5 arrested in woman's slaying and dismemberment associated with Juggalos 'gang'

5 arrested in woman's slaying and dismemberment associated with Juggalos 'gang'; accomplices recently met victim on Internet and moved in with her
WIRE 01:00 PM - APR 04 2012


Five people charged in connection with the killing of an Ohio woman shared interest in a style of music known for its violent imagery as part of a loose-knit group identified by the FBI as a growing gang -- Juggalos.

Matthew Puccio, 25, Christopher Wright, 37, and Sharon Cook, 25, all of Urbana; and Kandis Forney, 25, and Andrew Forney, 26, both of Michigan, were arrested Saturday. They're facing charges in the death of 21-year-old Urbana resident Jessica Rae Sacco, who was found dead Friday in her apartment at 625 W. Light St., Urbana.

According to police, Puccio, stabbed Sacco, placed a bag over her head and suffocated her. Afterward, her body was dismembered. Some body parts found miles away in Kentucky.

Joshua Richards, Champaign County coroner, said an autopsy revealed Sacco's skin showed signs consistent with suffocation. She also had a stab wound in her upper abdomen, but it was not a fatal injury, the coroner said.

A woman who identified herself as a friend of Puccio and the Forneys spoke to the Springfield News-Sun on Monday while waiting for their extradition hearing.

She said she and the others are part of the Juggalos, people known to like the band Insane Clown Posse and other groups on the Psychopathic Records label. The woman, Linda, did not want her full name used to protect her identity.

Juggalos have been identified by the FBI as a loosely organized hybrid gang rapidly growing across the U.S. The FBI reports the group is somewhat transient in nature, and members are often involved in simple assault, personal drug use and possession, petty theft, and vandalism issues. Social networking has helped the group expand, according to the FBI report.

Linda said she, Puccio, the Forneys, Cook and Wright were all Juggalos, but she said it was mostly for the love of the music. She described Sacco as being "on the outside" of the Juggalos group, although she associated herself with them on Facebook, where they talked about being Juggalos.

"(Juggalos) aren't bad people. We're not really a gang," Linda said. "It's because of the code words we use."

Andrew Miller, of Springfield, said he was once a fan of Insane Clown Posse and offered a general defense of its supporters.

"These ICP fans are the most nonracist, nonhating people," Miller said. "(The band's) songs talk about bigotry and how evil it is."

Fans of "horrorcore," a blend of rap and heavy metal music with violent imagery, were accused in four murder cases in a two-month period in 2009. The attackers used a machete and a knife in one case, baseball bats in another.

According to Special Agent Harry Trombitas of the FBI's Columbus office in a news story at the time, "Individuals who are on the pathway to violence often surround themselves with violent music and literature. These (musical) groups themselves are not causative, but they're often enhancers."

Cook and Wright were arraigned Monday in Champaign County on charges involving corpse abuse and evidence tampering. Their bonds are set at $50,000 each.

Puccio and the Forneys were arrested in Hamilton on Saturday. On Monday, they waived extradition in Butler County Common Pleas Court and were transported back to Champaign County.

Puccio is charged with felonious assault, murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. His bond is $532,500.

Andrew Forney faces counts of abuse of a corpse, two counts of obstructing justice, tampering with evidence and complicity to tampering with evidence. His bond is $42,500.

Kandis Forney is being held on a $30,000 bond on charges of complicity to tampering with evidence and two counts of obstructing justice.

Friends of Puccio said Sacco was his ex-girlfriend. Police and investigators from the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation spent most of Friday in her Light Street home, sorting and bagging evidence.

Rumors that Sacco was pregnant are not true, coroner Richards said.

Linda said Puccio and the Forneys stayed with her before their arrest. She said Puccio confessed to her that he had killed Sacco, but that he thought Sacco planned to kill him.

Linda thinks Puccio should not be in jail.

"I think that they should allow him to go," she said. "I mean, that boy, he would not hurt a fly. The only reason he did it was in self-defense."

Gary Zerkle, Sacco's landlord, said she had lived at the Light Street address since last fall. Zerkle said Sacco stopped by around October and asked if Puccio could also move into the apartment.

Zerkle said he told her it would not be a problem as long as there were no disturbances. Shortly before Thanksgiving, Sacco stopped by again and asked if two more friends from Michigan could spend a week at the apartment. Zerkle said he later discovered the Forneys had been living there since then.

He said he did not know Sacco or Puccio well and there had never been any complaints.

Zerkle said the victim's mother spoke with him about a week ago, saying she had not been able to contact her daughter. He said an initial search of the apartment showed no signs of foul play, although the bathroom door was locked. Zerkle said he thought that was suspicious and went back later to check that room, where he found evidence of foul play and alerted police.

Police Chief Matt Lingrell said the investigation continues and the five could face additional charges.

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By Matt Sanctis, Jessica Heffner and Megan Gildow-Anthony - Dayton Daily News, Ohio (MCT)

(c)2012 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio)

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