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Prosecutors: Queens mom Marie Lauradin performed voodoo fire ritual that left daughter, 6, scarred

June 19, 2009 by editor  (View Source

(NYDN) Determined to drive evil spirits out of her daughter, a Queens mom performed a bizarre voodoo fire ritual that left the 6-year-old girl scarred for life, prosecutors say. While young Frantzcia Saintil was "engulfed in flames," Marie Lauradin let the screaming girl burn, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Thursday. The girl told cops "the flames crawled up her body and burned her," the criminal complaint said. Eventually, Frantzcia's grandmother doused the flames with cold water, but the women then put the girl to bed instead of getting her help, Brown said. Frantzcia suffered for a whole day before a relative begged them to take her to a hospital. When doctors finally saw her, Frantzcia had second- and third-degree burns covering 25% of her body, including her face, torso and legs, court papers state. Lauradin, a 29-year-old Haitian immigrant, was charged with assault and endangering the welfare of a child. She faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. "She denies these allegations," lawyer Jeff Cohen said. "This is my client's only child. My client would not hurt her." Lauradin listened impassively as the judge ordered her held in lieu of ,000 bail. She was also barred from having any contact with her daughter. Frantzcia's grandmother, Sylvenie Thessier, 70, was charged with reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. She faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. A friend nicknamed Sketch helped the women stage the Feb.4 ritual but was not named or charged with a crime. Frantzcia was put in a medically induced coma as part of her treatment. She is now in foster care. "The child has suffered permanent scarring, both physically and emotionally," Brown said.


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