Kirsty Theologo

Teenage girl tied up and set on fire by friends in 'satanic ritual' at Johannesburg beauty spot.

By Stewart Maclean

25th October 2011

Targeted: Kirsty Theologo, 18, who was tied up and had petrol poured over and set alight in an alleged satanic ritual

A teenage girl is fighting for her life after being bound and set on fire, in what South African police believe could have been a bizarre satanic ritual.

Kirsty Theologo, 18, and her 16-year-old friend named only as Bronwyn, were attacked in the early hours of Saturday at a remote beauty spot in the Linmeyer suburb of Johannesburg.

Miss Theologo was today in an induced coma at a Johannesburg hospital after suffering 75 per cent burns to her upper body, while Bronwyn was under medical supervision at a private clinic.

South Africa's Star newspaper reported that their attackers set on Miss Theologo, bound her and poured petrol over her body before setting her on fire... after deciding to turn her into a satanic 'sacrifice'.

Bronwyn threw herself on the burning girl and tried to extinguish the flames by rolling her on the ground - sustaining burns to her own body in the process.

The newspaper claimed the men cut the hands of a third girl and held them so that she would bleed onto a bible during the attack.

After all of the attackers and witnesses fled from the scene, Miss thologo and Bronwyn had to walk down from Linmeyer Hill before they could be treated for their injuries.

Speaking about the attack, Miss Theologo's sister Samantha told the newspaper: 'In the state she was in, my sister made sure they walked to safety. She walked all the way to Rosettenville, about 2km away.

'Bizarre attack': Miss Theologo had been with friends on Linmeyer Hill, a popular spot among teenagers that looks over the skyline of Johannesburg, above

'I wasn’t home, but my mum told me she found my sister in the bathroom washing her face. My mum said it was horrific.
'Bizarre attack': Miss Theologo had been with friends on Linmeyer Hill, a popular spot among teenagers that looks over the skyline of Johannesburg

'Bizarre attack': Miss Theologo had been with friends on Linmeyer Hill, a popular spot among teenagers that looks over the skyline of Johannesburg, above

'It's horrible, it's scary and just horrific what happened to my sister. My mum is in a state and can't talk. Friends are breaking down.'

Two teenagers, aged 19 and 17, handed themselves in to police yesterday in relation to the incident, and were due to appear in court today charged with attempted murder.

The teenagers handed themselves in after pressure from their parents, but police say they want to question a further three males who have not yet come forward.

Force spokeswoman Lorraine van Emmerick said officers were investigating claims the girls had been attacked as part of a twisted satanic ritual.

She said: 'This was a bizarre and unpleasant attack. The two girls were out on a hillside on Friday night with another female friend and some males.

'Since the incident we have been informed by members of the community that the attack could have been linked to some sort of satanic ritual.

'It is too soon to be able to confirm or rule this out but it remains an active line of enquiry. We are investigating these claims to establish what substance they have.

'We hope to gather more information by speaking to the victims once they have recovered.'
*****

Four appear over girl in ‘satanic ritual’

October 26 2011 at 09:53am
By OMPHITLHETSE MOOKI
Satanic ritual suspects

INLSA

Blood samples will be drawn from four men – accused of setting alight an 18-year-old in a “satanic ritual” – to establish DNA links to traces of blood found near the public swimming pool in Linmeyer, Joburg.

Four young men allegedly poured petrol over Kirsty Theologo on a koppie behind the swimming pool before a burning match was thrown at her on Friday night, leaving her with third- and fourth-degree burns both inside and outside her body.

On Tuesday, the four men appeared briefly in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court to answer to two charges of attempted murder, and one for burn wounds that Kirsty’s 16-year-old friend, known only as Bronwyn, suffered.

Bronwyn had apparently tried to put out the flames when Kirsty got burnt.

“The accused face charges of attempted murder for now, but the charge may change to murder and attempted murder at a later stage,” said prosecutor Coleen Ryan as the four men looked on impassively.

Lindon Wagner, 21, and Robin Harwood,18, were arrested on Sunday and Lester Evan Nathaniel Moody and Jeremy King, both 18, were arrested on Monday.

All four had handed themselves over to the police.

They were not asked to plead, and magistrate Lukas van der Schyff postponed the case until next Tuesday for further investigations, warning Wagner to reconsider his decision to represent himself.

“You are facing serious charges and you have a right to appoint your own attorney or apply for legal aid. Do you want to reconsider?” asked Van der Schyff. Wagner would not budge.

All four will be detained at the Booysens police station until their next court appearance, said Ryan.

Kirsty’s family said the four young men had gone to the koppie with Kirsty and Bronwyn. The two girls, who had been attending a youth service at their church, were offered alcohol that Kirsty spat out because it had tasted strange.

Bronwyn, who is believed to have finished the alcohol, began vomiting.

One of the men allegedly started dancing while Kirsty laughed.

“Suddenly, she (Kirsty) felt wet and the dancing guy lit a match, threw it at her and said ‘laugh at this’,” said Kirsty’s mother, Sylvia Theologo.

Petrol had been thrown on

Kirsty, whose throat and lungs were badly burnt as she tried to breathe.

She is due to undergo a second operation at Chris Hani-Baragwanath Academic Hospital’s burns unit on Wednesday.

“She’s okay. She’s fighting… She’s got 50 percent burn wounds, but she’s stable,” Theologo said on Tuesday.

Kirsty’s mother said prayers and the support that the family had been receiving were keeping her strong.

“It’s hectic. I couldn’t sleep… I’m praying. I just want my baby girl to be okay. She’s such a good girl. She’s gonna come back, she’ll bounce back.

“I have people calling me from Greece, Portugal and America… The support has been really good,” said an emotional Theologo. - The Star
*****
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 9:32am by Billy Hallowell Billy Hallowell

Police say an 18-year-old woman set ablaze in a suspected satanic ritual has died.

The teen, Kirsty Theologo, perished just one week after authorities suspect that her friends covered her in gasoline and burned her alive.

Court records say that Theologo and a 16-year-old friend were among eight young people who went behind some rocks at a suburban swimming pool a week ago. Theologo was apparently tied up, doused in gasoline and a match was thrown at her. Some say she was intended to serve as a bizarre “satanic sacrifice.”

After sustaining third and fourth degree burns, Theologo was in a coma, but the burns, which affected her body from the waist up, also severely impacted her lungs. In the end, her body could not sustain the injuries.

Her 16-year-old friend, identified as “Bronwyn,” threw herself on Theologo to try and put out the flames. As a result, Bronwyn suffered burns to her body as well. Unlike Theologo, though, she will survive her wounds.

According to the Telegraph, one boy cut a third girl’s hand and then held it over a Bible so that the blood would soak the Holy book. This detail apparently comes from one of the girls who was with the group.

Four suspects — all men — are now in custody. According to iOL News, “Lindon Wagner, 21, and Robin Harwood,18, were arrested on Sunday and Lester Evan Nathaniel Moody and Jeremy King, both 18, were arrested on Monday.” iOL continues:

On Tuesday, the four men appeared briefly in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court to answer to two charges of attempted murder, and one for burn wounds that Kirsty’s 16-year-old friend, known only as Bronwyn, suffered. [...]



Spokeswoman Lorraine Van Emerik said one of the charges against four young men accused in the case will be changed from attempted murder to murder. At this point, the satanic allegations have not yet been substantiated, but police are exploring the incident.
*****

Murderers:

Mnre. Lindon Wagner, Lester Evan Nathaniel Moody,
Robin Harwood en Jeremy King gister buite die Johannesburg-streekhof.