours without once checking on their newborn. It
(03:30):
wasn't until Bell woke up and went to check on
Ryder the next morning that she started screaming. Donovan claimed
her screams woke him up.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
When she turned the deceedan over, she saw the decedent's
eyes were purple and his face was squished to one side.
She further advised the decedent's body was very stiff.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Police sent the infant's body to their medical examiner and
continued to watch Donovan and Bell as time went on.
After Ryder's death, they divorced and Bell moved from Vlucia County, Pennsylvania. Finally,
the baby's autopsy came back and it confirmed what investigators
were hoping against. Ryder died from multiple blunt force head injuries.
(04:10):
The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as homicide.
There were no old bruises or injuries, which told investigators
that this wasn't a pattern of ongoing abuse. The fatal
injuries happened that night. With that information, the Brevard County
Sheriff's Office began a lengthy and meticulous investigation. Detectives with
(04:31):
the homicide and crime scene units combed through medical reports,
cell phone records, and witness statements. Public Information Officer Todd
Goodyear explained that child death investigations often take time.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
These cases, as you know, they sometimes can take a
long time. When you're dealing with the child abuse case
such as this, You're having to deal with medical evidence.
The Department of Children and Families, child Protection Team, medical examiner,
and a lot of times you have more more than
one caretaker that may have had access to the child
during its life.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Digital forensics ended up being key. Deputies found out that
by the time of Ryder's death, Donovan and Bell's relationship
was already strained. They were young, overwhelmed and struggling with
sleepless nights, and an inconsolable baby. Over time, both parents
had sent angry text messages to each other about Ryder's
(05:24):
crying and their frustrations with trying to calm him down.
Investigators also recovered text messages from both parents showing their
frustration and anger on the night before Ryder's death. They
also confirmed through interviews and phone data that Donovan was
the last person to care for Ryder before he died. Allegedly,
(05:47):
between March thirty first, twenty twenty one, and June first,
the couple exchanged texts about how they wanted to try
to stop the crying. Donovan texted things like quote, I'm
done and oh, this kid is killing me. I can't
do it with this kid, and I'm done with this.
You already know what I'm going to do. Once, while
Bell was at work, Donovan texted her saying I'm tired.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
He's screaming and won't shut up.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
In another message, Donovan said, I'll do what.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
I normally do, easy as f he will be sleeping
twenty four to seven when you at work.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Ryder died on June first, twenty twenty one, and after
gathering enough information, the Breved County Grand Jury issued indictments
for both parents on July seventeenth, twenty twenty five. Donovan
was arrested first on June seventeenth, twenty twenty five, in
de Land by the US Marshals and the Breved County
(06:42):
Game Over Task Force. Bell was arrested in Pennsylvania and
extradited back to Florida, where she was booked into the
Breved County Jail on August eighteenth, with her arrest publicly
announced a few days later. During questioning, the couple was
asked if they ever shook the baby. Belle said that
she didn't, but Donovan said that he would move the
(07:05):
child around to try to make him happy. However, he
said he never did this in a violent way.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Donovan Winter provided inconsistent details regarding how he tried to
make the decedent happy when he threw the decedent into
the air but failed to catch him on the way down.
He finally admitted to throwing the decedent into the air
while he was standing and missed the catch. He advised
the incident occurred approximately two weeks prior to the decedent
being found deceased. Donovan Winter struggled with the decedent as
(07:36):
he was overtired and fussy, and Bell did not come
out to help or assist. Winter provided details of how
he prepared the decedent for bed by rocking him while
standing over the crib. He further stated he swayed the
decedent back and forth and admitted he may have been
a little rough as he didn't know his own strength.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Both parents were charged with first degree felony murder and
aggravated child They pled not guilty. Are currently being held
without bond at the Brevard County Jail and are being
tried separately. Donovan's bond hearing was held in August twenty
twenty five in Vieira, Florida, while Bell's next court appearance
(08:16):
was set for September sixteenth. During the bond hearing, Assistant
State attorney Julia Lynch argued that Donovan should remain behind
bars with no bond, citing the strength of the evidence.
She pointed to the medical examiner's findings, Rider's fatal blunt
force injuries, and the parent's own text messages showing their struggles.
(08:38):
She also highlighted Donovan's own words quote, I may have
been a little rough with the baby as I did
not know my own strength. The defense didn't offer much
detail about its strategy, but leaned on Donovan's statements that
he hadn't meant to hurt Ryder. Keep in mind that
both parents had initially told deputies they did not know
(08:58):
what happened to their baby. Circuit Judge Aaron Peacock denied
Donovan's request for bail. In his order, he wrote that
the proof of Donovan Winter's guilt is evident and the
presumption of a convictionate trial is great. Donovan remains in
the Brevett County Jail awaiting trial, as does Bell. Bell's
(09:20):
next hearing was scheduled for September sixteenth, but so far
KAI hasn't seen any updates. For now, there's no trial,
no verdict, no sentencing, just two parents sitting in separate
jail cells, both accused of killing the child they were
supposed to protect. What happened inside that Merritt Island home
on June first, twenty twenty one is still echoing through
(09:42):
the courtroom years later. Ryder's short life and the brutal
way it ended serves as a reminder that innocence can
vanish in an instant when neglect turns deadly.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
If you suspect child abuse, call the child Help National
Child Abuse Heartline at one eight high hundred for a
child or one eight hundred four two two forty four
fifty three, or go to Childhelp dot org. All calls
are toll free and confidential. The hotline is available twenty
four to seven in more than one hundred seventy languages.
(10:17):
You can also visit the lambsite for more resources Murderinlove
dot com.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
And that's it for this week's Florida Man Friday. What
did you think of this case? Let us know your
thoughts in the comments or over on Patreon. We always
love hearing from the lambfam. If you're not part of
the family yet, head over to patreon dot com slash
Love and Murder. You'll get ad free episodes, bonus content,
and exclusive cases that never make it to the public feed,
(10:45):
all while helping us continue to share victims stories and
keep this podcast going strong. Thanks for listening, thanks for
your support, and we'll see you in the next episode.
At eight thirty on the morning of June first, twenty
twenty one, a nine to one to one call came
in from Merritt Island, Florida. On the line was a
young mother, twenty three year old Bell Winter. Her voice
was frantic as she told dispatches her two month old baby, Ryder,
was cold, stiff, and unresponsive. First responders arrived at the
(00:25):
home within minutes. They found Ryder face down in his
bassinet with a pacifier still in his mouth. Rigamortis had
already set in, meaning that the baby had already been
dead for hours.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Welcome to Love and Murder, Heartbreak to Homicide were Kai's
AI co hosts bringing you your Florida Man Friday case.
Written by Kai. This case isn't going to be easy
to hear. It involves a child, so please listen with
care and step away if you need to. These are
the kinds of stories that remind us why it's it's
(01:00):
so important to keep speaking up for those who can't.
Before we get started, remember that Love and Murder is
a listener funded podcast. You can join the lambfam at
patreon dot com slash Love and Murder to get bonus
episodes add free listening and extra case files, all while
helping us continue to be a voice for the victims.
(01:21):
Patreon dot com, slash Love and Murder. Now let's get
into today's Florida Man Friday case.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Two notes before we begin. First, child abuse warning ahead,
so listener discretion is advised. Second, this case is still ongoing,
so everything said here is alleged.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Ryde As parents, Bell and twenty six year old Donovan
Winter were described as inexperienced parents by investigators, and what
unfolded that morning was the result of a long night
of exhaustion, frustration, and neglect that ended in tragedy. Donovan
had once been a rising star, the son of a
former NFL player and a standout defensive end at Bishop
(02:02):
Moore High School in Orlando. He'd earned a football scholarship
to Michigan State University, but his plans derailed when he
got into legal trouble. Years later, he was living a
very different life, one far removed from the future people
once expected for him. The night before the nine one
one call, they'd gone to a social gathering with friends.
(02:23):
Witnesses said Ryder was alive and unhurt before they left.
Photos from the night showed him alert, healthy and content.
The couple returned home around one am. Belle said she
fed Ryder then took a shower, a two hour shower,
according to her statement. Donovan got home about fifteen minutes
(02:44):
after she did. Donovan told investigators that Ryder was fussy
and overtired when he tried to get him to sleep.
He described using a vertical hold while jumping up and
down with the baby trying to soothe him. At some point,
he admitted to putting Rider face down in the bassinet
with a pacifier, something that quieted him. Later, Donovan told
(03:07):
investigators he may have been a little rough with the baby,
but claimed he didn't realize his own strength and insisted
he didn't mean to hurt him. Belle said that after
her shower, she didn't check on Ryder. She simply climbed
into bed beside Donovan. The couple slept through the night
six full hours without once checking on their newborn. It
(03:30):
wasn't until Bell woke up and went to check on
Ryder the next morning that she started screaming. Donovan claimed
her screams woke him up.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
When she turned the deceedan over, she saw the decedent's
eyes were purple and his face was squished to one side.
She further advised the decedent's body was very stiff.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Police sent the infant's body to their medical examiner and
continued to watch Donovan and Bell as time went on.
After Ryder's death, they divorced and Bell moved from Vlucia County, Pennsylvania. Finally,
the baby's autopsy came back and it confirmed what investigators
were hoping against. Ryder died from multiple blunt force head injuries.
(04:10):
The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as homicide.
There were no old bruises or injuries, which told investigators
that this wasn't a pattern of ongoing abuse. The fatal
injuries happened that night. With that information, the Brevard County
Sheriff's Office began a lengthy and meticulous investigation. Detectives with
(04:31):
the homicide and crime scene units combed through medical reports,
cell phone records, and witness statements. Public Information Officer Todd
Goodyear explained that child death investigations often take time.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
These cases, as you know, they sometimes can take a
long time. When you're dealing with the child abuse case
such as this, You're having to deal with medical evidence.
The Department of Children and Families, child Protection Team, medical examiner,
and a lot of times you have more more than
one caretaker that may have had access to the child
during its life.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Digital forensics ended up being key. Deputies found out that
by the time of Ryder's death, Donovan and Bell's relationship
was already strained. They were young, overwhelmed and struggling with
sleepless nights, and an inconsolable baby. Over time, both parents
had sent angry text messages to each other about Ryder's
(05:24):
crying and their frustrations with trying to calm him down.
Investigators also recovered text messages from both parents showing their
frustration and anger on the night before Ryder's death. They
also confirmed through interviews and phone data that Donovan was
the last person to care for Ryder before he died. Allegedly,
(05:47):
between March thirty first, twenty twenty one, and June first,
the couple exchanged texts about how they wanted to try
to stop the crying. Donovan texted things like quote, I'm
done and oh, this kid is killing me. I can't
do it with this kid, and I'm done with this.
You already know what I'm going to do. Once, while
Bell was at work, Donovan texted her saying I'm tired.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
He's screaming and won't shut up.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
In another message, Donovan said, I'll do what.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
I normally do, easy as f he will be sleeping
twenty four to seven when you at work.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Ryder died on June first, twenty twenty one, and after
gathering enough information, the Breved County Grand Jury issued indictments
for both parents on July seventeenth, twenty twenty five. Donovan
was arrested first on June seventeenth, twenty twenty five, in
de Land by the US Marshals and the Breved County
(06:42):
Game Over Task Force. Bell was arrested in Pennsylvania and
extradited back to Florida, where she was booked into the
Breved County Jail on August eighteenth, with her arrest publicly
announced a few days later. During questioning, the couple was
asked if they ever shook the baby. Belle said that
she didn't, but Donovan said that he would move the
(07:05):
child around to try to make him happy. However, he
said he never did this in a violent way.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Donovan Winter provided inconsistent details regarding how he tried to
make the decedent happy when he threw the decedent into
the air but failed to catch him on the way down.
He finally admitted to throwing the decedent into the air
while he was standing and missed the catch. He advised
the incident occurred approximately two weeks prior to the decedent
being found deceased. Donovan Winter struggled with the decedent as
(07:36):
he was overtired and fussy, and Bell did not come
out to help or assist. Winter provided details of how
he prepared the decedent for bed by rocking him while
standing over the crib. He further stated he swayed the
decedent back and forth and admitted he may have been
a little rough as he didn't know his own strength.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Both parents were charged with first degree felony murder and
aggravated child They pled not guilty. Are currently being held
without bond at the Brevard County Jail and are being
tried separately. Donovan's bond hearing was held in August twenty
twenty five in Vieira, Florida, while Bell's next court appearance
(08:16):
was set for September sixteenth. During the bond hearing, Assistant
State attorney Julia Lynch argued that Donovan should remain behind
bars with no bond, citing the strength of the evidence.
She pointed to the medical examiner's findings, Rider's fatal blunt
force injuries, and the parent's own text messages showing their struggles.
(08:38):
She also highlighted Donovan's own words quote, I may have
been a little rough with the baby as I did
not know my own strength. The defense didn't offer much
detail about its strategy, but leaned on Donovan's statements that
he hadn't meant to hurt Ryder. Keep in mind that
both parents had initially told deputies they did not know
(08:58):
what happened to their baby. Circuit Judge Aaron Peacock denied
Donovan's request for bail. In his order, he wrote that
the proof of Donovan Winter's guilt is evident and the
presumption of a convictionate trial is great. Donovan remains in
the Brevett County Jail awaiting trial, as does Bell. Bell's
(09:20):
next hearing was scheduled for September sixteenth, but so far
KAI hasn't seen any updates. For now, there's no trial,
no verdict, no sentencing, just two parents sitting in separate
jail cells, both accused of killing the child they were
supposed to protect. What happened inside that Merritt Island home
on June first, twenty twenty one is still echoing through
(09:42):
the courtroom years later. Ryder's short life and the brutal
way it ended serves as a reminder that innocence can
vanish in an instant when neglect turns deadly.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
If you suspect child abuse, call the child Help National
Child Abuse Heartline at one eight high hundred for a
child or one eight hundred four two two forty four
fifty three, or go to Childhelp dot org. All calls
are toll free and confidential. The hotline is available twenty
four to seven in more than one hundred seventy languages.
(10:17):
You can also visit the lambsite for more resources Murderinlove
dot com.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
And that's it for this week's Florida Man Friday. What
did you think of this case? Let us know your
thoughts in the comments or over on Patreon. We always
love hearing from the lambfam. If you're not part of
the family yet, head over to patreon dot com slash
Love and Murder. You'll get ad free episodes, bonus content,
and exclusive cases that never make it to the public feed,
(10:45):
all while helping us continue to share victims stories and
keep this podcast going strong. Thanks for listening, thanks for
your support, and we'll see you in the next episode.
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