Latest news with #Santeria
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Dead chickens placed in odd position on ritzy NYC block — sparking ‘animal sacrifice' claims
The chickens didn't cross the road — but still made it to the other side. Two slaughtered chickens were found on an Upper West Side median in an odd position that has activists worried they were killed in an animal sacrifice ritual. The birds were found Saturday lined up with their feet facing at West 89th Street and Broadway less than a year after similar fowl play three blocks away on Broadway and West 92nd Street, local publication West Side Rag reported. '[It] appears to be animal sacrifice to me,' John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, told The Post. 'It's illegal for live slaughter markets to sell live birds to the public but we know they do it often,' he said. 'From Buddhists releasing live animals in Central Park who die if not recovered to birds tied to trees for Santeria in public parks to Shaktis killing pigs near Gateway National Park – to whatever this is.' Edita Birnkrant, of animal advocacy group NYCLASS, said 'it clearly was done purposely and placed in a visible spot. 'They look healthier than the birds usually look at live markets,' she added. 'The nearest live poultry market is in Harlem so I don't know [if] that's the culprit.' By Tuesday, the birds had been removed but not everyone was uneasy about the birds. 'I'm almost kind of glad,' said Harold Steinblatt, a self-described 'frequent bench-sitter' and longtime Upper West Side resident who said the incident sounded 'cultish.' 'That means it's not just all rich hedge fund managers here,' he said. 'Or maybe it was a disgruntled hedge fund manager who was the culprit.' Chickens are the most common sacrifice in the Santeria Afro-Caribbean religion, according to the BBC. The Supreme Court upheld the right to animal sacrifice on religious grounds in 1993 — but according to New York laws, aggravated cruelty to animals is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison. Evidence of sacrificial killings have been reported across the five boroughs, with chickens, pigs and even rats killed in 'twisted' religious rituals in parkland surrounding Jamaica Bay in Queens. In Upper Manhattan, whole dead chickens and cows, as well as fish and eggs, have been found as offerings on crypts at Old Trinity Cemetery, according to Scouting NY. Thousands of chickens are also killed each year in the Big Apple ahead of Yom Kippur during the ultra-orthodox Jewish ritual of Kaporos, which involves slitting a chicken's throat, per ABC New York.
New York Post
27-05-2025
- New York Post
Dead chickens placed in odd position on ritzy NYC block — sparking ‘animal sacrifice' claims
The chickens didn't cross the road — but still made it to the other side. Two slaughtered chickens were found on an Upper West Side median in an odd position that has activists worried they were killed in an animal sacrifice ritual. The birds were found Saturday lined up with their feet facing at West 89th Street and Broadway less than a year after similar fowl play three blocks away on Broadway and West 92nd Street, local publication West Side Rag reported. Advertisement '[It] appears to be animal sacrifice to me,' John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, told The Post. 'It's illegal for live slaughter markets to sell live birds to the public but we know they do it often,' he said. 'From Buddhists releasing live animals in Central Park who die if not recovered to birds tied to trees for Santeria in public parks to Shaktis killing pigs near Gateway National Park – to whatever this is.' Advertisement Edita Birnkrant, of animal advocacy group NYCLASS, said 'it clearly was done purposely and placed in a visible spot. 'They look healthier than the birds usually look at live markets,' she added. 'The nearest live poultry market is in Harlem so I don't know [if] that's the culprit.' A pair of dead chickens were bizarrely found on an Upper West Side curb median on Broadway over the weekend. J.C. Rice Advertisement By Tuesday, the birds had been removed but not everyone was uneasy about the birds. 'I'm almost kind of glad,' said Harold Steinblatt, a self-described 'frequent bench-sitter' and longtime Upper West Side resident who said the incident sounded 'cultish.' 'That means it's not just all rich hedge fund managers here,' he said. 'Or maybe it was a disgruntled hedge fund manager who was the culprit.' Advertisement The dead chickens (not pictured) being found occurred less than a year after another pair were discovered three blocks away, as animal activists believe these are sacrificial killings. Hanoi Photography – Chickens are the most common sacrifice in the Santeria Afro-Caribbean religion, according to the BBC. The Supreme Court upheld the right to animal sacrifice on religious grounds in 1993 — but according to New York laws, aggravated cruelty to animals is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison. Evidence of sacrificial killings have been reported across the five boroughs, with chickens, pigs and even rats killed in 'twisted' religious rituals in parkland surrounding Jamaica Bay in Queens. In Upper Manhattan, whole dead chickens and cows, as well as fish and eggs, have been found as offerings on crypts at Old Trinity Cemetery, according to Scouting NY. Thousands of chickens are also killed each year in the Big Apple ahead of Yom Kippur during the ultra-orthodox Jewish ritual of Kaporos, which involves slitting a chicken's throat, per ABC New York.
CBS News
06-05-2025
- CBS News
Man accused of setting fire inside Miami-Dade home over discarded Santeria items, MDSO says
A Miami-Dade man is facing first-degree arson charges after allegedly setting fire to his bedroom following an explosive confrontation over discarded Santeria materials, according to Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office deputies. Luis Fernando, 58, was taken into custody after family members and deputies found a dresser drawer ablaze in his barricaded room back on April 1 at a Southwest Miami-Dade home. He was later hospitalized for smoke inhalation and transferred to jail after being medically cleared. Family dispute escalates Authorities said the incident began earlier in the day when Fernando's mom, identified as Ms. Garces, confronted him for lighting a fire in a cooking pan on the patio as part of a Santeria ritual. She told him not to start any more fires at the home. Later, while Fernando was at Home Depot, Garces threw away his Santeria supplies, authorities said. Upon returning, Fernando discovered the items were missing and after Garces admitted to discarding them, he became enraged. According to the arrest report, for the next two hours, Fernando reportedly destroyed household items and scattered thousands of collectible coins throughout the home. Bedroom fire and messages in blood Carlos Garces, another family member, called police and his sons for backup. Before deputies arrived, he noticed smoke coming from Fernando's bedroom. He and one of his sons forced their way in, discovering the room filled with smoke and a large fire burning inside a removed dresser drawer. According to the MDSO report, Fernando had barricaded the door and threatened to throw fire if anyone entered. Carlos Garces eventually pulled him from the room before deputies arrived. Another family member extinguished the fire. Investigators noted blood messages scrawled on the bedroom walls, reading "My mother is my killer" and "I love you Julie, Luis." Fernando had apparently cut his hand on glass prior to the fire, according to the arrest report. No other religious items or incense were found at the scene, despite initial claims. Fernando was the only person in the room when the fire was set, authorities said. He was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a felony arson charge.
Los Angeles Times
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Sublime is making a new album with Travis Barker
Sublime is working on a new album with the son of the band's late frontman. The hugely influential Long Beach ska-punk trio — whose singer Bradley Nowell died in 1996 — said Wednesday that it's writing and recording songs with Nowell's 29-year-old son Jakob, who stepped into his father's role with Sublime in late 2023. The band is working with producers Travis Barker (of Blink-182) and John Feldmann and plans to release the LP's first single this summer. 'I grew up on Sublime,' Barker said in a statement, adding that the band's 1992 album '40 Oz. to Freedom' 'changed the way I listened to music.' Feldmann, known for his work with pop-punk acts including Good Charlotte and 5 Seconds of Summer, said working with Sublime 'has been a highlight of my life.' After performing with Sublime for the first time in public at a benefit concert for H.R. of the pioneering hardcore Bad Brains, Jakob Nowell fronted the band last year at Coachella then went on to play a series of festival dates with drummer Bud Gaugh and bassist Eric Wilson, who formed Sublime with Bradley Nowell in the late '80s. Bradley Nowell's death from an accidental heroin overdose came just two months before the release of the band's first major-label album. Yet that self-titled LP went on to become a quintuple-platinum smash, spawning late-'90s alt-rock radio staples like 'What I Got,' 'Santeria' and 'Wrong Way.' After Nowell's death, Gaugh and Wilson played together in the Long Beach Dub Allstars; in 2009, the two drafted the singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez to perform Sublime's music under the name Sublime with Rome. Last year, Jakob Nowell told The Times that people had pressured him for years to play with his dad's former bandmates but that he'd always been reluctant, in part because he had his own musical interests and in part because of his complicated relationship with his father's memory. He changed his mind after a 'spiritual pilgrimage,' as he put it, to the theater in Petaluma where Bradley Nowell played his final gig. Sublime has tour dates scheduled this summer including a May 3 stop at the BeachLife festival in Redondo Beach.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
Second arrest made after Santeria ritual in Hialeah turned into deadly shooting: cops
A second man has been arrested on charges of gunning down another earlier this month, after the pair got together for what police say was supposed to be a Santeria ritual in Hialeah. Yasmany Matos, 35, was cuffed Tuesday while recovering from a stab wound at Jackson Memorial Hospital. His arrest comes after Milton Cao, 48, was already charged in connection with the same case. Both are charged with second degree murder. On Feb. 12, Hialeah Police responded to a shooting at a home around 10:15 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a man only identified as Nodar lying unresponsive and covered in blood just outside the front door, according to Matos and Cao's arrest affidavits. Inside the house, police say they discovered two other injured people: Matos' teenage son, who had cuts on both arms, and Matos, who had been stabbed in the head — with the knife still lodged in place. Cao, who was also at the home, had no injuries and was detained for questioning. Nodar was subsequently pronounced dead. Matos' son was taken to Nicklaus Children's Hospital, while Matos was transported to Jackson Memorial Ryder Trauma Center for his injuries, according to police. Two women who were in the house at the time also spoke to police. Detectives later interviewed Matos' son, who explained that he and his father were at Cao's house because Matos was performing a Santería ritual for him. At some point, an argument broke out between Matos, Cao and Nodar, leading them outside to the parking lot. A short time later, Matos' son heard a gunshot and saw Nodar stumbling back inside, bleeding from his leg, saying he had been shot, police say. Police say Nodar then went to the bathroom and grabbed a folding knife before coming back and stabbing Matos in the head. Matos' son tried to stop him but was stabbed in both arms in the process. Despite already being shot and injured — according to police — Nodar then tried to leave the house. As he was walking out, Cao shot him multiple times, killing him. Police say that Cao told a Sergeant on scene: 'I kill for fun.' Court records show Cao has since pled not guilty. The next day, detectives obtained security camera footage from a nearby home, which captured the shooting outside. Around 10:10 p.m., Matos, Cao, and Nodar were seen walking outside together. Nodar then walked toward a car parked in front of the house, with Matos closely following behind. Suddenly, Matos shoved Nodar aggressively. Nodar, appearing petrified, quickly ran behind the car for cover. Seconds later, Matos reached into his waistband, pulled out an unknown object and shot Nodar multiple times, police say. Nodar fell to his knees, limped back inside the house and was trailed by Cao and Matos. Matos remained in the hospital for treatment as of Tuesday, according to his arrest affidavit. Since he has a lawyer, police have not questioned him.
