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Case #14073 Rating: 1.8 out of 5
Animals slaughtered in Santeria ritual
Spring Lake, NJ (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Apr 27, 2008
County: Monmouth
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Alain Hernandez
A North Bergen man pleaded guilty for 10 counts to animal cruelty in Spring Lake Municipal Court on July 2.
Alain Hernandez, 29, admitted that he left animal carcasses on a beach in Spring Lake while taking part in a Santeria ritual on April 27, according to Vince Amato, the Chief Humane Law Enforcement Officer for the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Santeria is a Caribbean practice that blends Catholicism and African religions.
Amato said that statements from Hernandez led him to believe that the animals were first slaughtered in the North Bergen area and then transported to Spring Lake.
Hernandez was fined just under a $1,000 including restitution fees and court costs.
According to Amato, around 8:30 p.m. on April 27, a local homeowner called the police when he saw two people running down to the beach with at least four bags. The homeowner believed that the duo had been illegally dumping garbage.
Amato said that there were other bags, but that they probably washed out to sea.
The animals were believed to have been slaughtered in the North Bergen area.
Regarding the animals, "There were chickens, pigeons, guinea hens, ducks, fish, fruits, vegetables, and there was a dollar bill," said Amato. "They were trying to evoke the god of prosperity. The ritual is designed to ... bring wealth."
According to Amato, the local homeowner copied the license plate of a vehicle, called the police, and then traveled to the shore to see what the bags contained. To his surprise, they were dead animals.
The police forwarded the complaint to Amato because it seemed to be a crime against animals, and Amato was able to track down and contact Hernandez that same night.
Hernandez's mother, Diana, was also suspected to be in the car that night, Amato said. Diana is a Santero, or Santeria Priestess, but Hernandez said that another Santero apparently performed the April 27 ritual.
Amato said that Hernandez's mother denied any knowledge of the dead animals. Amato also said that Hernandez was very polite and respectful on the phone and at first denied his involvement with the incident.
But the next day, Hernandez admitted guilt when he drove down to Spring Lake with his attorney, Mark Rothman, Amato said.
"With his attorney present, he gave a statement that in fact he did take part in a ritual in which these animals were slaughtered," said Amato. "As a part of the ritual they had to bring [the animals] down to the beach as a part of the cleansing ritual."
While the beach is used for cleansing, Amato said that Hernandez chose Spring Lake because wealthier areas could bring him more prosperity.
Hernandez told police that his girlfriend has also been present, but they believed that she had only been there for the ride. No charges were brought against her.
Both Hernandez and his mother were charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty, but in court last week Hernandez took full blame and the charges were dropped against his mother, police said. He pleaded guilty to a disorderly persons offense in needlessly abusing and killing animals.
In the Monmouth County area, numerous dead animals show up on beaches, according to Amato.
"Hundreds and hundreds of chickens [are found] on Keansburg Beach," said Amato. He also said that decapitated goats are often found on the beaches of Ocean Grove. These occurrences happen often and over a long period of time.
Amato said that he thought that Santeria could be behind the incidents, but had no proof other than that Hernandez was responsible for the Spring Lake situation.
"This is the first time we apprehended someone doing it," said Amato. References« NJ State Animal Cruelty Map
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