PORT CHARLOTTE, FL – A Charlotte County judge on Monday sentenced a 33-year-old man to death for the 2019 murder of a 15-year-old boy who died while shielding his younger sister during a home invasion.

Ryan Cole received the death penalty following the jury’s 10-2 recommendation for his conviction in the killing of Khyler Edman. Earlier this year, jurors found Cole guilty of first-degree murder and burglary after a trial that recounted harrowing details of the September attack.

Prosecutors described Cole as desperate and under the influence of heroin and methamphetamine when he broke into the Edman residence on September 26, 2019. Believing he might find drugs or cash, Cole forced entry into the home’s carport in the late afternoon.

Inside, 15-year-old Khyler and his 5-year-old sister were alone, with their mother away at work. As Cole entered the kitchen, Khyler armed himself with a chef’s knife in an attempt to defend both himself and his sister. Home surveillance footage captured part of the violent encounter, in which Cole could be heard taunting the teenager.

Authorities said Cole stabbed Khyler multiple times in the chest and abdomen, killing him in the house. The young boy’s sister managed to hide under a bed and was left physically unharmed. Police later apprehended Cole nearby, noticing he had injuries consistent with having seized the knife during a struggle.

At trial, prosecutors argued the crime was especially cruel, pointing to the fact that Cole persisted in his attack even after discovering the home was occupied. They contended the murder was aggravated by its occurrence during a burglary and by its particularly brutal nature.

Defense attorneys asked for leniency, suggesting a life sentence without parole would be a severe and humane punishment, and that such a sentence would force Cole to confront the consequences of his actions for the rest of his natural life. The argument did not sway the judge, who imposed the ultimate penalty supported by the majority of jurors.

Florida law now allows juries to recommend a death sentence with a minimum of eight votes, a change enacted by lawmakers after controversy over a 2022 mass shooting verdict in which a jury had opted for life imprisonment rather than execution.

Following the sentencing, local officials said justice was served in the case. Law enforcement expressed relief at the conclusion of the legal process, describing it as a justified outcome for a devastating crime.

Family members of Khyler Edman, including his aunt, described ongoing heartbreak and an enduring sense of loss as they continue to cope with the teenager’s absence. Relatives recalled Khyler’s bravery in the final moments of his life, emphasizing the irreplaceable void left behind.

“It’s something we struggle to understand,” one family member said. “He mattered, and he still matters.”