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'Smiley Face Killers' linked to 40 deaths in US

News Type: Event — Seeded on Wed May 7, 2008 7:09 PM EDT
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In 22 cases across five states, they have found what they believe to be the sickening trademark signature of the psychopaths – either smiley face graffiti or distinctive sets of symbols daubed near the spot where the dead men's bodies entered the water. Nine of the smiley faces had a particularly sinister twist – they were drawn with horns.
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That shocking claim has earned the alleged gang a chilling nickname: the "Smiley Face Killers". It is causing particular alarm in the neighbouring states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, where 19 of the deaths occurred.

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{"commentId":1777142,"authorDomain":"dwing"}
DWing

:)

{"commentId":1777142,"threadId":"261245","contentId":"1475070","authorDomain":"dwing"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Wed May 7, 2008 7:10 PM EDT
{"commentId":1777193,"authorDomain":"dreadspydr"}
Dreadspydr

=:) remember some had horns....

{"commentId":1777193,"threadId":"261245","contentId":"1475070","authorDomain":"dreadspydr"}
  • 3 votes
#1.1 - Wed May 7, 2008 7:29 PM EDT
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{"commentId":1777174,"authorDomain":"witchofthenorth"}
Glinda

Your comment made me do a double-take! I wonder why this isn't bigger news in the US press?

{"commentId":1777174,"threadId":"261245","contentId":"1475070","authorDomain":"witchofthenorth"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#2 - Wed May 7, 2008 7:20 PM EDT
{"commentId":1777177,"authorDomain":"dwing"}
DWing

This is the first time I've heard of this story. Here's hoping they catch the suckers ;-P

{"commentId":1777177,"threadId":"261245","contentId":"1475070","authorDomain":"dwing"}
  • 1 vote
#2.1 - Wed May 7, 2008 7:23 PM EDT
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{"commentId":1777378,"authorDomain":"filo2100"}
filo2100

I have thought for some time that there was something like this going on. There have been far to many of this type of "accidents' going on in Minnesota and Wisconsin for to many years. There seemed to be to many college kids "falling" in the river after a night of drinking at the bar. Im glad to see someone investing deeper into this. I agree with you DWing, I sure hope the catch these suckers.

{"commentId":1777378,"threadId":"261245","contentId":"1475070","authorDomain":"filo2100"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#3 - Wed May 7, 2008 8:54 PM EDT
{"commentId":1777513,"authorDomain":"inghar2004"}
gladbutterfly

There were a couple other articles on Newsvine on this topic; this one has the additional info that some of the smiley faces had horns, which makes it all the more likely it's a calling card. I likewise hope they catch the unsubs soon.

{"commentId":1777513,"threadId":"261245","contentId":"1475070","authorDomain":"inghar2004"}
    Reply#4 - Wed May 7, 2008 9:49 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1777582,"authorDomain":"anthopos"}
    Perry O

    Here's one.
    And another.

    {"commentId":1777582,"threadId":"261245","contentId":"1475070","authorDomain":"anthopos"}
    • 1 vote
    #4.1 - Wed May 7, 2008 10:13 PM EDT
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    {"commentId":1777646,"authorDomain":"filo2100"}
    filo2100

    Thanks for the links Perry O.

    {"commentId":1777646,"threadId":"261245","contentId":"1475070","authorDomain":"filo2100"}
    • 1 vote
    Reply#5 - Wed May 7, 2008 10:40 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1777924,"authorDomain":"hhabilis"}
    hhabilis

    Wonder how long after death GHB remains detectable?

    {"commentId":1777924,"threadId":"261245","contentId":"1475070","authorDomain":"hhabilis"}
      Reply#6 - Thu May 8, 2008 12:47 AM EDT
      {"commentId":1779307,"authorDomain":"sunnyshine"}
      Meggy

      I think it has less to do with how long the victim is dead, and more to do with the fact that being saturated in water for so long tends to leach toxins away. Most of all, though, I think toxicology reports weren't done on most of the vicitms, since their deaths were ruled accidental drownings, not murder.

      {"commentId":1779307,"threadId":"261245","contentId":"1475070","authorDomain":"sunnyshine"}
        #6.1 - Thu May 8, 2008 12:03 PM EDT
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