Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. today announced the sentencing of RYAN CATO, 38, to 25 years-to-life in state prison for beating his girlfriend’s 10-year-old son, Ayden Wolfe, to death in March 2021. On March 6, 2025, a New York State Supreme Court jury found CATO guilty on all counts, including one count each of Murder in the Second Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
“Isolated from teachers and other responsible adults because of the pandemic, 10-year-old Ayden Wolfe was enduring horrific violence at the hands of his mother’s boyfriend. Ryan Cato brutally abused him, eventually killing Ayden in his own apartment,” said District Attorney Bragg. “While today’s sentencing will not bring back this innocent child, I hope it gives his loved ones a sense of comfort and closure in this abhorrent crime.”
As proven at trial, CATO began abusing Ayden Wolfe in January 2021, shortly after CATO started living with his girlfriend and her son on West 131st Street. Because of the pandemic, Ayden was attending elementary school remotely and went months without in-person interactions with teachers, counselors, or school nurses.
CATO made Ayden hold weights above his head while he repeatedly punched him. CATO filmed the abuse and sent it to his friends.
On March 5th, 2021, loud bangs were heard from inside their apartment. When his girlfriend yelled at CATO to stop, he threatened her.
The following day, loud banging and thuds were heard again from inside the apartment.
Several hours later, at approximately 2:20 p.m., Ayden’s mother called 911 and CATO took the phone from her. When the first responders arrived, they found 10-year-old Ayden Wolfe lying naked on the floor, without a pulse. The first responders did CPR and attempted to revive him. He was rushed to Harlem Hospital where doctors and nurses worked to try to save his life. Those efforts failed and Ayden Wolfe was pronounced dead at 4:20 p.m.
The Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the cause of death to be battered child syndrome. Ayden Wolfe had bruises across his body, broken ribs, a lacerated spleen, a lacerated liver, a lacerated kidney, and a lacerated renal vein, which resulted in hemorrhaging to the soft tissue.
Assistant D.A. Jonathon Junig (Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit) and Assistant D.A. Austin Minogue (Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Bureau) handled the prosecution of this case with Assistant D.A.s Nicole Blumberg (Chief of the Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Bureau) and Meghan McNulty (Special Victims Division), under the supervision of Executive Assistant D.A. Justin McNabney (Chief of the Special Victims Division).
D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Officer Christian Balbi of the 32nd Precinct Detective Squad, Detective Christopher French of the Manhattan North Homicide Squad, and Officer Sean Tyrrell of PSA 6.
Defendant Information:
RYAN CATO
New York, NY
Convicted:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, one count
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor, one count
Sentenced:
- 25 years-to-life in state prison
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