"Ritualistic killing" in Pensacola

(CNN)Investigators found three people hammered to death with their throats slit inside a Florida home in a case that authorities said Tuesday could be linked to witchcraft.

The way the victims were killed, the position of their bodies and the timing of the slayings has detectives wondering whether a triple homicide was a "ritualistic killing" tied to last week's blue moon, a sheriff told reporters Tuesday.

The victims' throats had been slit and all three of them were hit with a claw hammer, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said, according to video posted on The Pensacola News-Journal's website.

There are "some indications in the investigation that witchcraft may have been involved," sheriff's office spokeswoman Sena Madison told CNN.

Authorities have questioned a person of interest, Morgan said.

"Initial research has led us to believe that there was a potential that it was a ritualistic killing," he said.

Sheriff: Slain family was 'reclusive'
Combing through the crime scene of the complicated case has taken investigators days, he said, and they still haven't arrested or charged anyone in the killings.

"The elements of the case," Morgan told reporters, "are odd at best."

The three victims -- 77-year-old Voncile Smith and her sons, 49-year-old Richard Thomas Smith and 47-year-old John William Smith -- came from a "very reclusive family," the sheriff said. Neighbors who'd lived near them for years told investigators they'd never met them. Richard Thomas Smith, a Department of Homeland Security employee, had also been shot in the head in what authorities believe was an effort to incapacitate him.

The method of the killings and how the bodies were positioned when investigators found them on Friday also made the crime scene "very complex," the sheriff said.

The timing of the killings is also notable and coincided with last week's blue moon, Morgan said, though he didn't specify exactly how.

The bodies were discovered on Friday, the same day as the rare lunar event. Investigators believe that the killing occurred Tuesday evening, Morgan said.

No signs of forced entry
Authorities haven't released the identity of the so-called person of interest or detailed why they believe that person, who practices witchcraft, is tied to the case.

"There are different factions of (witchcraft). While it doesn't bother me to release that particular thing, I most assuredly do not want to defame or demean any particular practice," Morgan said.

There were no signs of forced entry or robbery at the home, he said, and authorities are still searching for information about what happened.

"While we have a person of interest," Morgan said, "there are still many things about this case we want to pursue."

ppaca wrote:Every once in awhile the weather channel will show their cam of the beach and say something like "Beautiful day on Pensacola Bch", but I've been here 25 years and can't remember anything positive on national news about Pensacola.

Bob wrote:What kind of moron in 2015 still believes in "witches"?  Do they believe in Leprechauns and the easter bunny too?

2seaoat wrote:What kind of moron in 2015 still believes in "witches"? Do they believe in Leprechauns and the easter bunny too?

There are folks who consider themselves witches.  They regularly meet in the summer where hundreds get together with ritual, and they mostly believe in free uninhibited sex.  I had a friend whose wife became deeply involved with the same that the marriage ended in divorce.  Its the real deal.  A campground in Dekalb Illinois was closed down because of the wild orgies and loud music these regular conventions caused the neighbors to freak out.  I thought it was a  joke until my friend gave the details of her wife traveling to Peoria Illinois once a month to participate in pagan rituals which were highly sexual.  There are all kinds of variations of wicca, but according to him his wife had become involved in a cult and was completely controlled by the group.  She let him have everything in the divorce....she just wanted to keep her lifestyle and religion.

EmeraldGhost wrote:I was at a biker rally on private property in Alabama last weekend where all kinds of things were going on including naked people, open drinking & smoking rope, & lots of loud music (no public orgies that I saw.)    Interestingly, during the Saturday night "blue moon",  Confederate flags were abundant in the crowd of well over 500 (by my estimate) as the band played an excellent rendition of Free Bird, topless women danced on the two poles stationed on the dance floor in front of the stage .... during the height of the guitar solo, the crowd went wild when a fellow jumped on stage runway with an American flag mounted upside down on a pole & waved it throughout the rest of the song.   There were no community complaints I heard of.   No black people either.   ('SeaOat' might have been offended.)

Snark Spigot wrote:

EmeraldGhost wrote:I was at a biker rally on private property in Alabama last weekend where all kinds of things were going on including naked people, open drinking & smoking rope, & lots of loud music (no public orgies that I saw.)    Interestingly, during the Saturday night "blue moon",  Confederate flags were abundant in the crowd of well over 500 (by my estimate) as the band played an excellent rendition of Free Bird, topless women danced on the two poles stationed on the dance floor in front of the stage .... during the height of the guitar solo, the crowd went wild when a fellow jumped on stage runway with an American flag mounted upside down on a pole & waved it throughout the rest of the song.   There were no community complaints I heard of.   No black people either.   ('SeaOat' might have been offended.)

Where's one of those tactical nukes when we need one?

EmeraldGhost wrote:
LOL!   You liberals crack me up .... always wanting to control people's behavior that ain't botherin no one else; stifle free speech; even kill those who don't fall in line with your progressive ideology; not to mention just being party-poopers in general.

Oughta try practicing what you preach sometime.   You might find it liberating.   "All we are saaaaaaying, is give peace a chance .....  

Bob wrote:
p.s.  however,  that's not a slam on Trump.  Unless Trump really stumbles in the wrastlin arena tonight,  I'm close to putting a Trump for President sign in my yard.  And I've never put an election sign in my yard ever before this.

EmeraldGhost wrote:

Snark Spigot wrote:

EmeraldGhost wrote:I was at a biker rally on private property in Alabama last weekend where all kinds of things were going on including naked people, open drinking & smoking rope, & lots of loud music (no public orgies that I saw.)    Interestingly, during the Saturday night "blue moon",  Confederate flags were abundant in the crowd of well over 500 (by my estimate) as the band played an excellent rendition of Free Bird, topless women danced on the two poles stationed on the dance floor in front of the stage .... during the height of the guitar solo, the crowd went wild when a fellow jumped on stage runway with an American flag mounted upside down on a pole & waved it throughout the rest of the song.   There were no community complaints I heard of.   No black people either.   ('SeaOat' might have been offended.)

Where's one of those tactical nukes when we need one?

LOL!   You liberals crack me up .... always wanting to control people's behavior that ain't botherin no one else; stifle free speech; even kill those who don't fall in line with your progressive ideology; not to mention just being party-poopers in general.

Oughta try practicing what you preach sometime.   You might find it liberating.   "All we are saaaaaaying, is give peace a chance .....  

ppaca wrote:

LOL!   You liberals crack me up .... always wanting to control people's behavior that ain't botherin no one else; stifle free speech; even kill those who don't fall in line with your progressive ideology; not to mention just being party-poopers in general.

Hold on a minute here, this sounds just like the republican party. Who trys the most to control people's behavior? You better really think this through.

I know both party's want to control us, but over my year's I believe you repubs have tried the most to control the way you think.

boards of FL wrote:http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/04/us/florida-slayings-ritualistic-witchcraft/index.html


This is nuts.

(CNN)Investigators found three people hammered to death with their throats slit inside a Florida home in a case that authorities said Tuesday could be linked to witchcraft.

The way the victims were killed, the position of their bodies and the timing of the slayings has detectives wondering whether a triple homicide was a "ritualistic killing" tied to last week's blue moon, a sheriff told reporters Tuesday.

The victims' throats had been slit and all three of them were hit with a claw hammer, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said, according to video posted on The Pensacola News-Journal's website.

There are "some indications in the investigation that witchcraft may have been involved," sheriff's office spokeswoman Sena Madison told CNN.

Authorities have questioned a person of interest, Morgan said.

"Initial research has led us to believe that there was a potential that it was a ritualistic killing," he said.

Sheriff: Slain family was 'reclusive'
Combing through the crime scene of the complicated case has taken investigators days, he said, and they still haven't arrested or charged anyone in the killings.

"The elements of the case," Morgan told reporters, "are odd at best."

The three victims -- 77-year-old Voncile Smith and her sons, 49-year-old Richard Thomas Smith and 47-year-old John William Smith -- came from a "very reclusive family," the sheriff said. Neighbors who'd lived near them for years told investigators they'd never met them. Richard Thomas Smith, a Department of Homeland Security employee, had also been shot in the head in what authorities believe was an effort to incapacitate him.

The method of the killings and how the bodies were positioned when investigators found them on Friday also made the crime scene "very complex," the sheriff said.

The timing of the killings is also notable and coincided with last week's blue moon, Morgan said, though he didn't specify exactly how.

The bodies were discovered on Friday, the same day as the rare lunar event. Investigators believe that the killing occurred Tuesday evening, Morgan said.

No signs of forced entry
Authorities haven't released the identity of the so-called person of interest or detailed why they believe that person, who practices witchcraft, is tied to the case.

"There are different factions of (witchcraft). While it doesn't bother me to release that particular thing, I most assuredly do not want to defame or demean any particular practice," Morgan said.

There were no signs of forced entry or robbery at the home, he said, and authorities are still searching for information about what happened.

"While we have a person of interest," Morgan said, "there are still many things about this case we want to pursue."

2seaoat wrote:I do not like loud music keeping me up all night at twenty, or at 63, but if you want to have a party and your music is far enough away to have a great time.....I have no problem........I fly the American flag right side up, and most of the folks I know who ride bikes do too....at Sturgis I never saw an upside down flag......you have established yourself as a hater......that is your right....but stop pretending on the issues that you are nothing more than a dog whistle participant.  You lost the war......justice and equality won......and the funniest part is that a Yankee produced Freebird.......a Jewish Yankee.....too funny.