Dad Carves Pentagram on Son for 12/12/12: I've 'Shed Innocent Blood,' Says Man
A Texas dad carved a pentagram on his son's back in honor of Dec. 12, 2012 (12/12/12/). Police arrested the man and have charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
At approximately 12:10 a.m., a phone call came into 911 in Texas; Brent Troy Bartel proceeded to tell the dispatcher that he "shed some innocent blood," according to The Los Angeles Times. "I inscribed a pentagram on my son … because it's a holy day."
When police arrived at the residence, they found a woman outside yelling, "He's trying to hurt my 6-year-old! Please hurry! Oh, God!" Sgt. Nathan Stringer told The Times. Police then saw blood smeared on the front door of the house and the small boy shivering in the living room wearing only pajama pants.
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The pentagram covered most of his back, Stringer explained, and he was immediately taken to Cooks Children's Hospital for treatment. Police believe that he was cut with a box cutter found inside the home. Bartel was taken into custody and held on $500,000 bond given the severity of the crime.
Bartel has a record of erratic behavior. In 2007, he was given a ticket for making an illegal turn. When he appeared in court, he approached the judge to turn in his drivers' license and said he was done as a driver. On the way out, he then tried to punch the police offer who issued him the ticket.
"It took three officers and an attorney to wrestle him to the floor," MSNBC reported. He was then held until he calmed down and later released.
Dec. 12 was a big day for those who celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe or are concerned with end-of-times prophecies. Many believed that the world would end on 12/12/12 or possibly 12/21/12, given the history of the Mayan calendar. However, scientists at NASA have proven that no such scenario is likely to occur.
