The Murder Of Ryan Stallings: How “Unsolved Mysteries” Solved This Genetic Mystery
On July 9, 1989, Patricia Stallings rushed her baby son, Ryan, to the hospital. She was deeply concerned as there seemed to be no logical explanation for his violent illness. After running a series of tests, doctors made a shocking discovery – ethylene glycol, the main ingredient in antifreeze, was found in the baby’s blood[^1^].
A Mother’s Disturbing Suspicions
With the suspicion that her own mother had poisoned him, Ryan Stallings was promptly placed in protective custody and subsequently sent to foster care upon his release from the hospital[^1^]. Despite this, Patricia Stallings was granted supervised visits with her son[^1^]. Tragically, just days after one such visit, Ryan was rushed to the hospital under suspicion of ethylene glycol poisoning and passed away on September 7, 1989[^1^].
A Curious Parallel
At the time of Patricia’s arrest, she was pregnant with her second child. Shockingly, this child, David Stallings Jr., also had large amounts of ethylene glycol in his bloodstream[^1^]. What made this puzzling was the fact that David Jr. had been in protective custody since birth and had no contact with his mother[^1^]. However, this curiosity would turn out to be the key to solving Patricia’s case.
“Unsolved Mysteries” to the Rescue
In 1991, Patricia Stallings was convicted of Ryan Stallings’ murder and sentenced to life in prison. However, a glimmer of hope emerged when an episode of “Unsolved Mysteries” featuring Ryan’s case aired later that year[^1^]. The episode caught the attention of William Sly, a professor and chairman of the department of biochemistry and molecular biology at St. Louis University[^1^].
Uncovering the Truth
Driven by his curiosity, William Sly conducted tests on Ryan’s blood and made a groundbreaking discovery. Ryan had been suffering from a rare genetic disease called methylmalonic acidemia (MMA)[^1^]. Astonishingly, the same disease affected his surviving brother, David Jr.[^1^]. Armed with this new evidence, prosecutor George B. McElroy requested a new trial[^1^].
Justice Prevails
As a result of the new trial, Patricia Stallings was found innocent of all charges[^1^]. Recognizing their grave mistake, McElroy personally apologized to the family and returned David Jr. to their custody[^1^]. Additionally, the Stallings family filed a lawsuit against the labs and the hospital, ultimately settling for several million dollars[^1^].
This sensational story highlights the power of “Unsolved Mysteries” and the essential role it played in shedding light on a perplexing case. The determination of experts, combined with the persistence of justice, helped unravel the truth and grant an innocent woman her freedom.