Woman kills child, attempts to kill another, slashes self with knife – police

Last Updated on Sunday, 5 April 2026, 22:50 by Writer

A 26-year-old woman on Sunday allegedly killed her seven-year old daughter by suffocation and attempted to kill her 21-month-old son by the same means at their Fyrish Road, Corentyne, Berbice residence, police said.

The Guyana Police Force said the boy was treated and discharged, but his mother was hospitalised for further medical treatment after slashing herself with a knife.

She was discovered lying on a mattress, bleeding from injuries to the back of both ankles, police added.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud said, “the Child Protection Agency in Berbice has reached out and is offering support to the child and family at this time.”

Investigators said they retrieved a brown handle knife on the floor next to the mattress where the ordeal allegedly occurred.

A 59-year-old woman said she rushed to her daughter’s home after she received a call from her niece telling her that she was a Facebook post by her daughter which read “this is our last pic”.

The middle-aged woman said she rushed to her daughter’s residence where she received a neighbour’s assistance to break the padlock on the door after she called and no one answered.

In addition to seeing the bleeding mother, police were informed that the seven-year-old girl was seen lying motionless nearby, while her brother was in a semi-conscious-state.

The woman reportedly said she was “experiencing frustration” as her 30-year-old husband, who works with the Guyana Sugar Corporation, left their home several days before and refused to return.

The woman said she awoke on Sunday and had nothing to eat, after which she took a pillow and placed it over the heads of her children in an attempt to suffocate them, police said they were told.

The Minister of Human Services and Social Security said “apparently the mother did not reach out for assistance.”

“So sad and heartbreaking – a little child has lost her life most horrifically at the hands of her mother. This is hard for anyone to comprehend. Her brother thankfully made it and the mother is in hospital. An investigation is ongoing by the Guyana Police Force and there will be more clarity as to why this happened.”

Dr Persaud said mental health is fragile for many people, and many times people do not reach out to the health system for help for many reasons.

She said that, as a society, everyone has to be less judgmental when people reach out, making it less stigmatized, encouraging more people to seek help.

She said the Ministry of Health addresses mental health and suicide, has systems, “and is the place to reach out to for help.”