Numerous weapons and documents referring to human sacrifice and witchcraft were seized from the home of a Haymarket man and his teen-age girlfriend charged in the stabbing death of a Loudoun County scientist, according to a search warrant filed in Prince William County Circuit Court.
The warrant, made public this week, stated that investigators searched the Haymarket home of Michael Pfohl, 21, and Katherine Inglis, 19, on Dec. 11 searching for items related to the murder of Robert M. Schwartz, 57. Pfohl and Inglis were living at 4500 Erin Drive with Pfohl's uncle, Anthony Pfohl, who said detectives took many of his items - including statues and crystals.
Police seized numerous swords and knives, assorted ``altar'' items, numerous items ``as well as black cloaks and clothing and documents related to the pagan religion Wicca, court records show.
Inglis and Pfohl were arrested Dec. 12 and a third suspect, Kyle Hulbert, 18, of Woodbridge, was arrested on Dec. 11 in Millersville, Md., for the slaying of the nationally renowned DNA researcher who was found dead in his home Dec. 10, police said.
All three, acquaintances of Schwartz's 19-year-old daughter, Clara, a student at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, are charged with murder.
Neighbors found Schwartz dead in his secluded Loudoun County home after co-workers with the Virginia Center for Innovative Technology asked them to check on him, police said.
Officials said Schwartz died of multiple stab wounds and that an ``X" was carved into the back of his neck, wounds the affidavit states were caused by an ``incision producing instrument" like knives or bladed instruments.
More than three swords were seized from the Erin Drive home, as well as a machete and more than nine knives.
An unidentified source told police that Hulbert and Pfohl collect knives, the affidavit states.
During police interviews, Pfohl and Inglis admitted ``they were involved in the planning, execution, escape and cover-up of what was described as a planned assassination of the victim," Loudoun County court records show.
Investigators found miscellaneous computer-generated and handwritten documents ``that contain language of killing and human sacrifice in a Wiccan fashion," the warrant states.
The warrant describes Wiccan as ``a cult which involves pagan rituals and sacrifices." Beliefnet.com defines ``wicca" as a common term for ``many traditions of neo-pagan witchcraft" and states the belief is a ``nature religion that celebrates seasonal and life cycles and reveres a goddess and a god."
According to the affidavit:
Schwartz spoke with his daughter at 9 p.m. Dec. 7. On Dec. 8, a neighbor saw a vehicle stuck in mud at the entrance to Schwartz's driveway, then tried to call the home but only received Schwartz's answering machine.
Hulbert, who identified himself by name, went to the neighbor's home and said the car was stuck and that they needed a tow. He told the neighbor that the teens went to the home to meet Schwartz's daughter but that she wasn't home. He also told the neighbor Schwartz did not like his friend, later identified as Pfohl, and didn't want him in his home.
The tow truck driver said the three teens he picked up were all dressed in dark clothing.
Pfohl and Inglis are scheduled to appear March 7 for a preliminary hearing in Loudoun County. Hulbert was transported from Maryland to Loudoun County on Dec. 17. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing in March. All three are being held without bond in the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.