Women Accused Of Satanic Ritual Scam

Police have arrested two Stratford women accusing them of scamming a woman out of $145,000 through some bizarre rituals including drinking rooster blood.

Maria dos Santos, 52, and her daughter, Shirley Iannucci, 30, were arrested by police Tuesday on charges of first-degree larceny and conspiracy.

Police said the two women had become friendly with the alleged victim who was going through a divorce last year.

According to court documents, the alleged victim feared for her life after dos Santos told her that "God was going to kill her." The city woman called police in January, the day after dos Santos performed a satanic ritual in her West River Street home that included drinking blood from a dead rooster, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

Dos Santos persuaded the victim to let her handle all of her financial affairs while the divorce was pending, according to court documents.

Both women were released after posting bond and are expected to be arraigned Sept. 5.