PENSACOLA, Florida—The news briefing at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Pensacola generated horrible images of the terror-filled final night of a family. Sheriff David Morgan described the brutal murders as part of a “ritualistic Wiccan killing.”

Last Tuesday, July 28, investigators say that a person or persons unknown went to the home of Voncile Smith, and her two grown sons, Richard, age 49, and John, age 47 and killed them in what is described as a “Wiccan killing.” The family had lived there for years and had little, if any contact with their neighbors. They weren’t said to be quiet, but reclusive.

Detectives say with certainty that no one broke in, and that there were no signs of a struggle, but on Friday, when deputies went to the house for a “welfare check,” they found three battered bodies. All three family members had fatal head wounds inflicted by a claw hammer. Then, their throats were cut. Investigators say blood splatter and other forensic clues show that Richard was shot in the neck as he walked in the door.

Sheriff Morgan also told reporters that, while the murders occurred on the 28th, detectives believe they came in conjunction with the “Blue Moon” that occurred on Friday the 31st. A “blue moon” refers to the occurrence of a second full moon during a calendar month.

The neighborhood, on the northwest side of Pensacola, contains large homes on at least a half-acre or more parcels. Police were notified on Friday morning the 31st by a co-worker of Richard Smith. Neighbors had also noticed newspapers piling up in the driveway, and that the family’s cars hadn’t moved in several days.

They have been described by neighbors as “reclusive.” The family had lived in the community for 27 years and were not really well known to people next door or across the street.

Sheriff Morgan says that the “person of interest” in the case is a white man, known to the family. The unidentified man is also known to practice witchcraft, or the Wiccan religion.

Morgan said robbery did not appear to be a motive as approximately $7,000 was found in a safe and nothing else appeared to be missing.

The elder son, Richard, was an employee of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Sheriff called him “a critical member,” involved in national security issues. Detectives called in the Naval Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS) and other federal law enforcement agencies to determine if national security could be compromised in any way as investigators went through the victim’s laptops and phones.

Responding to inquiries from Breitbart Texas, the NCIS said they were not involved in this case in any way. DHS responded by saying they cannot comment on an on-going investigation.

In an odd situation, Breitbart Texas and media reporters at the scene of the murders were asked to identify themselves and their news affiliation. This does not normally happen at crime scenes.

Pensacola is home to a DHS cyber-security training center at Corry Station Naval Base, a smaller facility adjacent to the Pensacola Naval Air Station.

“The elements of the case are odd at best” said Sheriff Morgan. When quizzed on how this might be considered a ritualistic killing, Morgan said that “The injuries to the victims, the positions of the bodies and also the person of interest right now is a practitioner,” are what led them to following this investigative path.

Breitbart News’ Thomas Williams reported last week on what was said to be the “largest public satanic ceremony in history.” The ceremony was for the unveiling of a one-ton bronze statue of a goat-headed Baphoment in Detroit. That event was also scheduled in the days leading up to last weekend’s blue moon.