Episode 17: The Blue Moon Murders

Escambia County Florida is no stranger to crime. From black widow murders to the apprehension of Ted Bundy, it's seen its fair share of horrific crimes. Another such crime occurred the summer of 2015. 3 members of a family were discovered, brutally murdered in their modest, but very cluttered, home after a welfare check had been called in. The only surviving member of the immediate family was the last to see these 3 people alive, a few days before the gruesome discovery. The sheriff made claims indicating the murders were ritualistic, based on findings. Were these murders a human sacrifice for a ritual?

 

Sources:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/150271379/voncile-smith

https://www.craversfh.com/obituary/3268975

https://www.flomatonfh.com/obituary/3268977

"Murder Under a Blue Moon" Season 1, Episode 2 of Killer Cases, series on Hulu, December 10, 2020

"Sheriff: 'Ritualistic' Killings May be Tied to Blue Moon" by The Associated Press in The Jackson County Floridian on August 6, 2015

"Triple Murder May be Tied to Ritual" by Will Isern in The Pensacola News Journal on August 5, 2015

"Triple Murder Case May Finally go to Trial" by Kevin Robinson in  The Pensacola News Journal on April 4, 2019

"Man Charged in 'Ritualistic' Murders" by Kevin Robinson in The Pensacola News Journal on October 28, 2015

"Victims of 'Ritual' Slayings Laid to Rest" by Staff Reports in The Pensacola News Journal on August 15, 2015

"Brother Indicted in 'Ritualistic Killings'" by Kevin Robinson in The Pensacola News Journal on November 11, 2015

"'Blue Moon' Triple Murder Case is Underway" by Colin Warren-Hicks in The Pensacola News Journal on January 22, 2020

"Hartung Guilty on all 3 Counts of Murder" by Colin Warren-Hicks in The Pensacola News Journal on January 30, 2020

"Jury Selection has Begun for 'Blue Moon' Triple Murder Case" by Colin Warren-Hicks in The Pensacola News Journal on January 14, 2020

"Closing Arguments Set in 'Blue Moon' Murder Trial" by Colin Warren-Hicks in The Pensacola News Journal on January 29, 2020

"Pensacola Man Sentenced to 3 Life Terms for Killing Family Members" by Colin Warren-Hicks in The Pensacola News Journal on February 8, 2020

Escambia County Court Records: State v. Donald Wayne Hartung Sr.

"Was Witchcraft to Blame for Florida's 'Blue Moon' Triple Murder?" by Adam Janos on A&E Networks (https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/blue-moon-killer)

"Blue Moon Killer: Man accused of ‘ritualistic’ murders in Pensacola" by Summer Poole on News WKRG September 10, 2022 (https://www.wkrg.com/true-crime/blue-moon-killer-man-accused-of-ritualistic-murders-in-pensacola/)

Donald Hartung Trial on Law&Crime Network YouTube channel, multiple parts (https://youtube.com/@lawandcrime?si=vDTWthk0jGVdOwbg)