Mesac Damas was born on July 2, 1976, in Haiti, into a family plagued by domestic violence and poverty, elements that foreshadowed the grim chapters of his life. Raised as an Evangelical Christian by his parents until they emigrated to the United States, leaving 10-year-old Mesac in the care of relatives who practiced Haitian Voodoo, the conflicting spiritual influences in his formative years shaped a complex inner world.
Damas migrated to the United States at 19, and by 33, he was working as a chef in a local ale house, claiming to be “the best of the best” in his profession. However, his personal life was far from stable. Married to Guerline for 12 years, their relationship was riddled with turmoil, culminating in a domestic violence arrest in January 2009, sparked by Damas’ unfounded suspicions of infidelity.
The relationship reached a breaking point on September 16, 2009, when during a heated discussion about divorce, Damas threatened his wife’s life. The threat materialized into a horrifying reality. The following day, driven by a concoction of jealousy and rage, Damas followed Guerline to her early morning shift to verify her whereabouts. The confrontation spilled over into the evening, with Damas leaving work early, plagued by a pounding headache and ominous voices that he claimed urged him towards violence.
That night, after purchasing a fillet knife, duct tape, and gum, Damas returned home where he confronted his wife. The argument escalated, and in a chilling turn, he restrained and silenced Guerline. Damas later described the subsequent actions as “bad” and “criminal,” implicating supernatural forces in his deeds, claiming a hex had been placed on him by his mother-in-law or a coworker.
The next morning, Damas remained in the house, contemplating suicide, before fleeing to Haiti. His departure was precipitated by a desperate attempt to escape the gravity of his actions. However, on September 19, 2009, when Guerline and their five children failed to make contact, her family alerted authorities, leading to a gruesome discovery.
Deputies entered their home to find signs of a struggle and blood traces leading to a locked bathroom door. Behind it lay Guerline, and scattered throughout the house were the bodies of their five children—all victims of brutal violence.
Captured in Haiti, Damas confessed to the murders, attributing them to “bad spirits” and expressed a death wish for his crimes. His subsequent legal proceedings were marred by his erratic behavior and questions regarding his mental competency, which delayed the trial and confounded the court. Damas, proclaiming himself a “Child of God,” showed fluctuations in cooperation and sanity, leading to re-evaluations of his mental state and several stints in a mental health facility.
Despite the complexities, Damas was ultimately found competent and, in a stark courtroom declaration, admitted guilt to all charges. He was sentenced to death in October 2017, a sentence upheld by the Supreme Court in 2019.
Mesac Damas’ story is a harrowing saga of how deeply held beliefs, mental instability, and external pressures can culminate in tragedy. It underscores the profound impact of cultural and spiritual influences on personal actions, offering a grim lesson on the intersections of faith, madness, and the law.
