Born in 1980 in the United States, Sayeh Rivazfar was the eldest child of Patricia and Amad Rivazfar. Amad, of Middle Eastern descent, and Patricia initially found joy in raising their family in Pensacola, Florida, where they welcomed two more children: Sara and Arash. While the early years were filled with happiness, tensions soon surfaced. Patricia’s unpredictable temperament clashed with Amad’s parenting concerns, creating a volatile home environment.
By the time Sayeh Rivazfar was five, the couple’s differences culminated in a contentious divorce. Patricia was granted custody of the children, despite Amad’s fears about her ability to care for them. Feeling defeated, he relocated to Rochester, New York, where he rebuilt his life and remarried. Although he continued to support his children financially, Amad remained troubled by the unsettling reports from their home in Florida.
A Troubled Home
Life with Patricia was far from stable. Substance abuse and neglect characterized much of her parenting. Frequent run-ins with the law and her erratic relationships exposed her children to unpredictable and often dangerous circumstances. Patricia’s discipline was excessively harsh—she even forced her children to hold lit cigarettes as punishment. Amid the chaos, Sayeh Rivazfar became a surrogate mother to her siblings, cooking meals, ensuring they caught the school bus, and absorbing the brunt of Patricia’s frustrations.
Sayeh Rivazfar and Sara, who shared a bunk bed and were often mistaken for twins, found solace in their bond. Together, they weathered their mother’s violent outbursts and frequent absences. But the arrival of one of Patricia’s boyfriends, Raymond Warfield Wike, brought an even darker shadow into their lives.
Ray’s Arrival
At first, Ray seemed like a kind figure, showering the children with gifts and attention. However, Sayeh’s instincts warned her of his unsettling behavior. Preferring the company of children over adults, Ray exhibited troubling tendencies that eventually escalated into physical abuse. He silenced Sayeh Rivazfar with threats, warning that he would harm her entire family if she spoke out.
For nearly a year, Sayeh Rivazfar endured Ray’s assaults in silence, sacrificing her safety to protect her younger siblings. Relief came when Patricia ended her relationship with Ray, but her chaotic lifestyle persisted. Parties, substance use, and neglect left Sayeh Rivazfar, now only eight years old, to continue caring for her siblings.
The Night That Changed Everything
On the night of September 21, 1988, Patricia left for a party, leaving the children alone once again. Sayeh Rivazfar, forced to act as both sister and caretaker, prepared the house for the next day. She laid out the breakfast table and had Sara sleep in her school clothes to save time in the morning. Exhausted, the girls fell asleep, unaware of the horrors awaiting them.
Sayeh woke in the middle of the night to find Ray pulling her out of the house, claiming he was taking her to her mother. Realizing the danger, she tried to resist, but Ray was relentless. He loaded her into his green car before returning for six-year-old Sara. Once both girls were in the car, he drove them to a secluded dirt path.
In a chilling act of deception, Ray tied Sara’s hands and feet, promising they would be reunited with their mother if they complied. What followed was a horrifying assault on Sayeh Rivazfar that lasted until dawn, forever altering the course of her life.
As daylight began to break, Ray’s urgency grew. He ordered Sayeh Rivazfar and Sara to follow him into the woods, away from the dirt road. About 150 feet into the forest, he halted and chillingly instructed the girls to pray. Then, without warning, he drew a large knife with a black handle and stabbed Sayeh Rivazfar, leaving her drenched in blood. Overwhelmed with pain and terror, she collapsed but remained conscious, choosing to play dead in hopes of escaping further attack.
Sayeh then heard Ray turn his attention to Sara, who struggled in vain as he used the same knife against her. Convinced that both girls were lifeless, Ray walked over Sayeh’s body, returned to his car, and drove away. The silence that followed gave Sayeh Rivazfar the courage to act. She crawled to Sara, desperately trying to wake her, but it was too late—Sara had succumbed to her injuries.
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The Fight for Survival
Terrified and bleeding profusely, Sayeh gathered her strength and stumbled toward a nearby rural road. There, a compassionate couple noticed the young girl in distress and stopped to help. At approximately 6:30 AM, they contacted emergency services. Sayeh Rivazfar, despite her critical condition, managed to recount the horrific events, providing the attacker’s name—Ray—and describing his green car.
Sayeh was rushed to the hospital, where medical teams worked tirelessly to save her. Reports later revealed that she required resuscitation three times due to severe blood loss. Doctors acknowledged that her survival was nothing short of miraculous, as the knife had narrowly missed her jugular vein by mere millimeters. One doctor told Sayeh that she survived “by the grace of God.”
Sayeh’s detailed testimony proved instrumental. Law enforcement quickly identified Ray Warfield Wike as the prime suspect. Officers located him at his parents’ house, along with the green car and bloodstained clothes. When they knocked, there was no response, but a phone call to the house was answered by Ray himself. Claiming to have been asleep, he was warned that the house was surrounded and surrendered without resistance.
The investigation uncovered irrefutable evidence tying Ray to the crime. Searches of Patricia’s home, Ray’s residence, and his car revealed disturbing findings, including bloodstains, tire tracks, and scraps of fabric. Medical reports confirmed the assault on Sayeh Rivazfar, further strengthening the case.
The trial began in mid-1989, with Ray pleading not guilty to charges of murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, and attempted murder. Despite his claims of innocence, the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence, including Sayeh’s courageous testimony. At just nine years old, she bravely recounted the events in court, staring down the man who had inflicted such pain on her family.
Police officers corroborated her account, describing how Sayeh Rivazfar’s information led them to Sara’s body. Found bound hand and foot, Sara had suffered a fatal neck wound. Evidence from the crime scene, including footprints, tire tracks, and bloodstains, matched Ray’s car, clothing, and DNA.
The Verdict and Sentence
Ray’s defense argued that the evidence from his home and car should be dismissed due to the lack of a warrant. However, the judge ruled that exigent circumstances justified the arrest and evidence collection. Even without those items, the testimony and other evidence were sufficient to secure a conviction.
After deliberation, the jury unanimously found Ray guilty on all counts: first-degree murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, and attempted murder. They recommended the death penalty, a decision upheld by the judge. Ray was sentenced to death, but his legal battles would continue as he sought appeals.
After his conviction, Ray Wike began a relentless campaign of appeals, keeping his case in the public eye for years. From his prison cell, he sent threatening letters to Sayeh, attempting to intimidate her even as she rebuilt her life. However, Sayeh Rivazfar, now living with her father, Amad, and stepmother in a stable and loving home, felt safer than ever. She and her brother Arash thrived in their new environment, excelling in school and bonding with their extended family.
The peace Sayeh and Arash had found was short-lived. Despite her history of abuse and neglect, Patricia sought to regain custody of her children, prompting a bitter legal battle. Florida courts entertained her request, and during the proceedings, Sayeh Rivazfar and Arash were forced to spend holidays with Patricia.
These visits were traumatic. Patricia’s abusive behavior resumed, including beatings, cigarette burns, and degrading insults. As they grew older, the siblings adamantly refused to see her, pleading with their father to intervene. Amad turned to New York’s judicial system to protect his children’s rights, but Florida courts resisted, maintaining that Patricia bore no responsibility for Ray’s attack.
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Sayeh Rivazfar Takes a Stand
As she neared adulthood, Sayeh became the driving force behind a public campaign against the injustice of forcing children to live with abusive parents. Her efforts garnered overwhelming community support. Hundreds joined the Rivazfar family in a demonstration, urging Patricia to withdraw her custody petition. Realizing that Sayeh would soon turn 18 and could not be forced to return, Patricia relented, abandoning her claim. She showed no interest in caring for Arash without Sayeh.
Sayeh Rivazfar later credited her father, Amad, as her unwavering source of strength. His love and patience helped her heal and move forward. Both Sayeh and Amad expressed frustration that cultural biases may have influenced the court’s initial decisions, granting custody to an unfit mother.
After graduating high school, Sayeh pursued her passion for justice, earning a degree in criminal justice. In 1996, she joined the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Board, and by 2003, she was a New York State Police officer.
In 2004, news arrived that Ray had died of cancer after spending 15 years filing appeals to avoid the death penalty. Before his death, he sent Sayeh a final letter, mocking her and recounting her trauma. Rather than succumbing to anger, Sayeh Rivazfar used the moment to reflect on her resilience and how far she had come.
Rebuilding and Advocating
Sayeh’s determination to rise above her past led her to a life filled with purpose and love. She married her partner, Kelly, in 2010, and they welcomed their son, Noah, two years later. By 2016, she was promoted to investigator within the New York State Police, a role that allowed her to further her mission for justice.
Her advocacy work gained widespread recognition, particularly for her emphasis on monitoring and managing sex offenders. She highlighted the gaps in the system that allowed Ray’s past crimes to remain hidden, which ultimately placed her and Sara in harm’s way.
Sayeh’s story became a beacon of hope for survivors of abuse and violence. For over a decade, she has shared her experiences with diverse audiences, including victims’ families, law enforcement, policymakers, and community organizations. Her focus on prevention, intervention, and recovery has inspired countless individuals to seek healing and justice.
Through her work, Sayeh honors Sara’s memory and fights to protect vulnerable children from similar horrors. Her journey is not just one of survival but transformation, as she turned unimaginable pain into a lifelong commitment to justice and advocacy.
The story of the Rivazfar sisters is a testament to the power of resilience. Against overwhelming odds, Sayeh rebuilt her life and became a symbol of strength for those facing abuse. Her dedication to justice and her commitment to honoring her sister’s memory have made her an inspiration to many.
Sayeh’s message is clear: even in the face of unimaginable tragedy, hope and determination can light the path to healing.
