Hearing Today in Case of Human Skull Smuggling

By Miami Herald Staff, The Miami Herald

Mar. 31–The arraignment for Myrlene Severe, who is charged with intentionally smuggling a human skull into the United States, is scheduled for today in federal court in Fort Lauderdale.

The hearing was originally scheduled for March 2, but Severe and her attorney, Kenneth Hassett, asked U.S. Magistrate Edwin G. Torres to reschedule the hearing to the end of the month.

Her arraignment is now scheduled for 11 a.m. today in front of U.S. Magistrate Lurana S. Snow.

Severe, a native of Haiti, was arrested and charged with intentionally smuggling a human head into the United States and not having the proper paperwork, as well as bringing hazardous material onto an airplane.

Each count carries a five-year maximum sentence.

Federal agents found the skull in Severe’s luggage Feb. 9 after her Lynx Airline flight arrived at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport from Haiti.

The skull, which had black curly hair, was found nestled inside a cotton rice bag, tucked among a banana leaf, some dirt, small stones and a rusty iron nail.

Severe told officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection that she got the “package” from a Haitian man and planned to use it to ward off evil spirits as part of her Vodou beliefs, according to a federal affidavit.

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