THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 20, 1996 TAG: 9601200289
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Investigators said Friday they will seek as many as 25 felony indictments against a self-proclaimed vampire for sexually assaulting female members of his secret clan.
Police said a large number of girls began coming forward after the arrest Wednesday of Jon C. Bush, 26, on charges of rape and sodomy. Those charges stemmed from the cooperation of two clan members with police.
Also on Friday, a 15-year-old student at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake told police in that city she was sodomized by Bush. The student first confided in school officials after seeing publicity surrounding the case. School administrators contacted Chesapeake detectives who charged Bush with sexually assaulting the student.
Bush, the professed leader of a 30-member vampire ``family,'' told police female initiates into his clan had to submit to sexual contact with him. That contact included breast biting, oral sex or intercourse, Bush told police.
Male members of his family were simply ``marked,'' or bitten.
Investigators said they plan to present evidence of dozens of sexual assaults to the February grand jury. Most of the female victims are between the ages of 13 and 16, police said.
According to investigators, Bush encouraged the recruitment of school-age girls to take part in a fantasy lifestyle where family members frequently wore outlandish outfits. Members painted their faces white, their lips and nails black, and donned dark clothing for excursions to the Oceanfront and area malls.
The lifestyle was loosely based on a fantasy card game called ``Vampire: The Eternal Struggle.''
Game players assume the roles of ancient vampires and, through political and physical struggles, try to conquer their adversaries. Although police said Bush was an avid player, most of his followers weren't.
Police said Bush's arrest may not have ended the vampire family. Detective Don Rimer, who is investigating the case, said the family has splintered and new families may be developing.
Police are asking anyone who has had contact with Bush to call Rimer or his partner, Detective Gary Knowles, at 427-4101.
Bush is being held in the city jail without bond. He has declined requests for interviews. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
Jon C. Bush, 26, who says he is a vampire, was arrested on charges
of rape and sodomy.
KEYWORDS: SEXUAL ASSAULT by CNB