Murdered by her husband Brandon - Danaa Malabar, 25: The tragic fate of a devoted mother

Danaa Laeticia Malabar was 25 years old, a young mother of a five-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son. Described by her loved ones as a devoted and caring mother, she was a smiling and generous young woman whom her family could always rely on. She was the eldest of Vanessa's three daughters.

Her story is one of a youthful love that turned into a nightmare. Six years ago, at just 18, Danaa met Brandon Malabar from Résidence Beau-Vallon, Mahébourg. Against her family's wishes, she chose to live with him. "My daughter has left," her mother Vanessa confesses, resigned. The couple had a civil marriage, but their relationship soon turned turbulent.

Their arguments often escalated into violence. Each accused the other of infidelity, and Brandon would frequently resort to physical violence against his wife. This situation became unbearable for Danaa. She confided to her sister that she regularly suffered from her husband's abuse, which she attributed to his infidelities. "He was showing off with another woman on TikTok," her sister said, confirming the pain of betrayal. An aunt mentioned she had a bad feeling from the first time she met Brandon, a feeling that never left her. Danaa would often come alone with her children to visit her mother. In 2021, when the couple's house burned down, her mother wanted her to return to Eau Coulée. While her five-year-old daughter went to live with her grandmother, Danaa, who was still breastfeeding her son, stayed with Brandon. Her family constantly urged her: "She wasn’t a heavy weight for her mother," her sister added, but Danaa, blinded by love, remained with him. Despite the beatings, "She was getting hit but never went to the police," her sister whispered. The last time her aunt saw her was during her son's third birthday celebration at her mother's house, and Brandon was not present.

Last weekend, during yet another argument, Danaa wanted to return to her mother, Vanessa, in Lapeyrouse, Eau-Coulée. Early Sunday morning, the couple arrived at her house, but the tension was still palpable. On October 12, the day of the tragedy, Vanessa believed her daughter would finally stay home. "She told me that they had been arguing since Saturday. I told her to come; there's always room for her here," she explains. On that day, Danaa's fate was sealed. Her mother advised her not to leave, but the young woman went out anyway. "They argued again. He had damaged her cell phone and SIM card. I told her to stay, but she left," Vanessa recalls, devastated.

The terrible news came on Wednesday morning, not from the police, but through social media. "I learned it at work; it was a shock," Vanessa said, her heart broken, struggling to hold back tears. Danaa Malabar was fatally stabbed by her husband Brandon. She leaves behind two children, her sisters, her aunts, and a devastated mother. "She was so sweet... Her death shakes us all," her aunt confides. Her funeral took place on Thursday.

Brandon Malabar’s Confession to Investigators: "Danaa wanted us to spend one last moment together"
Brandon Malabar, 31, confessed to the murder of his wife, Danaa Laeticia. Long after claiming she had disappeared, the suspect explained to investigators from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of Eau-Coulée how the tragedy unfolded, mentioning a final argument that escalated in an abandoned house.

The couple, who were going through a tough time, suspected each other of infidelity. This tension reached a peak on the morning of Sunday, October 12, while Brandon was taking Danaa back to her mother’s house in Lapeyrouse, Eau-Coulée. Despite the altercation at Danaa's mother’s house, the couple eventually calmed down. The suspect told investigators, under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Auhammud: "We had finally decided to separate."

As they walked along the Théodore-Sauzier alley with their three-year-old son, Danaa reportedly made an unexpected proposal to finalize their separation. "She told me we should take a break, just one last time together," the suspect recounted.

They went to a wooded yard housing an abandoned house, leaving their son to play alone in a room. It was there, isolated, that a new and fatal argument erupted.

According to Brandon, Danaa allegedly attacked him: "She was strangling me." In response, he pulled out a knife he always carried, claiming, "I have many enemies." He then stabbed his wife twice: "I took the knife, I stabbed her." Danaa collapsed. The autopsy confirmed she died from a stab wound to the chest.

In a panic, Brandon said he fled with their child. He was questioned by officers and remains in custody for murder.

A Perfect Couple on TikTok… but a Reality Marked by Violence
Brandon and Danaa Laeticia had been together for six years. The young woman, originally from Eau Coulée, had moved to Beau-Vallon, where the young man lived. They appeared to be in a perfect relationship. "She loved that guy; she went to live with him," said a relative, noting that other family members disagreed. The young man, passionate about football and music, worked as a mason and enjoyed making videos on TikTok. He created several profiles — tik.to.king, brandon_tiktoking, Brandon__malabar — which gained a following. Very active, he shared predictions about Premier League matches, made jokes, sang, and invited his wife Danaa to join him in many of his videos.

Behind their mobile screens, they seemed very close. Both demonstrated creativity in expressing themselves: love songs, humorous sketches, choreographies, kisses — sometimes with their child. Every visited location became a backdrop for one or more videos; posting on TikTok became almost a daily reflex. The thousands of people who followed them praised them for the happiness they radiated on screen. He gained popularity with each video, even attracting media attention.

In a TikTok video alongside his wife, filmed in a supermarket and published in August 2022, the young man stated: "Those who love to have children… don’t take them into account — I work for myself — I look after my wife and my children — I have 2 children — I brought my wife to the supermarket, I take care of her — I work to take care of my family…".

However, for some time, these videos of the "perfect couple" did not reflect reality. Danaa, who always wore a smile in her videos, hid a suffering she endured silently. Suspicions of infidelity from her husband, who became popular and was seen with a young rival, tormented her. This situation led to repeated conflicts. Each time she sought explanations, she faced consequences. "Her husband frequently beat her. But she didn’t dare report him to the police for this violence. She had bruises," confided a devastated aunt of the young mother.

In September 2021, the couple's house and those of their relatives were ravaged by a terrible fire. Three families, totaling 17 people, were living in houses made of corrugated iron and wood. Brandon and Danaa, like other family members, lost everything in this disaster. With nowhere to go, they sought refuge in the Beau-Vallon community center. Défi Média had covered the tragedy, and a call for solidarity had been launched to help families rebuild.

“We respect families… I know the value of families”
In his numerous videos on TikTok, Brandon Malabar showcased a wide range of skills: welding, various services, football knowledge — and often positioned himself as an instructor. In one of his videos, with dyed hair, he stated: "You ask me if I would accept if my wife went with another man? If my wife did that to me, what would I do — I would catch her, I would beat her… would I kill her? No… if she wants to go, let her go — she’s full of me — she doesn’t want to stay with me, let her go… in the sea, there are no fish missing — when you want fish, you need to catch fish — I love myself — I’ll regain my youth — you know how many men want that freedom — it’s a burden on us… if a woman wants to go with another man — let her go — women need respect — we respect women — there are men who mistreat women — I know the value of women".