Survivor of brutal spousal attack loses home in electrical fire

Apr 28, 2014 News

By: Zena Henry

Only last month, 27-year-old Tomeakca Miller was fighting for her life after being stabbed over two dozen times by her now deceased husband, former Guyana Power and Light (GPL) employee Curtis Andrew Patterson. Today, she is contemplating her next move after losing her home to a fire, allegedly caused by a malfunctioning GPL transformer.

Tomeakca Miller

Miller’s Lot 18 Goed Fortune, West Bank Demerara home went up in flames at around 02.00 hrs yesterday. She lost all of her valuables. The building was unoccupied at the time, since Ms. Miller has been staying at a relative, while recuperating from the recent attack.
The source of the blaze is being blamed on a constant spate of blackouts and current fluctuation occurring in and around Georgetown. Miller said that an eye witness recalled seeing a huge spark from a Guyana Power and Light (GPL) transformer shortly before the fire occurred.
She said that the man, who is a security guard at a tire shop opposite her home, told her that around 02:00 hours yesterday morning there was a huge spark at the transformer which is located two lots away from her home. Following that, she said the man reported seeing bolts of electricity ‘running’ along the GPL cable leading to her house. The cable then exploded on contact with her home.
Miller said she was told that the fire engulfed her house within 15 minutes. Surrounding houses sustained minor damage.
Still recovering from the brutal attack by her husband, Miller says she is spending time with an aunt in Station Street, Kitty and was absent when the fire took place. Early last month, Miller’s husband, 32-year-old Curtis Andrew Patterson violently attacked her in the very home that was burnt to the ground yesterday morning.
After Miller ended their eight-year marriage, Patterson stabbed her more than 24 times. Patterson later hung himself under a water threshold.
Several agencies, including Soctia Bank, Courts and Habitat for Humanity had come to Miller’s aid. They had volunteered to renovate her home and give financial help to her family.

What is left of Miller’s Lot 18 Goed Fortune home and the damaged materials

Only the day before, construction materials contributed by the agencies were delivered to the home.
“All was destroyed,” Miller told the newspaper.
When she arrived on the scene, Miller said that the house was burnt flat, but the damaged transformer and burnt electricity wires were visible.
Miller said she is in complete shock and has no idea what she is going to do. “I was hoping to go back home before school reopens, but now I have no home.”
Miller expects to make the necessary reports at GPL and the police this morning.