Woman forced to give head to Customs officials - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Astrocloud · 02-10-2006, 01:38 PM

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...a122946S66.DTL

Quote:

Woman Carrying Human Head Arrested in Fla.

02-10) 12:29 PST Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP) --

Airport baggage screeners found a human head with teeth, hair and skin in the luggage of a woman who said she intended to ward off evil spirits with it, authorities said Friday.

Myrlene Severe, 30, a Haitian-born permanent U.S. resident, was charged Friday with smuggling a human head into the U.S. without proper documentation.

Customs and Border Protection officials found the head Thursday, after Severe arrived at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on a Lynx International Airlines flight from Cap Haitien, Haiti, said Barbara Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Miami.

"It still had teeth, hair and bits of skin and lots of dirt," Gonzalez said.

Severe told authorities she had obtained the package in Haiti for "use as a part of her voodoo beliefs," ICE Special Agent Erick Hernandez wrote in an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint.

"Severe also stated that the purpose of the package was to ward off evil spirits," Hernandez wrote.

Severe, who also was charged with failing to declare the head and transporting hazardous material in air commerce, faces a maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted of all charges, prosecutors said.

Severe remained held Friday in lieu of a $100,000 bond. She is due back in federal court March 2.

A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Cynthetiq · 02-10-2006, 01:40 PM

well, it's part of her religious beliefs... interesting.

Bobaphat · 02-10-2006, 01:42 PM

Am I the only one who expected a different kind of story when reading the title of this thread?

cyrnel · 02-10-2006, 01:45 PM

Quote:

"It still had teeth, hair and bits of skin and lots of dirt," Gonzalez said.

Perhaps the airline was unable to fulfill her special meals request.

Charlatan · 02-10-2006, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyrnel

Perhaps the airline was unable to fulfill her special meals request.

A mind is a terrible thing to taste.

maleficent · 02-10-2006, 01:48 PM

Quote:

smuggling a human head into the U.S. without proper documentation.

Did it need a passport?

Do we even want to know where the head came from?

/me shudders

Borla · 02-10-2006, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobaphat

Am I the only one who expected a different kind of story when reading the title of this thread?

Nope, I think we were thinking the same thing.

Zeraph · 02-10-2006, 01:53 PM

"smuggling a human head into the U.S. without proper documentation."
Hehe..
"ma'am you have a license for that head?"
"Yes." Shows License for Voodoo
"Ah very good, Carry on."

And yeah, I got a chuckle out of the title. I'm sure it was meant to evoke such thoughts...

maleficent · 02-10-2006, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Borla

Nope, I think we were thinking the same thing.

See.... YOU ARE a pervert!!

MH73 · 02-10-2006, 02:09 PM

As long as there's no bowling ball references, I'm fine with this stor....

aw &(*^...

cyrnel · 02-10-2006, 02:09 PM

This makes me wonder about the source of a few odors I've encountered during flights. Maybe smelly feet and loud children aren't so bad.

meembo · 02-10-2006, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobaphat

Am I the only one who expected a different kind of story when reading the title of this thread?

No, you are not!

MexicanOnABike · 02-10-2006, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maleficent

See.... YOU ARE a pervert!!

i think everyone atleast all the guys read the title and expected something else!

Astrocloud · 02-10-2006, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mexicanonabike

i think everyone atleast all the guys read the title and expected something else!

What do you mean? She was forced to give it to them. I have absolutely no idea what you guys are talking about.

Toaster126 · 02-10-2006, 04:23 PM

Hurm, I'm pretty sympathetic to her, actually. While a person can't be let off the hook for law violations simply because she didn't know about them, surely 10 years is WAY too long for someone to get for something like this, especially when tied to their (semi)religious ideology.

basmoq · 02-10-2006, 04:45 PM

where the heck did she get it? Did she dig it up out of a grave? talk about grave robbing...

MexicanOnABike · 02-10-2006, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Severe, who also was charged with failing to declare the head and transporting hazardous material in air commerce, faces a maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted of all charges, prosecutors said.

15 yearS?! wtF? i'm sure someone carrying a gun would get less.

ngdawg · 02-10-2006, 06:52 PM

Could have all been avoided if she'd used UPS. They'll ship anything....except cigarettes

And yes, I, too, am a perv.....

Marvelous Marv · 02-10-2006, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyrnel

This makes me wonder about the source of a few odors I've encountered during flights. Maybe smelly feet and loud children aren't so bad.

I think you're off-base here. I've always been told there's no such thing as bad head.

msh58 · 02-10-2006, 09:26 PM

wouldn't want to be the judge for that case. lots of pins sticking in a doll of my likeness i would guess. As if i haven't done enough organ damage.

i'd give her the head back and send her on her way.

Trisk · 02-10-2006, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mexicanonabike

15 yearS?! wtF? i'm sure someone carrying a gun would get less.

Perhaps they gave her that term because...well...they don't really know how she got a head to take with her?
It would be either grave robbing or killing someone. Both of which are illegal.
....of course, she might have just chopped the head off of someone who wasn't buried but was already dead. Not really sure what kinds of laws are on that, but...uh...I sure hope she asked them first. I sure wouldn't want someone running off to another country with my head when I died.

Anyways, I'd be pretty suspicious.
I mean, I'm not into the whole voodoo thing, but I don't really see how carrying body parts around with you is going to ward off the evil spirits. I'd be more inclined to think it would attract them. *shrug*

mojodragon · 02-10-2006, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobaphat

Am I the only one who expected a different kind of story when reading the title of this thread?

No, I thought "wow, the airport screenings are getting more and more intrusive all the time!"

mrklixx · 02-10-2006, 11:09 PM

I wonder who gave them the heads up?

Of course she could've been using it for employment. I hear there's lots of places to get a head job in Ft Lauderdale.

aberkok · 02-11-2006, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobaphat

Am I the only one who expected a different kind of story when reading the title of this thread?

Yes. I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about.

Those customs officials should be ashamed of picking on that lady...

...some people will do anything just to get ahead in life.

flat5 · 02-11-2006, 05:38 PM

You all missed the pun?

15 years is a Severe sentence.

biznatch · 02-11-2006, 06:17 PM

maybe desire for public attention? I can't find another reason for pulling that kind of stunts...there's significant chances of you getting caught doing that.. (i hope so, because if it happens often and the officials don't detect anything, that'd be creepy, to say the least).
love the title.. kind of sick how it made me click right away.

fastom · 02-12-2006, 12:00 AM

Sounds like Miss Severe will get severe pushishment for the severed head.

analog · 02-12-2006, 02:26 AM

awesome title.

ziadel · 02-12-2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astrocloud

Myrlene Severe, 30, a Haitian-born permanent U.S. resident, was charged Friday with smuggling a human head into the U.S. without proper documentation.

I can;t believe thats a law, does this happen so often that our lawmakers thought there needed to be a specific statute on the books to protect the public.

someone toss out the Rand quote...

glasscutter43 · 02-14-2006, 08:25 AM

15YEARS?????
Sure glad I don't live in a police state!

JustJess · 02-14-2006, 10:39 AM

Oh, glass, let me head you off at the pass... I don't mind that they objected to her carrying a HEAD through customs. That's just .... weird.

Does this mean she's part of the mile high club, since it was on the plane with her?
Heh.

Bill O'Rights · 02-14-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvelous Marv

I think you're off-base here. I've always been told there's no such thing as bad head.

Obviously you've never met my ex-wife.

Oh...wait a minute...so you're the one.

Bill O'Rights · 02-14-2006, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glasscutter43

15YEARS?????
Sure glad I don't live in a police state!

Do you really think that statement was necessary? Really? What does that add to anything?

SaltPork · 02-14-2006, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basmoq

where the heck did she get it? Did she dig it up out of a grave? talk about grave robbing...

NOTHING!! She didn't get it from me!! YOu can't prove anything!

zkara · 02-14-2006, 12:04 PM

Ya .. your title had me at 'head' in which I had immediately clicked excitedly to view the thread to find... this. Interesting how she even managed to get 'on' to the plane with it in the first place. Gives me this visual of people walking around in Haiti with heads in their handbags.. "Oh hi.. that's a nice head you've got there.. the hair still seems pretty long huh?.. wanna check mine out?"

SaltPork · 02-14-2006, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glasscutter43

15YEARS?????
Sure glad I don't live in a police state!

no, you live in Canada.................(the dots represent my restraint, because I don't like getting hit by the mods)

Bill O'Rights · 02-14-2006, 12:43 PM

Good. Now...restrain a little more, before this gets out of hand. No harm. No foul. No beatings...yet.

SaltPork · 02-16-2006, 08:37 PM

BOR, I was going to say something funny, but didn't want it taken out of context as it most assuredly would have been. No worries, it's all good.

Fly · 02-17-2006, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaltPork

BOR, I was going to say something funny, but didn't want it taken out of context as it most assuredly would have been. No worries, it's all good.

c'mon man,use your head.........and fill us in.

Frowning Budah · 02-17-2006, 05:18 PM

I don't see how they can call it a crime unless there was a sign specifically forbidding binging severed human skulls on to the airplane.

02-10-2006, 01:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	well, it's part of her religious beliefs... interesting. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

02-10-2006, 01:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bobaphat whoopity doo Location: Seattle	Am I the only one who expected a different kind of story when reading the title of this thread? __________________ --size matters not-- yoda

02-10-2006, 02:09 PM	#11 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	This makes me wonder about the source of a few odors I've encountered during flights. Maybe smelly feet and loud children aren't so bad. __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

02-10-2006, 04:23 PM	#15 (permalink)
Toaster126 Extreme moderation Location: Kansas City, yo.	Hurm, I'm pretty sympathetic to her, actually. While a person can't be let off the hook for law violations simply because she didn't know about them, surely 10 years is WAY too long for someone to get for something like this, especially when tied to their (semi)religious ideology. __________________ "The question isn't who is going to let me, it's who is going to stop me." (Ayn Rand) "The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." (M. Scott Peck)

02-10-2006, 04:45 PM	#16 (permalink)
basmoq It's a girly girl! Location: OH, USA	where the heck did she get it? Did she dig it up out of a grave? talk about grave robbing... __________________ "There's someone out there for everyone - even if you need a pickaxe, a compass, and night goggles to find them."

02-10-2006, 01:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	"smuggling a human head into the U.S. without proper documentation." Hehe.. "ma'am you have a license for that head?" "Yes." Shows License for Voodoo "Ah very good, Carry on." And yeah, I got a chuckle out of the title. I'm sure it was meant to evoke such thoughts...

02-10-2006, 02:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
MH73 Upright	As long as there's no bowling ball references, I'm fine with this stor.... aw &(*^...

02-10-2006, 06:52 PM	#18 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	Could have all been avoided if she'd used UPS. They'll ship anything....except cigarettes And yes, I, too, am a perv..... __________________ Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

02-10-2006, 09:26 PM	#20 (permalink)
msh58 Crazy	wouldn't want to be the judge for that case. lots of pins sticking in a doll of my likeness i would guess. As if i haven't done enough organ damage. i'd give her the head back and send her on her way.

02-10-2006, 11:09 PM	#23 (permalink)
mrklixx President Rick Location: location location	I wonder who gave them the heads up? Of course she could've been using it for employment. I hear there's lots of places to get a head job in Ft Lauderdale. __________________ This post is content. If you don't like it then you are not content. Or perhaps just incontinent. This is not a link - Do not click here I hate animated avatars.

02-11-2006, 05:38 PM	#25 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	You all missed the pun? 15 years is a Severe sentence.

02-11-2006, 06:17 PM	#26 (permalink)
biznatch Junkie Location: France	maybe desire for public attention? I can't find another reason for pulling that kind of stunts...there's significant chances of you getting caught doing that.. (i hope so, because if it happens often and the officials don't detect anything, that'd be creepy, to say the least). love the title.. kind of sick how it made me click right away.

02-12-2006, 12:00 AM	#27 (permalink)
fastom Psycho Location: way out west	Sounds like Miss Severe will get severe pushishment for the severed head.

02-12-2006, 02:26 AM	#28 (permalink)
analog Banned	awesome title.

02-14-2006, 08:25 AM	#30 (permalink)
glasscutter43 Insane Location: Vancouver Island BC	15YEARS????? Sure glad I don't live in a police state! __________________ Book 'em Danno

02-14-2006, 10:39 AM	#31 (permalink)
JustJess Unencapsulated Location: Kittyville	Oh, glass, let me head you off at the pass... I don't mind that they objected to her carrying a HEAD through customs. That's just .... weird. Does this mean she's part of the mile high club, since it was on the plane with her? Heh. __________________ My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.

02-14-2006, 12:04 PM	#35 (permalink)
zkara Tilt me. Location: Midflight	Ya .. your title had me at 'head' in which I had immediately clicked excitedly to view the thread to find... this. Interesting how she even managed to get 'on' to the plane with it in the first place. Gives me this visual of people walking around in Haiti with heads in their handbags.. "Oh hi.. that's a nice head you've got there.. the hair still seems pretty long huh?.. wanna check mine out?"

02-14-2006, 12:43 PM	#37 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	Good. Now...restrain a little more, before this gets out of hand. No harm. No foul. No beatings...yet. __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

02-16-2006, 08:37 PM	#38 (permalink)
SaltPork Everything's better with bacon Location: In your local grocer's freezer.	BOR, I was going to say something funny, but didn't want it taken out of context as it most assuredly would have been. No worries, it's all good. __________________ It was like that when I got here....I swear.

02-17-2006, 05:18 PM	#40 (permalink)
Frowning Budah Slave of Fear	I don't see how they can call it a crime unless there was a sign specifically forbidding binging severed human skulls on to the airplane.