Terminix is fined $10M for leaving Delaware family-of-four brain damaged by toxic pesticide used on their luxury Virgin Island villa 

The U.S. government fined Terminix companies $10 million on Tuesday over its workers spraying toxic pesticide methyl bromide at a U.S. Virgin Islands resort that nearly killed a family last year.

Steve Esmond, 49 his wife, Dr Theresa Devine, 48, and their two teenage sons fell seriously ill during their stay at the Sirenusa Condominium Resort on the Caribbean island of St. John last year.

The family were airlifted to separate hospitals in Philadelphia after suffering major respiratory trauma and seizures, with 11th and ninth grade sons, Sean and Ryan, in critical care. 

Sean and Ryan ended up suffering permanent neurological damage while their parents had to undergo therapy.

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Steve Esmond (left) and Dr Theresa Devine (right), along with their sons, nearly died while vacationing in St Johns last year after Terminix used a deadly pesticide on the floor below them 

The pesticide used, methyl bromide, has been banned by the EPA (pictured) for more than 30 years. Methyl bromide can be a neurotoxin and caused seizures and respiratory distress in the Esmond family 

'Methyl bromide is a potent neurotoxin, so it really affects your central nervous system,' EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck said in a telephone interview. 

Ryan, the youngest, is paralyzed from the neck down with no control of his limbs, though he is aware of what has happened.

His older brother Sean is 'in and out of a coma', has no sensation in his limbs, and cannot move his body.

The couple's sons Sean (pictured) and Ryan have permanent brain damage due to the negligent use of the chemicals. Sean, Ryan and Steve are all paralyzed, but Sean has the most neurological damage and is said to be 'in and out of a coma' 

Their father Steve, head of a private middle school in Wilmington, is paralyzed and 'must be strapped in to even sit'.

The most improvement has been seen in their mother Theresa, a dentist, who was described as being in a 'good condition'. 

The pest control company was charged with illegally using methyl bromide at the resort and 13 residential locations across the U.S. Virgin Islands in recent years.

The U.S. Justice Department said Terminix agreed to pay the fine and has stopped using the pesticide on the U.S. mainland and in its territories.

Virgin Islands U.S. Attorney Ronald Sharpe said the case highlights the need to comply with environmental laws.

'Tragically, the defendants' failure to do so resulted in catastrophic injuries to the victims and exposed many others to similar harm,' he said.

The Esmond family had rented a second-floor condominium at Sirenusa, a resort of 22 villas, last year.

The pesticide was used March 28, 2015 on the condominium's first floor, and agents are trying to determine how much was employed. 

The EPA found that methyl bromide was used at other Sirenusa units last year, but couldn't reveal how many.

Sea Glass Vacations LLC, which rents units at Sirenusa, said in a statement last year that it has terminated its contract with Terminix and the townhome under investigation is unoccupied. 

A Terminix spokesman said the company would issue a statement soon.

The Environmental Protection Agency banned methyl bromide for residential applications in 1984, but an investigation by U.S. authorities in the Virgin Islands found the chemical was used at 12 residential units in St Croix and another one in St. Thomas between September 2012 and February 2015. 

The family was staying at the Sirenusa resort (pictured) in St John when the poi singing happened. Sea Glass Vacations LLC, which rents out condos at Sirenusa, has discontinued its contract with Terminix  

Terminix has agreed to pay a fine of $10 million and will pay the family in a separate civil case. A criminal case is still pending 

It also was used at the Sirenusa Condominium Resort in St. John last year.  

Justice Department officials said Terminix will make a good faith effort to resolve the family's medical expenses through a separate civil process as part of a three-year probation.

They added that the criminal investigation was continuing.

Federal authorities also are investigating the use of methyl bromide in Puerto Rico. 

Earlier this month, the EPA filed complaints against a pest control company and two businessmen in that U.S. territory.