Queens Mom and Grandma Ignited Young Girl in Voodoo Ritual

A Queens Village mother and grandmother have been charged with assault and endangering the welfare of a child after permanently scarring a six-year-old girl in a Voodoo ritual where they engulfed her in flames. 29-year-old Marie Lauradin and 70-year-old Sylvenie Thessier are accused of pouring rum both onto the head of young Frantzcia Saintil and in a circle around her and then lighting both on fire. After performing the "Loa" ritual, the pair doused the girl in ice cold water and put her to bed. Lauradin, a recent Haitian immigrant, and her mother were allegedly helped by a friend named "Sketch," who has not been charged. The Daily News reports, "Lauradin initially claimed she was boiling rice in a pot when the girl 'startled' her, causing her to spill the scalding water on her." She could face up to 25 years if convicted.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Billy Parker in News on June 18, 2009 5:37 PM

Comments [rss]

nik13

Send them back to Haiti. More than enough of punishment.

Stewart

I agree. Voodoo makes me sick. You should go to jail for sacrificing animals and burning children. Better, yet, you should have to go to a Haitian jail.

NannyState

Bring the Ton Ton Macoute here to keep these Vodou types in line.

longacre

There's all kinds of santeria and voodoo stuff in Queens Village. People used to leave dead dogs on the LIRR tracks as sacrifices (they were clearly not hit by trains, and always in the same spot) and there glue santeria messages, written on lotto tickets, onto bus shelters.

longacre

Oops, "there glue" should read "they'd glue."

kellas

Rule of thumb: Never befriend anyone named "Sketch."

Amanda Harletsch

Another one for religion!

gregorsamsa77

Sorry honey but witchcraft does not qualify as religion. We can have that anthropological discussion later if you need to be convinced (I bet you do, don't you, you fucking sycophant) but for the time being consider that.

Amanda Harletsch

I bet you argument defends organized religion in the most condescending way; the only way organized religion knows, honey!

And BTW, calling people psycos is not an argument.

tsol

Word has it that the City Council's Education Panel have approved Voodoo holidays.

Think2wice

What a goddamn retard!

After performing the "Loa" ritual, the pair doused the girl in ice cold water and put her to bed.

With a glass of milk and a bedtime story!? Fuck some this superstitious, shaman, home therapy, bull-shit. My sister works in an ER and told me of this little Asian boy who scraped his knee. Some know-it-all from the old country had the genius idea of putting a poultice of raw garlic on the wound. The kid came back the next day with blisters on the wound because of the garlic acid.

r1b2

That said...

firewire

i don't see what's wrong with this. i set myself on fire and then take a cold shower every night before i tuck myself into bed. it's really the only way i can sleep.

Gnomie

Y'know, I can't remember ever seeing a post of yours that hasn't been double posted. Do the Gothamist gods just not like you or something?

r1b2

And I've written in asking why I seem to be targeted like this. The double-posting is obviously a bug, and one about which the editors don't seem to care. To all readers: I am really sorry for all the extra space wasted on my foolish comments.

Potty Boy

Are you hitting refresh after posting? That's my current theory.

NannyState

You might want to scarifice a white chicken every other day to get this spirit out your computer. Be sure to shake kwa kwa so Gran Met-la hear your prayer to release you from the evil Djab.

Rocknrope

What browser are you using? I suffered from the same indignities until I upgraded to IE 7. Now it only seems to happen if coincidentally someone is posting at the very same time.

militza

that's ok, I forgive you.

r1b2

Yes, I think that with NYC being a melting pot,we need to be sensitive to everyone's cultural differences. taht said, if you're doing voodoo and it involves dousing a 6-year old with rum and setting her ablaze, please stay away from my kid. And perhaps don't open any day-care centers in Richmond Hill while you're hitting the NyQil.

r1b2

Yes, I think that with NYC being a melting pot,we need to be sensitive to everyone's cultural differences. taht said, if you're doing voodoo and it involves dousing a 6-year old with rum and setting her ablaze, please stay away from my kid. And perhaps don't open any day-care centers in Richmond Hill while you're hitting the NyQil.