On Long Island tonight, a cemetery was the unsettling scene of sacrificed animals – goats, chickens, and a white dove. The Suffolk County SPCA is now offering a substantial reward to apprehend the party responsible for these disturbing acts.
I’m Joe Torres, and Sandra is off tonight. Detectives suspect that these gruesome discoveries are part of a religious ritual.
Eyewitness News reporter Anthony Carlo brings us the story from Union Cemetery, nestled among fallen leaves. Amongst a pile of fruits and vegetables, another horrifying sight awaited investigators. It was clear that we were faced with a case of animal sacrifice.
The remains of a beheaded chicken, a black rooster, and a white dove were discovered. The image was so disturbing that we have chosen to blur it.
This was the first of two similar incidents in the past month. The latest was a bag containing a decapitated chicken and chunks of coconut, found by a man walking his dog near the cemetery entrance on Wednesday. “These animals are being tortured,” said a spokesperson from the Suffolk County SPCA.
The sacrificial method often involves the use of a knife, frequently using a dull blade. Union Cemetery in Middle Island witnessed this horrifying event, preceded by two decapitated chickens displayed in front of a headstone at Old Baptist Cemetery in Coram back in August. The Chief of Police, Roy Gross, stated that the history and brutality involved in these acts know no bounds.
Cow tongues nailed to a tree were discovered in one instance. The law provides for a misdemeanor charge, carrying a penalty of up to a year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine per offense for those caught engaging in such practices. While this may be viewed as a cultural practice by some, it is important to note that animal cruelty is against the law in New York. The effects of witnessing such horrific scenes stay with individuals indefinitely. The Suffolk County SPCA is offering a generous reward of $2,000 for any information leading to the arrest of those involved in these acts..
