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Arrest Made In July Triple Murder
October 27, 2015
An arrest has been made in a triple murder that was said at the time to be related to witchcraft.
Donald Wayne Hartung, 58, was arrested Tuesday on three counts of first degree premeditated murder. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
He is charged will the brutal murder of his mother Voncile Smith, 77, and two half brothers John William Smith, 47, and Richard Thomas Smith, 49. They were found dead in their Deerfield Drive home on July 31. All three were beaten with a claw hammer and their throats slit, and Richard Smith was also shot in the head.
The arrest was announced Tuesday afternoon by Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan at a press conference.
State Attorney Bill Eddins said his office will seek the death penalty in the case.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Division, in partnership with the Florida Department Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Attorney were able to use forensic and other evidence leading to Hartung’s arrest.
Morgan said FDLE processed a very large amount of evidence for the Sheriff’s Office, with it taking some five days to process the crime scene.
Eddins said the crime scene was “one of the most complicated that I have seen in my career”.
At a press conference shortly after the murders, Morgan said witchcraft may have been involved in the killings. Tuesday, he said that witchcraft was still “in play”, but it would be up to prosecutors to determine the motive.
Pictured top: Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan and State Attorney Bill Eddins at a Tuesday afternoon press conference. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
8 Responses to “Arrest Made In July Triple Murder”
Way to much killing happening in Escambia County Florida!!!!! what gives these days????????? becoming way to common place
He was always walking a cute dog in the neighborhood so now im wondering what happened to his dog? I would think that he knew he would be arrested that hopefully he would have found the dog a good new home but just wondering where his dog is?
Good job Sheriff Morgan and the ECSO! Keep up the good work! Support our LEO’s!
At least Morgan didn’t have to eat the whole crow by saying witchcraft was still “in play”, and dumping it in the laps of the State Attorney. Try a little humble pie next time it tastes much better.
Thanks to Sheriff Morgan and every single person who worked on this case. I love you guys……….God bless you. Good job.
wow I just googled his name and the address came up where he lives and its right around the corner like a block from me on Klondike! its a tiny rental “shack” so maybe he was hurting for money that could me the motive……the method he chose with the violence though shows a lot of anger. I guess u really never know your neighbors but it’s not like he was going around killing random people so not that we should be scared living that close to him but still very creepy!! Prayers to the remaining family that they can now have closure.
So I guess that answers the questions “are you a good witch or a bad witch?” Definately a bad witch.
As Alice once remarked, in a different context, “…curiouser & curiouser…”—
or just another ½ sibling feeling left out?