(Lawrenceville, Ga. - 9/16/25) – A Gwinnett County man was sentenced to 10 years for allowing his wife to continue a pattern of alleged abuse that resulted in the tragic death of his 8-year-old daughter.

A Gwinnett County jury on Monday convicted Cledir Barros, 38, of second-degree cruelty to children in connection with the murder of Sayra Barros.

“We extend our condolences to the three young girls who tragically lost their sister,” said Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “This beautiful girl needed her father to protect her. He failed to do that.”

On the day of the incident, the stepmother got angry with young Sayra for not doing her schoolwork, and allegedly went to the kitchen to retrieve a wooden rolling pin. The stepmother was charged with murder and her case is pending.

During trial, jurors learned that Barros knew since August 2022 that his wife was abusing Sayra. Teachers from Harbins Elementary School in Dacula testified during the trial that, when Sayra came to class injured, the teachers reported those injuries out of concern for her safety. Barros pulled the girl from school when teachers began to question the parents. And despite knowledge of his wife’s abuse, he left Sayra with the stepmother to home school her.

Barros was sentenced to 10 years in prison to serve eight years and is prohibited from having contact with his remaining three children.

SVU prosecutors Managing Assistant District Attorney Megan Matteucci and Assistant District Attorney Scott Estes prosecuted the case. The Gwinnett County Police Department was invaluable in helping to prosecute this case.