The bodies of Guerline Damas, 32; Michzach, 9; Marven, 6; Maven, 5; Megan, 3; and Morgan, 11 months, were discovered Saturday, Rambosk said.
Authorities have been unable to locate Mesac Damas, who possibly left the country Friday morning and may be in Haiti, Capt. Chris Roberts of the Collier County sheriff's department said Sunday at a news conference.
The Damas family had had its share of domestic problems. There had been a "handful" of domestic disturbance calls to police since 2000 involving the Damas couple, with the latest resulting in the arrest of Mesac Damas in January. He pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor battery against Guerline Damas in June.
The police wouldn't release the cause of death information, which I'm told is standard operating procedure. I'm curious to learn what it was. Unlike the Heinze family murders, this one could have been done by a single person using any number of weapons, since the kids were all too young to defend themselves.
Regardless of the means with which he dispatched his family, if indeed he did do it, this case brings up a bigger question. What is wrong in America that we have so many of these cases? Is the male dominance and right to abuse his family so deeply ingrained in the American psyche that we can't overcome it? Did women's liberation and the feminist movement not correct this situation? Who are these guys who think they can slaughter their families if they like?
This is where I agree with the many commenters who keep pointing out that it's not only about the gun availability. Of course, they say it has nothing to do with the gun, but what I'm willing to accept is that gun availability is not the only factor. It's the frequent occurrences of "men are bad news for women" and "men are bad news for their own families" that are the problem. When those things are added to the gun availability we have, the situation is dramatic.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
What do you think?
"Regardless of the means with which he dispatched his family, if indeed he did do it, this case brings up a bigger question. What is wrong in America that we have so many of these cases?"
ReplyDeleteSo this never happens in Europe? Or is their media just more controlled or less sensationalism driven?
This type of tragedy really isn't that common in America--just they all get reported on a national, or international, scale.
Consider that if such a horrific crime happened every day of the year, which of course it does not, that would mean that those Americans that did not do such a thing would still outnumber the psychos that did by nearly 300 million to 1.
This sort of heinous crime is still very rare in spite of the media spotlight.
Where were you when all the women were drowning their children?
ReplyDeleteIs the male dominance and right to abuse his family so deeply ingrained in the American psyche that we can't overcome it
Gee, Anti-American much MikeB?????
Do the clues that he fled to Haiti, that his name is indicative of possible Haitian ancestry or origin suggest to you that he might be a recent immigrant?
You seem to be just another hate and blame America for everything liberal. Your bias and bigotry is amazing.
What is wrong in America that we have so many of these cases? Is the male dominance and right to abuse his family so deeply ingrained in the American psyche that we can't overcome it?
ReplyDeleteYeah, this is so ingrained in America that even immigrants succumb to it when they set foot on our shores.
"men are bad news for women"
ReplyDeleteThat sounds familiar.
Wait..
That's exactly what I said in one of your past "guns are bad news for women" posts.
http://mikeb302000.blogspot.com/2009/09/louisiana-man-kills-his-family-and.html?showComment=1252346321806#c3903624665046574924
Ah, Poor MikeB. Turns out the family was killed by an immigrant with a knife. Nothing to do w/ guns or 'America'.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are right, "immigrant kills family with knife" doesn't really fit in my arsenal.
ReplyDeleteMikeB,
ReplyDeleteDoes the fact that you immediately thought of guns and it's America's fault not show your bigotry?
Mesac Damas is a Devil what he did was premeditated he flew to my country to hide, he knew what he was going to do , he made up his mind to flight just after that.He deserve a death penality, he is conscious of that . his wife family lost 6 people.
ReplyDeleteHis wife is my friend cousin.All Haitian people is deeply sad and sorry for the loss.
Mesac Damas is a Devil what he did was premeditated he flew to my country to hide, he knew what he was going to do , he made up his mind to flight just after that.He deserve a death penality, he is conscious of that . his wife family lost 6 people.
ReplyDeleteHis wife is my friend cousin.All Haitian people is deeply sad and sorry for the loss.
hbc, Thanks for that personal perspective. I'm very sorry for your loss. May they rest in peace.
ReplyDelete