Sheriff: ‘Ritualistic’ killings may be tied to blue moon

In this Monday, Aug. 3, 2015 photo, investigative tape is seen near a home in Pensacola, Fla. A triple homicide in Florida is being investigated as a possible ritualistic killing connected to the recent blue moon, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said Tuesday, Aug. 4. (Tony Giberson/The Pensacola News Journal via AP)

PENSACOLA, Florida — Investigators in Florida are looking into the deaths of a woman and her two adult sons as a ritualistic killing that could be connected to the recent blue moon.

Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said they’ve identified a person of interest in the July 28 deaths of 77-year-old Voncile Smith, 49-year-old Richard Smith and 47-year-old John Smith.

“Initial research had led us to believe it was a ritualistic killing,” Morgan said Tuesday.

Asked to elaborate, Morgan said, “The method of the murder — blunt force trauma … positioning of the bodies — and our person of interest has some ties to a faith or religion that is indicative of that.”

All three victims were struck multiple times with a claw hammer and had their throats slit, and Richard Smith had a gunshot to his right ear, Morgan said.

The bodies were discovered Friday in their home.

The blue moon, a rare second full moon in a single month, occurred on Friday, July 31, three days after the killings.

Richard Smith was employed by the Department of Homeland Security and worked at Naval Air Station Pensacola, but officials with the Naval Criminal Investigative Services “have determined there are no issues involving … national security elements,” Morgan said.

That information could not be confirmed immediately with NCIS officials.