A “ ritualistic killing ” is suspected in a Florida triple murder of a woman and her two sons, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said. Voncile Smith, 77, and her sons, Richard Smith, 49, and John Smith, 47, were killed during the blue moon last Tuesday in the Pensacola area.
Cult killings and witchcraft rumors began to swirl around the Florida triple murder quickly after the gruesome crime was made public. The crime may have been part of a “witchcraft practice” designed to coincide with the July 31 blue moon, a Reuters report states. The dead bodies were not found until three days after the possible ritualistic killing.
“Initial research has led us to believe it was a ritualistic killing,” Sheriff Morgan said. “The method of the murder — blunt force trauma, slit throats, positioning of bodies — and our person of interest has some ties to a faith or religion that is indicative of that. The time of the death on Tuesday also coincides with what’s referred to as a blue moon, which occurs every three years.”
Florida triple murder investigated as ‘ritualistic killing’, sheriff says http://t.co/Sq1PLXCrU2 pic.twitter.com/XTW15rEJ1r
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 5, 2015
A Pensacola News Journal report stated the person of interest referenced by the Florida sheriff was known by the triple murder victims. Law enforcement investigators have not reportedly found any signs of forced entry and have ruled out robbery as a motive in the killings. A safe with a “substantial amount of cash” was left untouched in the Pensacola area home.
Sheriff Morgan also stated that the Florida triple murder victims were “reclusive” and added that none of the neighbors of the Smith family had ever been invited inside their home.
Police: ‘Ritualistic’ Florida Triple Murder Was Tied to Blue Moon http://t.co/4CR3g1GaKN
— CHRIS LOCKEY (@ChrisLockey) August 5, 2015
“The elements of this case are odd, at best,” the Escambia County Sheriff said. “We have a very reclusive family. Obviously we’ve canvassed the neighborhood, spoken to people who’ve lived there for years and years. Neighbors have related to us that they’ve never met members of this family.”
Police: “Ritualistic” #Florida triple murder may be linked to blue moon, witchcraft http://t.co/MVSYTCZK6M pic.twitter.com/Ett6FIorrI
— 48 Hours (@48hours) August 5, 2015
Richard Smith a Department of Homeland Security employee and worked out of the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) agents have found that the ritualistic killings have “no issues involving national security elements,” according to a statement by the local sheriff.
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