Lawrenceville parents indicted in murder of 8-year-old beaten with wooden rolling pin

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA – A Gwinnett County grand jury on Thursday, April 25, indicted a Lawrenceville father and stepmother accused of killing a young girl, then delaying a call for emergency medical aid. 

The stepmother, Natiela Barros, 34, is charged with malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault and cruelty to children for the Jan. 30, 2024 death of 8-year-old Sayra Barros. The child’s father, Cledir Mendes Barros, 37, is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of child cruelty. 

“These defendants were supposed to protect and care for Sayra Barros. That was their primary responsibility as parents,” said Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “No child deserves the treatment that Sayra was exposed to, and our SVU team will work diligently to ensure that these defendants face justice for what they did.” 

According to the investigation, Natiela Barros became angry with Sayra for playing with her toast during breakfast and not beginning to do her schoolwork after giving the child an initial spanking. When Natiela Barros discovered Sayra was not on task, she went to the kitchen to retrieve a wooden rolling pin. She returned and began striking the child near the back of neck between 10 and 20 times, authorities said. The child aid she felt ill, and eventually lost consciousness. 

Natiela Barros called her husband Cledir Barros, Sayra’s biological father, who was at work to tell him what happened. He told his wife to pray and came home. She then called a friend and a priest. When Cledir Barros arrived, he prayed over the unconscious child for between 10 and 20 minutes before calling 911 for emergency medical aid, according to the investigation. 

Both defendants are being held in the Gwinnett County Jail without bond.