Prison officer found dead, husband hospitalised

A quiet St Philip community has been left in shock after an apparent domestic dispute in Emerald Park West ended in tragedy, with 52-year-old prison officer Daphne Thomas found dead and her husband in hospital after reportedly ingesting a poisonous substance.

Police responded to the couple’s home at #347 Emerald Park West around 4.55 a.m. on Friday, after receiving a report of a violent altercation between a man and a woman. 

Upon arrival, officers discovered Thomas’ lifeless body. Her husband, who allegedly consumed poison after the fatal incident, was rushed to hospital, where he is now receiving treatment and assisting police with their investigations.

Neighbours, stunned by the turn of events, expressed disbelief. 

One resident told Barbados TODAY: “I just heard about a man killing his wife and drinking [poison]. It’s hard to believe because they seemed like nice, normal people.”

The neighbour described the couple as quiet and polite, saying: “They always seemed like nice people. They would speak when they passed by, and nothing seemed unusual. When I heard what happened this morning, I couldn’t believe it. Everything was normal just yesterday.”

One woman said she was accustomed to passing and greeting the couple she described as “regular and nice”.

“They speak very nice and thing,” she said. “The man is like a normal person to me. I just in shock honestly. When I hear it this morning on the radio, I was like, ‘Wha, this is for real?’ So when I pass and come through the gap, I can’t believe that happen for true. They seem to be okay people to me.”

One man, who lived a stone’s throw from the couple said he heard nothing strange coming from the home and regretted that the tragedy had occurred.

Another neighbour, who lives nearby, echoed the shock felt by the community: “They are very decent, very quiet individuals, so it was a shock to me this morning to learn of the incident. Condolences to her family.”

District ‘C’ Police have not released the name of the husband but confirmed he was taken to hospital after reportedly ingesting a toxic substance. His current condition remains unknown.

Distraught family members were seen at the scene but were too overwhelmed to speak. 

Investigations into the incident are ongoing. (SD/LG)