Mother of 6 faced years of abuse before tragic Long Creek murder

Mar 11, 2026 News

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…Two aunts left to raise 15 children

(Kaieteur News) – The sister of 39-year-old Caslene Toney, who was tragically murdered by her husband on March 8, has revealed that she and another sister will now be responsible for raising a total of 15 children, as they grapple with the devastating loss.

Caslene Toney was found dead at her home in Long Creek, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, after being stabbed by her reputed husband, Maurice Hugh. Hugh later attempted to take his own life and remains hospitalised. The incident occurred early Sunday morning, leaving the family in shock.

Caslene was a dedicated mother of six children, aged 18, 13, 11, 10, six, and three. She was also a hardworking farmer, committed to caring for her children and working tirelessly to build her own home.

Her sister, Perlincia Toney, who spoke with Kaieteur News on Tuesday, recounted the horrifying events and described Caslene as a resilient woman who endured years of abuse.

A life marked by abuse

Perlincia explained that her sister had been in the abusive relationship for over 20 years, only recently opening up about her suffering. She revealed that she had reported incidents to the police, including an altercation last month when Hugh reportedly wielded a cutlass and pushed her sister down.

My sister does tell me how this man does do this thing all the time. When she’s in the backdam he does slap she, choke she up and all kind of thing. I ask my sister, ‘so why you don’t leave he? Just leave him alone and see how he would make it out with them children,’” Perlincia said.

“Since she left school, that’s how long she with him,” the sister added.

Despite her pleas for Caslene to leave Hugh, her sister expressed fear of leaving their children with him.

Perlincia said she had even warned her sister that the abuse could eventually turn deadly. “She tell me one day they going in the backdam, the mining area. I used to tell she, ‘sister you see how he does treat you right here at home, much less in the backdam, he might kill you,’” she said.

The morning of the tragedy

Perlincia recounted that on the morning of the incident, she, Caslene, and another sister were preparing to make cassiri, a traditional beverage.

“Sunday morning, I left home to go pick up the grater by my sister that passed to grate the cassiri and then go to clean out the spot where she was moving. She said we could make cassiri and call out family and help,” Perlincia said.

“That’s how we live, especially me. I does make cassiri, cassava bread and pepper pot and get our family and help,” she added.

While Perlincia was away fetching a grater for the cassiri, she received the devastating news that Caslene had been killed.

“I ran and I start crying. I see she right by the step she lie down already dead. I start crying more because I didn’t expect this,” she said.

According to Perlincia, the children later told her they heard their mother screaming outside and calling for her eldest daughter to open the door. However, Hugh reportedly told the children not to open it.

She recalled that on the day of the incident Caslene had planned to go to the farmlands to drop off cassiri for an employee.

“Before she passed away, she went in the farm with she music box happy, happy. In the morning she said she gone carry cassiri for him. I wait for she but she ain’t come, that’s how she end up dead,” Perlincia said.

Perlincia also believes Hugh may have been planning the attack. “I think he really planned long. He put out my sister bags with her clothes and everything over there. Her son tell me their suitcase was somewhere else, so I think he planned long,” she alleged.

A family in mourning and struggling

The family is now faced with the immense challenge of caring for the children. She explained that she and another sister are now trying to help the children cope with the loss of their mother.

“We try to support, maintain and guide them,” she said.

However, she noted that the responsibility will be difficult for the family. “It is hard for us to maintain these children. I have children and my sister have children too, so it is very hard for us and we need all the support we can get,” she said.

The children are deeply affected by their mother’s death. “They said they miss their mommy. The big girl, she’s not sleeping too well. I trying to sleep, I can’t sleep. I trying to eat, I can’t eat and the big boy he say he ain’t want eat, he just drinking bare water,” the aunt stated.

“I sorry for my niece. It is so hard to take care of them me alone. It is very hard,” she added while breaking down in tears.

Government assistance

Following the tragedy, officers from the government, including the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, visited the family to offer condolences and support.  The aunt stated that the ministry has pledged to provide assistance to the family. “They will be helping us with their schooling fees and things that we need. They will also help with the completion of the mother’s new home because my other sister said she can’t stay here,” Perlincia said.

She explained that although the children do not want to leave their home, the family is considering moving into the house Caslene had been building.

“The children don’t want to move from here because it is their home, but we planning to move into our sister’s new home. Both me and my sister will take care of the children,” she said.

According to police report, Toney was found lying near the front steps under the house. Police were immediately summoned, and investigators observed that the body bore 12 stab wounds.  Police detailed the wounds were located below the left breast, to the right breast, to both sides of the chin, the right side of the neck, twice to the back of the neck, three times to the upper right back, once to the middle of the lower back and once to the right armpit.

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• abuse, Caslene Toney, Long Creek murder, murder, Soesdyke-Linden Highway

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