By Karen Curio Jones © 2000
http://www.newsmakingnews.com (http://www.newsmakingnews.com)
The following cases describe legal proceedings held in Juvenile, Family, Civil and Criminal Courts around the world where there have been allegations of Satanism or the use of Ritual to abuse others.
Any religion or organization can be used as a front to hide ritual abuse activity, including Christianity, Buddhism, Shamanism, Hinduism, Masonry, Mormonism, Pagan and Satanic religions; however, not all satanists commit crimes and not all occultism is satanism. It is imperative that investigators and professionals familiarize themselves with cross-cultural belief systems so as not to target any particular group.
This archive was compiled by "Karen Curio Jones". If there are any corrections or updates that need to be made, please contact karen.jones@mailcity.com
"Warning: Some of the following
cases depict graphic, violent activity."
_____________________
September 2000, Murfreesboro, Tennessee;
Alonzo South, 31, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated sexual
battery. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison.
Overview: South admitted that on at least three occasions over the
last two years he participated in satanic rituals in which a nude
girl under the age of 10 was sexually touched. Court records say
the child, who was the daughter of a woman involved in the satanic
group, was raped in a home, the nearby woods, a shed, a pickup truck
and a car. See, "Man gets 24 years for satanic-ritual rape
of 10-year-old girl," The Tennessean, Sept. 30, 2000
______________
April 2000, Nashville, Tennessee; Motion withdrawn
to hold State in contempt of court.
Overview: News articles report that a Federal judge was asked to
hold the State in contempt of court in February 2000 for its continued
failure to provide court-ordered and doctor-prescribed mental health
services to a severely traumatized 17-year-old victim of rape and
occult ritual abuse. A State advocacy group, Tennessee Justice Center,
filed a class action lawsuit against the state for failure to properly
administer the appeals procedure for the health care plan enrollees
of TennCare, (Tennessee Behavioral Health). The 17 yr. old victim
was just one of the people named in the settlement but she was left
without proper care until this motion was filed. In April, the state
agreed to properly attend to her care. See, "Tenn. Could be
in Contempt if Mental Care for Teen Inadequate", The Commercial
Appeal, February 24, 2000; and "Sarah C. to get badly needed
care", Knoxville News-Sentinel Co., April 18, 2000
__________
April 2000 Warsaw, Poland; Tomasz Suszyna and
Robert Krakowian pleaded guilty to murder
Overview: A 19-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy were killed
during a ritual Satanic mass in southern Poland, police said after
finding the cut up and burned bodies. The two victims were members
of a sect that staged the black mass in a disused bunker on the
outskirts of the town of Ruda Slaska, but they did not know they
were to die. Another teenage cult member who survived was taken
to the hospital with multiple knife wounds. See, "Teenage cult
members killed in Satanic mass," Agence France Presse, March
4, 1999 and "Polish satanists jailed for ritual double murder",
Agence France Presse, April 1, 2000.
__________
March 2000, COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO, TENTH APPELLATE
DISTRICT, FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Shawn Ellis, Dependent Minor Child, (Franklin County Children Services,
Complainant-Appellee, Carla Richardson, Respondent-Appellant). No.
99AP-725, No. 99AP-726; Permanent court commitment of children upheld.
Overview: The mother and father did not comply with the reunification
plans for their children and the court stated satanic occult practices
were allegedly commonplace: "After being in counseling for
over three years, appellant continued to deny what happened to her
children and claimed an inability to remember the abuse. There was
even testimony that appellant could not recall taking blood and
hair from the children as part of satanic rituals."
____________
October 1999, South Africa; Maeoriko Manyike sentenced
to life in prison for ritual murder and mutilation.
Overview: The perpetrator mutilated a 15-yr-old boy and tried to
sell his genitals which he had cut off. According to a news report:
"Ritual or 'muti' murders are common in South Africa where
people are prepared to pay well for portions made of human parts
which they believe will bring good health or good fortune."
See, "Mozambican jailed for life in S. Africa for ritual murder,"
Agence France Presse, Oct. 21, 1999
____________
Sept. 14, 1999, Kitchener, Ontario; Kenneth James McMurray pleaded
guilty to five counts of sexual assault.
Overview: News article reports that McMurray held himself out as
a leader of a group based on the Wiccan religion. He preyed on abused
teenagers and required them to engage in a series of homosexual
acts which he called Mandatory Requirements which they would be
tested on. He told them that they would become better people spiritually
if they participated in these acts. Some members were afraid of
McMurray because they thought he had special powers. See, "Guelph
man admits sex assaults, guilty plea ends preliminary hearing for
head of Erin cult," Kitchener Waterloo Record, Sept. 14, 1999.
_____________
August 1999; STATE OF OHIO, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
V. KENNETH J. SMITH DEFENDANT-APPELLANT; CASE NO. 17-99-1; Status
as sexual predator upheld.
Overview: Man pled guilty several years prior to sexual imposition
against a child; he appealed the designation as a sexual predator.
Documents state: "The trial court also noted that the presentence
investigation report indicated alcohol was used, that defendant
had threatened the victim, and that satanic ceremonies had been
used."
______________
August 11 1999, Helsinki, Finland; Jarno Sebastian
Elg, Terhi Johanna Tervashonka, Mika Kristian Riska sentenced for
ritual murder
Overview: A court sentenced three alleged satanists, including a
17-year-old girl, to prison terms for killing a man and ingesting
some of the body parts. Jarno Sebastian Elg, 24, was given a life
sentence for killing a 23-year-old man in November and instigating
others to participate in a ritual that included torturing the victim
and listening to heavy-metal music. The Hyvinkaa District Court
in southern Finland sentenced Terhi Johanna Tervashonka, 17, to
two years and six months in prison and Mika Kristian Riska, 21,
to two years and eight months in the case. The victim, who was not
named, suffered prolonged torture and eventually was strangled to
death, the court said. It also said the three people convicted "were
strongly influenced by satanism." The court declared most of
the details of the case secret. See, "Alleged satanists sentenced
for murder, cannibalism," Associated Press, August 11, 1999
______________
August 3, 1999, KIEV; Dmitry Dyomin was
sentenced to death for murder; his accomplices, Valentin Chelyshev
and Alexei Andreyev sentenced to 13 and 8 yrs. in jail.
Overview: The supreme court sentenced to death a man convicted of
killing a 15-year-old girl whose tongue he then boiled and ate.
He belonged to a satanic cult and with the help of two accomplices
had severed the girl's head with a kitchen knife. Dyomin later lacquered
the skull and kept it in his room. Skulls, books on black magic
and upside-down crucifixes were found during a search of Dyomin's
house. See AAP NEWSFEED, August 4, 1999
______________
May 1999, FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida; Darrel Wayne
Harris, held for attempted 1st degree murder
Overview: Pending Case - A 17-year-old has been charged as an adult
and was scheduled to be arraigned on an attempted first-degree murder
charge in a stabbing attack that stemmed from a satanic ritual,
police said. Harris allegedly stabbed Robert Menendez four to six
times in the throat and back with a carving knife after a ritual
in which they cut their hands to let their blood mingle and chanted
lines from a satanic book together. As they were chanting on April
21, they drew a pentagram in the dirt and Harris told Menendez to
look down at the symbol. As Menendez looked down, Harris attacked
him with the knife."Somewhere along the line the culprit just
started to hack him with the knife," said Fort Lauderdale Detective
Arturo Carbo. "The victim told us that the stabbing was not
part of the ritual and he firmly believed he was going to die. Harris
and Menendez were part of a network of 30 to 40 local young people
who are involved in satanic activities," Carbo said. Menendez
told police he and Harris, who have known each other for at least
18 months, hung out at local public libraries to use computers to
access satanic Web sites and send e-mail to each other. See, "Teen
charged as adult in stabbing that took place during satanic ritual,"
Associated Press, May 28, 1999.
__________
February 1999, United States District Court For
the District of Nebraska; Paul A. Bonacci vs. Lawrence E. King;
4:CV91-3037; $1 million default judgment awarded.
Overview: "Two counts are alleged against the defendant King
in the complaint. Count V alleges a conspiracy with public officers
to deprive the plaintiff of his civil rights, designed to continue
to subject the plaintiff to emotional abuse and to prevent him from
informing authorities of criminal conduct. Count VIII charges battery,
false imprisonment, infliction of emotional distress, negligence
and conspiracy to deprive the plaintiff of civil rights. Between
December 1980 and 1988, the complaint alleges, the defendant King
continually subjected the plaintiff to repeated sexual assaults,
false imprisonments, infliction of extreme emotional distress, organized
and directed satanic rituals, forced the plaintiff to 'scavenge'
for children to be a part of the defendant King's sexual abuse and
pornography ring, forced the plaintiff to engage in numerous masochistic
orgies with other minor children. The defendant King's default has
made those allegations true against him. The issue now is the relief
to be granted monetarily. The now uncontradicted evidence is that
the plaintiff has suffered much. He has suffered burns, broken fingers,
beating of the head and face and other indignities by the wrongful
actions of the defendant King. In addition to the misery of going
through the experiences just related over a period of eight years,
the plaintiff has suffered the lingering results to the present
time. He is a victim of multiple personality disorder, involving
as many as fourteen distinct personalities aside from his primary
personality. He has given up a desired military career and received
threats on his life. He suffers from sleeplessness, has bad dreams,
has difficulty in holding a job, is fearful that others are following
him, fears getting killed, has depressing flashbacks, and is verbally
violent on occasion, all in connection with the multiple personality
disorder and caused by the wrongful activities of the defendant
King."
_________
April 1998, South Africa; Naledzani Mabuda and
his wife Helen Madidida confessed to killing their 23-month-old
son.
Overview: The father, a traditional healer and spiritual medium,
confessed to ritually killing his son because his ancestors had
threatened to destroy him if he did not. Police found the boy's
head, legs, hands and genitals buried under various parts of the
floor in the couple's house. Later searches revealed the toddler's
intestines, liver and other internal organs from a series of ritual
"graves" on the nearby mountainside. The couple were refused
bail after another local traditional leader banned them from the
village. He testified that the couple had committed a crime of the
"greatest evil" and that the townspeople were terrified.
The case was remanded to trial for May 4 when a series of sangomas
were asked to testify about ritual human sacrifices as part of traditional
African beliefs. See, "A Sangoma couple in court for sacrificing
child to ancestors, Africa News Service, April 15, 1998.
Also, in January 1998 several of South Africa's witch-doctors, or
sangomas, claimed that ritual murders and killings related to the
medicinal quest for body parts had decreased by more than 90 percent.
The news article reports that police estimate that several hundred
people, many of them children, are killed in South Africa each year
for their body parts. Female genitals, breasts and placentas are
used for infertility and good luck, while hands burned to ashes
and mixed into a paste are seen as a cure for strokes, and hearts
for heart disease. Blood is given to impart vitality and brains
for political power and business success. However "true sangomas
eschew the use of body parts, treating physical and mental ailments
using herbal medicines." See, "Witch-doctors not making
a killing any more: South African healers say ritual murders no
longer in vogue." The Ottawa Citizen, January 2, 1998
_________
STATE OF OREGON, Respondent, v. MICHAEL JAMES
HAYWARD; Appellant. 327 Ore. 397; 963 P.2d 667; 1998 Ore. LEXIS
593.
Three counts of aggravated murder, one count
of intentional murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of
attempted aggravated murder, one count of first-degree assault,
one count of first-degree kidnapping, one count of first-degree
robbery, and one count of first-degree burglary and death sentence
affirmed.
Overview: Four people, three of whom considered themselves to be
satanists and members of a "Death-Metal" band, listened
to their Death-Metal music which included lyrics to "The Pick-Axe
Murders," An Experiment in Homicide," "Hammer smashed
face," Meat Hook Sodomy," "Gutted," and "Living
Dissection." They planned their crime and went to a Dari Mart
store, killed a female clerk and brutally beat another one. The
evidence of "Death-metal" music and Satanism was admitted
into court testimony and was upheld because it partially explain
the motive for the crime and the motive for the degree of brutality
used.
______________
October 1997, Equatorial Guinea; An unnamed individual
was condemned to death after removing the eyes, tongue, ears and
genitals of his 10-year-old female victim.
Overview: Malabo radio reported that 17 ritual murders were committed
in Equatorial Guinea in August and September of 1997, according
to official figures. See, "Ritual murderer of girl, 10, sentenced
to death", Agence France Presse, October 3, 1997.
Another news report cites a Spanish journalist and ethnographer,
Jose Manuel Novoa, an expert on the country who has conducted investigations
in Equatorial Guinea since 1979 and has written two books about
cannibalism in the region. Novoa claims that anthropophagy (eating
human flesh) is widespread in the country. He stated, "Eating
human flesh was a tradition of warriors pertaining to the ethnic
group of the Fang, which lives in Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Gabon
and Cameroon ...as they conquered new territories, Fang warriors
ate parts of their victims to absorb desirable qualities such as
youth and strength... human organs are eaten by members of secret
brotherhoods which practice sorcery in forests at night. New members
are initiated in ceremonies which invoke spirits...bodies are obtained
through murder and robbing them from cemeteries ...the secret groups
are known as 'evu societies', because many Guineans believe the
human body to contain an organ known as the 'evu.'"... "The
human brain is known to be highly toxic, for which reason the cannibals
seek to immunize themselves by ingesting potent vegetal poisons
in small doses... nevertheless, the cannibalism is believed to have
led to a disease known as the kuru." See, "Cannibalism
still common in Equatorial Guinea, Spanish expert claims",
Deutsche Presse-Agentur, April 5, 1998.
In April of 1988, President Omar Bongo met with leaders of the Catholic,
Protestant and Moslem communities to discuss possible action against
imported beliefs and practice. This action was taken after an admission
by a witchdoctor, purporting to belong to a sect based in neighboring
Equitorial Guinea, that he had eaten six humans, including two of
his own children, over the past decade. The witchdoctor was a railway
worker and his followers had killed another victim, a teacher who
was seeking help to solve family problems. See, "Bongo Denounces
Sects in Wake of Gruesome Cannibalism Tale." Reuters (Libreville)
April 29, 1988.
_______________
November 1998, Pike County, Ohio; Michael Paul
Dillard, 20, was convicted of felony child endangerment for burning
a boy during a satanic ritual.
Overview: Dillard used candle wax to burn crosses on the chest,
genitals, arms and back of the 14-yr.old. Dillard confessed to torturing
the boy, his 13 yr. old brother and a 12 yr. old friend. An accomplice
held their legs while Dillard poured wax on them. "It burned,"
the younger boy testified. "I tried to get loose." One
of the men told one of the boys to holler out Satan's name, but
he refused to do it, the younger boy testified. See, "Man guilty
of burning teens in satanic ritual," Columbus Dispatch,
and "A Pike County man faces up to five years in prison for
torturing a 14-yr-old boy", Associated Press, August 19, 1998.
________________
February 1998, SEAN RICHARD SELLERS v. RONALD
WARD UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS TENTH CIRCUIT No. 97-6062; 728
P.2d 515; 809 P.2d 676; 889 P. 2d 895; Denial of new trial affirmed.
Overview: In 1985 - 1986, at the age of 16, Sean Sellers killed
three people, including his parents. He was tried as an adult and
given the death sentence. Evidence of his satanic belief system
was admitted by the defense at trial. Sellers appealed in recent
years due to new evidence that he suffered from multiple personality
disorder or (DID). Extensive medical documentation was submitted
to the court indicating that an "alter" committed the
offenses. The appeal was denied although the court was clearly disturbed
by the ramifications of Sean Seller's mental disorder.
Note: Sean was executed on Feb. 4, 1999 despite appeals by Amnesty
International contesting the legal wisdom of executing a man for
crimes he committed at age 16 and who suffered from a psychological
disorder like MPD/DID.
__________
April 28, 1998, Lubuk Pakam, Indonesia; Achmad
Suradji, 47, sentenced to death for murdering 42 women.
Overview: An Indonesian sorcerer was sentenced to death Monday for
murdering 42 women as part of a bizarre attempt to boost his magical
powers. The case first came to light in April last year when police,
following up a missing person's report, found a body buried in a
sugar cane field near Suradji's house. When they went to question
the sorcerer, they found women's shoes and handbags. Over the next
few weeks, a further 41 bodies were unearthed close to his village.
According to the police, Suradji said that he had a dream in 1986
in which the ghost of his father had told him to kill a total of
70 women and then drink their saliva in order to enhance his mystical
powers. See, "Sorcerer to die for 42 murders", The Daily
Telegraph, April 28, 1998 and "Witch Work; How an Indonesian
lured 42 women to their death", Asiaweek, June
13, 1997
__________
May 1997, J. P. v. CLARENCE CARTER, COMMISSIONER
OF THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES; Record No. 1168-96-4
COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA 24 Va. App. 707; 485 S.E.2d 162; 1997
Va.App. LEXIS 310, Decided. True Finding of child molestation affirmed.
Overview: A 13 yr. old female minor was found to have molested two
children in the context of satanic ritual ceremony while she was
babysitting them. The kids reported to their parents and investigators
that: "...[appellant] had undressed and fondled [one child]
on these two different occasions, performed oral sodomy, had [him]
touch her breast and sat on top of [him] and quote "hurt his
penis." [Appellant] allegedly had [the other child] draw a
pentagram and circle and told [him] this is where to love Satan
while she fondled his penis. . . [The children's mother] said the
boys reported that [appellant] talked of Satan's power and that
she would kill them and their parents if they told anyone what happened.
This minor's name was submitted to the central registry as a founded
sexual abuser.
___________
July 1997, Eddie Lee Sexton v. State of Florida,
No. 86,132
Trial court imposed the death penalty for murder. Remanded
back to Court because testimony needlessly inflamed the jury. The
criminal trial was continued until August 1998. After the second
trial, Eddie Lee Sexton was found guilty and sentenced to death
again on Nov. 18, 1998.
Overview: Sexton was convicted and sentenced to death for the participation
in the murder of his son-in-law. The court notes Sexton moved to
Florida in 1993 with his family and the victim to avoid arrest and
prevent authorities in Ohio from removing his children from the
home. His infant grandchild, who was the son of the victim and his
daughter, died under suspicious circumstances. Sexton objected to
the testimony of 5 of his daughters, as cited in the appellate opinion,
"that he beat them, conducted 'marriage' ceremonies with his
daughters, had regular sex with them and fathered several of their
children, encouraged his children to have sex with each other, made
his sons compare their penis sizes and ridiculed them, practiced
Satanism and engaged in other bizarre conduct, threatened his children
if they discussed family matters with others, trained his children
how to kill FBI agents, engaged in a standoff with police in Ohio
shortly before coming to Florida, fled to Florida to prevent his
children from being taken into custody, and directed the killing
of his infant grandchild."
The States proposed motive for the killing was that Sexton's son-in-law
knew Sexton was the father of his own "grandchildren."
The prosecution wanted prior bad acts admitted to show the control
this man had over his children. The appeals court thought this testimony
needlessly inflamed the jury and so ordered a new trial. During
the second trial, a son, Willie Sexton, said his father convinced
him he had Satanic powers and sexually abused him. He also stated
that he was tied up to his bed at night when he was a child, and
the father gave coins to the other children to call home if anyone
spoke about the abuse. See, "Court revisits murder case, son's
fears", St. Petersburg
Times, September 2, 1998
________________
March 1998, STATE OF OHIO, Plaintiff-Appellee
-vs- ESTELLA SEXTON, Defendant-Appellant CASE NOS: 1996CA00306,
1996CA00367 COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO, FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT,
STARK COUNTY 1998 Ohio App. LEXIS 1302, Case No. 1995CR00421.
Convictions for Complicity to Rape, Felonious
Sexual Penetration, Gross Sexual Imposition, Complicity to Gross
Sexual Imposition, and child endangerment. Affirmed.
Overview: This appeal involves the wife of the man described in
the above case. In April 1992 M. one of Mrs. Sexton's daughters,
alleged that their father was molesting the three oldest daughters.
There were 12 children in the family. DHS took six of the children
into custody, but three of the children were returned to the mother
under an agreement that she would keep the children away from the
father. "In December of 1992, Mrs. Sexton fled Ohio with the
three children, and reunited with Eddie at a hotel in Kentucky.
On January 14, 1994, appellant and Eddie were arrested in Hillsboro
County, Florida. The three children were returned to the custody
of DHS. While living in Jackson Township, and in a camper in Hillsboro
County, Florida, appellant and her husband perpetrated acts of sexual,
physical, and mental abuse against all of the children. While living
in Jackson Township, K. L. and M. were forced to participate in
a wedding ceremony with their father. During the ceremony, Eddie
engaged in a French kiss with the girls. Appellant was present,
and took pictures of the ceremony."... "In the camper
in Florida, appellant and Eddie gave Kim and Chris little red pills
and Nyquil to ingest every evening, despite the fact that neither
had a cold." The mother and father inflicted "shaving
rituals" on the girls. "On one occasion, K. did not ingest
the medicine, and saw appellant fondling C's. penis while he was
asleep."..."While living in Jackson Township, L. and M.
were forced to experience a similar shaving ritual. Lana was taken
to the master bedroom for the purpose of punishment. Once inside
the room, appellant held L. down, while Eddie shaved her entire
body with a razor. While shaving her, Eddie cut her leg, put the
blood on her finger, and made her sign a paper, saying that she
was selling her soul to the devil."... "C. received beatings
from both appellant and Eddie. Eddie would beat C. once or twice
a week, while appellant guarded the door. The beatings would often
leave bruises. Appellant and Eddie also punished C. by having him
stand against the wall for five to six hours, holding a penny against
the wall with his nose. During this punishment, C. was not permitted
to go to the bathroom. At age twelve, C. was forced to participate
in weekend parties involving the family members in which he was
given beer to drink."
In a previous appellate opinion describing Mrs. Sexton's case, Ohio
vs. Estella Sexton one of the children at that time stated that
family members were involved in satanic rituals, invoking spirits,
and "baby thingies and things like that."
___________
November 1997, India; Dharam Vir arrested for
the ritual murder of his son.
Overview: A father chopped off his son's head and offered it to
the Hindu goddess of destruction, Kali, in a belief that a human
sacrifice would earn him divine favors. He ordered his son to lie
on the ground and then beheaded him. The police said he murdered
his son because he was driven by his own religious beliefs. See,
"Man beheads son in Ritual Murder in India", Agence France
Presse, November 14, 1997
_________
July 1997, IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF
TENNESSEE AT KNOXVILLE, STATE OF TENNESSEE, Appellee v. CHRISTA
GAIL PIKE, Appellant. C.C.A. NO. 03C01-9611-CR-00408 KNOX COUNTY
HON. (First Degree Murder-Death Penalty) ON APPEAL FROM THE JUDGMENT
OF THE CRIMINAL COURT OF KNOX COUNTY.
Conviction for first degree murder and conspiracy to commit first
degree murder affirmed. Death penalty affirmed.
Overview: Pike killed another female she felt rivalry with and carved
a pentagram into her chest. The court found that this murder involved
torture, and medical experts thought the injuries were inflicted
when the victim was still alive. A group of "others" were
named who helped her but Pike didn't give information about them.
The pentagram she was wearing was admitted as evidence. "A
witness stated that as the Defendant described hitting Slemmer in
the head with a piece of asphalt and carving a pentagram in her
chest, she danced around in a circle, smiling and singing."
The psychiatrist involved thought there were satanic elements to
the crime but that Pike was just a "dabbler" in satanism.
A few years later..."A Knox County judge imposed consecutive
prison terms Thursday for a young Memphis man who took part in the
torture slaying of a Knoxville Job Corps student. Criminal Court
Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz said public safety concerns dictate that
Tadaryl D. Shipp be imprisoned as long as the law allows. Shipp,
21, had no regard for human life when he helped murder Colleen A.
Slemmer, 19, the night of Jan. 12, 1995, the judge said. He treated
her with "gross cruelty" while at least partly satisfying
an interest in Satanism, Leibowitz said." See, "Orange
County woman to die for Tenn. killing," THE_NEWS_&_OBSERVER
" and "Judge orders Shipp to serve life in slaying,
then another 25-year term " Knoxville News-Sentinel, March
12, 1999
_________
April 1, 1996 ADOPTION OF QUENTIN & others.
SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS; 424 Mass. 882; 678 N.E.2d
1325; 1997 Mass. LEXIS 104 DISPOSITION: Order granting petition
to dispense with consent to adoption of three children affirmed.
Overview: Department of Social Services planned to adopt out the
parent's children, the parent's appealed and the court briefly describes
Social Services case for neglect, sexual molestation and statements
of the children. While describing the past history of the father,
the court writes: "In 1983, the father joined a religious organization
called Orlo Templi Orientis and studied the so-called 'Satanic Bible.'
In January, 1984, he was convicted of grave robbing, and sentenced
to two months in jail. After release, he returned to his transient
life-style, alternating between Los Angeles and San Francisco."
"The eldest child, E. was diagnosed as suffering from posttraumatic
stress disorder. During an interview with Dr. O'Connell, she stated
that "her 'Daddy's a witch;' that 'bad witches took my picture
with no clothes on;' that '[Paul, a friend of the father] calls
me his girlfriend;' that [Paul] took pictures of her with no clothes
on; that [Paul] said not to tell; that she and her mother were tied
up together with no clothes on while her father had no clothes on;
and that the witches 'shared weenies' and tried to touch her with
their weenies but that she ran away."
___________
July 1996, In Interest of P.J.M, 926 S.W.2d 223,
Missouri Court of Appeals, Termination of Parental Rights Affirmed.
Overview: This self-described satanic family had been in and out
of social services for many years. Parental Rights were terminated
as to three of the children. There was constant and severe domestic
violence; the father continually abused the mother, including using
a cattle prod to electrically shock her, shot her with a gun, cut
her with a razor blade and violated her with a baseball bat. The
mother then claimed she made up the story, although physical evidence
was discovered, she had a stab wound in her side and she was bleeding
internally. Both parents had been arrested for the rape of a teenager,
but the witness wouldn't testify so the charges were dropped. Both
parents had tried to commit suicide and were involved in drug usage.
The mother admitted to sacrificing animals in front of her children
and giving them drugs to forget the ceremonies. The children also
stated that this occurred.
December 1996, Damien
Wayne Echols and Charles Jason Baldwin v. State of Arkansas, 936
S.W.2d 509, Convictions and sentencing for murder affirmed.
Overview: Echols and Baldwin were jointly tried and convicted for
killing three 8 yr. old boys. Their accomplice, Jessie Misskelley,
confessed and implicated both Echols and Baldwin in the murders.
Misskelley was tried separately. In an appellate opinion dated July
17, 1995 (902 S.W.2d 781) Echols had previously appealed his case
but filed a motion specifically waiving all points concerning his
death sentence. The appellate court ordered the case back to the
lower court to address Echols competency to waive an appeal of the
death penalty. Echols finally decided to appeal his death sentence
but the sentence was upheld. One jury member received a death threat,
another had received a threatening phone call during the trial.
In the courts overview of the sufficiency of the evidence arguments,
there were detailed descriptions of the three victims bodies, including
evidence of forced sex, they'd been beaten and stabbed, and there
were injuries to the genital area evidencing forced oral sex. There
was evidence of castration regarding child victim, Christopher Byers.
"The skin of the penis had been removed, and the scrotal sac
and testes were missing."
When asked by police how he thought the boys had been killed, Echols
gave them statements not yet publicly known. On the witness stand,
Echols testified that he'd read these facts from the newspaper.
When the newspapers were shown to him, Echols admitted the information
he was referring to was not in them and he didn't get the information
in question from the newspaper after all. Two witnesses testified
they overheard Echols admit he killed the three boys and that he
was going to kill two more. The state thought the killings had been
performed in a satanic ritual and an expert witness on the occult
gave that opinion also. Echols admitted to being involved in the
occult, items in his home included journals that had references
to "morbid images, spells, and dead children." His parents
had concerns about his involvement in "devil worship".
Medical records contained statements by Echols about his belief
system: "People are in two classes, sheeps and wolves, and
the wolves eat the sheep." He thought he obtained power from
drinking the blood of others, especially from his sexual partners.
In regards to whether the field of satanism has scientific validity,
the court notes: "Echols next contends that Dr. Griffis should
not have been allowed to testify that the murders had the 'trappings
of occultism' because there was no testimony that the field of satanism
or occultism is generally accepted in the scientific community.
The argument is without merit, as the trial court did not allow
the evidence to prove that satanism or occultism is generally accepted
in the scientific community. Rather, the trial court admitted the
evidence as proof of the motive for committing the murders."
In regards to Jason Baldwin, a witness testified that Baldwin spoke
of the murders. "He told me he dismembered the kids, or I don't
know exactly how many kids. He just said he dismembered them. He
sucked the blood from the penis and scrotum and put the balls in
his mouth."
------------
April 1996, Jessie Lloyd Misskelley, Jr. v. State
of Arkansas, 915 S.W.2d 702, Convictions for first and second degree
murder affirmed.
Overview: Companion case to the above. Three 8 yr.old boys were
brutally murdered, raped, and mutilated in Arkansas by Misskelley
and two other accomplices-- Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin. The
case against Misskelley was primarily based on his confession and
supporting circumstantial evidence. "Misskelley stated he had
been involved in a cult for three months, they met in the woods,
they engaged in orgies and,as an initiation rite, the killing and
eating of dogs. At one cult meeting, he saw a picture that Echols
had taken of the three boys. Another witness testified that she
had attended a satanic cult meeting with Echols and Misskelley.
A doctor offered testimony that the type of cuts in one of the victims
genital area required the use of 'skill and precision.'"
___________
October 1996, Ohio; Nathan Brooks found guilty
of the mutilation slaying of his parents and sentenced to two consecutive
life terms.
Overview: The 18 yr. old perpetrator decapitated his father and
his mother was hacked to death. Brooks told the officers he used
the head in a Black mass ritual that he believed would increase
his satanic powers. He said he had also planned to kill a younger
brother, but the youngster was visiting a friend. See, "Satanic
ritual killer sentenced to life," United Press International,
October 24, 1996.
_______________
February 1996, Suzanne Hughes v. Department of
Social Services Arlington County, Court of Appeals of Virginia,
Termination of Parental Rights Affirmed. Record No. 2345-94-4.
Overview: A baby was removed from the custody of the mother after
evidence of abuse. The mother was eventually diagnosed with Multiple
Personality Disorder. The child was returned to the mother, but
after further incidents of abuse and neglect she was taken into
custody again. The mother's counselor testified that the mother
stated she was involved with a satanic cult that killed adults and
babies, and they had threatened her. She stated she was involved
with them since she was 7 yrs. old. She reported members of the
cult abducting and raping her. Under cross-examination, the mother
was asked about the maternal grandparents failure in reporting her
own abuse, and the court was concerned that she was living at the
maternal grandfather's home. The trial judge also expressed concern
over the continued existence of the satanic cult, appellant's inability
to help the police prosecute a member of this cult, appellant's
continued residence in the same family home where she had been verbally
and physically abused as a small child, and lack of family support
that was missing when appellant was an abused child. The appellate
court found that the evidence of appellants participation in the
cult described was relevant to the proceedings.
__________
December 1995, Jimmie Lee Penick v. State of Indiana,
659 N.E.2d 484, Conviction for murder and enhanced sentence affirmed
Overview: Four practitioners of Satanism conspired and planned to
murder a prospective member of their "Satanic Church."
They were concerned that the victim, William Ault, knew about a
prior murder. They took him to what he thought was an initiation..."Ault
was asked to lay down on a door, which was being used as an altar.
Keith Lawrence read an invocation to Satan...Goodwin and the Lawrences
also made cuts on Ault's chest and abdomen in the form of an inverted
cross, as well as other cuts...Penick's own words describe how the
victims chest and abdomen were cut open, how Goodwin tried to cut
out victim's heart before he died, and how the victim remained conscious
throughout this and responded to questions from the defendant."
Aggravators were that Penick dismembered the victims head and hands
and Penick admitted he removed the head to give the skull to a friend.
Penick's defense was that he acted under the influence of his strong
beliefs in satanism but that he had converted to Christianity while
in prison.
______________
November 15 1995, Steven Brian Alvarado v. State
of Texas, 912 S.W.2d 199, Convictions and death sentence affirmed.
Overview: Alvarado killed two people, a mother and son, during a
drug deal. A year or so prior to the murder Alvarado had been in
the hospital. The psychologist stated he was considered "violent
and dangerous and that he had a full-blown antisocial personality
disorder."... he had "no concern for the rights of others,
and that he admitted selling illegal weapons, abusing and selling
illegal drugs, sexually assaulting a woman, mutilating human infants
in satanic rituals, and committing numerous other crimes. He was
discharged after twelve days in the hospital because he was felt
to be a danger to the other patients and that he was not suffering
from a mental illness that was treatable, and, therefore under the
mental health code had to be discharged."
_________
August 1995, Edward Bennett v. State of Nevada,
901 P.2d 676, Murder conviction affirmed.
Overview: Bennett was sentenced to death for killing a girl. Writings
were seized showing that the murder was "ritualistic and satanic."
Some of these statements included: "There's a problem in this
country and has a lot to do with being white. There's too many people
with ugly skin."... "I need to kill somebody or tear someone
apart. I got to satisfy my need, cure this thirst for blood. So
as I make the sacrifice by doing it just for you and kill this child,
for it is a first born, I'm giving you my soul, Satan. Where is
my reward? My thirst for blood is now calm, but it shall rise again.
My power is so strong I need to cause some death. For Lucifer's
inside of me, and I don't want to let him out. I look in the mirror,
I see him in my eyes. I feel his heart beating in my chest, and
I know it is not mine. For I feel so privileged for I'm with number
one. I'm so f_____powerful and my reigning has just begun as I kill
and kill again. I feel my rewards come on. My power's growing even
greater. I'm so f___ strong for I am the devil's right-hand man.
I carry out his every chore. I make this sacrifice in his name,
Lucifer the Great, blood splattered on my face from the kill I've
just done.
_______
July 1995, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. MICHAEL
ALAN PARKER, SR. NO. COA94-1045 COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA
119 N.C. App. 328; 459 S.E.2d 9; 1995 N.C. App. LEXIS 523 July 5,
1995, Filed. Convictions for multiple counts of child molestation
affirmed.
Overview: The defendant thought there should be a mistrial for several
reasons, one of which was witness testimony that he threatened to
bomb the woman's shelter his wife and family were staying at. Appeals
court describes children testimony: "... Defendant pulled down
S's pants and threw her on the floor and inserted a spoon into her
vagina and moved it around. Defendant took blood that was on the
spoon, put it in a cup and drank it while the others were standing
around singing with lit candles."..."S testified that
when defendant took her to the woods behind her grandmother's house
and abused her in front of several people holding lit candles, another
young girl, A Robinson, "started screaming at first and then
she jumped up and she had no clothes on and she started running
and her dad jumped up and started chasing after her through the
woods." One of the children also described molest by the grandmother.
In news articles she's named as the co-defendant. A news article
relates that the children testified that Parker raped and sodomized
them in the family's trailer near Saluda and in nearby woods, often
while other people wearing black pants and white shirts stood around
chanting. See, "Dad guilty of Abusing children Sexually, Eight
Life Sentences" Greensboro News & Record, Feb. 6, 1994
__________
June 1995, Athens, Greece; Satanic Cult leader
Asimakis Katsoulas and Manos Dimitrokallis were found guilty of
kidnapping, raping and murdering a 30 year old woman and a 15 year
old girl during occult ceremonies. They were sentenced to
life imprisonment. Dimitra Maryetti was found guilty of complicity
and sentenced to 23 years.
Overview: Katsoulas and his "high priestess" confessed
to leading a 20 member satanic cult, which had conducted animal
and human sacrifices for three years. The first victim was killed
at her initiation ceremony. Katsoulas claimed he was the vehicle
for "ancient demons." Another witness was abducted when
the murderers told her they were police officers who wanted to question
her. See, "Two young men confess to Rape, Murder of two women
as part of a satanic cult ritual, police said"; AP, Dec. 28,
1993 and "Court convicts, sentences two to life terms for murder",
AP, June 30, 1995.
____________
December 1994, IN THE MATTER OF: Heather BARKER,
NEGLECTED CHILD, COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO, Case No. 441 SEVENTH
APPELLATE DISTRICT, HARRISON COUNTY, LEXIS 6100, Juvenile Court
Decision to Grant Permanent Custody to DHS Affirmed
Overview: At the age of 5, Heather was taken into custody by DHS
due to physical injuries to her genital area. Cumulative testimony
proved to the court that she'd been sexually molested by clear and
convincing evidence, although there wasn't any obvious perpetrator
to hold accountable. The mother was cited for neglect and was given
18 months reunification services but they did not alleviate the
problems which brought the child into custody. Social Services didn't
think the mother could protect the child. The child was prone to
"trance-like" states after unsupervised visits with the
mother and other unusual behavior. A treating psychologist and social
worker thought the child had been ritually sexually abused based
on her statements. A trial took place contesting these matters and
the court amended the abuse complaint, based on clear and convincing
evidence,to a finding of neglect as well.
___________
April 1994, In Re: Chrystal and Tasha, Superior
Court of Connecticut, Juvenile Matters, Lexis 1061. Termination
of Parental Rights Affirmed
Overview: Apellate opinion cites that these children were in several
placements over a period of 4 years after a finding of neglect in
juvenile court. The mother was in and out of prison due to drug
usage and sales. One of the children had been diagnosed with multiple
personality disorder and had been subjected to Satanism. It was
not clear whether the incidents took place with the biological mother
or in the foster homes the child was in over the years where allegations
of abuse had been confirmed. Further exploration revealed that the
child connected terrifying experiences in a ritualistic, abusive
church and sexual abuse with her biological mother. Contact with
her mother was suspended when the child began exhibiting negative
behaviors after visitations or after other types of communication.
___________
March 1994, State of North Carolina v. Patrick
S. Figured, 446 S.E.2d 838, Convictions affirmed for first-degree
sexual offenses involving 3 children.
Overview: Figured had entered an Alford Plea of guilty to all three
charges. The state agreed to dismiss charges against his girlfriend,
Sonja Hill. The DA reindicted Sonja Hill and on April 15, 1991 wanted
his guilty plea set aside on the grounds the DA had violated the
agreement. The motion was granted. On March 9 1992, a grand jury
re-indicted Figured and he was convicted of all charges. A news
article reports that parents of two of these victims filed a civil
suit against Sonja Hill and her mother who ran the daycare center.
The parents alleged that their children had been forced to participate
in Satan worship while being abused. The kids spoke of having to
drink blood, their abusers burned Bibles and wore masks and capes.
Hill and her mother did not answered the lawsuit, and a Johnston
County jury awarded a $10.5 million judgment to the parents who
didn't believe they'd ever collect the money but wanted other people
to know that these acts do occur. See, "Johnston couple win
child sex abuse suit" News and Observer, Mar 27, 1990
___________
Dec. 1993, Washington D.C, United States. On December
27, 1993, U.S. News and World Report cited that the Justice Dept.
was reinvestigating the "Finders case."
The news article mentions that some of the unresolved questions
are allegations that the Finders Group are linked to the Central
Intelligence Agency and whether or not the investigation into their
activity had been closed inappropriately.
Overview: "The many unanswered questions about the Finders
case now have Democratic Rep. Charlie Rose of North Carolina, Chairman
of the House Administration committee, and Florida's Rep. Tom Lewis,
a Republican, more than a little exercised. "Could our own
government have something to do with this Finders organization and
turned their backs on these children? That's what all the evidence
points to," says Lewis, and there's a lot of evidence."...
"Law enforcement sources say some of the Finders are listed
in the FBI's classified counterintelligence files."
As background, in early Feb. 1987 six children were taken into custody
in Tallahassee, Florida. Two men were charged with child abuse,
but charges were dropped. The men said the children were "transporting
these children to Mexico and a school for brilliant children"
Their mothers were located in a group called the Finders. At the
same time, Washington, D.C., police and U.S. Customs Service agents
raided a duplex apartment building and a warehouse connected to
the group. Customs Reports cite that among the evidence seized were
detailed instructions on obtaining children for unknown purposes
around the world, child trafficking, instructions to keep the above
six children moving and how to avoid detection, several photographs
of nude children that appeared to "accent" the child's
genitals; photographs of children involved in animal rituals, an
altar, jars of urine and feces, and a staging area, all of which
appeared to the Custom's Agents as an"indoctrination"
center. Custom's agents were told to drop their investigation because
it had become a "CIA internal matter" and that is documented
in their report.
"Officials of the U.S. Customs Service, called in to aid in
the investigation, said that the material seized yesterday includes
photos showing children involved in bloodletting ceremonies of animals
and one photograph of a child in chains. Customs officials said
they were looking into whether a child pornography operation was
being conducted." See, "Officials Describe 'Cult Rituals'in
Child Abuse Case", The Washington Post, Feb. 7, 1987 and, "Through
a glass, very darkly: Cops, spies and a very odd investigation,"
U.S. News and World Report,
December 27, 1993/January 3, 1994
______
November 1993, COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA v.
RICKIE JAY GADDIS, Appellant NO. 00561 PITTSBURGH, 1993 SUPERIOR
COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA 432 Pa. Super. 523; 639 A.2d 462; 1994 Pa.
Super. LEXIS 963, Argued March 22, 1994
Overview: In the judges own words, "These consolidated appeals
are taken from the judgments of sentence imposed on February 9,
1993. Appellant was found guilty in two separate trials of more
than 150 counts of aggravated assault, 18 Pa.C.S. ¤ 2702; recklessly
endangering another person, ¤ 2705; terroristic threats, ¤ 2706;
endangering the welfare of children, ¤ 4304; corruption of minors,
¤ 6301; false imprisonment, ¤ 2903; simple assault, ¤ 2701; prohibited
offensive weapons, ¤ 908; rape, ¤ 3121; statutory rape, ¤ 3122;
involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, ¤ 3123; aggravated indecent
assault, ¤ 3125; indecent exposure, ¤ 3127; incest, ¤ 4302; and
criminal conspiracy, ¤ 903.
Overview: "These charges arose from the horrific sexual, physical
and emotional abuse and neglect by appellant, Rickie Jay Gaddis,
of his minor children." Gaddis was sentenced to 235 years (plus)
in prison. The appellate court affirmed his sentence but vacated
his fine. There had been concern he was going to capitalize on his
crimes by selling a book. The police stated at the time that the
children were subjected by their parents and neighbors to ritualistic
torture that included bloodlettings with a sword, satanic ceremonies,
hot needles under their fingernails, sodomy, stretching and tattooing.
See, "Pa. couple is charged with torturing children; Police
say neighbors also took part in abuse", The Atlanta Journal
and Constitution, November 26, 1991; and "Pennsylvania Couple
Charged With Brutalizing Their Children," The Washington Post,
November 26, 1991: and "Parents charged with Torturing their
Children", Associated Press, Nov. 25, 1991
__________
November 1992, Austin, Texas; People of Texas
v. Frances and Daniel Keller, Case #924217, Convicted for aggravated
sexual assault on a child; Sentenced to 48 years. Both cases upheld
on appeal No. 3-92-603-CR, and No. 3-92-604-CR on Oct 26, 1994.
Overview: News articles chronicling the trial cited more than one
child thought to be abused at "Fran's Day Care" in Austin,
Texas, operated by the Keller's, but this particular case cites
their conviction of only one child, while news reports say other
charges with other children are pending. Tears were found in the
child's vagina. Douglas Wayne Perry, the ex-husband of one of the
two other alleged perpetrators who were former deputy constables,
confessed that he, along with the constables and the Kellers, engaged
in "beer and sex parties, during which several children were
sexually assaulted by the adults while photographs were taken."
He recanted his confession but then pleaded guilty to a charge of
indecency with a child. He confessed to tearing a head off a doll
and threatening the children that if they told, their heads would
come off the same way. The children described ritual acts, being
terrorized in a graveyard, seeing animals killed and bodies dug
up and mutilated with a chainsaw.
A 6-yr-old child, who also claimed to be a victim, testified on
the behalf of the 3 1/2 year old and called Fran's Day Care, "Fran's
Hate Care." The defense lawyers used videos showing some the
younger child recanting, saying the abuse never happened, to try
to undermine the case. The parents claimed that one of the perpetrators
was flashing threatening hand signals during the child's testimony.
The defense also stated that the claims were "too outlandish
to be believed" because the children also spoke of going on
airplane rides and seeing a baby killed. A child led an investigator
to a graveyard where they found animal bones. Parents of two children,
who said they were abused, have filed a civil suit holding three
people accountable (the three described above) for not reporting
the abuse. Another mother said "I put my son in a mental
hospital as a result of this abuse (by the Kellers), and it's only
been through over a year of intensive psychotherapy that he's begun
to partially heal." See, "6-yr-old testifies he witnessed
abuse of girl", Nov. 24, 1992 , and "Kellers found guilty
of sexual assault", Nov. 26, 1992, Austin American Statesman
____________
October 1992, Earnest v. State, Supreme Court
of Georgia, 422 S.E.2d 188, Conviction for murder affirmed.
Overview: Earnest was convicted of malice murder. A self-described
high priest of a satanic cult performed a satanic ritual over the
female victim. Evidence of Satan worship and evidence of the cult's
involvement in church vandalisms was admissible as evidence as to
motive for the crime.
_________
September 1992, Eastland County, Texas.
The STATE OF TEXAS VS. PHIL STANLEY ROGERS; Case No. 18, 738; Charged
and pleaded guilty to "Indecency with a child, younger than
17 years, committed during the course of a ritual." Jury sentence
- 99 years.
Overview: A news report [no date yet], cites that the rituals began
with the purchase of a Ouija board. Items taken as evidence included
books covering satanic topics, pentagram symbols, candles, daggers
and wands.
____________
April 1992, In the Matter of the Welfare of J.
M. P., C9-91 -1899, COURT OF APPEALS OF MINNESOTA, Lexis 436. Termination
of Parental Rights Affirmed.
Overview: By the mother's own admission, her past included "years
of sexual and physical abuse, parental neglect, early and long-standing
addiction to numerous drugs, serious mental health problems, and
involvement in a satanic cult." Her child was taken into custody
after two hospitalizations due to overdosing. The mother was involved
in four incidents, three involving criminal convictions, which caused
harm to children, including J.M.P. The mother tried to commit suicide,
and was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
March 1992, Orlando,
Florida; Margie Wright pleaded no contest to three charges of attempted
sexual battery and two charges of attempted lewd acts and was sentenced
to 5 1/2 years in prison. Jim Wright was convicted of raping and
fondling five children.
Overview: Three news articles describing the case cite that this
couple were charged with molesting children in the context of satanic
rituals. The parents of three of the victims moved residences and
the prosecutor expressed concern because the children had been threatened
by the cult not to testify. The victim's parents met the Wrights
through their Church. The children reported that they saw Wright
sacrifice a stray dog, slit its throat and stomach and remove some
entrails. Sheriff's investigators found the dog's skeleton near
the Wright's trailer. The Wright's molested children during their
"Magic Show." The victims said he pulled a gun out of
a hat and made their underwear disappear. They stated that Jim Wright
put a "bad curse" on them and said "devil words."
The children described satanic symbols, chalices filled with blood
and a box containing a corpse. They had been told not to tell or
their parents would be killed. Maggie Wright testified against her
husband while she pleaded no contest to reduced charges. See, "Convict's
Wife Sentenced for Trying to Molest Kids", Orlando Sentinel
Tribune, May 9, 1992; "A Family Fears That Satanic Cult will
try to Silence their Sons," Orlando Sentinel Tribune, August
10, 1991; "Child Abuse Suspect Trades
Testimony for Lesser Charges", Orlando Sentinel Tribune, January
31, 1992
_____________
January 1992, THE STATE OF WASHINGTON V. Paul
Ross Ingram, NO. 13613-9-II Division Two, Confession to sexual molestation
and 20 yr. exceptional sentence affirmed.
Overview: Paul Ingram, former Thurston County chief civil deputy
sheriff and 16-year law enforcement officer, was arrested November
28, 1988 following allegations of sexual abuse made by his daughters,
then about 18 and 22 years old. Ingram waived his right to counsel
and made incriminating statements. After six months of further investigation
and interrogation, Ingram was charged by amended information with
six counts of rape in the third degree, three counts per daughter
covering July through October 1988. He tried to withdraw his guilty
plea but that was denied.
Note: It's been widely reported (by the officer's involved) that
Ingram also confessed to ritually abusing his children in the context
of satanic ceremony, which his daughters also claimed took place.
Richard Ofshe of the FMSF tried to talk Ingram out of his confession
by claiming he confessed in a "trance-like" state and
"proved" that by suggesting to Ingram a case scenario
which very well could have happened. In reality, Ofshe's experiment
was not proof of "false memories" or proof of a false
confession, and the court rejected these claims. Both Ofshe and
Elizabeth Loftus of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation also testified
at Ingram's clemency hearing trying to help obtain his release.
According to news articles and the Clemency Board Transcripts, Ingram's
son also attended that particular hearing and asked the board to
keep his father in prison, as did other members of the Ingram family,
which the board did. See, "Felons hope for a parting gift from
Lowry", Seattle Times, Dec. 12, 1996
______________
Feb 1992, San Francisco, California; Michael A.
Aquino, Plaintiff-Appellant v. Michael P.W. Stone, Secretary of
the Army, 957 F.2d 139, 768 F.Supp. 529 - Dismissal of lawsuit affirmed.
Overview: Michael Aquino, the founder of a Satanist group, Temple
of Set, was a Lt. Col in the Army Active Reserves. After the Presidio
Day Care case, he sued the Army after they "titled" him
under an investigatory report for indecent acts with a child, sodomy,
conspiracy, kidnapping, and false swearing, and for his dismissal
from the active reserves. The documents state:
"Aquino contends that evidence collected by the Army CID did
not justify its creating an investigation report titled under his
name and that those involved with the investigation were motivated
to remove him from the Army because he is the founder of the Temple
of Set, a satanist religion."
"Aquino filed suit in the district court under the Privacy
Act, U.S.C 552a(g) to compel the Army to amend the investigatory
report about him and for damages resulting from his discharge from
the service, which he attributes to the inaccurate records about
him.
"{1} In 1990 a continuation board of the Army Reserve recommended
discontinuing Aquino's service in the Reserve, and he was processed
out of the Army."
Aquino was never criminally charged and the Army released its report
and titled him 3 months after the criminal statute of limitations
ran. Aquino's lawsuit against the Army was dismissed.
Note: Aquino claims to have received a Meritorious Certificate from
the Army in 1994.
-----------------
Sept. 1988, Santa Rosa, Calif; People v. Daryl
T. Ball, Court No. 14750-C, Pleaded no contest to lewd and lascivious
acts with 6 child victims.
Overview: The case involved brutal sexual assault of these children
in the context of a "devil worship club." The two main
culprits, Charlotte Thrailkill and Daryl Ball, were caught and sentenced
to prison. The Criminal Investigative Division of the Army interviewed
some of these same children in their "titling" investigation
of Michael Aquino of the Temple of Set. (Case above). This case
was described by the prosecutor as involving multi-victims/perpetrators
and ritual abuse, although Ball and Thrailkill were the only ones
charged. The prosecutor described the extreme terror the children
experienced and the difficulty for them to testify. During the 18
month preliminary hearing, the children testified that they were
threatened to keep quiet or the perpetrators would eat their mothers
hearts and make them eat it. They described being given injections
(or were bled), and being tied up. Daryl Ball threatened witnesses
to keep them from testifying. The children also described being
molested while being filmed with a banner in the background reading
"Super Duper Child Molest Day." They were forced to watch
the video of their own molest afterwards. A plea bargain was struck,
reportedly to spare the kids from having to testify further.
**In Sept. 1998, Charlotte Thrailkill was declared a violent sexual
molest predator--the first female to have that distinction in California.
See, "Thrailkill a sexual predator, Ex-SR woman first in state
with designation", Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Sept. 9, 1998
__________
July 1991, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Jason
L. Enders,
et al, 407 Pa. Superior Ct. 201, Conviction Affirmed.
Overview: Defendants were convicted of false imprisonment stemming
from their participation in a Satanic cult ritual. Victim stated
he wanted nothing to do with them but he was forcibly taken to an
abandoned barn and tied to stakes in the ground over a pentagram
drawn in the dirt. A satanic ritual was performed over him. He had
a leather collar with nails placed around his neck. One of the defendants
punctured his neck by pressing on the nails and placed his fingers
in the victim's blood and then to his lips. He was released after
being warned he'd be killed if he told anyone. The appellate court
stated admitting evidence of belief in and involvement in satanism
at the time was relevant and probative. Skulls and books were taken
from their homes as evidence.
_________
April 1991, Montana. State of Montana v. Leon
Lloyd Whitcher, 810 P2d 751, Conviction Affirmed.
Overview: A 30 yr. old self-described "high priest" of
a satanic cult had sexual intercourse with a 14 yr. old without
consent. Prior to the assault, he asked her a series of questions
about initiation into his satanic cult, whether she wanted "power,"
and if she'd "obey a high priest." He told her to change
into a black robe, lie down, and stare at a pentagram painted on
the ceiling before he assaulted her.
____________________
March 1991, STATE MISSOURI v. THERON REED ROLAND
COURT OF APPEALS OF MISSOURI, WESTERN DISTRICT, No. WD 40883, 808
S.W.2d 855, STATE OF MISSOURI, RESPONDENT, First degree murder conviction
affirmed.
Overview: According to Roland, he murdered his friend after becoming
involved in satanism, began using drugs, and listening to groups
like "Megadeth" that "advocated sexual and physical
violence." He began hallucinating, practiced self-mutilation,
tortured and killed animals and "chanted" to Satan for
power. He developed a mentor relationship with another teen satanist
and they both decided to sacrifice Steve Newberry by clubbing him
to death. Roland believed this human sacrifice would "cause
Satan to appear and give them power." Roland wanted the defense
expert on the occult to testify about the effects of Satanism on
the mind. The court let the expert testify to other aspects of the
occult but didn't feel that he was qualified to testify on psychiatric
aspects of the case.
_____________
Oct 89, People of the State of Illinois, v. Andrew
Kokoraleis, No. 65229, Supreme Court of Illinois, 547 N.E.2d 202.
Conviction for murder and death penalty affirmed.
Overview: Four members of a satanic cult, including Robin Gecht,
were perpetrators in a series of gruesome murders, rituals, and
acts of cannibalism over a number of years.
"Thomas Kokoraleis told investigators that the room had contained
an altar, made from a board covered with red cloth, where cult members
cut up animal parts, and sometimes human parts, for sacrifice. See,
"GRUESOME CLUES LED TO AN ALTAR IN AN ATTIC", Chicago
Tribune, October 12, 1987
____________
Dec. 17, 1990, Conviction for first degree murder
perpetrated by torture affirmed; No. C-92-1523 EFL UNITED STATES
DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 1995 U.S.
Dist. LEXIS 19425 - habeas petition denied; June 1985, San Francisco,
Calif., People v. Cliff St. Joseph, 226 Cal. App. 3d 289,
Overview: A body was discovered in San Francisco, California on
June 15, 1985. "John Doe" had multiple stab wounds, genital
injuries, and a pentagram had been carved into his chest. The court
notes that there was "substantial evidence" that it was
a sadistic, ritualistic human sacrifice consisting of whipping with
a chain, slashing the victim's lips, dripping wax into the victim's
eyes, burning and carving the victim's flesh with a knife, multiple
stabbings, tying the limbs with guitar wire, and genital mutilations.
The identity of the victim was never established. The case was solved
when the police arrested 4 people for disturbing the peace, one
of whom was a Ricky Hunter. Hunter claimed St. Joseph and the others
had held him against his will and assaulted him; there was talk
of satanic worship and the other three people had been speaking
of "sacrificing" him. One of the offenders stated he had
been present when St. Joseph had "John Doe" in his home
and he helped St. Joseph dispose of the murdered victim described
above. The court found that there was sufficient evidence proving
that the injuries had been inflicted on the victim while he was
still alive. The Coroner testified that some of the wounds inflicted
were consistent with sadomasochistic practices, but the Court made
a point of highlighting that the manner in which the victim was
murdered, along with inferred intent, indicated that this was a
ritualistic sacrifice.
________
February 1990, Utah. STATE of Utah v. Alan B.
HADFIELD, 788 P2d 506 Convictions for sodomy and child molest; remanded
back to court for evidentiary hearing.
Overview: A. Hadfield was convicted of sodomy and sexual abuse of
his children after his children testified against him. He appealed
based on claims of "newly discovered evidence." This was
an allegation by a paralegal who stated that the therapist involved
in counseling his children and others in this Mormon community was
the common factor in these cases, and inferred that the therapist
was responsible for the allegations. The appellate opinion cites
that at "least fifteen adults and fifteen children were identified
as participants in various unusual sexual activities,including instances
of group abuse of children by adults. The activities described by
the children involved satanic ritual, costumes and masks, photography
equipment, men dressing in women's clothing, and frequent episodes
of playing with and consuming human excrement. A specific instance
of abuse related to Dr. Snow by W. and described by her at trial
for example, involved defendant's removing feces from W.'s rectum
with a spoon and forcing him to play with it." The appellate
court remanded the case back to court for an evidentiary hearing
if the affidavit by the paralegal had merit.
Note: According to the prosecutor, the judge reviewed the information
and found that there was no evidence to support the claims of the
paralegal. Alan Hadfield's conviction still stands and he was released
from probation in 1998.
_____________
April 1989, Harold Glenn Smith v. The State of
Texas, No. B14-86-00659-CR, Lexis 794, Conviction for murder affirmed.
Overview: A group tricked one of their friends into accompanying
them to a cemetery where they tortured him. A witness testified
that Smith compared the planned murder of his victim with animal
sacrifice rituals he had carried out before. The prosecution presented
evidence of his satanic belief system.
__________
1989, New York. Monika Beerle, a dancer in New
York was dismembered by her boyfriend, Daniel Rakowitz. He was found
not guilty by reason of insanity but was sent to a mental institution.
In 1992, Randy Charles Easterday, 27, was charged as a participant
in the crime.
Overview: Reportedly, Monika's boyfriend was involved in a satanic
cult and he had served a human finger in soup to homeless people.
News report states, "the group to which Rakowitz and Easterday
belonged has been identified by NY Newsday as a cult of devil worshipers
who operated out of the Church of the Realized Fantasy. Police sources
claimed they butchered her in a ritual sacrifice and a satanic offering."
See, "New arrest in Swiss dancer slaying raises cult spector.",
UPI, Feb. 18,1992 and "Acquitted 'cannibal killer' to stay
put", UPI, Oct. 25, 1995
_________
November 1989, Gibreville, Gabon. Mba Ntem was
found guilty and sentenced to death for murder and leading cannibalism
rites.
Overview: Several members of this religious cult were found guilty
of aiding in "cannibalism ceremonies by serving human flesh
to worshippers." A victim's mutilated remains were found in
another town, and a photo was published of the high priest with
a knife in his teeth and a jar containing pieces of a victim's tongue
in his manacled hands. In the ceremony led by Ntem, members of the
cult ate the victim's stomach, liver, heart, lungs, tongue and genitals
in what their leader called a "sacred plate." Some of
the worshippers were unaware of the contents, Ntem told the court.
The court prohibited other details from being released. The news
article states that "Animism" is a loose religious belief
popular in central Africa and other parts of the word that a spirit
or force resides in every animate and inanimate object. See, "Death
Sentence for High Priest in Cannibalism Trial," Associated
Press, November 26, 1989.
_____________
December 1988, State of Ohio. v. John L. Fryman,
Case No. CA87-10-125, Lexis 5296, Conviction for murder affirmed.
Overview: Fryman took a woman to his "sorcery room where he
had erected an altar for satanic worship". He shot her. The
next day he cut off the woman's legs above the knees and disposed
of them behind an old church. The rest of the body was never found.
Fryman claimed that he had killed her because she had insulted him
by bringing another magician to his trailer, and that he disposed
of her legs behind the church because "it was the place he
practiced magic. By throwing her legs there he increased the power
of that spot."
_________
November 1988, Singapore. Three cult members hanged
for
murder
Overview: Adrian Lim, 46, his wife, Tan Mui Choo, 34, and his girlfriend
Hoe Kah Hong, 33, were convicted in 1983 of murdering Agnes Ng Siew
Heok, eight, and Ghazali Marzuki, 10, in 1981. The three perpetrators
belonged to a cult that believed sacrificing children could bring
good luck. The three drank the children's blood after suffocating
them in a bathtub. Another news report writes that the "macabre
ritualistic killings included drinking the children's blood, trances,
and electric shock 'treatments.'" See, "Three Singaporeans
Hanged for Cult Murder of Children", Reuters, November 25,
1988 and "Three hanged in Singapore for ritual killings"
UPI, Nov 25, 1988
_________
July 1988, New York, In the Matter of DANIEL "DD"
et al., Alleged to be Abused and Neglected Children, 530 N.Y.S.2d
314, July 7, 1988. Finding of Neglect Affirmed.
Overview: The mother was appealing an order from Family Court finding
she had neglected her children. She had allowed visitations to continue
between the father and his girlfriend even though she knew that
the girlfriends children had been removed from the home for sexual
abuse, and she did not question the situation until the father and
girlfriend were arrested on sexual abuse charges. Social Services
had investigated the case. All children had been forced by threats
of physical abuse to "engage in acts of sexual intercourse...among
themselves and with adults." In addition, they described participation
in forced acts of bestiality, as well as involvement in satanic
rituals involving the sacrifice of animals and the drinking of blood.
The court cites there was evidence that the mother may have been
involved in these activities as well.
___________
August 1986, State of Maine v. Scott Waterhouse.
513 A.2d 862, Murder conviction affirmed
Overview: Waterhouse was convicted for the murder of a 12 yr. old
girl. Evidence of satanism and excerpts from the "Satanic Bible"
were admitted at trial for purposes of showing motive and intent.
During taped conversations with detectives, Waterhouse described
his beliefs about sex and destruction rituals.
__________
March 1986, Commonwealth of Massachussetts v.
Carl H. Drew, 489 N.E.2d 1233, Murder conviction affirmed.
Overview: Drew was convicted of the first degree murder of one of
his satanic cult members in Fall River. The victim, Karen Marsden,
was identified by a portion of the skull, clumps of hair, clothing,
and jewelry. Evidence was admitted describing Marsden and another
woman who worked for Drew as prostitutes. Another prostitute, Doreen
Levesque was killed. According to witness testimony... "the
killing was performed as a diabolic ritual during which the soul
of Marsden was purportedly given to Satan." Earlier, Marsden
had tried to sever relationship with the cult. Drew threatened to
kill her on several occasions, which he finally did. "Murphy
dragged Marsden by the throat and hair into the woods. As she did
this, the defendant walked alongside while Fletcher and Davis followed
close behind. Murphy and the defendant then began striking Marsden
with rocks. After further brutalizing Marsden, the defendant ordered
Murphy to slit Marsden'sthroat and Murphy complied. The defendant
then tore the head from the body and kicked it." Drew later
told another person that he had killed Marsden because "she
wanted to leave the cult and that he wanted her to feel pain."
The court specifically stated Drew's involvement in Satanism and
the victim's desire to leave the cult was evidentially important
to detail the context of the crime to the jury, as opposed to viewing
the murders as just random acts of violence.
______________
February 1986, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, v.
Frank G. Costal, Jr., 505 A.2d 337, Murder conviction affirmed.
Overview: Expert testimony regarding satanism and mind control was
admitted into the court record to explain the killings of a mother
and her 4 yr. old daughter. The killings appeared to be in retaliation
for the mother's interference in a drug deal and homosexual relationship
between her husband and Costal. The state submitted evidence that
the murders were performed in a "ritualistic manner."
The victims were stabbed in a similar fashion, in the same pattern.
Ceremonial robes, books, posters, plastic skulls and bats, and marriage
licenses drawn up by Costal and signed by him as a "high priest"
of Satan were seized from his apartment. A witness testified that
Costal told him of attendance at human sacrifices and that 17 was
the number of stab wounds required at these ritualistic killings.
_________
December 1983, Detroit, Michigan. Arzell Jones
was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, single counts
of kidnapping and using a firearm during a felony. Linda Greene
was convicted of two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Overview: Arzell Jones, a private investigator, and Linda Greene,
a Detroit policewoman, were convicted of sexually assaulting a 31-year-old
woman who was held for more than three days and forced to take part
in satanic rituals. The prosecutor stated the woman was a victim
of some "cultism, some ultimate psychological warfare".
See, "Judge Says Victim was Subjected to 'Reign of Terror'
Man, Policewoman Guilty of Sexual Assault in Satanic Rituals,"
Detroit Free Press, December 3, 1983.
______________
May 1982, William Smith v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
436 N.E.2d 377, Immunity for witness was affirmed..
Overview: William Smith contested immunity for witness who was to
testify against him for a murder. The appellate opinion states "these
murders were among a series of ritual killings performed in the
Fall River area by members of a Satanic cult ...The witness described
the ritual that accompanied the murder, and named various participants."
The witness also recanted
several times before finally testifying.
___________
September 1979, Philippines. A couple were charged
with murder for "eating" two brothers..
Overview: Police reported that a couple, whose names were not disclosed,
belonged to a sect which believed that cannibalism confers supernatural
powers. The brothers were kidnapped from a city 650 miles from Manila.
They were allegedly beheaded by members of the sect, then photographs
of the beheadings were taken by a leader of the cult and sent to
the widow of one of the victims. Officials stated it took a long
time to bring charges because witnesses were too fearful of testifying
due to fears of reprisals by the cannibal sect. See, "A man
and his wife have been charged by Philippines police with eating
two brothers." Reuters, September 20, 1979