5 held in ‘ritualistic animal sacrifice’ in Santa Barbara County
Five men face felony animal cruelty charges in Santa Barbara County after authorities discovered evidence of what they called “ritualistic animal sacrifice.”
The five, all Mexican nationals from 21 to 52 years old, were arrested Tuesday by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Deputy John McCarthy as he investigated a report of trespassers on a farm three miles east of Santa Maria.
The farm was near Foxen Canyon Road, a winding road well-known for its string of wineries. In the men’s car, McCarthy said he found numerous candles and a live chicken. At a spot where the men allegedly had congregated, he found shattered eggs, a bloody plastic bag, twine, a fan-like arrangement fashioned from brush and, below it, the head of a chicken.
Source:
5 held in 'ritualistic animal sacrifice' in Santa Barbara County
latimes.com
