MD - Zyana, 2, & Norell Harris, 1, stabbed to death in 'exorcism', 17 Jan 2014

[JoeFromLB]

She can have fun thinking about exorcisms from the security of a prison cell for the next 40 years.

These two need to be locked away for the rest of their lives.

 

[thistle]

I heard a brief discussion of this incident on the radio this morning, the focus was how many people actually believe in exorcism/possession by demons, & the percentage quoted seemed absurd-35%? Unfortunately, I think it's just mental illness, not caught in time to protect these children. I hope the older children survive their injuries, & are able to live in a stable environment, & recover, as much as they can.

 

[Maya Love]

I heard a brief discussion of this incident on the radio this morning, the focus was how many people actually believe in exorcism/possession by demons, & the percentage quoted seemed absurd-35%? Unfortunately, I think it's just mental illness, not caught in time to protect these children. I hope the older children survive their injuries, & are able to live in a stable environment, & recover, as much as they can.

Wow, that's REALLY high! Can that be true?? It's a belief generally held by some protestants and catholics, and Christianity isn't even the largest religious belief- maybe they mean 35% of those denominations. '
Sounds like she made up her own religion and it was based on mental illness and she found someone who shared that w/ her. I wanna know more about this Troy. I hope local stations/papers continue to cover this- I imagine they will, nothing this big has happ in Moco since the LuluLemon murder. Shoot, the courthouse is close, if I'm off work I'll be there.

 

[OkieGranny]

From January 2015:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...d45b34-9d8b-11e4-96cc-e858eba91ced_story.html

Monifa Sanford, one of two Montgomery County women accused of killing two young children during what they believed was an exorcism, was ruled criminally insane on Friday and was committed to a maximum-security psychiatric hospital.

Sanford, 22, who had called herself a “demon assassin,” pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder. Sanford will stay at Maryland’s Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center at least until it is determined that she no longer poses a danger to the public. She could very well be at Perkins for the rest of her life.

From May 2015:

http://www.germantownpulse.net/#!Ne...orcism-Killings/cjds/554b8fdd0cf24874171882c4

Avery’s trial date had been set for June 24, but in Montgomery County Circuit Court on Thursday Avery’s attorney, Brian Shefferman of the District 6, Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office requested the court grant him more time to prepare his case.

Shefferman told Judge Terrance J. McGann that the psychiatric doctors who are supposed to assess Avery have not completed their report yet. Judge McGann set a new trial date of December 14 in an effort give both the defense and the state adequate time to review any reports from psychiatric experts.

 

[Rayemonde]

Jan 2015:

How can one psychiatrist conclude that Sanford was legally insane at the time of the killings yet another conclude that Avery was not?...

Sanford’s attorney, David Felsen, has said doctors have determined that his client is not criminally responsible and that he intends to pursue that defense...

The case began the morning of Jan. 17, 2014, when Montgomery police were called to a townhouse in Germantown after a neighbor spotted blood outside.

The officers entered the home, saw Avery run out a back door and caught up with her, according to police accounts. Sanford didn’t try to flee, police said...

Officers found two of Avery’s children, 1-year-old Norell Harris and 2-year-old Zyana Harris, dead from stab wounds. Two other children of Avery’s, ages 5 and 8, had stab wounds.

McCarthy said that concerning the self-styled “demon assassins” label, Avery, then 28, had adopted the title of “commander” and Sanford, who was 21, took the title of “sergeant.” They have been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

There is a condition of shared delusion called “folie à deux,” but it is rare, said Larry Fitch, a former director of the Office of Forensic Services at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene...

When two people commit a homicide, he said, it’s less likely that both are driven by psychoses than only one is...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...0e2f58-9689-11e4-927a-4fa2638cd1b0_story.html

 

[Rayemonde]

Jan 2014:

Zakieya Latrice Avery often spoke about her personal problems on her Facebook page. Here are some of the statements she has made in recent weeks.
...

"The bible says this world is owned by Satan he is the prince of this world."

"Why is it people can respond to the dummest things in this world or on facebook, but when you put up something they should know or that's educational they ignore it? People are being decieved left and right everyday and don't care to realize it. They think it's safe and everything's a game when this world is owned by satan himself who wants to dumb us down to think there's no consequences for what we do our no hell."

"In this video it has micheal jackson, selena,the pope(if your a catholic this is also for you), as well as the muslim god allah,Children and other celebrities being tormented by demons. I'm not perfect i also have been caught up in the world but now the lord Jesus christ has opened my eyes and is using me to open yours. God wants to save humanity from the attachs of the enemy, he weeps every second someone is thrown in hell. Everyone needs to check themselves and ask themselves am I really doing what God planned for me? Am I going to heaven if I was to die today or will I spend eternity in hell because I refused to listen and wanted to do me?"

http://www.examiner.com/list/zakiey...denise-sanford-mother-kills-children-exorcism

 

[Rayemonde]

Jan 2014:

When being questioned by police, McCarthy said, the women told investigators that they tried multiple methods to remove the presence of demons from the children, progressing from an attempt to break the neck of the youngest child to strangulation to stabbing...

McCarthy said Avery had previously been involuntarily committed for mental health treatment and that Sanford told investigators that she had previously tried to commit suicide.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/zakieya-avery-monifa-sanford-psych-tests_n_4643339.html

 

[Rayemonde]

View attachment 89230
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-1-year-old-2-year-old-shocking-exorcism.html

Left: Zakieya Latrice Avery; right: Monifa Sanford.

 

[Rayemonde]

Jan 2014:

According to comments made in court, Avery and Sanford had scheduled an in-home exorcism Thursday evening for a group member named Troy. Only problem, Troy never arrived for his appointment. Then around 5 a.m. Friday, both women reportedly became convinced a demonic spirit had invaded the soul's of all four children, turning their young eyes dark black...

"The women, after the attack, showered together to wash the blood off themselves, cleaned-up the crime scene and then prepared the children to see God," McCarthy added. "It was to be an everlasting life in heaven."...

In court, the prosecution disclosed Avery's record of involuntary commitments for psychiatric delusions, and Sanford's history of suicide attempts.

http://wjla.com/news/local/alleged-exorcism-killers-due-in-court-tuesday-99475

 

[Rayemonde]

Jan 2014:

Monifa Sanford's descent into the depths of mental illness included hallucinations and voices, including one that she believed to be Satan. According to testimony, he told her he was going to "kill the babies. If she wanted them to go to heaven, she had to do it herself."

"She believed that she had been initiated into this group of demon assassins," said defense attorney David Felsen.

Those "assassins" included a boyfriend linked to each of the women. The investigation revealed that those men were imaginary. According to testimony, the two women watched YouTube videos of demons and danced feverishly to ward them off.

Felsen said, "They had believed that inanimate objects had been possessed, there were demons in their house, that they had been possessed individually, that at other times, the children had been possessed."...

After the murders, Sanford told police, "I'm glad the children are in heaven, but I miss them."

http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/loc...orcism-murders-montgomery-county-md/21860609/

 

[Rayemonde]

Snippets from the State's Proffer, Jan 2015:

n February of 2013, Monifa Sanford ("Sanford") met Zakeiya Avery ("Avery") through their church – Exuxia...

Avery began to educate Sanford about the types of demons in the world by showing Sanford videos of demons on YouTube. From February to August 2013, Sanford and Avery grew increasingly close, "like sisters." In July 2013, Avery's husband, Martin Harris, moved out of the residence.

During the summer, Sanford began seeing shadows and hearing noises at her father's house, which she attributed to demons. Avery told Sanford she had to leave her father's home or else the "succubus and incubus" would possess her. Shortly thereafter, in August 2013, Sanford moved in with Avery and her four children...

After moving in with Avery, Sanford began seeing evil spirits at her job. Avery told her to quit the job because demons were at the store, and said Sanford should continue living with her. Sanford then quit her job.

Thereafter, Sanford and Avery began to socially isolate themselves. They spent up to an hour and a half each day watching videos online about demons and the illuminati. They stopped attending church, as they believed there were demons in the church...

They also believed there were spirits in the house named "Dawntea Cross" and "Troy Williams." They believed that "Dawntea" was Avery's boyfriend, and "Troy" was Sanford's boyfriend. However, only Sanford could hear Dawntea, and only Avery could hear Troy, so they allowed the spirits to inhabit each other's bodies so each could speak with her respective boyfriend. Sanford and Avery believed they were part of a group called "Demon Assassins." The four members of the "Demon Assassins" were Sanford, Avery, and the imagined boyfriends Dawntea and Troy.

THE ATTACKS – JANUARY 17, 2014

Avery told Sanford that Norell, who was crying, had demons on him, and Sanford claims that she saw Norell's eyes turn black and his nose start to bleed. Avery picked up Norell, gripped her hands around her son's neck and tried to choke him...

Avery and Sanford then began to perform what they claim was an exorcism. Avery put Norell on the bed, and she and Sanford attempted to pray the demon out by speaking tongues and "laying hands," an act that consisted of holding her hands just above Norell's body. Avery said that the only way to save the baby's soul was to kill him, and instructed Sanford to retrieve a knife.
Sanford immediately went downstairs to the kitchen, retrieved a small, serrated pairing knife with a red handle, then returned to Norell's room and gave the knife to Avery...

First, Avery cut her son's throat multiple times...


After the attacks on the four children, Avery turned on Sanford....

Sanford suffered two stab wounds and one laceration on her chest. When Sanford attempted to defend herself, Avery told her not to fight back. As Sanford fell to the floor, Avery choked her and slammed her head into the ground, causing a contusion over Sanford's left eye. Avery then used the knife to partially cut Sanford's throat...

When they were done, they put the clothes they wore during the attacks in a black plastic bag and discarded the knives by throwing them out the children's bedroom window into the front yard....


In the ambulance, [Sanford] told Officer Hedgepeth that an unknown assailant had broken into the home and struck her in the head. When she came to, the assailant was on top of her trying to kill her. At the hospital, Sanford repeated this lie to Detective Janney...

At approximately 9 p.m. that evening, Sanford spoke to the officer guarding her hospital room door and revealed the truth of what happened.

Much more here:
http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/loc...orcism-murders-montgomery-county-md/21860609/

 

[Rayemonde]

Jan 2015:

Sanford's attorney, David Felsen, said after Friday's court hearing that his client has been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder and was not able to understand the criminality of her conduct.

"This case represents a horrific descent into the horrors of mental illness," he said. "She honestly believed she was doing God's work. Obviously she was not."

http://wjla.com/news/crime/one-of-t...children-during-exorcism-pleads-guilty-110631

 

[Rayemonde]

Rest in peace Norell (left) and Zyana (right).
View attachment 89236

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...l-judge-finds-not-criminally-responsible.html

 

[Rayemonde]

Jan 2014:

“Both defendants alleged that the demon leapt from the body of the last child into Ms. Avery and then attacked Ms. Sanford, who did suffer some fairly substantial injuries herself,” said John McCarthy, Montgomery County State’s Attorney...

[The women] bathed the dead children and wrapped them in blankets–so they would be clean when they saw God.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2014/...f-killing-children-attempted-exorcism-before/

 

[GeeEm]

September 12, 2016


'Demon assassin' pleads guilty to murdering infant kids

A Maryland woman known as the “exorcism killer” and “demon assassin” pleaded guilty Monday to murdering two of her children and stabbing two others in a crazed attempt to free them of demons she believed inhabited their bodies.


Zakieya Avery and her roommate, Monifa Sanford, stabbed the four children in January 2014. Avery’s 18-month-old son, Norell, and 2-year-old daughter, Zyana, died in the attack. A 5-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son were wounded but survived.


The women claimed they saw the eyes of the children blackening and believed killing them was the only way to rid them of demons. Prosecutors said Norell was stabbed more than 20 times and Zyana was choked and stabbed in the chest and back.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/09/12/md-mom-pleads-guilty-to-killing-2-kids-hurting-2-siblings.html

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ALSO

September 12, 11:12 PM

Md. mother pleads guilty to killing children in ‘exorcism’

A Germantown mother has pleaded guilty to killing two of her children and stabbing her two older children during an exorcism in 2014.

Zakieya Avery, 31, dabbed her eyes with a tissue as Montgomery County prosecutors described what a judge called a “gruesome and chilling” attack in court on Monday, as she pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree murder and two counts of attempted first degree murder.

Avery and housemate Monifa Sanford told investigators that they believed evil spirits had moved between the bodies of the children, ages 1 and 2, and that an exorcism was needed to drive out the demons.
Psychiatrist Neil Blumberg, testifying for the defense, said Avery was not criminally responsible for her actions at the time.


The psychiatric evaluation performed at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital — Maryland’s psychiatric hospital — was inconclusive.

If Judge Terrence McGann agrees, Avery could be sent to a psychiatric hospital. But if she’s found to be sane, she could face four, consecutive life sentences.

Avery’s youngest child, one-year-old Norell, was stabbed more than 20 times by his mother, while Sanford spoke in tongues and “laid hands” on the boy.

Two-year-old daughter Zyana was choked and stabbed to death, although it is unclear which woman stabbed her.

Two older children — 8 year old son, Martello and 5 year old daughter, Taniya — begged their mother to stop, before each was stabbed in the chest.

As her son yelled to his mother, she told the boy “These are the sort of demons that can get inside of you.”

Martello and Taniya survived the attacks.

In January 2015, Sanford pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder, under a plea agreement with prosecutors.

http://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2...led-in-md-exorcism-goes-on-trial-for-murders/