Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan Tuesday updated the media on the investigation into a triple homicide at a residence on Deerfield Drive.
Seventy-seven year old Voncile Smith and her two sons: 49-year-old Richard Smith and 47-year-old John Smith, were found dead in their home on Friday morning.
“The time of the blue moon every three years; the method of the murders, and also our person of interest is known to practice witchcraft,” said Morgan, who adds that there was no sign of forced entry.
“The method of [the] deaths we believe was blunt-force trauma, we believe the weapon was a claw hammer” Morgan said. “Multiple blows were struck on each and every victim, their throats were slit. Richard Thomas also suffered a gunshot wound, entering his right ear and exiting behind the neck.”
It’s not known just when they were slain. Because there was a second full moon in July around the time of the murders, some are calling whoever did this the “Blue Moon Killer.” Morgan says initial research points to the possibility of a ritualistic killing.
“The method of the murder: blunt-force trauma, slit throats, the positions of the bodies, the elements of this case are odd at best,” said the Sheriff. “We have a very reclusive family. Neighbors have related to us that they’ve never met members of this family, although they’ve lived there for years.”
A person of interest has been contacted by ECSO. For now, he’s being described only as a white male, who could have ties to a faith or religion that’s practices such violent rituals.
Making an already complex investigation even more so, one of the victims, Richard Smith, was employed by the Department of Homeland Security.
“We immediately made contact with Naval Air Station Pensacola, and those individuals that work Department of Homeland Security issues,” said Morgan. “Members of Homeland Security could give a reasonable assurance that, because of the critical position Mr. Smith held, there was [sic] no issues involving national security.”
The Smiths were found during what’s called a “welfare check.” That’s when a person’s noticed normal movements are disrupted for a period of time, and authorities are contacted. It allows for intervention by law enforcement if someone’s in distress or in need of help. Whatever the motive for the homicides, Morgan says it doesn’t appear to have involved robbery.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is being joined in the investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Anyone with information on the deaths of Voncile, John, and Richard Smith are encouraged to contact the ECSO, their local law enforcement agency, and/or Crimestoppers.
