Stone Family Wedding Was Held in Full Hutaree Military Garb
The Stone family at the center of Hutaree militia was "socially awkward."
March 30, 2010 — -- The bride wore white, but the groom -- and all of his family, including the tyke who was the ring bearer -- wore camouflage combat uniforms of a Christian militia group.
"I was really surprised. It just seemed so inappropriate," Donna Spurgeon told ABCNews.com."She was a beautiful bride and had a beautiful white dress and it seemed really odd" next to the military uniforms.
Spurgeon was referring to the March 13 wedding of Josh Stone, the last of the Christian extremist group Hutaree to be arrested in an alleged plot to kill police officers. Nine members of the Hutaree militia have been arrested.
At the center of the nine Hutaree militia are Josh Stone, his parents and his brother.
Those who have met the Stone family describe its members as socially awkward, a trait that Spurgeon said she witnessed at the youngest Stone's wedding.
Photographs were posted on a Facebook page that belongs to Karen Belcher. Belcher is a friend of the bride, Shannon Witt, and was asked to photograph the wedding. She said that most of the men at the ceremony were in full military fatigues.
Even a young ring bearer, who appears to be no more than 6 years old, was wearing the uniform.
"I knew [the Stones] were different, I just didn't know how different," said Belcher. "That was my first meeting."
Belcher said that Witt's family did not approve of the wedding, because they did not "like" the Stone family. Only Witt's mother, aunt and sister attended, according to Belcher.
"I think Shannon was pretty much brainwashed. She had no clue of what all what went on," said Belcher. "She's pretty innocent, naive. It was a shock to her like it was to the rest of us."
Belcher said the Stone family members were all very nice to her at the wedding, but that she did not have any lengthy conversations with any of them.
Spurgeon, whose husband is the pastor of theThornhill Baptist Church, said the Stones preferred that a "chaplain from their group" officiate at the wedding.
She said that about 40 people attended the wedding and reception, and that at least 15 were wearing military uniforms.
"I was surprised," said Spurgeon of the whole ordeal. "But the bride looked very happy."
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