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Satanism: A Look At The Criminal Element
By Jack M. Roper
(Subculture Researcher)
Satanism is a secret chthonian religion which incorporates an alliance and
worshipful allegiance to the Devil and his cause. It can be either theistic
or non-theistic. With the theistic form of Satanism, the Satanist believes
that the Adversary's celestial assistants (demons, evil angelic spirits,
deceiving infernal gods) can personally communicate with the devotee through
demonic thought transference, usually in altered states. The non-theistic S
atanist believes that Satan and his rogue are merely an extension of man's
baser nature, negative cosmic powers, or an innate human force or symbol.
Satanism represents indulgence, selfishness, vengeance and a reversal of
moral standards that is twisted to reach one's fleshly desires through
certain occult and magickal applications.
Since the 1960's with the founding of the Church of Satan by the late Anton
LaVey, Satanism has attracted individuals from all levels of society.
Recently, the Internet has given one the ease to be involved at the click of
the mouse. Through one search engine there are links to over 46,000 web pages
that make reference to "Satanism," and the reality of this darkling belief
system often attracts the naive. Chat rooms make it easier for children to
explore this unknown. Although sex is usually screened out at school library
computers, is Satanism? Availability to this knowledge is as easy as walking
into a bookstore and going to the New Age section or subculture music
magazine area. Even fantasy role playing conventions offer many seemingly
attractive ideas that could draw one into Satanism.
Psychological and criminal elements need to be considered when analyzing some
individuals that explore Satanism. Major media such as The New York Times,
TIME Magazine and the Chicago Tribune covered the school shootings in Pearl,
Mississippi in October 1997. The Tribune stated, "...Luke Woodham...was
accused of stabbing his mother to death in their home, then going to school
and gunning down two students, including his ex-girlfriend, and wounding
seven." (Oct. 15, 1997) A follow-up story in USA Today added, "He [Woodham]
describes himself as an outcast and a loner who found a sense of belonging in
a Satanic cult that worshipped demons and cast magic spells." (June 12, 1998)
Six teens were involved in that particular coven.
In the past, some Satanists who were convicted of crimes have ended up on
death row. Recently in Oklahoma, the lethal injection execution of
former-occultist Sean Sellers attracted international attention in February
1999. Bianca Jagger, a member of Amnesty International and the ex-wife of the
Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, sought to challenge the execution of Sellers but
she was unsuccessful.
He had killed his parents in 1986 at the age of 16 years-old, and was the
youngest death row inmate in America. He used to bring his Satanic Bible to
school with him, and was admittedly changed by devil worship. Sellers shot
both of his parents in the head with a .44-caliber pistol around midnight
while they were sleeping. Previously that day, he had shot and killed a store
clerk. His interests included Dungeons & Dragons, Satanism and Vampirism.
Over the years, I have corresponded with Sellers, who stated to me that
Christ changed his heart. My initial voice-contact with Sellers was when I
had the opportunity to speak on Satanism in Denver many years ago. He shared
about his life through a voice patch that was linked into the conference from
his prison cell. Sellers told me that he sat in the cell house 23 hours out
of the day, with one hour outside to enjoy fresh air. He had corresponded
with people all over the world concerning his transformation. Now however,
because of his belief crime he has left quietly through the power of a lethal
injection. The Satanic Bible never gave him wise counsel.
Satanism has also been associated with serial killer cases. Two prime
examples are the Richard Ramirez ("Night Stalker") case and David Berkowitz
("Son of Sam") incidents. In the mid-to-late 1980's, Ramirez was linked to
the death of 13 people and charged with 30 felonies in California. He flashed
his palm to the courtroom media, displaying a Satanic pentagram drawn on his
hand. It is now possible to order his case files through the Internet, all
32,000 pages of court documentation for the mere cost of 53 cents per page.
The official Court Reporter with the California Superior Court has now made
it easily available in 1999.
The "Son of Sam" case of the mid-1970's has now again reached the desks of
multiple media sources. Recently, Disney Productions released Director Spike
Lee's Summer of Sam, a film about former-Satanist David Berkowitz. As a
result of his serial killer rampage in the New York City area, Berkowitz was
convicted and sentenced to "life" in the deaths of 6 people and the injuring
of another 7 people. A&E's Investigative Reports released a one-hour premiere
with Bill Kurtis, produced by WABC-TV, concerning Berkowitz' years since the
killings. He had the opportunity to share about his change of heart and the
mistakes he had made earlier in his life. Last year, I started corresponding
with him and it is clear that the man has changed for the better.
In the 1990's, Satanism has again left its echo in America. In 1993,
President and Mrs. Clinton sent their condolences to three grieving families
after the triple-homicide of three 8 year-old boys was discovered in West
Memphis, Arkansas. Three teenagers were charged with the murders and
convicted. The killers are known as the "West Memphis 3" and are seen as
heroes to some today.
Damien Echols, the ring leader of a Satanic cult, is now on death row in
Arkansas. The murdered youngsters were found in a Devil's Den forest-area
underwater near a truck stop. Stevie, one of the slain, was tortured.
Castration and sodomy was included as evidence in the court proceedings.
Stevie's mother, Pam Hobbs, has never even seen the crime scene photos
because of the triggering of bad memories. The Hobbs family shared their
tragedy when they spoke at the International Association of Women Police
annual conference in 1995. President Clinton had this to say in his letter:
"Dear Terry and Pam: Hillary and I have learned of the tragic death of your
son Steve Edward Branch. We want you to know that we will be thinking of and
praying for you and your family in the days to come." Echols' interests
comprised of heavy metal, Stephen King and Wicca (witchcraft). Major media
outlets have picked up on this case, including HBO which made an
award-winning film documentary of this case. Sadly to say, the film leans in
favor of the convicted and showed actual footage of the slain children. In
1998, I spoke at the 5th annual memorial service for the Steve Branch family.
The families will never forget what has happened!
On February 23, 1999, ABC News covered the story of an arsonist who was
linked to multiple church fires mostly in the south. Concerning this story,
the Associated Press wrote, "Indianapolis -- A man [Jay Scott Ballinger] who
went to the hospital with bad burns was arrested and admitted to setting as
many as 50 church fires in 11 states." Follow-up investigations linked him
with a Satanic cult. Associated Press writer JR Ross stated, "Daleville
Police Sgt. Mark Brewer went to Ballinger's house and confiscated about 50
contracts signed in blood by teenagers who agreed to give their souls to the
devil and "do all types of evil' in exchange for wealth, power and sex."
(Feb.28, 1999)
Before me is a Satanic Diary written by an individual who is in a mental
institution now in the Midwest since committing homicide. He never had a
computer to search for a Satanic web site. All he had was his mind. As I
opened up his diary, it read the following: "Dear Lucifer, I am supposed to
meet with the Social Adjustment Committee tomorrow morning. I would like you
to intercede on my behalf...I would also like them to transfer me to Ward
13.13 is the number of members in a coven. 13th Judicial Circuit (Court] is
where I will go for a petition for reexamination. 13th Aquarian House is the
House of Hell. Those are (3) reasons why I want to go to Wd. 13." I also have
before me a U.S. Secret Service Intelligence Division report about this
"follower of Lucifer." According to it, in the past he has written
threatening letters to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, the contents of
which cannot be shared in this setting. His magickal world into the occult
has left his mind behind mental bars that are stronger than those found in
the death row cell.
Today, temptations abound in America. Freedom of speech and expression allows
many new ideas to circulate freely, but some people are too susceptible to
them and it leads them astray. That is certainly the case relating to the
above incidents. But the truth of it is that the consequences are not just
for the individuals themselves, but also for the people and communities that
they may affect. Satanism has left behind its signature on the minds and
hearts of all too many Americans.
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