Mexican folk religion involving human sacrifice gaining status among criminals

“We’re seeing more and more criminals that are praying to Santa Muerte,” Robert Almonte, a former narcotics detective, told the television station.

Almonte, who now gives seminars across the country educating law enforcement on the signs of the folk religion, said officers are now “encountering elaborate Santa Muerte shrines” when entering homes on drug search warrants.

Austin police told KVUE they haven’t seen any ritualistic killings in the area, but in two separate incidents the names of a judge and probation officer were found written on a piece of paper.