A Trinidad woman has spoken out after a video of a dramatic break-in at her home went viral on social media, claiming she and her children were targeted by relatives of her late common-law husband just days after his funeral.
Alana Thomas, who lived with her partner, Cohen, for more than five years, said she was shocked when family members of the deceased arrived from abroad and began making demands for property and possessions. According to Thomas, she received a lawyer’s letter on the very day of Cohen’s funeral, giving her just three days to vacate the house where they lived together.
“I don’t want the house. I don’t want anything. All I am asking for is time to move out with my three children,” Thomas said tearfully. “The very night of the funeral, I wasn’t even allowed to grieve. They gave me a notice to leave.”
She alleges that on multiple occasions, relatives and hired men forced their way onto the property, breaking gates and burglar bars while she and her children hid inside. Thomas further claims the police arrived late and, despite seeing the damage, failed to take action against those involved. “Fifteen men came and broke down the gate while my children screamed. I begged for help, but the police left them there,” she recounted.
Thomas also said she was physically assaulted by a police officer while attempting to record one of the confrontations, and was later frustrated when trying to file an official report. Only after persistence, she claims, did one corporal take her statement seriously.
Beyond the family dispute, her story has sparked wider concern about the rights of common-law partners in Trinidad and Tobago. Thomas said she was advised by her attorney that she had legal rights as Cohen’s partner, but those protections depend on timely filings and often leave surviving spouses in vulnerable positions.
Despite the turmoil, Thomas maintains she is not fighting for property or wealth. “This man provided for me and my children. I cared for him until his last breath. All I am asking for is a few months to find a place and move on peacefully.”
The matter has drawn intense public debate online, with many questioning the role of the authorities and calling for stronger protection for common-law families caught in disputes after a partner’s death.
