Uncovering the Hidden
Satanism and Ritual Abuse Case Archive
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 eating 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 4, 1999, State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent,
v. Antonio Jones, Defendant-Appellant. Judgment Affirmed
Overview: Antonio Jones appealed from a judgment convicting him
of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and from an order
denying his postconviction challenge to his sentence. Jones argued
that the sentencing court impermissibly considered his religious
affiliation with a satanic group. The court concluded that Jones's
affiliation with a satanic group was appropriate under the facts
of this case.
In sentencing Jones, the court noted that Jones possessed a
substantial amount of cocaine which posed a significant danger to the
community. The court noted Jones's admission that he had been selling
cocaine for six months to support himself and that he started selling
drugs shortly after becoming involved in the Sonz of Satan in
1996. Jones admitted that this group taught him how to sell drugs and
he continued to support himself this way even after he left the group.
The court noted Jones's history of drug-related criminal conduct and
involvement with weapons. The court found that Jones's involvement
with the Sonz of Satan brought him into contact with drug activity
and that he continued his involvement with drugs even after he
claimed to have left the group. In light of Jones's history, the need
to protect the public and the gravity of the offense, the court
imposed a fifteen-year sentence.
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 18, 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
March 1999, Warsaw, Poland. 19-year-old arrested for cult killings
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.
February 1999, Edinburg, Texas. Pablo Lucio Vasquez was
sentenced to death after being convicted for killing 12-year-old
David Cardenas in the course of a robbery.
Overview: Early news reports stated that the prosecutors contended this was a ritual slaying after finding the victims dismembered body in a field and investigating the circumstances of the case. The police stated they had identified 23 gangs in the area, "including 3 whose rituals have been labeled as satanic." The Detective investigating the case stated the satanic activity was said to have its roots in the black magic of indigenous Mexican folklore. Susan Robbins, an academic from a local university, was quoted as saying she didn't believe there was "widespread evidence of organized satanism in the local community," when the crimes were first reported. A news article citing the conviction and sentencing, stated about the perpetrator: "the devil told him to kill the boy and drink his blood." Other teenagers were allegedly involved.
A personal conversation with the DA's office revealed that they prosecuted this case as a murder in the course of a robbery but the confession by the defendant included the above statement, that he drank some of the victim's blood because the Devil told him to do it. Further information is pending. See, "Man Sentenced to Die for a Satanic Killing," The New York Times,(February 13, 1999: A20) and "Teenager certified to stand trial as adult in murder of 12-year-old," AP, October 24, 1998.
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.
"A Sangoma couple in court for sacrificing child to ancestors,
Africa News Service, April 15, 1998.
Previous news articles from Africa had described the disappearance of
12 children and the discovery of the mutilated remains of three others.
The article states that ritual killings occur throughout Africa because
some traditional healers believe human flesh - particularly that of
children - produce strong potions and spells. See, "Slayings of
children may be linked to ritual murders." Associated Press, January 29, 1998.
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. "They
provided no statistics to back up their claims." 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
March 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.
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. He 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.
(Columbus Dispatch, Nov. 13, 1998)
February 1998, Oklahoma, 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.
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 gets death sentence for 42 murders,"
Calgary Herald, April 28, 1998,
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.
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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 Machelle, 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, Kim, Lana, and Machelle 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, Kim did not ingest the medicine, and saw appellant
fondling Chris' penis while he was asleep."..." While living in
Jackson Township, Lana and Machelle 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 Lana 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."...
"Chris received beatings from both appellant and Eddie. Eddie would
beat Chris once or twice a week, while appellant guarded the door. The
beatings would often leave bruises. Appellant and Eddie also punished
Chris by having him stand against the wall for five to six hours,
holding a penny against the wall with his nose. During this punishment,
Chris was not permitted to go to the bathroom. At age twelve, Chris
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 JUDGEMENT 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 news article reports a witness stating that Pike continually talked about
the Satanic bible. See, "Orange County woman to die for Tenn. killing,"
THE_NEWS_&_OBSERVER April 1, 1996
June 1997, Borneo. The Independent news service of London reported
seeing graphic pictures depicting an outbreak of ritual murder, head
hunting and cannibalism.
Overview: Tension between factions in the province of West Kalimantan,
close to Indonesia's border with Malaysia, culminated in a spree of
killings reportedly urged on by local shamans. Reporters saw bodies
with no heads and photographs of mutilated bodies. Witnesses described
seeing the murderers wearing war paint, and "apparently in a trance
state," shooting the victims with shotguns, cutting off their heads,
drinking their blood and removing and eating their hearts. There were
accusations that the Indonesian government attempted to cover up the
crimes. See, "They took the bodies and cut off the heads. They ate the
hearts and drank the blood. The return of the cannibals." The
Independent (London), June 9, 1997: P1
May 1997, 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, Ellen, 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 tht 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, 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 initation 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.'"
February 1996, Suzanne Hughes v. Department of Social Services
Arlington County, Court of Appeals of Virginia, Termination of Parental
Rights Affirmed.
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.
October 1996, COMMONWEALTH vs. VIOLET AMIRAULT; COMMONWEALTH vs. GERALD AMIRAULT. Middlesex.
- March 24, 1997. Denial of Gerald Amirault's motion for a new trial
affirmed. A vacating of the order allowing the motion of Violet Amirault
and Cheryl Amirault LeFave for a new trial, and order the reinstatement
of the original convictions of Violet Amirault and Cheryl Amirault
LeFave affirmed. UPDATE Aug. 18, 1999, COMMONWEALTH vs. CHERYL AMIRAULT LeFAVE.
affirmed
Overview: Violet Amirault was the owner and director of the Fells Acres Day
School. Gerald Amirault is her son and Cheryl Amirault LeFave is her
daughter. Previous opinions report:
"In 1986, Gerald Amirault was found guilty on eight indictments
charging rape of a child and seven indictments charging indecent
assault and battery on a child. We affirmed the denial of his request
for a new trial in Commonwealth v. Amirault, 399 Mass. 617 (1987),
and affirmed his convictions and the denial of his renewed motion for
a new trial, Commonwealth v. Amirault, 404 Mass. 221 (1989). In a
separate trial arising from the same allegations of abuse at the Fells
Acres Day School, Violet Amirault[2] was found guilty on two
indictments charging rape of a child and three charging indecent
assault and battery on a child, and Cheryl Amirault LeFave was found
guilty on three indictments charging rape of a child and four charging
indecent assault and battery on a child."
"The Commonwealth also presented a pediatric gynecologist and pediatrician who examined five of the girls who testified against Gerald. She made findings consistent with abuse in four of the girls.
and...
appellate opinion in 1989:
"The children stated that they were threatened by Tooky or
Miss Vi that if they told anyone about the incidents, that
their parents, or family, would be killed, or cut up in pieces, or
that the children would be sent away. One child described the killing
of a bird, squirrel, and dog in his presence. Another child said her
wrist was cut and that blood came out. Some of the children described
a robot that threatened them, and told them not to tell their parents.
Another child described being blindfolded during the incidents.
The latest appellate review dated 8/18/99 reinstating the LeFave
conviction introduces this case as follows:
"The case is again before us, this time on our allowance of the
Commonwealth's application for direct appellate review, because a
judge in the Superior Court, in two separate rulings on independent
grounds, has allowed the defendant's second and third motions for a
new trial. The second motion for a new trial revisits the confrontation issue, asserting that counsel was ineffective in not
raising the confrontation issue on direct appeal. The third motion
for a new trial is based on a claim that newly discovered "scientific
evidence" demonstrates that "due to the manner in which the
allegations of child sexual abuse were investigated," evidence
presented against the defendant was "wholly unreliable." We shall
discuss in turn each order allowing the defendant a new trial and
shall vacate both orders."
Of interest, the court also states:
"...The motion judge made a significant error in concluding that
Dr. Daniel Schuman was not permitted to testify at the defendant's
trial regarding the unreliability of testimony based on improper
interviewing practices. The judge may have been led to that
conclusion because out-of-State counsel for the defendant, in
presenting evidence in support of the motion, twice erroneously
insisted that Dr. Schuman had not been allowed to testify before the
jury. n8 Because the judge erroneously determined that Dr. Schuman's
testimony had been excluded, he erroneously concluded that his
testimony was not available at the time of the defendant's trial.
Moreover, the judge inexplicably does not mention or appear to
consider the expert testimony of Dr. Sherry L. Skidmore and
Dr. William D. Erickson which the defendant presented at trial. n9
The judge's misapprehension seems to have caused him to conclude
that "while this Court agrees with the general proposition that
'more' research may not present sufficient grounds for a new trial,
this is not such a case." The judge concluded that, at the time of
the defendant's trial, there was an unanswered question: "How could
[*18] children come to speak of disturbing sexual acts if they did
not suffer them?" The answer to this question was available for the
defendant to advance at her trial. The defendant presented evidence
at her trial tending to show that the child witnesses' testimony was
unreliable as a result of improper interviewing techniques. The jury
nevertheless believed the child witnesses, despite evidence of the
use of improper interviewing techniques and the opinions of the
defendant's experts."
December 1995, Jimmie Lee Penick v. State of Indiana,
659 N.E.2d, 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 2 other members of his group were found guilty of kidnapping,
raping and murdering a 30 year old woman and a 15 year old girl during
occult ceremonies. 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."
December 1994, IN THE MATTER OF: HEATHER BARKER, NEGLECTED CHILD,
COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO, 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.
February 1987, The Finders Case: In early Feb. 1987 six children were taken
into custody in Tallahassee, Florida. Two men were charged with child
abuse, but charges were dropped. Kids said they were being taken to a
"special school in Mexico." 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 6 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."
On December 27, 1993, 7 yrs. later, U.S. News and World Report reported
that the case had been re-opened again because the Justice Department was
investigating. The news article mentions that some of the unresolved
questions are allegations that the Finders Group are linked to the
Central Intelligence Agency.
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,
FILED
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. 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: A8;
"Parents charged with Torturing their Children", Associated Press,
Nov. 25, 1991
May 19 1993, State of Tennesse v. Gary June Caughron, 855 S.W.2d 526,
Conviction and death penalty affirmed.
Overview: In 1987 Caughron murdered and raped a woman. The court
described it as a "brutal, ritualistic-type murder." The defendant
and his girlfriend engaged in sex after rubbing the victims blood on
their bodies, then they drank some of the victim's blood from a shot
glass. The appellate court mentioned that admission of the defendants
involvement with drug use and drawings of "demons" should not have
been admitted, but it was harmless error.
Due to its length, this 30 page appellate opinion will not be uploaded.
It can be found in the law library.
October 1992, Earnest v. State, Supreme Court of Georgia,
422 S.E.2d, 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.
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."
December 14, 1992, State of Texas vs. Phil Stanley Rogers, Case NO. 18,738, pleaded guilty to: Indecency with a Child Younger than 17 years Committed During The Course Of A Ritual
Overview: This indictment reads verbatim as above, that Stanley Rogers was charged with indecent conduct during the course of a ritual. His sentence was imposed by a jury, after they heard the evidence, and he was sentenced to 99 years in prison. News reports state that evidence in the case included books covering satanic topics, pentagram symbols, candles, daggers and wands, and that the abuse took place during satanic rituals. (**The news report will be posted soon.)
July 1992 Stephan v. State, Court of Appeals of Georgia, 422 S.E.2d 25,
Conviction for Aggravated Assault Reversed and Remanded.
Overview: "Priestess" was angry that the victim (who received 31
stitches from razor cuts after the assault) had persuaded a former
follower to leave her "devil worship" cult. The prosecutor was going
to show evidence that a similar prior act had occurred; the judge
allowed it but the case was remanded back to court due, in part, to
not giving the defense enough time to prepare.
November 26, 1992, People of Texas v. Frances and Daniel Keller,
Case #924217, Convicted for aggravated assault on a child. Both
of their convictions were upheld on appeal, Oct. 26, 1994, Appeal No. 3-92-604-CR
Overview: News articles chronicling the trial cited more than one
child thought to be abused at "Fran's Day Care" in Austin, Texas,
but the Keller's were charged with molesting only one child. 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.
One child described the daycare center as "Frans Hate Center." Another
child had to be hospitalized in a psychiatric facility. The defense
lawyers used videos showing some children recanting, saying their abuse
never happened, to try to undermine the case. 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.
March 1992, Orlando, FL. 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
dissapear. 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
July 1991, San Francisco, California. Michael A. Aquino v. Michael P.W. Stone,
Secretary of the Army, 768 F.Supp. 529; 957 F.2d 139,
Dismissal of lawsuit affirmed.
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."
"Decision of Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) to title
investigation report with Army Reserve Officer's name and its
subsequent decision not to remove his name from title block properly
resulted from relevant considerations and was not tainted by
consideration of officer's satanist religious beliefs and pressure
from United States Senator. 5 U.S.C.A. 706(2)(A)." [957 F.2d 139]
"{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 titled him 3 months after the criminal statute of limitations ran. Aquino's lawsuit against the Army was dismissed.