The Crimes
Theoretically, any occultist, just like any other individual, could commit a criminal activity. The concern herein, however, is not to discuss how occultists might fit into any criminal profile, but rather to examine the crimes most often linked to the occult. It is important to note at this point that such linkage has not necessarily been proven and, in fact, is sometimes assumed.
Just what are the crimes - both proven and assumed - most often linked to occultists? In general, law enforcers assume that several specific crimes have definite occult linkages: trespassing, vandalism, theft, graffiti, arson, animal sacrifice, and extortion. For the purposes of this study, such actions are referred to as "Generally Agreed Upon Crimes with Assumed Occults Links." There is a second category of crimes whose assumed links to crime are either supported or denied by law enforcers: suicide, kidnapping, murder and human sacrifice, and ritualistic abuse. This study refers to these activities as the "Crimes of Debate."
Generally-Agreed Upon Crimes
Many law enforcement investigators share a common belief that physical evidence found in the following crimes sometimes indicates an occult motivation: trespassing; vandalism; theft; graffiti; arson; animal mutilation and sacrifice; and extortion.
Trespassing
Trespassing related to occult activity usually involves occultists entering private areas such as wooded and forested lands, barns and other old or abandoned buildings. The purpose for such trespassing is to worship either in the area as it is naturally arranged, or to make it into an occult worship site with the appropriate altars and symbols. Occult related trespassing of this nature is committed both by true believers and true criminals who seek a private and isolated place to worship.
Vandalism
Vandalism most often associated with occult crime includes cemetery and church desecration.
Cemetery Desecration. The most common types of cemetery desecration attributed to occult groups are overturning, breaking and / or stealing headstones; digging up graves; grave robbing; and tampering with human corpses or skeletons. The prevalence of cemetery desecration is unknown on either a national or statewide basis; more specifically, the prevalence of occult-related cemetery desecration is unknown. Detective Patrick Metoyer of Los Angeles Police Department's Criminal Conspiracy Section claims that grave robbing are regular occurrences in most of the City's jurisdictions, but he also indicates that the extent to which such activities are occult-related is unknown. (Metoyer interview, May 5, 1989.) Although little evidence exists to absolutely implicate certain occultists in these types of crime, it is commonly believed that Mayomberos and self-styled Satanists (especially juvenile dabblers) are most often involved. Further, many law enforcers assume both true believers and true criminals perpetrate such crimes.True believers, like the Mayombero, may be motivated by religious beliefs that require cemetery desecration to fulfill certain rituals. For example, because Palo
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The following article appeared in the July 28, 1989, issue of The Pantagraph, a Pontiac, Illinois local newspaper:
Goat Near Pontiac Possibly a Sacrifice. A mutilated goat found in the Vermilion River near Pontiac was "probably" the victim of satanic activity, Livingston County Sheriff's police said yesterday. The 50-pound male goat was found Wednesday in the Vermilion River... after the county veterinarian received an anonymous tip, police said. The goat, which had been dead for three to four days, was castrated and its horns were cut off, police said, adding that small animal sacrifice is common among devil worshippers. However, no indications of satanic worship were found near the goat, and police said there was no indication the animal was killed in Livingston County ... Although both county and city police have received reports of Satanic meetings, rituals and animal sacrifices, little physical evidence has supported those reports... On July 29th, this follow-up article appeared:
Goat Killed in Dog Attack. German shepherds, not devil worshippers, were responsible for the mutilation of a goat found Wednesday in the Vermilion River near Pontiac, Livingston County Sheriff Don Wall said yesterday. A McLean County resident whom Wall declined to identify, admitted yesterday that he dumped the 50-pound goat in the Vermilion River. Wall said the man contacted police after reading news stories that authorities believed the animal was sacrificed by members of a satanic cult...Police originally believed the goat was castrated and had its horns cut off by Satanists, who often sacrifice small animals. However, Wall said the goat was injured when the dogs attacked and its horns had previously been removed... |