Chickens, rabbits and dog slaughtered - occult rituals suspected
Dorchester, MA (US)Incident Date: Friday, May 9, 2003
County: Suffolk
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Parkgoers of Franklin Park have been discovering similar packages all over the park: chickens, rabbits, last week a German shepherd.
They've found them leaning against trees and on remote paths, often amid a sprinkling of rice or grain, herbs and coins. Many times, the animals' legs have been tied with pieces of ribbon.
Authorities say they are baffled. Some of the animals may be slain in occult rituals, they said. Or they may be left behind after late-night ceremonies by Boston's growing number of practitioners of Santeria, a Caribbean religion that dictates offering animal blood to gods for good luck and the forgiveness of sins.
''It happens in the dead of night,'' said Antonia Pollak, acting commissioner for the city Parks Department. ''It is really eerie. We will certainly take action if we catch anyone abusing animals in such an apalling fashion.''
The appearance of dead animals -- happening for years -- has alarmed neighbors and frequenters of the park, one of whom said she once discovered a bloodied goat next to a path.
Cruelty laws in Massachusetts forbid killing animals unless it is to spare them from suffering.
But Parks Department officials, whose rangers patrol Franklin Park during the day, say the perpetrators are difficult to catch. They say that most of the time, they have to rely on parkgoers to report dead animals to police so that the Animal Rescue League can pick up the carcasses and investigate.
The ritualistic appearance of many of the animals has led some to suspect Santeria, also known as the Lucum religion, which has been practiced in Boston for more than a decade.
Brought to the area by an ever-growing population of Caribbean immigrants, it has roots in African tribal beliefs, as well as Catholicism. Santeria priests have said the religion's gods are mortal, and therefore need food to survive.
''There are a lot of Santeros who sacrifice animals,'' said one priest, who gave his name as Lasero, adding he does not perform the ritual sacrifice with animals. ''People give complaints because they find dead animals. I use perfumes and plants,'' he said.
Parks officials, who said carcasses of small to medium-sized animals are usually found near oak trees or forks in paths, cautioned against blaming only practitioners of Santeria.
''This is not just one group,'' said Jon Seamens, spokesman for the department. ''There are signs, little altars.''
He said practitioners of Santeria normally perform rituals in their homes, and evidence of ritual killing in the park might be a sign of something else, though authorities so far have few ideas of who else it might be. References« MA State Animal Cruelty Map
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