Electronic copy below as per Federal Records Act
UIU File 2001-092: "The Winepress"
Summary: An unidentified paracriminal organization known as "The Winepress" distributes anomalous red wine through unwitting retailers. Consumption causes fatal grapevine growth, after which associated suspects harvest the resulting fruit.
Name: "The Winepress"
Irregularity Cross-reference: Organization, vegetation, foodstuffs, regeneration
Organizational Description: Unknown. Believed to comprise multiple suspects, some potentially anomalous. The apprehension of Mr. Stewart Taggart demonstrates that at least one non-anomalous individual is involved below the organization's core leadership.
Capabilities: Consumption of red wine produced by The Winepress results in rapid growth of grapevines out of the musculature and body cavities of victims. This process is completed in approximately 45 seconds. The result of the grapevine growth is inevitably fatal. Analysis of the wine identified [CLASSIFIED], reflecting human DNA, is present in the liquids.
Purpose/Motive: The motives of The Winepress are currently unknown. Whether another anomalous criminal syndicate is behind their activities is also unknown. Each business where the bottles of wine were purchased had no memory of ordering or stocking inventory of the product. No records have been uncovered that funds or payment for The Winepress products have been sent by either innocent or intentional means from these commercial entities. No accounts at any financial institution associated with The Winepress have been found.
Modus Operandi: The Federal Bureau of Investigation began its investigation into The Winepress following the discovery of multiple suspected homicides across three states (Minnesota, Nevada, and South Carolina). In each instance, the victims were found deceased with large grapevines of various Vitis vinifera cultivars extruded from their bodies. Initially, we believed that these plants were merely a non-anomalous signature of the perpetrator(s), who desecrated the bodies of victims by inserting vines. All victims at that time had been unobserved and alone at the time of their demise.
Behavior: We currently believe, via anomalous or merely clandestine means, suspects behind The Winepress appear soon after the demise of each victim to harvest those grapes. The grapes from each body in every documented case have been removed prior to the arrival of the UIU.
A: Video documentation of homicide
Location: Durango, Colorado
Date: September 21, 2001
This investigation came under the purview of the Unusual Incidents Unit after the confiscation of video evidence from an apartment complex that showed a woman in a common area being consumed by these grapevines.
B: Bottles of red wine bearing "The Winepress" trademark
Location: Various
Date: Various
Reassessment of evidence at each prior scene identified recently opened bottles of various red wines bearing the label of “The Winepress.” After inspection of state corporate registries, no such business was found. Each bottle had been purchased at local supermarkets or such businesses as Total Wine & More.
Current Status: No further victims were found for a period of eight months following the March 2002 raid until a homicide case in Idaho was reported with a characteristic opened bottle of The Winepress red wine at the scene. These homicides have resumed throughout the United States, albeit at a greatly reduced rate. We have uncovered no further leads related to this investigation.
Crimes: Mr. Stewart Taggart has been charged with paracriminal activities contrary to statute and conspiracy for numerous acts related to the homicides.
Sentencing: No sentences have been imposed. The trial of Mr. Taggart in the Eastern District of California is expected sometime in mid-2003.
History of UIU Action:
Summary of investigative activities.
During the UIU’s investigation of The Winepress, a total of ███ victims have been identified, all bearing the same anomalous growth of Vitis cultivars from their remains. Nevertheless, the extent of the winery operated by The Winepress indicates the number of victims may be much higher. The deadliest incident to date occurred on November 11, 2001 (Veterans Day), in Newport, Oregon, where a dozen family members who shared in drinking a bottle of The Winepress product were consumed in the usual manner.
Date: February 15, 2002
Location: Truckee, California
While engaged in a sweeping search in an unmarked vehicle, Special Agents Margreet Peeters and Carl Bancroft identified a small delivery truck bearing the trademark of The Winepress driving along a rural county road. The vehicle was stopped, and the driver detained and interrogated. After initially denying any involvement in the conspiracy, the individual, Stewart Taggart, eventually waived his right to counsel, and led agents to the edge of a property in Tahoe National Forest. A warrant was issued by the United States Paracriminal Court for the Eastern District of California for a search of the property.
Date: March 3, 2002
Location: Truckee, California
Our operation, led by Major James Edwards of the Field Operations Division, found a large winemaking facility inside the property, believed to be the operational center of The Winepress. However, the search resulted in the deaths of 32 UIU operatives of 37 deployed. The details of this event are documented in the report for Casualty Incident A-2002-824.
Date: May 18, 2002
Location: Truckee, California
Further attempts to access the property were delayed to ensure proper safeguards could be instituted for UIU operatives. On a follow up search, no repairs or reconstruction had been performed on the facility, though the grapevines protruding from the remains of the UIU operatives had been stripped, as with previous victims.
