A Night of Terror
By John F Youmans

Tennesse, September 2001: The acts of torture committed by five men on the nightof August 29 after they broke into the home of Versane Antoire, 57, of East Pearsall Street, Dunn, were worse than police reports indicated. The torture and threats could have easily ended with his death. "I was very lucky they didn't kill me. I was in God's hands," he said.
According to Mr. Antoire, about 9 Wednesday night he was relaxing on the couch in his living room. He was the only adult in the house at the time and was babysitting six young children. The oldest child in the house was 8. There were two 6-year-olds; two 4-year-olds and one 3-year-old. Mr. Antoire said he heard the door that led into the kitchen off the driveway shaking. He also said he thought the door was locked, but it wasn't.
As he approached the door, he said he saw faces looking inside. "Just as I got to the door I could see it was not locked and partially open. Just then two large men pushed their way in to the kitchen. They had guns pointed at my face," Mr. Antoire said. He could see three other men in the green car parked in his drive.
He said it scared him and he yelled at them. "Who are you? Why are you here?" he yelled at the burglars. They rushed at him and two more arrived from the car, with a total of three guns now pointed at him.
Mr. Antoire is originally from Haiti. He weighs about 120 pounds and is about 5 feet 2 inches tall. "For what do you come to my house?" he said to the four large men.
He said he was then pushed down to the floor on his stomach and one of the men put his foot on Mr. Antoire's neck and shoulder blade while someone grabbed his arms behind him. Mr. Antoire said he could only think of the children who were then in a bedroom but began coming out to watch. He yelled at them. "Get away. Get back in the room and stay there," he said.
One man reportedly said to Mr. Antoire, "We need $1,000 or we will kill you." When he asked why they were doing this, they told him to shut up and not to ask any questions. "Don't look at us," another said. At one point Mr. Antoire said they threatened to cut his throat.
He said several children began looking again when one of the men pointed a gun at them. He said the children quickly ran off and stayed out of the way. Mr. Antoire said at one point, a man saw a small hole in the wall. Thinking there might be money hidden in the wall, they demolished the wall.
Mr. Antoire kept telling the burglars he had no money except the $40 in his wallet they had already stolen. They also took an undetermined amount of rings and chains from the home. "I began to howl and scream for help," Mr. Antoire said.
The men then began to tie up and torture Mr. Antoire. First they stuffed a rag in his mouth to gag him. That was followed by another rag around his mouth. "Then they took a black plastic trash bag and put it over my head and tied it around my neck," he said. They also began kicking him and stepping on his back with a foot. "It began to get hot inside the bag. I couldn't breath," he said.
Remaining as calm as he could, Mr. Antoire said he managed to bite several small holes in the bag and could then breath better. "We need $1,000 now. I know you got the money or we'll burn you up," one of the burglars then said.
Mr. Antoire was still on the floor in the kitchen next to the stove when one man turned on the stove burner. They threatened again, but then, according the victim, another of the men saw a clothes iron in the living room. His hands were then tied behind him and he was dragged by his legs to his bedroom. The iron was brought in and plugged in to the wall next to him.
The burglars kept asking for money and then began burning him with the hot iron. He was first burned twice on the left arm. The small round steam holes on the bottom of the iron could be seen imprinted on his arm.
That was followed by two burns in the small of his back and then two more on his left leg. While this was going on, several others had completely ransacked the house looking for money and jewelry. Mr. Antoire recalls one opening the front door in case they needed it for an escape route He recalls one man telling another to go move the car. "I thought they were going to kill me when I heard that," he said. "Then there was just silence," he said. "When they left I couldn't move. I stayed still for 10 minutes," he said.
He said he managed to get to his feet and hobble to the kitchen and was in the process of getting loose when another adult living in the house, identified only as Ms. Betty, returned home and assisted. Police and rescue were called.
Mr. Antoire was taken to Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital by Dunn Rescue where he was treated for burns and released. Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Antoire sat in his kitchen, with his arm wrapped, large bandages on his back, and in pain. He can't understand why it happened.
But Mr. Antoire still feels he was lucky. "I am so glad the children weren't hurt and I'm glad they didn't kill me." he said
(Daily Herald)