'BAMA VAMPIRE BRANDED BUDDY WITH A 'V'

I'M A VAMPIRE. No, really. Evan Brown, 20, of Gadsden, Alabama believes it. Now, the self-proclaimed vampire is accused of tying up a 17-year-old friend and using white hot utensils to burn the letter 'V' on his forehead. Bloody-minded Brown, who goes by name "Vamp".

"He had burns, cigarette burns, on his face and a large V on his head, that was burned into his head," said Detective Mike Hooks.

Vamp allegedly tied the teen up, tricking him into believing they were playing a game. Cops say the teenager also had also been beaten. The aspiring bloodsucker even had his own posse, a group of youthful runaways who called themselves 'The Homeless Crew' or T.H.C.

"He was the one that they sort of followed. He was born into the Satanism religion--he called it his religion, I think-- and they sort of followed him," said Det. Hooks.

Now, the case is going to trial. The gang have also split up. They are still not cooking with garlic.