A 43-year-old man who killed nine people, including four of his own children, in a stabbing rampage in Suriname died by suicide while in police custody, authorities said Monday morning.
Dennis Aroma was found lifeless in a cell at the Keizerstraat police station. The suspect had been transferred to the station following his arrest during the early hours of Sunday, December 29, 2025, when he was shot in the leg while resisting arrest.
The violent rampage unfolded in Richelieu in the Commewijne district, located approximately 15 miles from the capital city of Paramaribo. Among the nine victims were four of Aroma’s children and five neighbors, including another child.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Aroma had a history of mental illness. According to neighbors, the suspect had been engaged in a phone argument with his wife, with whom he no longer lived. The dispute centered on picking up the children, with the conflict reportedly escalating after the woman indicated she did not want to come to the address herself and would send someone else to collect them.
Harish Monorath and Diana Pokie visited the scene of the murders on Sunday. The investigation into the killings is being led by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and will focus on whether the suspect had previously received psychiatric treatment.
“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 government has announced it will pay for the funerals of all the victims. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons expressed shock and disbelief at the tragedy. “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,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Suriname, a former Dutch colony and the smallest independent nation in South America, with a population of approximately 600,000 people. The country has traditionally maintained one of the lowest murder rates in the region, making this mass killing particularly jarring for the small nation.
However, recent data shows a concerning trend. The murder rate in Suriname spiked in 2024 to 30 homicides per 100,000 residents. This sharp increase marks a significant departure from the country’s historical patterns of violent crime.
The stabbing rampage represents one of the deadliest single incidents of violence in Suriname’s recent history. Mass casualty events involving family members are particularly devastating for small, tight-knit communities where residents often know one another and share deep social connections.
The investigation’s focus on whether Aroma had received psychiatric treatment will be crucial in understanding how this tragedy unfolded and what preventive measures might have been available.
Family annihilations, while rare, present unique challenges for law enforcement and mental health professionals. These incidents often involve a complex interplay of factors including relationship breakdown, custody disputes, mental health crises, and a perceived loss of control. The involvement of neighbors as victims in this case adds another layer of tragedy to an already horrific event.
The suspect’s death by suicide in custody means that many questions about his motivations and mental state may never be fully answered. Police procedures regarding the monitoring of high-risk detainees will likely come under scrutiny as part of the broader investigation into the incident.
For Suriname, a nation where such extreme violence is uncommon, the incident has prompted broader discussions about mental health resources, domestic violence intervention, and community safety. The government’s commitment to covering funeral expenses reflects both the severity of the tragedy and the collective mourning of a nation grappling with an unprecedented loss.
The community of Richelieu now faces the difficult task of healing from a trauma that has touched multiple families and shattered the sense of security in what had been a peaceful neighborhood. The loss of five children in a single incident represents a particularly devastating blow to the small community.
As Suriname moves forward from this tragedy, questions about access to mental health services, domestic violence prevention programs, and crisis intervention resources are likely to take center stage in national conversations about public safety and community well-being.
