Suspect in 9 Fatal Stabbings Found Dead in Cell

A man accused of stabbing nine people to death in Suriname on Sunday, including four of his children, died by suicide while in custody, police said on Monday. In a statement, Suriname's Police Corps said 43-year-old Dennis Aroma was found dead on Monday morning in a cell at a police station in central Paramaribo. Officials gave no other details. Aroma was accused of going on a rampage in Richelieu in the district of Commewijne, about 15 miles from the capital Paramaribo, during the early hours of Sunday, the AP reports. When police arrived on the scene, he resisted arrest and was shot in the leg. After receiving treatment at a local hospital, he was transferred to the Keizerstraat police station in Paramaribo.

• The killings: According to neighbors, Aroma had been arguing over the phone with his wife, with whom he no longer lived. The conflict centered on picking up the children after the woman reportedly indicated that she did not want to come to the address herself and would send someone else to pick them up. After the argument, the suspect reportedly became distraught and killed four of his own children and five neighbors, including another child.
• The aftermath: Minister of Justice Harish Monorath and Social Affairs and Housing Minister Diana Pokie visited the scene on Sunday. Pokie said the killings have had a profound effect on both the affected community and Surinamese society. "The impact is enormous, but as Surinamese, we are known for our solidarity. Let us hold on to that and support each other," Pokie said.

• The investigation: Preliminary checks indicate that the suspect had a history of mental illness, and Monorath said that the investigation will focus on whether he had previously received psychiatric treatment.
• The president: "At a time when family and friends should be holding on to and supporting each other, we are confronted with the harsh reality that there is another side to the world," President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons wrote on her Facebook page. "The Government not only sympathizes with the bereaved families but also takes responsibility for learning lessons from this tragedy," she said. Monorath said that Suriname, the smallest independent nation in South America, will pay for the funerals of all the victims.