Baby Sitter Arrested, Accused Of Witchcraft, Satanism

[southerngale]

Woman Admits To Studying Satanism, Giving Girls Alcohol

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Des Moines police filed a criminal charge in a bizarre case which they say involves a baby sitter, two 8-year-old girls, witchcraft and alcohol.

Melissa Fernandez, 20, of Des Moines, is accused of giving 8-year-old twins alcohol, and providing a sharp instrument for one of the girls to cut herself in a ritual to become blood sisters. Fernandez is charged with one count of child endangerment.

Tina Kish said she was shocked by what her daughters told her about the times they stayed with Fernandez, a family friend and baby sitter who also lives in the Park Ridge Apartment complex on Indianola Avenue.

Kish said the girls told her that Fernandez served them alcohol, and got one of them drunk. The girls also said Fernandez taught them things about witchcraft, took them to an abandoned building Fernandez told them is haunted, and allowed one girl to cut herself as part of a blood ritual.

According to police reports, Fernandez encouraged one of the girls to cut her arm and commingle blood with her.

From her jail cell, Fernandez did not deny the alcohol accusation.

"I had been drinking a little bit that night. And they pretty much wanted to try it, like kids always do," Fernandez said.

"I can completely understand the charges for distributing alcohol to a minor, and I will fess up to that, but anything else I completely do not understand," Fernandez said.

Fernandez said she simply showed the girls the movie "Practical Magic," which is about witches, and the twin's satanism claims are a misunderstanding.

"I just wanted the girls to have fun, you know, because they had watched that movie and pretty much they wanted to mimic some of the stuff of that," Fernandez said.

"I had cut myself. I do that kind of out of habit now. And she just kind of copied me," Fernandez said.

Fernandez admitted she studies satanism as a religion, but denies she practices witchcraft.

Fernandez appeared before a Polk County judge Friday morning. Her bond is set at $6,500.

The judge issued a no contact order, meaning Fernandez must stay away from minors.

Fernandez is out of jail.



LOCK HER UP!! :grr:

This link has her pic:
http://www.local6.com/news/2638721/detail.html

[rainstorm]

you must be careful who you leave your kids with

[Guest]

you must be careful who you leave your kids with

Yes this is a sick world.

[pawlee]

makes you want to run a babysitting service whereby all applicants are screened. hmmm, there's a million dollar idea for someone...

[GalvestonDuck]

"I had been drinking a little bit that night. And they pretty much wanted to try it, like kids always do," Fernandez said.

That statement alone speaks volumes about what kind of babysitter (or mother) she is (would be). She was drinking before watching these kids AND she "pretty much" lets them do whatever they want to do???????

Sheesh!

She admits to studying Satanism as a religion but denies practicing witchcraft. Is there a lesser to those two evils??? Give me a break!

[Amanzi]

Fernandez admitted she studies satanism as a religion, but denies she practices witchcraft.

Thats like a christian who does not pray!!!!

I have never left my son with a sitter... only with a friend of mine who goes to my church and has 3 kids of her own.... There are just to many weirdo people out there.

[StormCrazyIowan]

Sure makes me proud of the women in my state!

Sick people....and probably not gonna get any better by the time I have children, I think I'll learn this lesson now!!

[stormy]

so many sickos that i would hate to have to find a babysitter. even the ppl u know u have to worry about. sure glad i have a live in babysitter( that would be my oldest one)

[ColdFront77]

Thats like a christian who does not pray!!!!

But, there are some Christians that don't pray for a number of reasons, some not even that they are aware of.