New York Mother “Cures” Daughter in Religious Ceremony By Burning Her

A New York mother in Queens “cured” her daughter in a religious ceremony by burning the six-year-old daughter Frantzcia Saintil and leaving her scarred for life. The mother, Marie Lauradin, 29, was charged with assault and endangering a child this week.

The mother was born in Haiti and the ceremony appears to have had voodoo origins. Frantzcia’s grandmother doused the flames with frigid water, but then did not call 911 — simply sending the girl with burns over one-fourth of her body including her face, torso, and legs, to bed.

The grandmother, Sylvenie Thessier, 70, is also expected to be charged. A friend currently known as “Sketch” is also expected to face charges.

Doctors put the little girl in a medically-induced coma to deal with the extensive burning.

The ritual was believed to involve the “Loa.” Loa are believed to be spirits who can intervene to help humans. The mother reportedly poured rum in a circle around the girl and lighted it. She then poured some on the girl’s head and then pushed her into the burning circle. As shown above in the picture, the loa Erzulie Dantor is often depicted in Christian terms.

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