Title: Witness says self-proclaimed vampire threatened her life during rape

Source: The Virginian-Pilot, 3/12/96

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Pilot Online - NEWS

NEWS - March 12, 1996

Witness says self-proclaimed vampire threatened her life during rape

BY JUNE ARNEY, The Virginian-Pilot
Copyright 1996, Landmark Communications Inc.

VIRGINIA BEACH -- With tears streaming down her face, one of the alleged victims of self-proclaimed vampire Jon C. Bush told a judge Monday that Bush held her down and threatened her life as he raped her.

``I was scared,'' said the girl, who was 16 at the time of the alleged attack on Dec. 22. ``I was pushing him away. He held me down and he told me he was going to kill me.''

The girl testified that the rape occurred in Bush's bedroom after they had gone out to eat with friends. Two friends were in another room of the house during the alleged rape. Bush later drove her home.

The girl, who is not being named to protect her identity, said she was too frightened to tell anyone what happened until she talked to police in January.

Her testimony was enough for Juvenile Court Judge Woodrow Lewis Jr. to find probable cause to send the rape charge against Bush to the grand jury. He also sent on a charge of carnal knowledge after a 13-year-old girl testified about having oral sex with Bush in his car on Jan. 6.

The judge dismissed a third charge of carnal knowledge when the 13-year-old girl said she could not remember details of a New Year's Eve party at which she had been drinking bourbon. She said she remembered going back to Bush's room the night of the party but couldn't recall what happened after that.

If Bush, 26, is indicted, he is scheduled for trial May 7. Authorities say additional felony charges involving other victims are likely to be presented to an April grand jury.

Bush remains in custody without bond. He also has a felony and misdemeanor charge pending in Chesapeake, authorities said. He has a $10,000 bond from Chesapeake.

As the girls testified, Bush stroked his goatee, jotted down notes and occasionally whispered to his attorney, Lynndolyn Mitchell, an assistant public defender.

No details came out Monday about Bush's involvement as professed leader of a 30-member vampire ``family,'' which police have said required female initiates to submit to sexual contact with him. Male members were simply ``marked,'' or bitten hard enough to leave a bruise or impression.

Police say Bush encouraged the recruitment of school-age girls to take part in a lifestyle based loosely on the fantasy role-playing game ``Vampire: The Eternal Struggle.'' Game players assume the roles of ancient vampires and, through political and physical struggles, try to conquer their adversaries.

In many cases, Bush's interactions with his followers occurred in social settings like parties, police have said.

Members sometimes painted their faces white and their lips and left-handed fingernails black for excursions into malls or to the Oceanfront. Sometimes, the family would surround Bush in a protective circle as they walked. Bush, who often wore snap-on fangs, would walk with his hands folded in an X across his chest.

Detectives have interviewed dozens of children in connection with Bush's alleged vampire activities. But detective Don Rimer, who is investigating the case, said Monday that authorities will never know many of those involved with Bush because they will never come forward.

Bush has prior convictions for grand larceny and misdemeanor sexual battery from 1992. He had been placed on probation for five years and told to refrain from any contact with juveniles because the sexual battery offense was against a juvenile.