“The method of the murder – blunt force trauma, slit throats, positioning of bodies – and our person of interest has a few ties to a faith or religion that is indicative of that”. On the right is an older photo of Hartung alongside his two half-brothers, John and Richard, who he is accused of killing.
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Authorities have made an arrest in the ritualistic “witchcraft” murders that left a family of three dead in Pensacola this summer. Meanwhile, State Attorney Bill Eddins said that his office will seek the death penalty for the gruesome triple murders. Morgan said that theory was still “in play”, but that his office had also investigated financial gain and Richard Smith’s connection to the Department of Homeland Security as possible motives. “We could let the clock run because of the complexity of the investigation”, Morgan said.
Investigators believe the killings may have been linked to the appearance of the blue moon, leading to Hartung being labeled the “Blue Moon Killer”.
Hartung has been charged with three counts of first-degree premeditated murder.
Eddins called the case the most complicated he had seen, and Morgan said it took five days just to collect all the evidence from the scene.
Officials during a press conference on Tuesday said the arrest took a while because of the sheer amount of evidence, in particular DNA evidence experts had to shift through to secure an arrest.
Neighbors we spoke to didn’t want to appear on camera but say they are glad Hartung is no longer their neighbor.
Late this afternoon the last of the investigators packed up and drove away from Hartung’s house. Because Hartung and the victims are blood relatives, additional testing was required, he said.
“We had no indication he was a danger to our community”. “The worse thing you can do is make a preemptive arrest based on half the information”.
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Escambia County Florida authorities say Hartung Killed his family. He will be represented by local attorney Michael Griffith.
