Police: Man set on fire over Insane Clown Posse tattoo *Updated*

Paul Martin Hurst and Cary Lee Edwards have been arrested and charged with a plethora of charges stemming from the savage beaten of their roommate. Hurst and Edwards began arguing with the victim Zachary Swanson, shortly before 1am on August 4th. The suspects proceeded to attack Zachary during the attack they attempted to forcibly carve a tattoo featuring a symbol related to the Insane Clown Posse off the victims arm. When that didn’t work they poured a “flammable liquid” on Swanson and tried to burn off the tattoo.

Paul Martin Hurst and Cary Lee Edwards left Zachary Swanson on the floor for several hours before taking him to the hospital. The suspects were arrested a short time later. They have been charged with the following Attempted First Degree Murder, Attempted Second Degree Murder, First Degree Assault, Second Degree Assault, Reckless Endangerment, and possession of a Deadly Weapon. The police report that was released to the press can be viewed below.

WCSO Press Release 8-4-14 (Attempted First Degree Murder)

Incident: Attempted First Degree Murder

Date of Incident: August 4, 2014

Location: 7200 Block of Rockawalkin Road in Hebron, MD Narrative: This morning, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center regarding a subject who had been brought into the Emergency Room with extensive injuries sustained during an assault. Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis has confirmed that 31 year old Zachary Swanson of Hebron was savagely beaten and nearly killed by two cohabitants of a Hebron home in which the three shared with others on Rockawalkin Road. The incident began shortly after 1AM this morning when the suspects, following an argument with the victim, commenced to beating the victim. The suspects then attempted to forcibly carve a unique tattoo, consistent with the Juggalos Cult, from the victim’s arm. Unable to successfully remove the tattoo, the suspects doused the victim’s arm with a flammable liquid, set fire to it, severely burning and charring the same. After being left on the ground for several hours without medical treatment, the victim was ultimately driven to the PRMC where he was examined and subsequently flown to a Baltimore burn center for further treatment. Members of the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation have assumed investigative responsibility for this case and have arrested and charged the following two suspects: 1) Paul Martin Hurst 33 YOA, Hebron, MD

2) Cary Lee Edwards 35 YOA, Williamsburg, VA. Each man has been charged with the following: 1) Attempted First Degree Murder

2) Attempted Second Degree Murder

3) First Degree Assault

4) Second Degree Assault

5) Reckless Endangerment

6) Deadly Weapon Detectives from the WBI are currently executing a Search Warrant on the Rockawalkin home and on the vehicle used to transport the victim to the hospital. Based on preliminary investigation, detectives are exploring the strong possibility that those involved are affiliated with Juggalos, a cult following of the Insane Clown Posse, an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan, originally known as the JJ Boyz and Inner City Posse, a group that has introduced supernatural and horror-themed lyrics as a means of distinguishing itself stylistically. Any questions can be directed to the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office at 410-548-4891 or 410-548-4898. Releasing Authority: Sheriff Michael A. Lewis

Update

From delmarvanow.com:

A Monday afternoon Sheriff’s Office news release stated detectives were looking into the “strong possibility” of an affiliation with the Juggalos, a cult following of the Insane Clown Posse hip-hop duo. On Tuesday, he said both the suspects and the victim are Juggalos. “They are followers of the Insane Clown Posse, without question,” Lewis said. Edwards and Hurst both hit Swanson, and Edwards used the handle of a yard tool and a shovel during the beating, according to Hurst’s account of events, charging documents state. Edwards said Hurst was also involved in beating Swanson with a “stick-like weapon,” according to charging documents Edwards lit Swanson’s arm on fire, charging documents state. Each of the suspects, according to charging documents, stated that the other suspect had gotten lighter fluid from inside. “This burning was in an attempt to remove a tattoo that Edwards did not believe that Swanson earned,” charging documents state, in relation to Hurst’s account of the incident. Edwards told Detective Tom Funk that before the burning, he and Hurst had tried to cut the tattoo from Swanson’s arm with knives, charging documents state. Lewis said the suspects felt Swanson disrespected the Insane Clown Posse. “To them, he had to pay the consequences,” Lewis said.

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