Hours after the killing, the suspect returned to the scene and was lying in a hammock at the home but fled and left behind a blood-stained cutlass which villagers handed over to the investigators.

Dead: Deborah Allen, flanked by Lawrence Rambarran and her daughter Sherry Anne Allen

Reports are that he has since been seen around the village, after dark, wearing a black cloak but was still not captured up to press time.

The slaying reportedly ended several years of domestic violence and abuse of the victim and her only child.

The suspect, with whom Deborah Allen had a common-law relationship was, just over a year ago, charged with the attempted murder of her younger brother, Ronald Allen, in the same home.

The latter had been dealt several life threatening wounds about the body and suffered severe injuries including loss of a finger and is now incapacitated.

The suspect, Allen and her daughter had gone to a Valentine’s Night bingo and fund-raising dance at Port Kaituma Saturday night and returned home in the wee hours of the morning.

Around 04:00 h, following a confrontation, the mother and daughter were attacked and wounded and, after the elder died, the teen escaped their assailant and ran about a mile to Port Kaituma Police Station.

She was air-dashed to the city and admitted to Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) but is in danger of losing one eye.

The deceased, described as a quiet, pleasant and caring person, is also survived by her parents, Helen Jacintho of Manaruma and Maurice Allen of Linden, five brothers and one sister.