Industry, Choiseul – In a harrowing incident that has shaken the quiet community of Industry, Choiseul, four members of the Labadie family were viciously attacked with machetes on the night of January 31, 2025. The assailants, reportedly including an ex-boyfriend of one of the victims, unleashed a brutal assault that left the family members with severe injuries. The victims—54-year-old Endie Labadie; her husband, 62-year-old Vernon; their 18-year-old daughter, Vernancia; and 5-year-old grandson, Bradley—were rushed to St. Jude Hospital, where they are currently receiving critical medical care.
The eldest son, Robert Labadie, recounted the traumatic events with palpable anguish. He was away from home that evening when a frantic neighbor alerted him to the attack. “I saw my father lying on his back, not talking. My mother was sitting in the middle of the house, bleeding a lot,” Robert described, his voice trembling. “My little nephew was on the floor by my mother, screaming. His hands… cut. My sister… cut. My mother… covered in blood.” The sheer brutality of the assault has left the family and community in a state of profound shock and disbelief.
Tragically, on February 21, 2025, Vernon Labadie succumbed to his injuries, intensifying the family’s grief and their call for justice. Robert’s sorrow is now coupled with a resolute demand for accountability. “You can run, but trust me, you can’t hide from what you’ve done,” he declared, addressing the perpetrators. The family is appealing to the public for blood donations to aid in the recovery of the surviving victims and is urging authorities to ensure that those responsible are swiftly brought to justice.
This incident highlights a concerning trend of domestic-related violence in Saint Lucia. Despite the enactment of the comprehensive Domestic Violence Act in March 2022, which expanded protections and outlined stringent measures against such offenses, the nation continues to grapple with incidents of severe domestic violence. The Labadie family’s ordeal underscores the urgent need for effective implementation of protective measures and community interventions to prevent such tragedies in the future.