On the 23rd of February, 2025, Guyanese woke up to one of the most shocking crimes in the country’s history. A man shot his wife twelve times at close range in the presence of their 3-year-old son. Marlan Da Silva, of Diamond Village, East Bank Demerara, Region 4, Guyana, claimed that his now dead wife, Kenesha Vaughn, attacked him with a knife, prompting him to draw his firearm and fire at her. After the incident, he hired a battery of high level lawyers who are arguing self-defense.
The general public questioned the authenticity of Da Silva’s story on the basis of excessive force. Why did he have to shoot twelve times? Some say that although there were twelve entry and exit wounds on the victim’s body, a lesser amount of bullets could have caused the damage because one bullet could have entered and exited more than once. Police found far less than twelve spent shells on the crime scene.
It is difficult to establish at this point whether the victim did indeed charge at her killer with a knife. After all, there were no eyewitnesses on the scene, except perhaps, the couple’s three-year-old son who might have been somewhere in the house at the time of the incident. CCTV recording of the incident has not been released to the public, but will be used in court. However, Vaughn’s family have said that the footage has been tampered with.
What makes the crime more heinous is the fact that the couple’s three-year-old child stood in his mother’s blood and witnessed her taking her final breaths.
Kenesha Vaughn and her three-year-old son in better times.
Fearing that bribery and corruption might obstruct the course of justice, the family of Kenesha Vaughn, that is, her parents and siblings, have set up a social media page dedicated to “Justice for Kenesha Vaughn” with the aim of raising awareness of her case and holding Guyana’s legal apparatus in line.
On the 7th of March, 2025, Vaughn’s family posted a harrowing recollection of the night of the incident, alleging that Da Silva called her family after shooting her, but refused to open the door for about 20 minutes when they got there.
Statement by Family of Kenesha Vaughn’s Family
Justice for Kenesha Vaughn: A Family’s Nightmare and a Call for Justice
Let’s rewind to the most painful and tragic night that shattered the Vaughn’s family—a night so horrific that it will haunt them forever. A night when investigative journalism in Guyana failed to uncover the full truth, leaving many questions unanswered.
That night, Kenesha Vaughn was brutally taken from this world in a crime so heinous, so merciless, that it shook the very core of those who loved her. But the media barely scratched the surface. They didn’t investigate beyond the official statements. They didn’t ask the hard questions. So now, we will.
A Mother’s Last Moments:
It was Marlan Da Silva who called Kenesha’s family that night, informing them that he had just shot her. Her parents and brother, who lived nearby, rushed to the scene. They pleaded with Marlon to let them in—to open the door—but he refused. For 20 agonizing minutes, they begged while Kenesha lay inside, her life slipping away.
When they finally gained entry, what they saw was beyond heartbreaking. Little Xander, Kenesha’s three-year-old son, stood over his mother’s body, his tiny feet covered in her blood. His favorite toy, once a symbol of his innocent joy, was now stained with the horror of that night. His mother, fighting to breathe, her body weak, begged for help. She pleaded for her mother to be let in. But how long did Marlan make her suffer? How long did he stand there, cold-hearted, watching her beg for her life?
Self-Defense or Cold-Blooded Murder?
Marlan Da Silva claims self-defense. But where are his wounds? Where are the signs that his life was in danger? Where is the proof that he had no other choice but to gun down the mother of his child in cold blood, in the presence of their son?
This was not self-defense. This was an execution.
A Family’s Endless Pain:
Even if justice is served, Kenesha is gone. Her family is left with memories soaked in sorrow. Every year, they will relive this nightmare. No sentence, no punishment will bring her back. But justice must be served.
Because if we let this go unanswered, if we let this crime be excused, what message does that send? That women’s lives are disposable? That men can take and destroy with no consequences?
We must demand justice. We must demand accountability. Kenesha Vaughn’s life mattered. She was a daughter, a sister, a mother—a human being. And her family deserves the truth, the full truth, and the justice that is needed.
The family of Kenesha Vaughn has since made several calls for public support of upcoming events aimed at raising awareness of her case in the hopes of preventing the perversion of justice.
Join Us for a Justice Walk – This Saturday March 15th at 7 AM
We are calling on EVERYONE to stand up for justice! It’s time to take a stand—no more can women be taken for granted. Women are the backbone of our nation, and they deserve to feel safe. It’s time for men to step up as protectors once more.
Meeting Point: Seawalls Bandstand, Camp Street
Route: Seawalls Bandstand → Ministry of Social Protection (Lamaha Street) → Return to Bandstand
Date: Saturday, March 15th
Time: 7:00 AM
Let’s raise our voices and demand Justice for Kenesha Vaughn! Come out in your numbers—together, we can make a difference. Justice NOW
We hope you all have a productive and positive week ahead. As we continue to stand for what is right, We invite you to join us on March 21st at 9:00 AM outside the Diamond Magistrate Court as we continue to seek justice.
Your support means everything, and together, our voices are stronger. Let’s stand united! See you there.
