Human skull found at Lauderdale airport was to be used in Voodoo rite

[seriousstan]

FORT LAUDERDALE -- A woman was charged with smuggling after federal security screeners found a human skull in her luggage at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport late Thursday.

The woman had flown into Fort Lauderdale on Lynx Air International Flight 210 from Cap Haitien, Haiti. Her bag was being searched at the U.S. Customs counter when the grisly discovery was made. Agents said she did not disclose the skull -- complete with teeth and hair -- was in the luggage.

Myrlene Severe, a Haitian-born permanent U.S. resident, said the skull -- a male's -- was to be used in rites as part of her Voodoo beliefs. She also said she bought the skull from an unknown man in Haiti in the belief the head would ward off evil spirits.

The 30-year-old Severe was charged Friday afternoon with smuggling "a human head with organic matter inside," according to a criminal complaint.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-210airportskull,0,2928922.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

[VegasWolf]

1. She should complain that her religious beliefs are being infringed

upon. Everyone else is complaining about their religious beliefs being trampled.

[benburch]

5. Depends on how she acquired it...

If the skull were willed to her for use in rites, then they owe her an apology and its return.

Actor Avery Schreiber willed his skull to a Chicago theater company for use in performances of "Hamlet", and there it is today.

[0007]

7. Bet this woman was easy to pick out!

Just because it's modern times doesn't give your kid the right to walk down the street using a pool cue as a crutch.your mommy the right to walk around the local airport with a human head in her bag.

[Lance_Boyle]

2. um... if it has hair, it's not just a skull.

And... ew. But I suppose no more bizarre than eating/drinking transsubstatiated flesh and blood. Religious weirdos.

[KansDem]

3. Are you suggesting it should be labeled a "severed head?"

Ewwwwwwwwwww....:puke:

[jazzjunkysue]

4. "I told you to check it!! You never listen!"

[htuttle]

6. She came to America to get ahead

But couldn't find one, so had to send away to Haiti for it.

:shrug:

[hayu_lol]

8. LOL Tuttle...

I can't wait until the Feds start confiscating crosses--instruments of torture. Or the snakes and stuff used by certain members of our society.

[htuttle]

12. Well, the Feds have already been deciding what sacraments are allowable

Various Native American sacraments (not to the mention Rastafarian one, ie., pot) have already been restricted from time to time. Some courts have said that freedom of religion outweigh the drug laws restricting them, some have said the opposite.

But confiscating crosses? Because they're torture instruments? Never. Crosses and Torture are as American as apple pie according to our current government.

[VegasWolf]

10. Hah! Go to the HEAD of the class!! nt

[mom cat]

16. Baaaaaaaaaad

Not only that, you beat me to it.
:spank:

[951-Riverside]

9. If it had hair.... skin had to be attached right?

[DemoTex]

11. Prescott Bu$h scored a skull. Geronimo's.

All part of that bizarre club at Yale, Skull & Bones.

[VegasWolf]

13. Maybe she is a Head waiter down there. nt

[RagingInMiami]

14. Let's not lose our head over this

Maybe she was planning on putting a hex on Bush.

[rodeodance]

15. wonder if she had any idea this was illegal here.