Another Haitian is in the news. This time, for a horrible crime.
According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Joanne Zephir is suspected of forcing her two children to drink bleach and murdering her three-year-old.
Sheriff: Mother blames a ‘voodoo spell’ for forcing her children to drink bleach, resulting in the death of a 3-year-old
OSCEOLA COUNTY, FLORIDA (Gray News) – According to authorities in Florida, a woman is anticipated to face attempted murder and severe child abuse charges in connection with a recent incident involving her two children.
Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez said his staff is looking into Joanne Zephir after getting a report on May 8 regarding a probable homicide. Deputies arrived to find Zephir unconscious in her car, with her 3-year-old apparently unconscious and her second kid, 8, outside. They were then all brought to the hospital.
When investigators questioned Zephir about what happened, she allegedly told them she forced her children to drink bleach from a homemade glass and admitted to choking the 3-year-old.
According to Lopez, Zephir also informed investigators that someone must have cast a voodoo curse on her, causing her to injure her children.
Before this occurrence, the sheriff’s office said that Zephir informed a family she would surrender herself on an outstanding warrant but wanted to see her children one last time.
Authorities stated that they interrogated a family member who corroborated the details and that Zephir told this individual that her kid would die and that she would then commit herself.
According to the Osceola County sheriff, Zephir’s 3-year-old kid died in the hospital, while her 8-year-old child survived.
Lopez also stated that his team intends to prosecute Zephir with attempted murder and severe child abuse but is still awaiting the findings of the medical examiner’s office.
