Story by John Moore

Recent zombie attacks, starting with the Miami face chewing attack on Ronald Poppo by Rudy Eugene, were often linked with the drug bath salts. This just wasn’t the case, as the toxicology reports proved out.

Instead, a condition known about for 150 years, and studied by the University of Miami for the last ten is to blame. That condition is called excited delirium.

Continue reading “Excited Delirium, Not Bath Salts Responsible For Zombie Attacks” »

Story by John Moore

Rudy Eugene, the man who chewed off Ronald Poppo’s face on the MacArthur Causeway in Miami, had no drugs in his system other than marijuana according to the Miami Dade coroners office. On May 26, police shot Eugene to death in the wake of a brutal and cannibalistic attack which left his victim in critical condition.

Police first theorized that Eugene, who was naked during he attack, was suffering from cocaine psychosis. This was quickly followed by another theory that the synthetic stimulant known as “bath salts” was to blame. Both theories have been proven wrong by an autopsy and toxicology report. The bath salts theory was put forth by the Armando Aguilar, the president of Miami’s Fraternal Order of Police  and not based on any evidence at hand.

The Miami Dade coroners office went as far as hiring an outside forensic toxicology lab.They report that no drugs, apart from marijuana were found in Eugene’s system.

This quickly led to bath salts being blamed for a slew of bizarre and often cannibalistic attacks across the country. One attack in Palmdale county occurred when a man stripped naked attacked his family, and bit a hunk out of another’s arm. In Waco Texas, another man killed and ate a family dig after attacking family members.

Congress has recently passed a bill federally  banning the chemicals marketed as bath salts, the bill awaits the president’s signature. The problem is that this knee-jerk legislation is based on conjecture and hype and no evidents. While Bath Salts may be a dangerous street drug, there is zero evidence they led to any of these attacks.

The cause of the zombie-like attack and other zombie incidents is still unclear, and may remain so. The coroner has no explanation for the violent animalistic behavior.

Story by John Moore

In another zombie-like attack, police in Waco, Texas arrested 22-year-old Michael Daniel Monday after they say he ate the family dog. Police were called to the home by family members who said Daniel assaulted people at the home, chased a neighbor and started barking and growling.

Witnesses then said that Daniel grabbed the family dog, beat and strangled it, and started to eat it.

Police say that Daniel had ingested “K-2,” a synthetic drug like Bath Salts. Daniel was taken to the hospital and now faces a felony charge for animal cruelty.

Continue reading “Zombie Attack In Texas, Man Eats Family Dog” »

Story by John Moore

This time it’s Palmetto, Florida. The latest zombie like attack occurred Wednesday night after a man under the influence bit off a piece of someone’s arm off during a visit with his children.

Seal of Manatee county Florida (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As with the South Beach Miami face-eating attack, 26-year-old Charles Baker got naked, bit off some human flesh and had to be taken by force, according to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office report.

Authorities say Baker, high on an unknown drug, went to his girlfriend’s home on 25th St in Palmetto to visit his kids at 10:15 p.m. They say he barged in, began yelling and took off his clothes. He began to scream and throw furniture around the home.

Jeffery Blake, who lives in the home, attempted to restrain Baker, but the suspect bit him, taking a chunk of his flesh from his bicep. He was eventually able to get Baker to the ground and kept him there until two deputies arrived.

When the police arrived, Blake released Baker. Baker got up, but would not respond to deputies orders. According to deputies Baker faced them, tensing his body, clenching his fists and screaming. Baker, still naked, acted like he was going to rush the deputies, according to the report.

Continue reading “Another Zombie Attack in Florida, Has The Apocalypse Begun” »

Story by John Moore

With several brutal and cannibalistic attacks in recent news, including the Miami incident in May, we often get the question about how to recognize the coming zombie apocalypse.

The question is somewhat difficult to answer, given that we’ve never been through one. However, if we look at a zombie apocalypse as a pandemic, we can look for events. A pandemic, as opposed to an epidemic, is an infectious disease spread across a large area. For a disease to be pandemic – it must be infectius and spread from person to person.

Even if we look at the attack of Rudy Eugene on Ronald Poppo in Miami as an incidence of zombiism, we can’t say that whatever agent caused that behavior has infected somebody else.

The World Health Organization identifies a model for influenza spread which could be applied here. It starts with animals being infected, then animal to some human spread, then human to human spread, and finally the disease travels around the world.

To identify a potential zombie outbreak being driven by an infectious agent, we’d want to look for several signs:

Continue reading “Instances That May Be A Precursor To The Zombie Apocalypse” »

Story by Maribel Z K

Do you have the skills and determination to be one of the last people on Earth?

Prove it.

Try out for this new show and compete to win ownership shares in one of Vivos Shelters’ Luxury state-of-the-art underground shelters. 

Deadline June 20.

Let us know also if you choose to apply, we’d love to share our knowledge with you! And there might even be some swag (from us, not them) if you get on the show… Spread the word and invite some worthy competitors.

Best of luck, Thrivalists! Be awesome. ~ You’re already ahead by keeping our company

Who’s in?

Story by Maribel Z K

Thrivalists, clear your calendars for July 7-8 weekend and brush up on your Walking Dead by catching the series marathon PLUS previews for Season 3. Oh, and a special version of Season 1, Episode 1 true to the comic book.

Press release:

The Walking Dead has announced that they will air the first glimpse of season 3 over the weekend of July 7th and 8th. The following press release was made public as well:

New York – May 31, 2012 – AMC announced today “The Walking Dead” Season 3 Preview Weekend on Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8 beginning at 11:30am each day. Airing just one week before Comic-Con, the two-day programming event will feature a marathon of all 19 episodes from the series’ critically acclaimed first two seasons, culminating with a “Talking Dead” live primetime special on Sunday, July 8 at 9pm. The one-time-only airing of “Talking Dead,” hosted by Chris Hardwick (Nerdist), will be followed by the world television premiere of the black and white version of “The Walking Dead” pilot episode at 10pm. The special version of the series’ first episode was created specifically for fans of The Walking Dead, as it holds true to the original black and white comic book, written by Robert Kirkman.

Throughout “The Walking Dead” Marathon, Hardwick will introduce each episode from the set of season three in Atlanta, giving viewers a glimpse of the new sets. Along with several cast members and producers, he will set up the storyline from each episode, and discuss the classic moments and unique characters featured. In addition, every episode with be wrapped with exclusive character and scene-specific content from the first two seasons, including behind-the-scenes footage and sit-down interviews with the cast.

In the hour-long “Talking Dead” event, shot live in Los Angeles, Hardwick will give fans a first look at “The Walking Dead” Season 3, including a scene from the new season, and brand new video interviews with the cast, a tour of the new set and a sneak peek at the props and wardrobes featured in Season 3. Hardwick will also sit down with in-studio guests including the show’s executive producers and other celebrity fans. Viewers will get information on the show’s presence at this year’s Comic-Con, including a look at the construction of “The Walking Dead” booth, updates on AMC’s “The Walking Dead” Social Game, and other show-related news and topics.

At one point during the live show, Hardwick will reveal a special code to viewers, which they can use to enter “The Walking Dead” Watch to Win Sweepstakes, at http://www.amcdead.com/. The winner will receive a trip to Atlanta and a “stagger on” role as a zombie on the hit show.

The on-air event will be complemented by activities online at amctv.com, where fans can find more exclusive behind-the-scenes videos and participate in Fan Favorite polls, which cover such topics as Fan Favorite Weapon, Fan Favorite Walker, Fan Favorite Walker Kill and Fan Favorite Survivor. The Poll winners will be announced by Hardwick during the “Talking Dead” live event Sunday night.

“The Walking Dead” reigns as the most watched drama series on basic cable for Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54. The series has garnered an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Make-up and a Golden Globe® Award nomination for Best Television Series – Drama, among other accolades. Critics have heralded the series as “the most suspenseful show on any network” (Boston Herald) and “the greatest thriller ever produced for television” (Entertainment Weekly). The series tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home.

Story by John Moore

Here’s an interactive map tracking potential zombie apocalypse precursor activity in the US A fan named David Garcia sent this in to us.

The label is:
Newsweek & The Daily Beast is (sic) tracking news of instances that may be the precursor to a zombie apocalypse. Blue pins represent suspicious incidences or infections, while red pins represent acts of strange violence.

Seems like there are a lot of strange violent incidents along the East Coast.

Eugene Rudy’s face chewing attack on Ronald Poppo in South Beach in Miami, as well as strange infections and drug related incidents are tracked. Several occurrances of cannibalism are tracked.

Here’s the Google map for your convenience:

Continue reading “Map of May 2012 Zombie Incidents In The US” »

Story by John Moore

He’s been called the South Beach Zombie. 31 Year old Rudy Eugene made worldwide news when he was shot dead by police on Miami’s MacArthur Causeway after brutally attacking and biting the face off 65 year old Ronald Poppo. Police immediatly said Eugene was on drugs, originally claiming cocaine psychosis, then the synthetic drug bath salts were to blame.

Police records show the officer who shot Eugene was three year veteran, Jose Ramirez.

No toxicology or autopsy results are available.

However, news sources have spoken to Eugene’s mother and unnamed girlfriend who confirm he doesn’t do drugs other than marijuana, even shunning over the counter medications. He has been described by acquaintances as gentle, warm hearted, and bible-carrying. So what is the cause of his aggressive cannibalistic behavior?

The girlfriend claims Rudy Eugene, originally from Haiti, was either unwittingly drugged or under a Voodoo curse.

Poppo, the victim of the 20 minute long brutal attack, has a long recovery ahead of him. The Jackson Memorial Foundation has set up a fund for those interested in contributing. Click here to go to their web site “Take Action Now” tab on its site, then click donations, select “others” under contribution details, and type in Ronald Poppo.

Story by Maribel Z K

This just in (a couple of hours ago)…

Alexander Kinyua, 21, a Morgan University student, was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault and was refused bail after admitting to slicing and eating the dismembered body parts (including the heart and brain) of a man. Kinyua’s brother had first discovered a discarded human head and two hands of the victim in some metal tins in Kinyua’s house and Kinyua was seen cleaning the container after he was confronted by his brother. The suspect lived in the same home as the Joppatowne man, 37 year old Kujoe Bonsafo Agyei-Kodie, who was missing without a trace since last Friday (a day before the Miami face-eating zombie incident) and is suspected to be the dismembered victim, pending confirmation from the medical examiner.

Is this another zombie incident? Unlike the Miami zombie, Kinyua seemed to have used a tool (a knife) to eat the body parts, instead of simply attacking with his teeth. He also had the mental capacity to lie and say that the found body parts were actually animal remains and attempted to hide the evidence. This suggests some understanding of right and wrong or at he very least, a logical state of mind to understand the consequences of such a discovery.

However, until we know more details of the attack all that we know that a cannibalistic act was committed and brains were eaten. Was this a fight gone terribly wrong? A ritualistic killing?  So far, there has been no mention of drugs.  Kinyua had no previous criminal record in Maryland prior to being charged with first-degree assault and reckless endangerment in Baltimore for allegedly ”being involved in a fight in his dormitory room at Morgan State University“ on May 19.

We are not completely ruling out the role of zombification (especially drug induced zombification) so stay tuned for updates. If there is the possibility of a zombie that has intelligence and logical ability, there’s a lot more to worry about.