Pensacola Fl Escambia County deputies said Tuesday that witchcraft may have been a factor in the brutal murders of a 77-year-old woman and her two sons, 47 and 49, last week.

The three family members were described as “reclusive” and their bodies were discovered when deputies conducted a welfare check at their home Friday morning.

The three had been beaten with claw hammers and their throats were slit, officials said. One of the sons also had been shot in the head.

Will Isern @PNJwill
Investigators have spoken with person of interest, who is a white male
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Will Isern @PNJwill
Person of interest is known to practice "witchcraft", according to Sheriff Morgan
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Will Isern @PNJwill
Victims were known to be "socially reclusive"
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Will Isern @PNJwill
Person of interest has ties to alternative religion
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Will Isern @PNJwill
Murders occurred on Tuesday, coincided with blue moon.
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Will Isern @PNJwill
" Initial research led us to believe it was a ritualistic killing" -Sheriff Morgan