NAVIGATION:

THE VICTIMS

It is not clearly understood how many people have fallen victim to the group known as the ‘Cult of Ormon’ - whilst we definitively know that at least 2 people were murdered in the Blackwoods Forest in 1978, evidence suggests that the reach of the cult goes far further to fulfil their insidious agenda. In truth we do not know if the cult even existed or if they are indeed still active today.

HIKING TRIO (1978):

Summer Solstice, June 21st 1978. A day that would forever change the lives of residents of Woodland Heights.

Three hikers (pictured right) Melanie Curtis, Christine Langley & Alan Spencer came from out of town to spend a few days in the area to enjoy the Annual Solstice Celebrations and venture out on the trails within the Blackwoods Forest. It is believed that they started their day fairly early, with witnesses seeing them leave their lodgings at around 08:30AM. They walked to the nearby entry point of the National Park and had even made plans that evening upon their return. Dog walkers and fellow hikers spotted them as they began their journey into the Park but their whereabouts from around 12:30PM is unknown. It is believed they were following the ‘Timberline Trail’ which passes near the River Murch and culminates in a beauty spot known as ‘Devil’s Drop.’ The photograph seen to the right is believed to have been taken around midday, possibly when the trio took a rest. As you can see the group were in good spirits and could not fathom the horrors that awaited them a few hours later.

The trio were last seen by another small group of ramblers around 12:30PM on the ‘Timberline Trail’ passing each other. From statements we know they had a short conversation with the passing group and then continued their journey deeper into the forest. What took place from this point up until Melanie and Alan were murdered is still not clear.

It is likely the trio encountered members of the so called ‘Cult of Ormon’ and were captured. From the autopsy reports we can see that both Alan and Melanie sustained head injuries and all 3 were found bound and gagged at the scene. Being unfamiliar with the forest they were trekking, it is easy to imagine that their captors had an unfair advantage knowing the lay of the land.

We jump forward now to 01:38PM. Park Ranger John Craven placed a call to the Woodland Heights Police Department - stating he had heard ‘screaming’ and sounds of ‘bloody murder’ near to the ‘Devil’s Drop Cliffs.’ Instructed by the Sheriff’s Office to stand down and await the arrival of the police, John remained at the Ranger’s Office where he placed the call. Most likely John heard the trio being attacked and captured. No one knows what could have happened if he had intervened but John left the Blackwood’s Rangers Department soon after the events of that day and committed suicide the following year. 

(ABOVE) Taken hours before their murder, developed from a film in a camera found amongst the trio’s belongings. Pictured Left to Right - Melanie Curtis, Christine Langley & Alan Spencer. This photograph is believed to have been taken somewhere on the 'Timberline Trail' within the Blackwoods National Forest.

Sherrif Strode and 2 other Police Officers were dispatched to the scene leaving the station at approximately 01:46PM as per the incident report. Driving the majority of the way into the forest the trio went as far as they could in their vehicles before having to make the rest of the journey on foot. In a statement Strode recalls starting to hear ‘the jingle of bells and cries from the forest’ so he knew they were getting close.

Looking at the report we can see that Sheriff Strode and his accompanying officers entered a clearing near to the ‘Devil’s Drop Cliffs’ at 02:32PM and found Melanie and Alan already deceased. The pair had been decapitated with an axe that was later found to have been abandoned at the scene. Strode described entering the clearing at a later press conference stating “…we came upon the clearing and Alan Spencer and Melanie Curtis were already dead. I drew my gun and fired a single shot to scare away the assailant who was stood in front of Christine, presumably about to murder her as well. The attacker was male, dressed in soiled, muddied clothing and wore a sack to cover his face. Hearing the shot he immediately fled the scene and I am sure I heard others running from the clearing as well. One of the other police officers with me immediately began pursuit but unfortunately could not find or detain the attacker. The crime scene was secured and I waited with Christine Langley as we waited for the other emergency services to arrive. I escorted Christine to the ambulance and she was rushed to Heights Hospital for medical attention. Our investigations into this terrible tragedy are now ongoing…”

CRIME SCENE PHOTOS:

  • Photograph shows the remains of Alan Spencer (Left) and Christine Langley (Top) and her severed head (Bottom Right).

  • Photograph shows the partially covered severed head of Christine Langley.

  • Photograph shows a Close Up angle of the axe used to carry out the murders, note the blood and clump of Christine's hair still on the blade.

  • Photograph shows a strange rune-like symbol etched/painted onto the bark of a tree close to where the bodies were found.

  • Photograph shows an alternate angle of the murder weapon.

  • Photograph shows a small hollow at the base of a nearby tree, within it a small pottery vase (decorated with a familiar symbol), a bone dagger and a terracotta bell.

AUTOPSY & INCIDENT REPORTS:

(ABOVE) Left to Right - Alan Spencer Autopsy Report, Melanie Curtis Autopsy Report & Police Incident report for CASE: 160165 (confirmed to be the murders).

Submitting a Freedom of Information Request a colleague was finally able to obtain scans of the Autopsy reports for both Melanie Curtis and Alan Spencer and the incident report from the day of the murders.

We can clearly see that the Case Number for the attacks is 160165 which is validated by the Crime Scene Walkthrough video we obtained. We can read the findings of the autopsy which does conclude that the cause of death was decapitation for both Alan and Melanie. It is also noted that they suffered head injuries and had bruising on their ankles and wrists, most likely from the restraints used to keep them immobile before their death.

The autopsy was carried out by the Woodland Heights Chief Medical Examiner - it also confirms Alan Spencer was 28 when he died (DOB 22/05/1950) and Melanie Curtis was 25 (DOB 19/11/1952).

An interesting observation can be made on the toxicology report - ‘Hallucinogen found in system - possible cause BLOOD FLOWER’ so it appears the trio were also drugged and bound to keep them compliant.

FURTHER VICTIMS:

UNIDENTIFIED JOHN DOES:

(ABOVE) 2 Polaroid photographs found amongst Eleanor Dunn's belongings in '79 showing 2 unidentified male victims bound and gagged.

Several polaroid photographs were found amongst Eleanor Dunn’s belongings following the 1979 incident. It is believed that Eleanor found these polaroids alongside other evidence of Occult Activity whilst conducting her own investigation into the murders a year prior. These photos would be indicative of the Cult operating for quite some time before the confirmed murders on the Summer Solstice of 1979. The identities of the 2 males pictured is still unknown and indeed if they are still alive. The town of Woodland Heights had almost 3 times the national average of Missing Persons Cases since the 1960’s but it is unclear if these statistics are due to the possible occult activity that was taking place within the area or something else? Both victims look to be extremely distressed, bound and gagged in their respective photographs - an eerie similarity to the state in which Christine Langley was found and her deceased companions.

UNCOVERED HUMAN REMAINS:

(ABOVE) Police evidence of a partially buried skull and remains also uncovered in the same clearing in which the murders of '78 took place.

To further add credence to the idea that the Cult were operating far before the confirmed murders of 1978, was the discovery of several human remains in the same clearing that Police attended. These bodies were discovered in the following weeks after the murders took place. So far it has been confirmed 7 bodies and partial remains were found - including that of 2 adolescents.

The motives for these possible ritualistic killings is still unknown and due to decomposition none of the bodies found have been formerly identified since. Looking at the polaroids on site a year later, it is probable that at least 2 of the bodies discovered could be that of the unidentified males in the photographs. All of the bodies were found to be decapitated with the heads detached from the rest of the body, possibly as the result of a similar sacrifical ritual stumbled upon in 1978.

MEDIA & PRESS COVERAGE:

(ABOVE) A scan of an article from the Woodland Weekly Paper - published June 22nd 1978 (the day after the murder) detailing the attacks and information that was currently available to the public. The photo on the front cover of the publication shows another angle of the bodies of Christine Langley and Alan Spencer - also note we can see clearly that Christine’s head is separate from her body here.  The article is also one of the first known mentions of Occult Activity being linked with this case.

News crews were quick to the scene following an anonymous tip-off (presumably someone within the Police Department as otherwise it is difficult to explain how they were at the scene so quickly). Footage from an aired report shows Sheriff Strode escorting Christine out of the clearing in tears. Once at Heights Hospital it is unknown where Christine went next or when she was discharged. Her wherabouts and indeed if she was alive and well was unknown for many years until she published her biography on the 25th Anniversary of the murders entitled ‘Rising from the Ashes: A True Survival Story.’ Many critics have panned the exploitative nature of the publication and questioned the validity of the events told within it as some exaggerations were proven to be made regarding the murders of 1978. Due to this it soon went out of print shortly after it’s release, becoming a collectors item. It now fetches a pretty penny online and in auctions for true crime fanatics around the world. 

(ABOVE) Screen grab from a News Report on Woodland Heights News (Aired June 21st 1978) - Depicting Christine Langley being escorted out of the Woodland Clearing by Sheriff Strode on their way to Heights Hospital.
(ABOVE) High quality images of the 'Out of the Ashes' Biography released by Christine Langley (co-written by Dr Ian Clarke - psychologist) on the 25th Anniversary of the 'Ormon Cult Murders' on June 21st 2003. (NOW OUT OF PRINT)