Deputies investigate 'satanic' graffiti in Altenburg

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Perry County deputies are looking for the vandal who spray-painted 'satanic' messages on the back of a concession stand and a sidewalk in Altenburg.

A member of the Altenburg Athletic Association called a deputy who lives in the area the morning of June 7 to report the vandalism, Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf said.

"Somebody had spray-painted some stuff on the back of the concession stand," Schaaf said. "They had an inverted pentagram with 'fire, wind, water, spirit and earth' painted on it."

The strange graffiti also included the words "Omminus Satanica Protestas," Schaaf said.

He wasn't sure what the message meant.

"My Latin's a little rusty," Schaaf said.

Investigators probably can eliminate Latin scholars and spelling-bee champions from their list of possible suspects. A Google search for "omminus satanica protestas" turned up a suggestion to search instead for "omnis satanica potestas," a phrase meaning "every satanic power" that appears in an exorcism scene of the television program "Supernatural," according to the website supernaturalwiki.com.

"I'm sure it's just some little weirdo," Schaaf said. "These kids get into some of these things."

The same day the vandalism at the concession stand was reported, deputies received a report about similar graffiti near the Lutheran Heritage Center log cabin at 75 Church St. in Altenburg, Schaaf said.

"Somebody had spray-painted some nasty things on the sidewalk," he said.

Schaaf said deputies are investigating.

"We've got some leads on that," he said. "We're trying to chase them down."

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

75 Church St., Altenburg, Mo.