It's July 31st, 2015. As residents of Alabama awoke under the rare blue moon, shocking news began to spread. A seemingly peaceful family of three had been found leaving investigators searching for answers. >> Three deceased victims of were discovered at 5900 Drive. It was determined that the three victims were all family members. All three victims were killed by blunt force trauma. There was no forced entry into the residence and nothing was taken from the residence to indicate this was any type of a robbery. The mother, Voncile Smith, son victim Richard Smith, and son victim John Smith. >> The investigators carefully examined the crime scene and found the house in complete disarray. Blankets, clothing, and other belongings were scattered throughout the residence with virtually nothing appearing organized. Despite the chaotic condition of the home, investigators eventually located the victims' bodies concealed beneath a large pile of blankets and clothing, raising even more questions about what had taken place inside. A full federal investigation was launched after authorities learned that Richard, one of the victims, worked in a sensitive position at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. Investigators initially explored whether the murders could have been connected to his employment, including the possibility that an assassin or terrorist motive was involved. >> There was two DHS investigators that worked with me on the case and we were able to determine that there was nothing that Richard was working on that would lend to this type of thing happening to him. >> After spending considerable time examining the crime scene and the condition of the bodies, investigators began to consider an unusual possibility. Certain aspects of the scene appeared so bizarre that some investigators questioned whether the murders could be connected to a ritualistic act or occult-related activity. >> Initial research has led us to believe that there's a potential that it was a ritualistic The method of the murder, positions of bodies, and then our person interests has some ties to a a faith and or religion that is indicative of that. Those of you that follow any of that will also note that you know, the time of death we believe on Tuesday also coincides with what's referred to as a blue moon. It's witchcraft. I'll I'll say that right now. >> As the investigation progressed, detectives identified a nearby resident who had connections to the family. During the inquiry, they learned that the individual practiced Wicca, a pagan religion that incorporates spiritual rituals and nature-based beliefs, some of which are associated with lunar cycles. This discovery drew investigators' attention as they worked to determine whether the connection had any relevance to the case. On the same day, the individual who had come under investigators' scrutiny was brought to the police station for questioning. Multiple neighbors had reported seeing him visit the victim's home on numerous occasions, leading detectives to seek his account of the events surrounding the murders. >> Let me start by getting your name and information. What's your first name? >> Donald Harton. >> What is your brother's name? >> The younger brother is John. >> And what's your, I guess, would be older brother? >> Yeah. >> What's his name? >> And what's your mother's name? >> Her name is Voncille. >> I noticed that your last name's different than theirs. Uh what's that all about? Are you Are these your stepbrothers? >> They're my stepbrothers. >> Okay. What's your relationship with John and and Richard? Do you have good relationships with them or >> Yeah, we have great relationships. >> Um did they tell you how your your folks, your family over there was killed? >> They said they were deceased and they never told me how they were killed. >> They're Uh and it looks like they were killed >> killed. >> Mhm. >> Uh how were killed? >> They looked like they were shot. >> Shot? >> Mhm. >> How was that? >> Well, they looked like they were shot. It's hard to tell cuz there was a lot of clothes on top of them. >> Clothes on top of them? >> Mhm. >> My god. Wow. Well. Were they robbed? >> I don't think so. >> It just looks like somebody just came in and shot them. >> Yeah, looks like somebody knew them whoever did it. >> Could have been anybody. >> At first, detectives could not determine whether Donald's calm demeanor was simply his way of coping with the shocking loss of his mother and two brothers. However, his lack of emotion and seemingly indifferent reaction quickly caught their attention. Knowing that he was the last known person to see the victims alive, investigators decided it was time to focus on the most critical part of the interview. So, something happened when you were over there Tuesday night and you killed them? >> No. Nothing happened. >> Are you sure? >> Yes. >> Cuz if something happened, now's the time to tell me. >> I would not kill my mother and my brothers. >> Okay. >> I mean, why would I do something like that? >> I don't know. I don't know you. >> Well, that's I understand that. I know that's true. But, I wouldn't do something like that. I'd never harm my family. >> Um, let me ask you this. Would you have a problem with me going through your house and looking to see if you have any guns in there? >> No. I no problem at all. You can do it when we get there. >> Okay. All right. Well, let's go. We'll head over to your house. >> Yep. >> That consent to search the residence led to a significant discovery. Investigators learned that Donald was a practicing follower of Wicca. During the search, detectives found numerous items throughout the home that appeared to be associated with Wiccan practices. According to those who knew the family, Donald's mother was a devoted Christian who strongly disapproved of her son's involvement in Wicca and its spiritual practices. However, when Donald spoke with the lead investigator, he painted a very different picture of their relationship, creating a contradiction. >> She's all I got. >> She was the one that was always there for you. >> That's right. She's always there for me. >> Mhm. >> She was always there for me. Ain't nothing in this world I could ask my mother for that she wouldn't give me. >> Really? >> That's right. Nothing. >> She would give you anything you wanted? >> Anything. My momma loved me and I loved her. >> But when I spoke with neighbors, other people that knew the victims of the family, it was different than what Donald had told me. The relationships weren't as close as Donald had portrayed the relationships to be. They were more distant. There wasn't a lot of communication within the family. Donald only came over on Tuesdays to cook and that was about it. After investigators searched Donald's home and spent hours reviewing the evidence recovered from the crime scene, their focus increasingly narrowed on a single person. By the following day, August 1st, Donald Hartung was brought back to the police station for another interview. As detectives had begun to believe that the evidence was pointing directly toward him as the person responsible for the murders of his family members. >> Were there things going on in your family and you've held it in for so long that finally you had enough? There was nothing going on in your family >> Nothing going on in my family. Nothing at all. >> And you killed your mom? >> I did not kill my mother. >> And then you killed your brother? >> I would never kill my mom or my brother. Either one of my brothers. >> I mean >> I mean do I look like some kind of a blooming maniac to you people? I mean you you need to make >> Let me Let me Let me Let me explain something to you. Your mother was sitting in her chair. Okay, when she was So whoever her she was comfortable being around. Okay? Otherwise, she would have probably gotten up, moved. There would have been a sign of a struggle there or something like that, okay? As well as John also because John doesn't talk to people. He keeps to himself. >> He does. >> But he was killed sitting in his chair. >> Sitting in his chair. >> Mhm. His throat cut. >> Throat cut. >> Mhm. >> And mama, too? >> Mhm. >> My god, that would take a monster. >> Mhm. Are you Do you Are you Wiccan or >> Yeah, I'm a Wiccan. >> You are? >> I've been a Wiccan for about 3 years. >> Have you? >> Yeah. >> What is that? >> It's a pagan religion. It's based on uh nature. >> Can you explain it a little bit more for me? >> Well, you celebrate different seasonal times like >> seasonal changes? >> Yeah, like like like different holidays, you know, like when it's autumn equinox spring equinox and stuff like that. It's a very old religion. >> Mhm. Does it have to do with like uh moon phases and stuff like that? >> Yes, it does. >> Okay. >> It has a lot to do with moon phases. >> So don't you think it's pretty much a coincidence that you're like a Wiccan sacrifice? I don't know anything about Wiccan sacrifices. I don't know a thing about anything like that. >> If you know about the blue moon and all that kind of stuff, you do. >> Well, I know about the blue moon. I know it's two moon uh full moons, but I mean it's been all over the radio. >> I never heard it on the radio. I listen to the radio every day all night. Have you ever heard about that on the radio? I just ran across on the internet. Listen to what I'm talking about. >> Yeah, it's been on the radio. I just I don't Only thing I listen to is golf jokes. That's the main thing I listen to. >> Let me ask you this. What You sit there and say that you think a monster would do this at the house. >> I think a monster would do this. >> Okay. Well, what kind of monster would clean up after it and try to conceal it? >> Clean up and try to conceal it? That would be crazy. That would be absolutely crazy. >> Like I was explaining to you about the Wiccan ritual, they put cover on them to keep them warm after they killed >> I don't know nothing about no ritual like that. >> I mean, what kind of I mean, who does that? >> A crazy person does that. >> Let me ask you this. If somebody did this that didn't know your family, why would they just sit there your mother and your brother John and just let somebody Why would they do that? Makes no sense. >> It does no sense. I agree. >> Okay. They had to be totally comfortable with whoever was in the house. >> I I I guess they did. >> No, they had to have been. >> Well, I mean they >> Otherwise, they wouldn't be sitting there and let somebody bash them in the head. Okay? They had to be totally comfortable with whoever was in the house. Your brother is killed in the clothes that he wore at work Tuesday. Okay? Nobody has seen these people since Tuesday. Since you saw them. >> I was the last one to see them alive. >> Yeah. So, how are you going to sit there and tell us that you didn't kill them when you were the last one to see them? They trusted you. And you killed them. They didn't think anything of it. They didn't know it was coming. >> I love my parents. >> I'm sure you did, but you killed them. >> and my brothers and I did not I did not I would never harm my mother, never hurt my brothers, never. >> With no confession, physical evidence, or surveillance footage directly linking him to the murders, Donald was allowed to return home. However, during the family's funeral, one relative noticed something unusual about his behavior. >> He never cried a tear. He never shed a tear at the funeral, never at the graveside. He scared us because we had went by his house one time and he was standing there. We were sitting at the table and he reached up on top of his refrigerator. He was standing there. He said, "Well, if I'm a murderer and they're so smart, why didn't they find this?" And he slammed a machete on the table where we were sitting. >> The investigation was far from over. As detectives continued processing the crime scene, they made a discovery that caught their attention. A cigarette butt resting on top of blood stained towels that investigators believed had been used during the cleanup after the murders. Testing later revealed that the cigarette contained Donald Hartung's DNA. The discovery provided investigators with a critical piece of evidence. Donald was subsequently arrested and charged with three counts of homicide where he would remain in custody awaiting trial. During the trial, which lasted several days before the jury reached its verdict and the court moved to sentencing, prosecutors presented a wide range of evidence against Donald. At one point, a jailhouse informant testified that he had several conversations with Donald while they were incarcerated together. According to the informant, Donald made statements about the murders that were later shared with prosecutors and ultimately presented in court. >> Um, will you state your full name, please? Mr. had information that he could not have gotten without having conversations with Mr. Hartung. >> Now, did there come a time when Mr. Hartung talked about the murder of his family? >> Yeah, he told me. >> And did he tell you who killed his mother and two brothers? >> He said he killed >> Did he tell you why? >> He said he want he he want the money cuz she left him out the will. >> Now, did he tell you if um the murders were was it just something that kind of happened or was it something he'd been thinking about? >> Well, he said he'd been planning it like last three like three to four years. Said Ouija board made him go overboard, though. >> The what? I'm sorry. >> Ouija board. >> What about a Ouija board? >> He said that really made him do it. Made him go overboard. >> Finally, after hearing days of testimony and reviewing all of the evidence presented during the trial, the court reached its decision. The judge then announced the verdict in Donald Hartung's murder case. >> All right. This time the jury have been found you guilty. I'll let the jury catch you guilty of three counts of first-degree murder. I'll sentence you life in prison on each count. Each count consecutive to each other. There'll be a $4,000 investigative cost imposed, which will be reduced to means. $518 cost, which will be reduced to lean. >> For taking the lives of three innocent family members, he was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences in prison, ensuring that he will spend the remainder of his life behind bars. What began as a shocking discovery under the light of a rare blue moon ultimately ended with justice being served, bringing a close to one of the most disturbing family murder cases in recent memory.