Mary Laurent, nee Dangleben, a seamstress from Grand Bay, has launched her new book dubbed Marital Blood Bath & Exploitation: Falling in Love with Frankenstein.
The book is about being married to a homeless man, their love story and her “abusive” marriage to her now ex-husband.
During a recent interview with Dominica News Online (DNO), Laurent said she decided to write this book because of the exploitation she suffered from her ex-husband.
She explained that after they had accumulated more than $450,000 through agriculture, he didn’t provide her with any financial support or compensation.
It took her almost 15 years to put the words together because she was “living in constant fear of being killed” by her ex-husband.
“What caused me to write the book about the marriage was the exploitation by my husband. After using all my money, he continued to abuse me,” Laurent stated. “I built 90% of our marital home when we got married with my own money where I sold my land and house in Washington , USA. We did agriculture together for almost 8 years, and we made over $450,000 but he didn’t give me a cent from it.”
The seamstress revealed how her then husband would beat her with objects such as sticks, and on one occasion, a cutlass.
She said she was also left crippled which prevented her from working for many years.
“My leg was broken twice. I also fell down the stairs, and got my legs messed up.”
Laurent also alleges sexual abuse by her former spouse and describes the experience as a “rape session, even tearing up my clothes and all.”
She explained how she made constant reports to the police during and after the marriage, but according to her, nothing was done.
“I made over 50 police reports but he was never arrested. I went through the ordeal for 8 years, and another 7 years after the marriage ended. It was constant harassment. I had no freedom,” the divorcee lamented.
She said through her trials however, and after getting her health back, God gave her the strength and she decided to write a book about the experience and to face her ex-husband and educate women on the dangers of marrying a homeless man.
“When we got married, he was so poor; he couldn’t even buy me a ring not even a soft drink. Our first transport was a donkey. He had no home. I blame myself for picking up a homeless man. But I thought I could help him and myself,” Laurent recounted.
“I have to fight back because he robbed me of all my wealth. I want to educate women, and let them know that when they meet a man with nothing, it is very dangerous to try and help him,” she cautioned. “In any position you can be exploited. It can happen to the wealthiest person.”
DNO’s reporter visited Laurent’s less than comfortable dwelling place and despite her work as a seamstress, it appears that the divorcee is barely eking out a living.
The divorcee explained that she no longer has any fear of her abusive ex-husband anymore and is demanding compensation.
She said she she wants her ex-husband “to give me back my money I used to build the marital house, and also the money for our jeep, and my jewelry. I have no fear of Antoine anymore. I went through the broken ribs, black eyes, broken feet, hospital trips and police reports and I am stronger than ever.”
The book can be purchased for $30 and the funds will be used to build her home.
Laurent said if nothing is done in relation to her quest for compensation, she plans on writing a volume 2, as “there are things that were held back.”
Persons who are interested in getting a copy can call +1 (767) 245-4414.
“You were living in Washington, DC where you sold your house and you marry a homeless man in sweet DA so what you expect him to bring to this marriage. “. Tony
Tony, I was going to base my comment on that same paragraph above, our thoughts are compatible.
I cannot believe that the story is true, as the lady is talking about she and her so-called “homeless” husband accumulated $450, 000. 00 through their work of agriculture, yet she did not get a cent from it, when it seemed that she should be in control.
How was it that she allowed that husband to hold complete possession of all that money?
Who lives in Washington DC, sells their belong there, and returns to Dominica, to get into that state of poverty, that this lady is now living in; speaking about $450, 000. 00 of her work, held by a homeless (man) husband?
How can that lady claims to have written a book, to teach other women? What woman of today is so foolish to allow that to happen to them?
You were the aggressive one in the relationship and now you blame your husband. The shoe business you had collapsed because of your greed. No one is perfect, your ex husband is not the beast you make the world believe he is. You controlled the money. This man would never leave you go hungry or without. Your house money from America didn’t build no dam house because when the marriage ended the house was only about 10% completed. I feel the pain for the situation you’re living in but being divorced for 15 years didn’t put you there, this man is works hard to achieve without wanted I dime from anyone. Wasn’t he helping you out whenever you call on him or even when you don’t? Stop being wicked.
Abuse is wrong and I don’t support it! What I don’t understand is how is it that someone have to pay you, your money. If it’s your money, can’t you just take it?
First off, i hope you made police reports of these incidents. If not then you are crying a dead song. Secondly, who chooses a homeless man to have a relationship with? Thirdly, was he not working to contribute to your home? Young women, learn valuable lessons from this story, whether true or not. Choose wisely. Because you will be accountable for your life decisions. Dont ignore the red flags in hopes he/she will change, or that you can change them.
After reading more she did say reports were made.
Now people like me can’t get through on the prayer line to God because idiots like her are taking up valuable time. Homeless man and you expect riches? Where was he from? where did you all meet? Motive for marriage was beyond trying to help him. Quid pro quo.
And again she saying if she don’t get compensation she going to write volume 2 because a lot of things she didn’t mention left behind. That should like a trap to me. Well she would have to write her volume 2 because as it stand write now is a lot of volumes she want to write on her ex because he brokes. That’s how things starting, if the husband sue her for defamation of character now. Anyway I’ll say no more.
In a way I understood her point, but on the other hand where she is lambasting that she fell in love with a homeless man doesn’t sit well with me, because she had to know what she dealing with. But if let’s say she did not know, in a married is 2 hand clapping, it goes either or or nor. I said that to say this, she met the man with nothing, but she had. The same way if she had nothing and the man had, clean her and polish her as she did to him, what would be the difference there. Some people only talking when the when they finish. All she has to do is sell the house and share the money between them because it a marital house as she said. Now she want her money back sound selfish to me. The story is interested to read for who like commess. So what she saying is women not to married brokes man, but men should married to brokes women.
I will buy a book for sure, I just hope the “potanse” picture is in there….
Disgraceful to say the least and even more embarrassing to see DNO has a personal family fallout on their site as if to suggest DNO is now a beff website.
When they were planning to get married did they announce it on DNO? Did she write a book to let the world know she was getting married? Did they not do it through the court and church, the two key instructions of society that’s now been hyjacked by Skerrit? Did she not know the vow was for better or worse? So if it did not work just move on with life man. You are not the first and won’t be the last. I’m just disappointed that DNO promoting that book.
So where skerrit coming in that?
We really have politics controlling us boy hmmph
It is emotionally painful just to read excerpts from this book. It is advisable to exit the marriage as an as the first experience of physical abuse, for it’s all downhill from there.
There are some real lessons to learn from this lady’s harrowing experience:
*Unequally yoked marriages are ever last r have be outcomes
*Law enforcement needs to be more serious and attentive to complaints of domestic violence
*Victims of domestic violence need much more protection from their abusers
*Tere needs to be stringent laws and robust enforcement against domestic violence
It is my prayer that it’s not too late for things to work out so that this battered lady can stitch back her once normal, peaceful life.
So sorry that you had to endure such animosity. I applaud you for your courage in telling your story. Now other women will benefit. I will definitely purchase a copy!
Oh dear. You are such a beautiful woman. Good that you move on with your life. Wishing you all the very best.
The worse thing anybody can do is try to play Mother Theresa with your relationship, thinking you can fix a broken person. It’s one thing to stand by your partner in times of difficulty, but if the person is broken at first sight, you have to run and don’t invest any time, emotion or money in that relationship.
Zandoli, except that Mother Teresa was simply about Love, which is all about perfection.
As I read this News Article I am perceiving that this lady allowed her emotions to take control of her–regardless of who the man appeared to be to her.
Human affection is fleshly emotion, not Love,–regardless of who is involved. Imagine so many people getting involved in incest, that is what human affection does to the mind.
And that emotion can bring us a lot of heartache, mental pain and regrets whenever we allow it to overtake our mind–that is what happened with that young lady
How would someone living overseas be able to get a copy of this book?
Hello and good afternoon my people. Woman my father from Grand Bay I can’t believe we have stupid people like you there. You was living in Washington, DC where you sold your house and you marry a homeless man in sweet DA so what you expect him to bring to this marriage. What do you want us to learn from your book when a homeless man out smart you. Lady if you want a donation just asked but don’t try and sell us that stupid book. So you went to America but you didn’t learn anything rather you took up space some deserving person from Dominica could have used to better their education and financial situation.
So sad to hear…
You should have try to sue all his behind where the sun never shines.
Dominican police never show interest in such matters.
They would have come quickly if the husband’s lamp had gone out…
Wishing you all best….