NCJ Number
120541
Date Published
1989
Length
19 pages
Annotation
In profiling Satanic and devil worship ritualistic killings, consideration must be given to the elements of animal, human, blood, and burn sacrifice and to the victim and executioner.
Abstract
There are three levels of personal involvement in Satanism. The first level resembles religious affiliation with any church. Members are similar to more traditional church members, with an affinity for worship, familiarity with church ritual, and recognition of church hierarchy and bureaucratic lines of authority. The second level is membership in a Satanic cult, while the third level is individual and self-styled. General beliefs in Satanism, acknowledge the existence of God, the trinity of Satanism, human sacrifice, a hierarchy of hell, and demons. Devices used in Satanic rituals include vestments, altars, candles, bells, chalices, elixirs, swords, and gongs. Satanic worshippers have masses and ceremonies, such as Night of the Beast, Passover, and May Day. In crime scene analysis, the elements and characteristics of Satanism must be evaluated. A careful examination of the crime scene will yield information on the level of participation. A sect-related crime may be committed by a person who has been in the community for some time, is intelligent, and has been a sect member for awhile. On the other hand, a ritualistic crime perpetrated by a self-styled devil worshipper may be a younger person, perhaps a transient, and probably less educated and lower on the socioeconomic scale. Self-styled and cult offenders are more of a danger to society because their victims are almost entirely strangers. Terms commonly used in Satanic worship and rituals are defined. 4 tables, 2 figures.