Mother of `vampire cult' leader pleads guilty

September 15, 1997

According to a recent Associated Press story, Sondra Gibson, the mother of a teen-ager who police say led a "vampire cult" linked to two deaths, pleaded guilty to trying to entice a teen-age boy into sex as an initiation rite.

Gibson was first charged with solicitation to commit rape, but instead pleaded guilty to a felony charge of unlawful transaction with a minor. Her attorney, Steve West, said she was mentally ill when the crime was committed.

Gibson is the mother of Rod Ferrell, awaiting trial in Tavares, Fla. for murder in the beating deaths of Richard and Ruth Wendorf of Eustis. Police said he led a blood-drinking "vampire" group involved in the crime.

The AP story said Judge Dennis Foust will formally sentence Gibson on Jan. 9.