REMEMBER Guerline
Guerline Dieu Damas
32 YEARS OLD ·
North Naples,
Florida
Guerline Dieu Damas was a 32-year-old Haitian mother of five who lived in North Naples, Florida. Born on July 21, 1977, she immigrated to the United States in the 1990s and built a life centered on her children, family, and work. She spent more than a decade working at Publix, where colleagues remembered her humor, friendliness, and dedication. Guerline was known for her generosity, strong work ethic, and the joy she found in raising her children. She and her five children were killed in September 2009.
Guerline Dieu Damas was born on July 21, 1977, in Haiti. From a young age, she helped with cooking, cleaning, and household responsibilities, developing skills she later carried into adulthood.
In the mid-1990s, Guerline immigrated to the United States, where other members of her family were already living.
She eventually settled in Southwest Florida and became the mother of five children.
Guerline's daily routine began before sunrise. She regularly woke before 5 a.m. to prepare meals, help her children get dressed, and get the older children ready for school before leaving for work.
She worked at Publix for more than ten years. Her family described her as hardworking and devoted to providing opportunities for her children.
Guerline hoped that her children would grow up to have successful futures and frequently spoke about working hard to support their education and opportunities.
Despite her demanding schedule, colleagues remembered her as cheerful and outgoing at work. She enjoyed talking with friends and coworkers and was known for making people laugh.
Friends described Guerline as generous, loving, and welcoming. She was remembered as someone who brought energy into a room and could make others smile even during ordinary conversations.
Guerline had little free time between work and caring for her family, but she particularly enjoyed visiting garage sales.
Family members recalled that she had taken on responsibilities for others from a young age and continued offering care and support throughout her adult life.
Her loved ones remembered her dedication to her children, sense of humor, generosity, and the relationships she built with people around her.
THE RECORD
In September 2009, Guerline Dieu Damas, 32, and her five children were killed in their North Naples home in Collier County, Florida.
The victims were Guerline and her children, ages nine, six, five, three, and nineteen months.
On September 19, 2009, family members contacted the Collier County Sheriff's Office after becoming concerned that Guerline had missed work and her children had not attended school.
Deputies conducted a welfare check at the family's townhouse and discovered all six victims deceased.
Investigators determined that Guerline and the children had sustained fatal sharp-force injuries to their necks.
Guerline's husband, Mesac Damas, fled Florida and traveled to Haiti following the killings.
He was subsequently apprehended in Port-au-Prince by Haitian authorities and returned to Florida to face prosecution.
Damas admitted responsibility for killing Guerline and their five children.
Court records established that Guerline had previously reported domestic violence and had expressed her intention to divorce Damas.
The Florida Supreme Court later affirmed Damas's convictions for six counts of first-degree premeditated murder and six death sentences.
RELATIONSHIP CONTEXT
Husband
Guerline Dieu Damas and Mesac Damas had been in a relationship for several years before marrying in April 2006.
According to the Florida Supreme Court's 2018 opinion, Damas became increasingly jealous and suspicious of Guerline after their marriage. He visited her workplace and checked her cellphone.
On January 2, 2009, Damas struck Guerline during an argument while she was holding their youngest child. Guerline contacted police, and Damas was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery.
As a condition of his release, Damas was ordered not to contact Guerline.
Court records describe how he repeatedly violated that restriction by entering the residence, contacting Guerline, and driving past the home late at night in a borrowed vehicle.
Guerline changed the locks, and she and the children eventually moved to another residence.
The no-contact restriction was later lifted, and Damas returned to live with the family in March 2009.
Guerline continued expressing her intention to divorce him.
According to Damas's statements documented in the Supreme Court opinion, he threatened to kill Guerline, her mother, and himself if Guerline raised the possibility of leaving again.
On September 16, 2009, Guerline told Damas that she intended to divorce him after he completed his probation-related classes.
On September 17, Damas followed Guerline to work. Court records indicate that Guerline expressed fear of further physical violence and stated that she might not return home that evening.
The court documented these events as part of the history preceding the murders.
CHILDREN / ADDITIONAL VICTIMS
ADDITIONAL VICTIMS
ADDITIONAL VICTIMS DOCUMENTED
The Five children of Guerline.
PATTERNS DOCUMENTED IN AVAILABLE RECORDS
These indicators reflect what could be established from available sources. Absence from this list does not establish that a behavior did not occur.
LEGAL / SYSTEM RESPONSE
On January 2, 2009, Guerline contacted law enforcement after Mesac Damas struck her during an argument.
Damas was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery.
A no-contact condition was imposed as part of his pretrial release.
According to the Florida Supreme Court, Damas violated the restriction by entering Guerline's residence and conducting surveillance of the home.
The no-contact restriction was subsequently lifted, and Damas pleaded no contest to the battery charge. He was placed on twelve months' probation.
The Florida Department of Children and Families also became involved following the January domestic violence incident.
Court records establish that Damas remained on probation in September 2009, when Guerline told him she intended to divorce him.
Following the September murders, the Collier County Sheriff's Office investigated the deaths of Guerline and her five children.
Damas fled to Haiti, where he was apprehended before being returned to Florida.
On September 5, 2017, Damas pleaded guilty to six counts of first-degree premeditated murder.
On October 27, 2017, the trial court imposed six death sentences.
On December 28, 2018, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentences.
SOURCES
Florida Supreme Court denies new trial for Haitian American who killed wife and 5 children
The Haitian Times
INFORMATION LIMITATIONS
September 17, 2009, is the date associated with the beginning of the fatal incident in the court record; all six deaths were discovered September 19. The exact timing of each death is not independently established.
The court record documents stalking-like surveillance, prior physical violence, threats, and violations of a no-contact condition. However, no evidence of prior strangulation has been identified.
TRANSPARENCY / RECORD NOTE
The Florida Supreme Court's 2018 opinion provides extensive documentation of the relationship history, January 2009 domestic violence arrest, no-contact condition, subsequent violations, threats, separation discussions, and events preceding the murders.
The opinion also documents Guerline's expressed fear of additional violence and her stated intention to divorce Damas.
During sentencing, a family member submitted a victim impact statement emphasizing Guerline's generosity, kindness, and dedication to her children. The statement expressed the family's wish that Guerline be remembered for her life and contributions rather than only as a domestic violence statistic.
Additional biographical reporting describes Guerline's upbringing in Haiti, immigration to the United States, decade-long employment at Publix, daily responsibilities as a mother, and enjoyment of garage sales.
REMEMBER Guerline.
Every statistic had a name. Every name had a life.
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