Corentyne mom kills 7-year-old daughter, injures infant son

Apr 06, 2026 News

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By Shermon Hawker

Kaieteur News – Residents of Fyrish Village, Corentyne were thrown into shock on Sunday, after a 26-year-old woman allegedly killed her seven-year-old daughter and attempted to take the life of her infant son.

Dead is seven-year-old Isabella Dabadial, a pupil of Cooper Primary School, Corentyne, Berbice.

Police reports have confirmed that the woman, Sarah Elizabeth Shivpersaud committed the act at about 11:30. She is reportedly a ten-day worker of Fyrish Road, Corentyne, Berbice.

Based on reports, Shivpersaud was experiencing domestic problems with her husband.

Initial investigations revealed that her husband had left the home several days ago and had refused to return, leading to her frustration. When questioned, Shivpersaud told police that she awoke on Sunday and found there was nothing in the home to eat. She said the situation led to her suffocating Isabella. Police stated that the mother also admitted to attempting to strangle her one-year, nine-month-old son Ethan, but did not succeed.

It was reported that after carrying out the deed, she tried to take her own life by slitting the veins behind her ankles. She and the children were taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where Isabella was pronounced dead on arrival.

The mother was admitted, treated, and sutured, and is reportedly in a stable condition at the institution under police guard.

Attention was brought to a post the woman made on Facebook, where she hinted that she would commit the acts. A Facebook profile under the username ‘Sarah El’ was assessed, with a post which read “Me and my babies last pic! I’m sorry! May God forgive me!”

Father devastated over daughter’s death

Meanwhile, pushing back against claims of negligence, Shivpersaud’s husband, Trevor Dabadial said he never left his wife and children to starve.

The shattered 30-year-old man told this publication on Sunday that he was deeply disturbed and anguished over the tragedy which has now left him with one child. He said he is unaware of what pushed his wife to commit the act.

“Child Care went in the kitchen and take out pictures of the kitchen and everything and proved that she had things to eat,” he stated, in relation to the agency’s visit to the home on Sunday afternoon.

He said he was planning to end the relationship because of her alleged infidelity. The couple has been married for eight years, Dabadial said, but the relationship was far from smooth. According to him, he would visit his mother’s home to “cool off”, but Shivpersaud would on many occasions threaten that she would kill the children and herself. He said fear of her following through with those threats kept him in the relationship.

“She would cheat, and then use the kids, or threaten to harm herself and them kids to manipulate me to come back home,” he expressed.

Following news of the incident, Shivpersaud’s mother, Lalita Brijlall said her daughter called her at around 08:00hrs on Saturday, complaining that her husband, who works at the Albion Sugar Estate, left home since Thursday after receiving his salary and went to his mother’s home. According to her, Shivpersaud confirmed that she was ok and that she was going to “lock up and sleep.”

“This morning now, meh call she phone and ask if she husband come home, she said no, he seh he gon’ come later. I asked her if she want me to come, she said no, she said she going and cook pumpkin.”

The mother was on her way to church in Canje at around 10:30, when a niece asked her if she saw Shivpersaud’s social media post, in which she hinted at doing something harmful. Soon after, she received multiple calls from other persons about her daughter’s post. Concerned, Brijlall rerouted to Fyrish, where upon arrival, she knocked on the door but got no response. She gained entry to the home with the help of a neighbor.

“When I watch, I see blood on the bed…. when we go in now, I start to shake up all of them, lashing up all of them, but only the baby, the lil boy, he raise he foot and respond to we, but the lil girl, she not responding to nothing, neither she (Shivpersaud),” the distraught woman related.

The police were called in and her daughter and granddaughter were taken to the Port Mourant Hospital, where her granddaughter was pronounced dead on arrival.

“I can’t even tell people how I feel. I’m feeling more for my granddaughter. She was so attached to me. Also, my daughter to, but meh daughter already big. But she is so young. She just start life and she does make everybody happy. She always make anybody happy,” the grieving woman stated.

Sad and Heartbreaking

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, described Isabella’s tragic death as “sad and heartbreaking,” as she urged greater awareness and support for mental health challenges.

In a statement, the minister said, “A little child has lost her life most horrifically at the hands of her mother. This is hard for anyone to comprehend.”

…“There will be more clarity as to why this happened, but apparently the mother did not reach out for assistance,” Persaud stated.

The minister emphasised that the incident serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly situations can spiral out of control, and the devastating consequences that can follow.

“Mental health is fragile for many people, and often individuals do not reach out to the health system for help for various reasons,” she said.

Persaud called on society to be less judgmental and more supportive, encouraging those in distress to seek help without fear of stigma.

She pointed out that the Ministry of Health has systems in place to address mental health and suicide, and urged persons to utilise these services when needed.

She also stressed the role of families and communities, particularly when children are involved.

“If families are aware of what is happening, they should step in with help. Where children are concerned, there must be checks to ensure their safety,” she said.

Persaud added that while the full circumstances remain unclear, compassion and support are critical at this time.

“No one knows how these situations will turn out. Kindness and support are essential,” she noted.

She urged the public to be patient as investigations continue and to extend prayers and support to the grieving family.

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• Corentyne, murder, Neglect, Sarah Elizabeth Shivpersaud

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