The chief medical examiners' office made the determination Wednesday afternoon, according to Det. Keith Bryant.

Now Bryant said an anthropological exam is underway to determine the sex and age of the skull as well as possibly when the person died.

"Our investigation is continuing," Bryant said. "Additional charges could be forthcoming."

A headless body was found in Bridgeport about a decade ago, according to police. Whether the skull found is connected to that body has not been determined, Bryant said.

Five people are under arrest on marijuana trafficking following the early morning raid and grisly discovery by members of the department's Tactical and Narcotics Team.

Police served a search and seizure warrant on the occupants of the first-floor apartment expecting to seize the normal paraphernalia of drug traffickers.

But when they entered the basement, TNT Sgt. William Bailey said they encountered a scene more common in horror movies than homes across the street from an elementary school.

"There was blood all over the basement walls," he said. The type of blood is being analyzed by investigators, Bryant said.

Photographs of the scene were taken by the detective bureau but are not being made available.

Bailey said the human skull had an alligator skull atop it and either a sheep's or goat's skull underneath it. There were strings of beads hanging, candles burning, animal horns standing and what appeared to be Satanic writings. There was a beheaded chicken, with its blood emptying into a bowl.

Where the chicken came from is unknown. But roughly two blocks away from the house sits Bridgeport Live Poultry on Harral Avenue, which keeps and sells live chickens in cages.

The basement findings led police to suspect Santeria or some sort of voodoo religion was practiced there.

Although rare, the finding is not unique in drug investigations here. Police found a similar altar that Frankie "Big Dog" Estrada, once the city's biggest drug dealer, created in his home. There were pictures of saints, judges and police officers around candles and burning incense in a shrine in his home. There was evidence of animal sacrifices.

Estrada is serving a 26-year federal prison term after pleading guilty to numerous charges.

Both Henry Schissler, an associate professor of sociology at Housatonic Community College, and Brian Stiltner, an associate professor of religious studies at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, said there is a belief among practitioners of exotic religions like Santeria and voodoo that believers can conjure up magic or spells that will protect them from harm or the law.

"Unfortunately their spirits must have been out to lunch or on vacation," said Schissler. "The belief that such practices will keep you safe is typically wrong."

But Schissler said the practitioner often blames himself rather than the religion.

"They think maybe they didn't do something exactly right, like light enough candles," he said.

Based on a description of the scene, Stiltner suspects a "grab bag" of beliefs may have been practiced.

Santeria rituals often involve the sacrificing of specific animals in seeking the help of specific saints in dealing with life's challenges.

On Wednesday afternoon, no one answered knocks or doorbell at any of the apartments in the three-story, yellow-sided home at 230 Madison Ave., where the raid took place. A baby stroller sat on the porch and a damp black bike stood up, chain wrapped to a fence. Satellite dishes sat on porch roofs.

The home is at the corner of Madison Avenue and George Street, kitty corner from Columbus Elementary School. Across the street is Maribel Grocery. The few people outside said they were unaware of any activities in the house. A female employee at the grocery store said she neither heard nor saw anything unusual.

At the Golden Hill Street courthouse, no arraignment date has been set for the five people arrested by TNT. The five are free on bond, according to the prosecutor's office.

The five facing state charges involving marijuana trafficking are Luis Rivera, 32; Charlie Rodriguez, 16; Antonia Lopez, 20; and Veronica Cooney, 22. Rivera and Ileen Coney, 43, face charges of criminal possession of a firearm. A .357 and a 12-gauge shotgun were seized as was $2,195, five cell phones; two scales and 34 plastic bags with marijuana were seized.

Copyright: Connecticut Post