Ritual Child Abuse

Child
Abuse
Discovery, Diagnosis
and
Treatment
son
Copyright@ 1991 by Pamela S. Hudson
"A Survey of Ritual Child Abuse Cases: Symptoms and

Allegations" copyright@April 1988 by Pamela S. Hudson.
"Ritual Child Abuse: A S w e y of Symptoms and Allegationstr

copyright@ September 1988 by Pamela S. Hudson. Revised
1991. First published in Jn the Shadow of Satan. The Ritual
Abuse of Children, published by Journal of Child and Youth
Care, Alberta, Canada, 1990.
'Therapy With Children Who Have Been Ritually Abused"

copyright@ March 17, 1989 by Pamela S. Hudson. Revised
June 1990. First presented as a paper at the seminar The Third
Wave: Current Issues in Child Abuse, sponsored by the Child
Abuse Prevention Council, Contra Costa County, California,
March 31, 1989.
'Ritual Child Abuse Questionnaire" copyright0 March 17,1989

by Pamela S. Hudson.
Published by
R&E P u b ~ I S
Division of R&E Research Associates, Inc.
P.O.Box 2008, Saratoga, CA 95070

Phone: 408/866-6303
Fax 408/866-0825
I.S.B.N. 0-88247-867-2
Cover art drawn by a 4 year old victim of ritual abuse.
First published January 1, 1991

Revised June 1, 1991
R i t u a l C M M h A~afSymptcmuandAkptions 5
Fort Bragg Day Care Case, 1984 - 1985 7
United States Telephone Survey, 1988 10
Teenagers and the Occult; Adult Ritual Abuse Survivors 24
fijpm: A Survey of RituaI Child Abuse Cases: Symptoms and Allegations, April 1988 27
RitualCbildAbuacaartiormain
Preface
k Symptom Cluster in Young Victims
B. Allegations of Sexual Assault
C. Allegations of Physical or Psychological Abuse
D. Iden-g Information
f i g m "Dear Pam, Don't let the bad guys hurt you"
Therapy W irh children Who Hwe Been Ritually Abured

f i g m "Fear is what we are talking about here."
Definition of Terms
Background
Symptoms and Allegations
Disillusionment
Alienation
Reactions
Dissociation
Multiple Personality Disorder
summary
The Therapeutic Approach
Group Therapy
Individual Therapy
Treatment Concerns Specific to Ritual Abuse
Disclosures
Religion
Information/Disinfonnation
Epilogue and Conclusion
f i ~ 'The
. politico-religious struggle for the mind. . ."
Pamela S. Hudson was born and raised in California, received her
Bachelor of Arts Degree from Mills College, Oakland, California. She
obtained her Masters Degree in Social Work from New York School of Social
Work at Columbia University, New York City, New York. Ms. Hudson is a
Licensed Hypnotherapisf a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a member of the
National Association of Social Workers, the Academy of C e d i e d Social
Workers, and the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children.
She has 32 years of experience working in mental health settings, both in-
patient and out-patient She has a private practice and also works in a county
out-patient mental health clinic treating families with disturbed children.
For the past 5 years Ms. Hudson has been researching the
phenomenon of ritual child abuse. During this time she has assessed and
treated approximately 30 children reporting this type of abuse. She has
participated in training videos on the subject and has presented trainings for
professionals in child abuse in the United States, England, and Canada. She
is the author of "Ritual Abuse Questionnaire," "Ritual Abuse: A Survey of
Symptoms and Allegations", and 'Therapy with Children Who Have Been
Ritualistically Abused," and "Ritual Child Abuse: A Survey of Symptoms and
Allegations."
This book is a compilation of materials selected to inform and assist
professionals working with severely and possibly ritually abused children
Families of children abused outside of the home and adult survivors of ritual
abuse may find this helpful as well. Materials include papers prepared over
a period of three years with the earliest, "Ritual Child Abuse: A Survey of
Symptoms and Allegations," providing an o v e ~ e wof the phenomenon. The
second section, "Ritual Child Abuse Questionnaire," can be used to assess the
possibility of ritual abuse in a given child abuse case. The third section,
'Therapy with Children Who Have Been Ritually Abused," discusses treatment
concerns specific to ritual child abuse. Finally, the Appendix includes a
Bibliography, a list of Resources, and a copy of an Idaho State law identifying
certain practices of ritual abuse as illegal.
Pamela S. Hudson, LC.S.W.

Post Office Box 807
Mendocino, California 95460
U.S.A.
RlTUAL CHILD ABUSE:
A SURVEY OF
SYMPTOMS AND AUBGATIONS
m
ABUSE: A
RITU ATIONS
Starting late in 1984 and continuing through to the present time, I have been seeing
in my private practice and also in my work as a child therapist for a public mental health
agency, children who present a consistent picture of symptoms and allegations which are
commensurate with the newest phenomenon in the field of child abuse, ritual child abuse.
In discussing these cases with colleagues in the mental health profession, law enforcement,
and children's protective services, I find that while these cases are unusual, they do exist and
the fact that the media has devoted considerable attention to them for two years has
encouraged other victims of ritual abuse to come forth. Consequently, we are likely to see
more ritual abuse sunivors in our caseloads, before the courts, and in foster homes. The
mental health profession needs to develop a body of knowledge and effective treatment
approaches to better prepare for the growing numbers of these victims. A necessary
component of such preparation is the willingness of professionals to share their work and
openly discuss approaches to such cases. Greater dialogue between therapists and those in
other disciplines working throughout the United States may be facilitated by the new
professional organization, The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children.'
The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, 332 S. Michigan, Suite
1600, Chicago IL 60604, (312) 554-0166.
6
FORT BRAGG DAY CARE CASF, 1984 1985 -
My introduction to ritual abuse occurred when several parents brought their children
to me for assessment Eventually I assessed about twenty-four children from this center,
which was closed following an investigation by the State Department of Social Service.
The children came from households comprised oE

- 2 biological parents, intact home
- 1biological parent and 1 step parent
- l biological parent.
The children in the Fort Bragg day care case ranged in age from 18 months to 3%
years when abused Today they range from 4 to 14 years of age, with an average lapse
between last known incident of abuse and 1988 of 11months to 3 years. Both boys and girls
are represented in this sample.
An experienced child therapist will observe that all but one of the Symptom
Clusters can generally be found in any sexually assaulted child It is the combining of the
specific symptom cluster with the specific allegations which indicate the possibility of ritual
abuse. The exceptional symptom in ritual abuse cases is the sudden eating disorder
demonstrated by these children Besides being revolted by meat, catsup, spaghetti and
tomatoes (which resemble organs), I had a case of a twenty-month-old girl suddenly start to
throw away her baby bottle. When she was older she said the perpetrator urinated into her
baby bottle during his visits with her. Later, she spoke of witnessing the death of a baby girL
In my experience young children forced to perform fellatio can develop a refusal to swallow
saliva, an easy gag reflex, and complain of abdominal pain.

This population presented the following symptoms and allegations1: Section A,
Symutoms. is largely self explanatory. Section B, AUeeations. is set apart since it is
composed of prosecutable crimes. Section C, Reported Phvsical and P s v c w Abuses.
lists allegations which are not medically provable and which prosecutors in the State of
California have been reluctant to include in ritual abuse cases despite the reports of multiple
witnesses
FORT BRAGG DAY CARE

A. SYmEmm
L Acting out the sexual abuse
2 Sudden extreme fear of the bathroom,
bathing, washing hair.
3. Nightmares, night-terrors.
4. High anxiety disorder, separation anxiety.
5. Temper tantrums, oppositional behavior.
B. Allclmti011(
L Molested by other children.
2 Molested by strangers, day care workers, parent.
C Phvaiad and pslvcholonical Abw

1. Locked in a cage or '3aL"
l The number on the left indicates how many children presented the symptom or
allegation and the number on the right indicates the total number of children in this
sample, ie. 12/24.
Told that their parents, pets or younger siblings would be killed if they told
anyone of the abuse.
Buried in the ground in coffins which they called "boxes."
Held underwater.
Threatened with guns and knives.
Injected with needles, bled, drugged
Photographed during the abuse.
Tied upside down over a "star," hung from a pole or hook, burnt with candles.
Perpetrators wearing black robes, masks.
Participated in mock marriage.
Defecated and urinated upon
Observed animals H e d
Observed torture and molestation of other children.
Saw children and babies billed
Had blood poured on their heads.
Taken to churches, other day care settings, peoples' homes, and graveyards for
the ritual abuse.
Section C, with the exception of item #14, shows 13 of the respondents reporting one
or more of the 16 forms of abuse.

UNITED STATES -ONE SURVEY, 1988
In April 1988, after collecting the preliminary data from the Fort Bragg day care case,
I conducted a telephone survey of 10 other families across the United States. My aim was
to see whether there were similarities between the symptoms of my local population and
those of children separated by great distances.' The question was, "Is there a predictable
pattern in ritual abuse of children and if so, what is it?"
This survey utilized my original sample population of 24 children to formulate the list
of symptoms most frequently noted in these cases and the allegations or reports made by
these children to either their parents or their therapists. I then telephoned parents whose
names were given to me by the private organization, Believe the Children, parents and
others who had heard of my work, and those parents who initiated contact No parent knew
beforehand that I would be calling and, therefore, while some knew one another,no one had
an opportunity to compare responses before my telephone call. Except for my own Fort
Bragg sample, the data given was from the parent, not the child Each case represents
children from a given day care. center or a child or children living with non-offending
custodial parent (the offending non-custodial parent was identified by these children as the
perpetrator), and a single case in which the identified perpetrator was a private babysitter
who abused the child under her care. The fact that this sample does not include a case of
a child living with offending parents is unfortunate because I am certain that this group
comprises the largest population of ritually abused in our country and that these children are
in the gravest danger, not only of abuse, but of losing their lives. However, these parents
l A local population is sometimes thought of as "tainted" since the children and their
parents often talk among themselves. The so-called "contamination theor)r holds that
truth is jeopardized by communication among victims, parents, and therapists.
10
are not likely to cooperate with this survey since it would leave them open to prosecution
As long as these children are captives, therapists cannot reach them. I have spoken with
four adult survivors of ritual abuse who report that in the course of these rituals they
observed or participated in the torture and killing of their own or other babies. These
women were former Satanists who have since left that cult and are in therapy.
Each of the 10 telephone survey cases is identified by its day care name, locality or
special circ~mstance.~Section I, "Ritual Abuse Symptom Cluster in Young Victk," and
Section 11, "Allegations," are not discussed in detail here since they are self explanatory.
What follows is a detailed discussion of Section III, "Child Reported the Following Types of
Physical or Psychological Abuse."
a. 1. Cm6mmcnt in Cage 10111
Confinement or isolation, frequently reported in ritual abuse cases, is an effective tool
in psychological conditioning. Children who have been ritually abused often report being
placed in a closet or a large dog cage. Children in widely separated communities add that
a lion was in the cage with them. Perhaps a domestic cat andtor sound effects played while
the cage was draped convinced the three-year-old. The other possibility is that the chiId was
given an hallucinogen, subjected to sound effects simulating a roaring lion, while being told
that there was a lion in the cage. Ritually abused children in the Netherlands have also
reported having been put into a cage with a lion, however the 'lion" turned out to be an
adult wearing a lion costume. Small children did not notice the zippered "paws," older
children did. A former Satanic priestess explained to me that the heavier steel cage is used
to hold victims sometimes as long as three days, while the cage with slender steel bars is
1 Refer to "A Survey of ritual Child Abuse Cases: Symptoms and Allegations," a chart
of the survey, p. .
used not only to c o n h e the victim but as the group's latrine. The child is urinated and
defecated upon while caged The West Point child could not stay in her crib because its bars
caused a flashback.
2 Thrcata 11111
Children from wideiy separated communities report being threatened with murder
of themselves, their parents or pets, and of even an unborn sibling, if they revealed the ritual
abuse to anyone. The McMartin Day Care child reported that her own pet cat was stolen
and killed in her presence.
In the Babysitter case, the child was told that unless she kept silent, her family would
disappear. The Gallup case child was threatened with having his house burned down. In
the Presidio case,the child was not only threatened with the death of all his fanuly, but also
that of his mother's developing fetus. In the Parent in Coven case, one brother saw his pet
turtle killed, the other, his pet hamster. The perpetrators warned the children if they did
not "get them" another person would, so the children were afraid to tell of their experiences.
3. Live burial in caakcta, c a f h , h 8 6111
In the Parent in Coven case,the brothers described having been buried in a trunk,
then in a coffin with a "rubber hose" coming into it and a "green tank at the other end"
There are indications that a box confinement occurred in the Campbell case. The Alabama
child reported confinement in a closet and a casket The Gallup Day Care case reported
being confined in a large appliance packing crate and in a freezer chest The Presidio child
said she had been put inside a box In the Fort Bragg day care case a girl added that while
in the freezer chest, her feet were immersed in ice cubes and ice was poured on her head.
Two boys from the Fort Bragg day care case reported being buried in a large dumpster full
of fish entrails and fish heads at the local fish processing plant One boy remembers vomiting.
12
4. Water torture 7/11
The Parent in Coven child reported being held underwater, with what sounds like
catheter tubes placed in his penis. The East Valley case in El Paso, Texas and the St. Cross
Episcopal Day Care child in Hermosa Beach, California reported having been held
underwater in backyard swimming pools. One child from the Presidio Day Care case
reported being shoved head-first into the toilet bowl. Another indicated being held under
running water in the bathtub. Some of the Fort Bragg, California children speak of being
placed in a cage which was lowered into the Pacific Ocean and some, of having a sack put
over the head and being submerged in a local recreational boating pond. The McMartin
Day Care case child referred to being "in a boat in a pool." The West Point Day Care child
developed a fear of toys and soap floating in the bathtub and said the perpetrators held her
underwater. The Campbell day care child refused baths and refused swimming classes.
5. Threats with grrm or knives 10/11
McMartin Day Care case parent stated "definitely" when asked whether their
daughter reported being threatened with guns or knives. The West Point Day Care child
became so fearful of guns she got up and left a wild west show. She reported having been
threatened with both guns and knives. In the Parent in Coven case, both children speak of
guns and daggers. The Gallup, St. Cross, Presidio and Fort Bragg children all report threats
with guns and knives The Campbell child is very young, but since her experience she has
become obsessed with killing and plays killing games using both toy guns and knives
as weapons. One child tried to stab his younger brother with a knife. Fort Bragg children
report both weapons held to their heads and the guns •’ired over their heads.
6. Drag 14- 10111
Tbe McMartin child has scars on her knees and eyebrows from injections. The West
Point child reports watching others being given shots and a dog being bled to death. The
CampbeU child reports shots being given in anus, groin, and buttocks. The Parent in Coven
-
boys report being injected in hands, in ankles, and blood being drained from wrists. The
Alabama case reports being drugged with Kool-Aid, but no shots. The Gallup child reported
. . red to several children with Q-tips soaked in some chemical and then placed
in a corner of the eye, also by syringe, used under the tongue. The St.Cross child stated she
was injected in her "bonom," her thumb, and her vagina The Presidio child said he was cut
so blood would come out of his mouth and that a pencil was inserted into his "bottom" The
Fort Bragg children reported needles used both to bleed them and to inject them. Areas
reported as injection sites included groin, between toes, and scrotum. They too reported
that pencils or "sticks" were inserted into the anus. Some children witnessed these
procerhrrer One girl fainted during a bleeding. The other children were told she was taken
to the hospital, but the hospital has no record of treating her. The Parent in Coven children
reported observing people whose legs were cut off bleeding to death.
7- Photograpw 11/11
The One boy in the Parent in Coven case reported that he was forced to pose nude
for numerous "pictures," some taken while he was sodomized by the cult leader. His
buttocks were a frequent subject for films. The McMartin, Fort Bragg, Gallup, and
Campbell day care children all reported being both video taped and still photographed The
West Point Day Care child appears programmed to "pose sexy." Whenever a particular form
of music comes on the radio, she strikes pornographic poses. One 3 year old Fort Bragg day
care @wasltriggered by Latin music to pose erotically. Clearly the act of filming the
14
rituals, as well as sexual activity, and torture, is characteristic of this form of abuse. One
Fort Bragg child immediately regressed and became agitated when his picture was taken on
his first day of school
The McMartin and S t Cross children report being tied, the former put into a closet,
the latter hung from a cross. Parent in Coven and the Fort Bragg children report being tied
and strung up from hooks or poles. The Fort Bragg children report observing others being
hung and one child fainting. The Gallup Christian Day Care child reported children being
tied, drugged, and placed in the middle of a fringed carpet with a cobra design in the center.
The other children had to sit in a circle and either sing or chant while staring at the drugged
child who was said to be "dead" When the child revived, the day care operator told the
children that his power brought the drugged child %ack from the dead" The very young
child in the Babysitter case plays bondage games.
9. Abnrenwearingmahandrobycarryinecandlcll 11/11
The West Point child reported that some black-robed men wore women's wigs. The
Alabama child called the abuser "a scary monster with a devil face." The Babysitter child
descnid black robes lined in red, tied with a purple rope. The child in Texas describes
robes and devil faces, as do the children in the Oregon case. The Campbell child, Presidio
child, and Fort Bragg children descnied perpetrators wearing black robes and animal masks.
The Fort Bragg child said, 'They wore robes and their beauties were hanging out"
"Beauties"is her word for breasts. Besides reporting the robedlmasked people, children also
showed symptoms of being terrified of policemen, doctors, and Santa Claus. It is obvious
that the costumed perpetrators tried to destroy the child's trust in law enforcement and in
the medical community. Ln court, one McMartin child said the judge had been present at
the abuse. My belief is that perpetrators don costumes of society's authority figures or
children's heroes (e.g. Santa Claus), then abuse the children thereby conditioning them to
mistrust or fear these people. The results include agitatiodamiety around Christmas time
and noncooperation during investigation or trial.
10. Mock Mauiqp 6111
The West Point child, Campbell child and Fort B r a g child each report being dressed
in a princess costume and "married" to a little boy in a ceremony. The Fort Bragg child said
she was the ' T ~ c e s sof Darkness" and married the "Prince of Light" (the boy involved
corroborated her story). The Campbell child continues to talk about her "F'rincess Power"
experience. The Campbell child speaks of a box full of cosrumes which the adults made the
children put on before photographing them in various poses. The West Point child
experienced a flashback during her first Holy Communion. When she put on her veil, she
immediately regressed into infantile baby talk and became agitated and feaxfuI. This mock
marriage ceremony apparently dedicates the children to one another, possibly in the name
of Satan Adult survivors report being married to Satan. To date, only adult survivors have
had any memory of events immediately following a "marriage." When these survey children
actually marry in adulthood, it is possible that they will either recall the events surrounding
this ceremony or become phobic against marriage rituals of any sort One hopes therapy
can alleviate a crisis at this point in their lives.
11. Defc€ation, urination,foraik ingesth of human wecrtes

Gallup child reports having to drink a "pee" punch. The McMartin child consumed
the "devils's round." The Washington children said feces were smeared on them, they were
urinated upon, had to drinkleat urine and feces, and had both injected into them. The
16
Campbell child said she had to drink her "pee" and eat her "poo!' If she refused, the woman,
who called herself a witch, spit in her face, pinched her all over and said, 'You won't he
going home to your mother. Your mother is mean and well kill her!' One Fort Bragg child
spoke of having to lie down while the perpetrator stood above him, legs spread apart, and
defecated into his mouth. Other children said feces were mixed into their day care hot food
A Santa Rosa, California child, not included in this survey, reported the perpetrators said
something to the effect that "God is good, God made shit, so it must he good" while forcing
her to swallow feces. In the Fort Bragg day care case there was a higher than average
incidence of constipation which may have been the result of children withholding defecation
to prevent the p m event of having to eat feces This area deserves further research with
ritual abuse survivors. Clearly, the purpose is the degradation or humiliation of the victim.
The children feel dirty inside; they complain of stomach aches Because this abuse occurs
at the age children are trying to establish bowel and bladder control, it has a potent effect
on their personality development.
12 W
- RnimRlr tortured and killed 10111
The West Point child reports observing a dog electrocuted to death. The Fort Bragg
children speak of a dog burned either with a cigarette or cattle prod "Maybe this will make
you think," is what the day care operator is reported to have said to the children as they
watched her torture a dog. One boy said he and a puppy hung together. The puppy
strangled The McMartin day care child described rabbits and birds being killed slowly. The
Gallup child talks about being forced to view the torture and killing of cows, horses, elk,
chickens, and rabbits. The Presidio child speaks of a cat being killed The McMartin child
spoke of the perpetrators first poking nails or pencils into the rabbit or cat's eyes, then
cutting off legs, then cutting the throat to bleed the animal,and finally cutting the chest
17
cavity. One Fort Bragg child would go through his home sticking pencils into the eyes of
people in photographs about the house.
13. Fabeoph 6111
Washington children were "operated on" and told that the perpetrators placed a box
with teeth inside them from which a ghost will escape and kill all their relatives should they
ever tell anyone what happened to them. The Gallup child was told by a "doctor" that he
put something inside her heart. The St. Cross child was told that there is a bomb implanted
inside of her which will cause her to blow up if she "tells," also that her heart and brain were
switched The Presidio child, while not disclosing an operation, seems fearful of snakes
possibly being inside of her. A Fort Bragg case reported his heart had been removed or
replaced by that of the day care operator.
The majority of the cases described either being sexually assaulted themselves and/or
obse&ng this happen to other children. The children also report being forced to mutually
masturbate or pretend to penetrate one another. Earlier in this paper I d e s c n i d children
witnessing other children being bled or hung by feet or wrists until they fainted One Fort
Bragg child reported being "cooked" in hot water. This turned out to have been a hot tub,
however the psychological effect upon the victim and the children observing is that the
omnipotent day care operator could cook you if she willed it. The West Point child
d e s c n i d seeing adults tied with wires to trees and then burned to death. Her parents later
found a tree, partly burned, with electric cables around its trunk. The children were
reluctant to admit that they participated in the torture or sewal assault of other children,
therefore this is generally a late disclosure.

All the children showed scarring both vaginal andlor rectal. This tiuchng k k a t e s
that sexual assault has occurred in all eleven cases. Although this factor is a symptom and
not an allegation, it was more comfortable for parents to answer this question at thk point
in the survey.
16. Babicq dchildren k i M ,

awed up and part^ eaten
This allegation generally reduces the credibility of cases being presemted in court;
however it is commonly reported in ritual abuse cases. Each child describes varisdions on
the theme and while few will admit to eating human flesh themselves, several taEL of the
ritual sacrifice of babies and children The children who lived for a time with tfn: non-
custodial Parent in Coven described adults being bled, carved up, parts eaten, and the rest
burned They also reported witnessing a woman give birth at a meeting and the newborn
ritually sacrificed. The McMartin child speaks of seeing babies' eyes cut out and the bodies
burned in a crematorium which she later pointed out to her parents. The West PO& child
mentioned seeing the burning of live people. The Oregon child describes observing a baby
ritually killed and buried in a shoebox She said its parents were crying. Presidio child spoke
of a black baby killed St. Cross child said that the baby was boiled, hung on a m s s and
cut Fort Bragg cases described viewing the killing of perhaps four children, none d whom
were known to the children. They included a "brown baby and a peach baby," a "little fella,"
and a small girl named 'Tessie." The children said these children were tallrinb w&hg or
crying prior to and during their murders which were generally that of being cut open. One
Fort Bragg child showed me how the day w e operator's hand over her awn made her push
the knife into the baby's chest. This child womes that one day she will go to jail for murder.
Another child told me that the day care operator "steals kids." Several Fort Bragg day care
children developed eating disorders. This could be due to the trauma of observing the
taking of human or animal life and watching others eat the flesh, or it could be due to the
possibility that they had to participate both in the killing and in the consumption of the
s a d c i a l victims.
17. Tranrpartaticm e b c w h c 6or a,- Variow mthoda of traruport 10/11
Two cases, Campbell and Fort Bragg, report that the children were told they were
being taken to "Disneyland" where the children say they were abused I showed a series of
photographs of Disneyland to one Fort Bragg child who immediately identified them as the
actual Disneyland, not the place she was taken, which the perpetrators called 'Disneyland"
One so-called 'Disneyland" site was underground Another title perpetrators gave locations
for abuse or ceremonies was the "haunted house." I believe these titles are clisinformation
designed to discredit the small child's story. It would be commensurate with the ritual abuse
for perpetrators to tell preschool children they were being taken to "Sesame Street," "Alice
in Wonderland," "the Wizard of Oq" "Santa's North Pole" or a "magic castle." The actual
descriptions of the settings indicate the use of private homes, empty buildings including
barns, churches or military buildings, and even caves Adults who survived ritual abuse have
told me of being taken by every mode of transportation, except helicopter or submarine, to
ritual sites. In this survey 4 children reported transportation by airplane, 3 by boat, 2 by
submarines, 2 by helicopter, 1 by jet Before we dismiss the less likely modes, e.g. jet,
helicopter, and submarine, consider the simplicity of placing a toddler inside a box or cage,
draping it and putting the child into a moving vehicIe, then telling the child helshe is
travelling in a helicopter or submarine. Again, the more outrageous the story, the less likely
it will be believed One Fort Bragg boy called the moving vehicle a "space ship."
20
18. Srmal assault aud t m m i d q in chm'chc8,
graveyardsothcrdaycancen~era 10/11
Four cases report being taken to "other schools," i.e. day care amters (McManin,
West Point, Gallup Day Care, Fort Bragg). McMartin stated she was taken inside a
crematorium. Five others said they were taken to churches (Campbell, Alabama, Gallup,
S t Cross, Fort Bragg). Two reported being taken to graveyards where '"bodies were &g up"
(Parent in Coven and Fort Bragg). Events d e s c n i d by the children include having Tvhite
stuff squirted" on her (Campbell) to being sexually assaulted beneath a painting entitled
"Jesus Knocking on the Door to Your Heart" (Gallup). One Fort Bragg boy was taken by
his parent to a Roman Catholic church after he started disclosing his experiences. He
screamed and bolted from the sanctuary when the priest lifted the holy wafer in preparation
for Communion. Two Fort Bragg children described being taken to see dead bodies One
reports being placed in a coffin and having the lid lowered.
Ritual abuse seems to occur frequently in day care centers which purport to be
Christian and some Satanists deliberately use Christian settings. Apparently these
perpetrators often lease the day care buildings from a church and abuse the children in the
nearby sanctuary which is generally empty during the weekday. The Gallup Christian Day
Care, St. Cross Episcopal Day Care, Fort Bragg day cares, and YMCA in El Paso, Texas,
presented themselves as Christian-oriented operations. Parents in Fort Bragg were
reassured by the fact that the day care operators had Bible study meetings on Saturday
nights The unaware parent believes that if a day care center is associated with a Christian
church or calls itself Christian, it is actually Christian. Unfortunately, there is no way of
knowing beforehand whether the care providers are benevolent or malevolent Some
Satanists deliberately use Christian settings

SUMMARY AND COMMEN?S
Judging by the data there is a profile, both of symptoms and of allegations, of those
children who are ritual abuse survivors. While this sample is comprised of only 11 ritual
abuse sites, each of them presented a picture of anxiety and post-traumatic stress syndrome
as evidenced by reports of severe separation anxiety, fear of starting school, avoidance of
their own beds, refusal to sleep alone, and fear of the dark. The next largest category of
symptoms reported includes night terrors, night sweats, extreme fear of the
bathroom/bathing/rain, hyperaggressiveness, and an eating disorder. Vomiting and somatic
symptoms occurred in 8 of the 11 cases. With regard to the allegations, each of the cases
reported sexual molestation by adult strangers or day care workers, the threat of murder if
the victims revealed the abuse, being photographed during the abuse, seeing abusers wearing
robes and sometimes masks, and each had medical findings commensurate with sexual
assault The cage torture, guns, knives, injections, being both defecated and urinated upon,
observing animals killed, seeing other children tortured, and being taken off day care
grounds for abuse were reported in 10 out of 11 cases. Group sex and small children being
killed were described in 9 of the 11 cases. In over half of the 11 cases, children described
being buried alive or confined in boxes, being held underwater, being hung on a cross or
spread o w r a pentagram, participating in mock marriage, and being given fake operations.
The consistency of these findings, taken from cases across the nation, suggest a
predictable pattern in ritual abuse. One is compelled to wonder about a conspiracy either
among the perpetrators or among the toddlers. I believe that children who present these
symptoms together with these allegations are likely to have been ritually abused. If the
children report abusers wearing black robes and chanting "Hail Satan!" the abuse is likely
to have been perpetrated by Satanists.

Rather than try to understand the way these effects are produced or where, when,
and whether the perpetrators managed to commit these crimes, the therapist should focus
on the child/parent/famih, trauma. No other child abuse case will demand as much from a
clinician as that of ritual abuse. The child will be unpredictable, in some cases responding
to programmed cues and behaviors which are unknown to the parent or therapist' The
father and mother will experience rage, grief, fear, and mistrust of any person trying to treat
their child. The f a d y will be filled with schisms between parents, between siblings (the
abused vs. the non-abused), between child and parent. Such schisms will often occur
between the clinician and hisher employer or agency. Those therapists, officers, and child
protection workers who believe the children are isolated and sometimes ostracized by their
administrators. Even journalists who present this topic to the public will notice themselves
being shunned and their work 'batered down" so the public can cope with it. This watering
down effort is deliberate and certain district attorneys would rather the victims minimized
the rituals and tortures both physical and psychologid, and the reports of animal and
human sacrifice. In one case the parents have decided not to give details of the Satanic
rituals to their district attorney for fear he will not prosecute the case.
1 Renner, T. Brainwashine in Ritual Abuse, unpublished P.O.Box 3470, Berkeley CA

94703.
THE OCCULT.ADULT RITUAL ABWW, SURVIVORS
I would like to say a word about two other types of ritual abuse clients, both of which
I have treated. First, teenagers involved with the occult and Satanism are distinguished by
their dramatic methods of attempted suicide, e.g. setting fire to themselves or slicing their
own throats. The second outstanding characteristic is their fantasies of killing their parents,
or other persons, in some gruesome manner. These alienated youth are often anti-
authoritarian, anti-establishment, anti-Christian, anti-school, and anti-therapy with histories
of considerable drug usage. The homicide and suicide risk is above average in this
population.
The second group of ritual abuse clients is that of adult survivors, some of whom are
forrning their own organizations and publishing their own stories.' They present the greatest
challenge to the therapist. Their abuse may have occurred decades earlier. Their guilt,
rage, self-hate and alienation are great. Researchers have discovered that over 50% of the
cases identified as multiple personality disorders were ritual abuse survivors whose parents
were involved in Satanism or who themselves were recruited by Satanists while young,2
They are generally fearful, self-destructive, and sometimes perpetrators themselves They
often abuse drugs, alcohol and smoke or overeat. They present a complex and fluctuating
picture in hospital settings and in mental health clinics. It will tax the ingenuity of the
mental health professional to just keep abreast of them during the course of treatment.
They are variously diagnosed schizophrenic, borderline personality disorder, self-defeating
personality disorder, bi-polar personality disorder, and multiple personality disorder.
1 .Survivor Book P.O.Box 6274, Albany CA 94706.

Braun, B,Rush/Presbyterian St. Luke Hospital, 230 North Michigan #3200, Chicago
IL 60601, (312) 372-1447.
Clinicians today report that both adult and child survivors of ritual abuse often present the
symptoms of intermittent trance-like states and periods of amnesia1 Whether this is due
to disassociation, hypnotism or drugs is di•’Eicult to determine. It may be a combination of
all three. Obviously, these symptoms interfere with recollection of the events sunounding
their abuse and makes treatmen&investigation, and prosecution extremely di•’iicult It also
explains why the ritually abused child does not immediately tell his or her parents of the
abuse and why significant delay develops between time of incident, disclosure, investigation
and possible prosecution Extensive media attention to ritual abuse can jog children's
memories and will, one hopes, encourage them to disclose earlier. If so, parents who obtain
early counselling for their child will be preventing extended distress for the victim. Length
of treatment may be as much as two or three years, but I do not advocate that this
treatment be weekly after the midpoint of therapy. A child needs periods of consolidating
gains and returning to hisher primary task of mastering those skills which are appropriate
to hisher age. Undue or excessive focus on the rituals or Satanic philosophies vs. Judeo-
Christian philosophies will, in my opinion, create a morbidity which is unhealthy in a growing
child
The child therapist and parent who relies on the child's inevitable growth process and
provides the most supportive and therapeutic environment can be confident that these
children will eventually recover. Symptoms may recur at puberty, young adulthood,
marriage, on becoming a parent, and during other passages of life. If so, therapy at those
times is recommended
Peterson, G. (March 1990). "Diagnosis of Childhood Multiple Personality Disorder,"

Dissociation, Vol. III,No. 1. pp. 3-9.
25
A SURVEY OF RITUAL CHILD ABUSE CASES:'
SYMFTOMS AND ALLEGATIONS
April 1988
McMertln Weai Pdnt Parent Alabama Bsby.ltla EaaVdley Day onre Gallup SL Cross Rwldio Day owe
Day Care: Chlld In Coven: chlld In we: YMCA writer: ChrhUnn Ep4aoop.l CNld DmC wnhr:
Manhatlan Development CA day cue: Manhaltan Day Cue CunpMl. CA Day Care: Day Cam: opemant Fa( B r
w
Beach,CA Centw, NJ CA Beaoh, CA El Paao, lX Rweberg Hwmosn Center: San CA
OR Beach,CA Frmdsco, CA
I RrmALABUSE
mMPTOM CLUSTER
IN YOUNG VICTIMS
l . Compubh, w o k beh.vlor; Y- not

d n g out the aex ads. noted
2 A audden exheme fear of no YW

the bathroom, bathing,
westdng, rdn.
3. NlgMmarea; nlgM terrors. no, but YW

nlght meats. bed welling
4. Extremely hlgh and*, Y- Y-

fearful of belng separatsd
from parents, schoal refwd.
5. Hyperag(lressh, temper W no
tantrums, opposltlond
behavia, school
dleruplhrenese.
6. Sudden eatlng disorder; Y- YW.

refueea m& &up poor
speghati, tomatoW. VJpems
7. Fesrhrl of gdng to bed, Y- Y-
the dark, resists b d m e ,
All not sleep alone.
8. Vomltlng for no appuent no no

reaeon, abdomlnd pdn.
Each example tepetlents one chlld from each case, the exception belng 'Parent In Covanncane wMch lnvohres iwo brothem..
26
SURVEY OF RITUAL CHILD ABUSE CASES (page 2)
&Marlin Weat Pdnt Parent Alabama 8.bylma East Vdlsy Day cnre Gdup 8t Cross Realdlo Day care
Dav Care: Child In Coven: chUd in cue: YMCA center: Chrisllan Epbwpal Child DareC center
Mahhnttan Devdopment CA day cue: Manhattan Day h e Carnpba, CA Day Care: D& C&: opwnent g-IF
o
I
Besch,CA Center, W CA Beach, CA ElPaso, lX Roseberg Herrnoea Center: San CA
OR BeachCA Frendsoo. CA
11 ALLEGATIONS
1. Chlld wan mdated by other Y" no not no Y" Y" Y" Y" Y" Y"
children. child group sex. stated
2 ChHd w u molested by a d d
sbangws, daycare workers.
Ill CHllD REPORTED THE FOL-
LOWING TYPES OF PHYSICAL
- RO
I. Re- bdng locked
Inside a 'ph' or cage.
2 Reporta telllng that
abusers threatened to
kUI thdr parents, slbUngs
orpsblftheytold.
3. Wss bwled or put lnslde Yea Yes not not not stated yea not Yea
c&&, cofllne, 'boxes.' atnied stated bu( *dd dated
of boxer
4. W" hdd under water. not no Yes not no W not sMed Y" W Yea not stasd
8tnted ateted but etraid but *a!d
of water d water
6. W u threatened rvkh not stated yes Y- Yes
guns or k n h . but wanb to
'klU uslng
both weapon*
6. Chlld war In)ec(sd, drugged.
or 'pokd wim needles.
7. Chlldren were photographed Yes Yea YM
or fllmed durlng abuse.
8. Ohlldren were Ued by r o w . Y- not
hung horn hooks, p l d In stated
doseta, spread over imrrted
pentagram or I M e d cross.
SURVEY OF RITUAL CHILO ABUSE CASES (page 3)
McMn West Pdnt Parent Alabama Bebyalttu EasiValley Day care Gdup 8 0- Rddo Day cue
Day Care: Child in Coven: chlld in case: YMCA center: Christian Epbccpd CMldDsvsC mnta:
Menhattan Development CA day w e : Manhattan Day Care Campbell. CA Day Cae: Day Care: opement Fort &age
BeachSA Canter. NJ CA Beach. CA El Paso, TX Roseberg Hamosa CO*. San CA
OR Beach.CA Frandsco, CA
B. ChUd daalbea abusaa Yea Y- yes Y"

wearing robes, masks,
havlng candles.
10. Children m e f o r d to no Y- no Y-
parhipate in mock marriages.
11. Chlldren were defecated Y" Intimated Y" Y"
and urlnstsd upon, and
forced to ingent bath.
12 Chldren observed snlm& yes Yea YM nd
tortured and kMed. stated
13. Children desalbed being no Y" no, but Y"
ghren fake operdom. fearful of
doctors
14. dh~drendeaalbe the torture not Y" Y- Y"
and sexual assauk of 8tated
othen or ofthamsdvss.
15. hrldentlal m e d i d examinallon: yes Y" Y" Y"
flndings commenswete with
sexual wsauk
18. CMldren described small Y" Y" not Mted not
children and bablw being but throw aated
kMed, carved up and eaten bab dols
by pddpanls, sometlmw abut
lndudng lhermehre..
17. Chlldren reporl being taken Y" Y" Y"
away from lhe oan, provider,
travelling by car, alrplane,
heflcopta, boabs or submsrlnea
18. Children desaibe being taken Yea Y" no Yea
to churches, other daycare cent-
and graveyards for more terrorizing,
torture and sexual wsauk
RITUAL CHILD ABUSE
QUESTIONNAIRE
This questionnaire is designed to collect data on one child at a time. To report on
more than one child, please copy the questionnaire and use one for each child.
Your comments are welcomed and will be usefuL Please write comments on the
reverse side of the form and indicate to which question your comments apply.
-me fear and other factors prevent victims of ritual abuse liom simultaneously
recalling every abuse incident in its entirety. It may take years before the child's full story
is known,which means that the information given now may change or be added to at a later
time. In cases where an investigation is in progress, it is suggested that you keep one cow
of the completed questionnaire and give one copy to the investigative agency. When new
information emerges notify the iwestigative agency. Date these additions in the Comments
Section after the appropriate question. It wiU provide you with a convenient summary for
future reference.
RITUAL CHILD ABUSE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Pamela S. Hudson, LCS.W.
Post OfGce Box 807
Mendocino, Ca, 95460
U.S.A
Telephone: (707) 937-5952
k SYMPTOM C U W E R IN YOUNG VICTIMS (Circle YES or NO)
1. Does the child engage in compulsive erotic behavior, e.g. acting out sex acts?
fYEs/NO] Comments:
2 Did the child develop a sudden extreme fear of the rain, the bathroom, bathing, or
washing hair?
lyEs/NO] Comments:
3. Does the child have nightmares, night terrors (screaming, sitting up in bed not
recognizing parents) or night sweats?
WNNO] Comments:
4. Does the child develop extreme anxiety when separated from parents? Did the child
suddenly refuse to go to school?
IyEs/NO] Comments:
A. SYMPTOM CWSl'RR IN YOUNG (Continued) (Circle YES or NO)
5. Did the child suddenly develop hyper-aggressiveness, have temper tantrums, or

become oppositional and disruptive in school?
[yEs/NO] Comments:
6. Did the child suddenly develop an eating disorder, e.g. refuse meat, catsup, spaghetti,
tomatoes?
[YES/NO] Comments:
7. Does the child display fear at bedtime, refuse to sleep alone, display fear of the dark,
refuse to go to bed?
m/No] Not stated but:
8 Does the child vomit for no apparent reason? Does the child complain of abdominal
pain frequently?
lyEs/NO] Not stated but:
9. Was there an evidential examination by a physician, experienced in assessing child

molestation, with findings commensurate with sexual assault?
m/NO] Not stated but:

k SYMPrOM CUXIER DN YOUNG VICI'lMS (Continued) (Circle YES or NO)
10. Did the child's toilet training suddenly reverse? Is the child encopretic (soiling) or
enuretic (wetting)?
[YESMO] Not stated but:
11. Did the child frequently appear dazed, drugged or groggy when returned from the
care provider?
V M O ] Not stated but:
B. OF SEXUAL ASSAULT (Circle YES or NO)
L Does the child report children group sex or being molested by other children?
2 Does the child report being molested by adult strangers, day care workers or
baby-sitters?
[YES/NO] Not stated but:
C ALLEGATIONS OF (Circle YES or NO)
L Does the child report being locked inside a cage or "jail?"

OF PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLXX3ICAL ABUSE (Continued)
(Circle YES or NO)
2 Does the child report saying that abusers threatened to kill their parents, siblings or
pets if they "told?"
3. Does the child report being put inside a casket, coffin or box? ('They put me in
* boxes ' Mommy.")
4. Does the child report being held under water?
[YESNO] Not stated but:
Does the child report being threatened with guns or knives?
6. Does the child report being drugged orally or injected ("poked") with needles?
7. Does the child report being photographed or filmed during hisher abuse?
ryEs/NO] Not stated but:

C. OF PHySIcAL OR PsXXOLOGICAL ABUSE [ontinued)
(Ckck YES or NO)
Does the child report being tied by ropes, wires or cables, hung from hooks, placed
in closets, spread over an inverted pentagram or placed on an inverted cross?
p/NO] Not stated but:
Does the child descnbe abusers wearing robes, masks, carrying candies?
plES/NO] Not stated but:
Does the child describe participating in a costumed mock maniage cemmony?
Does the child report being defecated and urinated upon? Does tfae child report
having to ingest feces andtor urine?
fYEs/NO] Not stated but:
Does the child descnbe the torture and killing of animals (may indude drinking
animal blood)?
Does the child d e s c n i being operated on and having "something" h e to hisher

body, something that the child can neither alter nor control?

C. 4
lJ .RGATIONS OF PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOUX3ICAL ABUSRL [Continued)
(Circle YES or NO)
14. Does the child d e s c n i the torture and sexual assault of hidherself or others?
15. Does the child d e s c n i small children and babies being killed, carved, and eaten by
ritual participants, sometimes participating himherself! (The examiner may want to
ask whether the child saw adults or teenagers killed and eaten which children
reported in a few cases.)
16. Does the child report being taken away from the care provider, traveling by car,
airplane, helicopter, boat or an unusual conveyance?
17. Does the child d e s c n i being taken to churches, other day care Enters, graveyards
for more terrorizing, tomue, and sexual assault?
18. Does the child d e s c n i being taken to underground places like caves, crypts, "the
hole" or tunnels for more terrorizing, torture, and sexual assault?

C (Continued)
(Circle YES or NO)
19. Does the child talk about a "poo man" or "poopman" and a "bath lady" or "washing
lady?"'
1 Added after survey because it is characteristic of these cases and may aid the
investigator. Apparently a male perpetrator S u p e ~ s e the
s feces torture and
a female perpetrator cleans the child afterwards.
IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
Date completing questionnaire:

Child's present age: Sex (circle one): MIF
Child currently residing with (circle one):
Period of abuse (monwear): From To

Age during abuse: Age when abuse was first disclosed:
Child treated for abuse (circle one): YESNO
If not, why not?
Alleged perpetrators:
(circle one) OneiSeveral
(circle one) MalelFemaleBoth
(circle one) Relatives/Strange~slFriends
Abuse setting:
(circle an appropriate) Home/SchooWre-schooVEvtended family/
Summer camp1 Religious organization/
Other type
Investigated by authorities (circle one):

Perpetrator(s) prosecuted (circle one): YES/NO
Perpetrator(s) convicted (circle one):
Person completing questionnaire:
Relationship to child
Street address
City (borough, district), state
Telephone Day Evening

Dew Pm,
Don't let the bad guys hurt you.
Happiness
W e need love and shelter corn the storm.
Don't let Jenrufer* get hurt.
I love you,
Eric**
P ? .
1. beyond the range of ordinary knowledge; mysterious.

2 secret disclosed or communicated only to the initiated
3. of or pertaining to magic, astrology, and other alleged sciences
claiming use or knowledge of secret, mysterious or supernatural
agencies.
4. hidden from view.
Synonyms: 1. metaphysical, supernatural

2 concealed, unrevealed; veiled, shrouded; mysterious,
cabalistic
1. the worship of Satan or the powers of evil

2 a travesty of Christian rites in which Satan is worshipped.
3. diabolical or satanic disposition, behavior, or action.
1. an established or prescribed procedure for a religious or other rite.

2 a system or collection of religious or other rites.
3. observance of set forms in public worship.
4. any practice or pattern of behavior repeated in a prescribed manner
reminiscent of religious ritual.
5. a book of rites or ceremonies.
4 of the nature of or practiced as a rite or rites: a ritual dance.
1. a human sacrifice made to appease the gods or a god
1
(1989).
. .
a=. Portland House, New York
NY.
DEFINITION OF TRRMS
(continued)
The Report of the Ritual Abuse Task Force, Los Angeles County Commission
for Women, provides the f o l l o d g definition:
Ritual abuse is a brutal form of abuse of chddren, adolescents, and

adults, consktingofphysical, sexual, andpsychologicalabuse, and invohing the
use of rituals Ritual does not necessarily mean satauic. However, most
SlWjYDm state that they were ritually abused as part of sa faruc worslrp for the
p q o s e of indodnating them into satanic beliefs andpracrices. Ritual abuse
m&conski's of a single episode. It usual&invoives repeated abuse over an
extended period of time.
The physical abuse is severe, sometimes including torture and kZiug.

The sexual abuse is usual& padid, sadistic, and humiliating, intended as a
meas of * g dominance over the victim. l k psychological abuse ~
devastating and invoks the use of rituaVindoctrhation, which includes mind
mntrol techniques and mind altering h g s , and ntuaVintimidation which
conveys to the victim a profound terror of the cult members and of the evil
spirits they believe cult members can command Both during and after the
abuse,most victims are in a state of terror, mind control, and dissociation in
which disclosure is exceedingly oYEcultl
Confusion is created by the fact that some of the trappings of Satanism, such as the
use of special robes, candles, and chanting, to name just a few, are used in a broad spectrum
of Judeo-Christian, Pagan, and New Age religions. Furthermore it is important to note that
not all practitioners of the occult worship Satan and that many Satanists deny the practice
of human sacrifice.
For the purpose of this paper, ritual abuse and Satanic abuse are used synonymously.
Satanic ritual abuse is occasionally abbreviated to SRA, as in the term "SRA survivors!'
, -1 R thes Angeles County Commission for

Women, September 15, 1989. p.1. For copies of this report: Los Angeles
County Commission for Women, 383 Hall of Administration, 500 West
Temple Street, Los Angeles CA 90012, (213) 974-1455.
BACKGROUND
According to the document , $ $ T o dated 19871, the United
States has seen an emergence of cases called Satanic or ritual child abuse. Fifty-three (53)
such cases have been identified by Dee Brown, an investigative reporter, media specialist,
and researchel3.
In the Finkelhor, Williams, Burns, and Kalinowski report of March 1988, a careful
analysis of 270 day care child abuse cases reported nationwide during the period January
1983 through December 1985, 13% (or 35) included allegations of ritualistic abuse3.
These figures represent only the tip of the iceberg if we consider how many
unreported or uninvestigated cases may exist California had seventeen of Brown's 53
cases4. In southern California, 8 different children's day care facilities, with a combined
total of 870 identified victims, were named as suspect after police investigations. Some have
closed; many remain opens. The most famous of these is the McMartin Day Care Center
which is in court at the time of this writing". In northern California, the Presidio Child
Development Center, with over 50 suspected victims, is the case most often mentioned.
1 (1987). ,4
W e ,
President's Child Safetv Partners& Final Report. U.S. Government Printing
Of6ce, Washington DC 20402, 190-893-814/70170.
z Brown, D. (February 12, 1989 draft).
Q -
Since 1980 - United States & Canada. Dee Brown, PO Box 169,7324 Reseda
Blvd, Reseda CA 91335, (818) 342-9188.
3 Finkelhor, D., Williams, LM., Burns, N. and Kalinowski, M. (March 1988).
1Se 1 AbuseF in a a m i I y Research
Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, Durham NH 03824, (603) 862-
1888.
C ibid Brown.
5 Malpee, P. (May 4, 1987). Overview of South Bav Area. Los Angek S. Paper
presented at Affirmhg Childrens' Truth (ACT.) National Conference,
Hermosa Beach C A
6 Schindehett, S., et al. (February 5, 1990). "On the (her: After the Verdict,
Solace for None," People Weekly. Vol. 33, No. 5, p. 75. January 18,1990, the
Los Angeles Superior Court jury acquitted the McMa~tinfamily on 52 counts
and was deadlocked on 13 others. Seven of the 12 jurors believed some
children were molested but were unable to determine whether the "children's
remarks were true or whether they were being led by adults."
The other northern California case is that of a day care center in F m Ragg in
Mendocino County, which operated for about 5 years. I have seen 24 children h m this
setting who have reported being abused, having witnessed abuse, andtor w h have
demonstrated post-traumatic stress disorders. I have also treated 7 other children,nca from
this facility, who reported Satanic ritual abuse, and I have consulted on a ritual abuse case
which was tried in Sonoma county. I am aware of other children in treatment Eor SRA
abuse in other parts of Mendocino and Sonoma Counties. This paper discusses my•˜years
experience treating these cases.
Mendocino County in Northern California is a rural area known for the beauty of its
natural surroundings and for the ease with which individuals can blend into the woods,
maintain a low profile, and go undetected, if they choose. Some of MendacMs mtable
examples of abusers include molesters like Tree Frog Johnson, murderers like Leomd Lake
and Charles Manson, as well as the Reverend Jim Jones, corruptor sans pareit & s h e and
cruelty are not limited to over-crowded urban settings.
OMS AND ALT EGATIONS
Those who treat young ritual abuse survivors must learn the symptoms and allegations
common to this form of abuse. Ln a telephone survey of 10 other ritual abuse cases across
the United States, I found a majority of the children's reports coincided with those in my
own population of 24 cases in a day care setting.'
Fort Brane. Mendocino Countv. Califom'aU.S.A:
1. Acting out the sexual abuse.

2 Sudden extreme fear of the bathroom,
bathing, washing hair.
3. Nightmares, night-terrors.
4. High anxiety disorder, separation anxiety.
5. Temper tantrums, oppositional behavior.
1. Molested by other children. 11 / 24

2 Molested by strangers, day care workers, parent 11 / 24
C Reported Physical and Psychological Abuses 13 / 24l
Locked in a cage or "jail".

Told that their parents, pets or younger siblings would be killed if they told
anyone of the abuse.
Buried in the ground in co&s which they called "boxes".
Held underwater.
Threatened with guns and knives.
Injected with needles, bled, drugged.
Photographed during the abuse.
Tied upside down over a star, hung from a pole or hook, burnt with candies.
1 The number on the left indicates how many children presented the symptom
or allegation and the number on the right indicates the total number of
children in this sample, ie. 1U24. RSP indicates total number of patients.
t Section "C," with the exception of item #14, shows 13 of the patients reported
one or more of the 16 forms of abuse.
Tied upside down over a star, hung from a pole or hook, burnt with candles.
Participated in mock marriage.
Defecated and urinated upon.
Observed animals killed.
Observed torture and molestation of other children.
Saw children and babies killed 4 / 24
Had blood poured on their heads.
Taken to churches, other day care settings, peoples' homes, and graveyards for
the ritual abuse.
In 1988 I compared the findings from the Fort Bragg day care population with a
telephone survey of ten other ritual abuse cases within the United States. Findings indicate
that child ritual abuse survivors from widely separated geographical areas make similar
allegations and present common symptoms.
While this sample is comprised of only 11 ritual abuse sites, each of them
presented a picture of anxiety and post-traumatic stress syndrome as
evidenced by reports of severe separation anxiety, fear of starting school,
avoidance of their own beds, refusal to sleep alone, and fear of the dark. The
next largest category of symptoms reported includes night terrors, mght sweats,
extreme fear of the bathroomhathinghin, hyperaggressiveness, and an eating
disorder. Vomiting and somatic symptoms occurred in 8 of the 11 cases.
With regard to the allegations, each of the w e s reported sexual molestation
by adult strangers or day care workers, the threat of murder if the victims
revealed the abuse, being photographed during the abuse, seeing abusers
wearing robes and sometimes masks, and each had medical findings
commensurate with sexual assault. The cage torture, guns,knives, injections,
being both defecated and urinated upon, observing animals killed, seeing other
children tortured, and being taken off day w e grounds for abuse were
reported in 10 out of 11 cases. Group sex and small children being killed
were d e s c n i d in 9 of the 11 cases. In over half of the 11 cases children
d e s c n i d being buried alive or confined in boxes, being held underwater,
being hung on a cross or spread over a pentagram, participating in mock
maniage, and being given fake operations.
DISILLUSIONMENT
Research by Dr. Susan Kelley shows that while sexual abuse causes measurably
damaging effects to children, Satanic ritual abuse creates even greater damage.
Furthermore, children abused in day care settings are as traumatized as children abused by
relatives1.
Crime and cruelty in sexually abusive day care settings strike families in which the
annual income ranges from $26,000 to $36,000. A sizeable proportion earned over $36,000.
Satanic ritual abuse in some day care settings involved children who came from families with
high edvcational levels: 28.6% of the mothers had Bachelor degrees, 25.7%, 1 to 3 years
of college. Among the fathers, 35.3% had Bachelor degrees and 23.5%, advanced degrees.
These Eamiies tend to be middle class, law abiding, dual-career families who want the best
for their children and are willing to pay for i t
The day care center symbolizes our society's entry point In its setting children are
prepared to enter kindergarten Social skills, academic skills, values, and physical prowess
are taught so that the child may succeed in society. When parents learn that, instead of this,
their chifd was brain-washed and subjected to ritual abuse, they feel betrayed by society. At
this paint, the entire family develops a psychological shield. There is general mistrust of
society, especially if society does not bring about successful prosecution of this crime. Blue
collar class families with whom I worked were already mistrustfulof society's social systems
but they were struggling to achieve more for their children than they themselves had When
they learned of their child's ritual abuse in day care, they were filled with rage. They
experienced a "what's-the-use" feeling for they placed no confidence in any prosecutor, any
justice murt or in any law enforcement officer. They wanted retribution m. Both groups
of fandies felt that they, as well as their children, were assaulted They were all
traumatized.
ALIENATION
When the parents of ritually abused children learned of their child's abuse, they
became socially isolated and alienated from their community. Later in treatment evidence
emerged that a more devastating form of alienation had taken place in the context of the
ritual abuse. In instance after instance these children report that the perpetrators told them
that their parents approved of the abuse and did not love them, thus deliberately alienating
the children from their families. In fact, some children report being told that their biological
' Kelley, S.J. (April 29, 1988). fie - on s o

e Centers. Table I1 Socioeconomic Status
of Subjects. Paper presented at the National Symposium in Child
Victimization, Anaheim CA
parents were not humans but aliens The children were then told that the perpetrators were
their real parents.
Other ritualJy abused children report that they were shown two individuals who
announced to them that they were their good parents. This couple or perhaps one adult
would iaform the child that their mother or father was bad and did not like the child and
that that was why the parents brought the child to the day care center to let himher be hurt.
These two individuals kept referring to the biological parents as the "fake mommy and
daddy." While other adults assaulted the children, the self-appointed "parents" did not.
Sometimes the self-appointed "parents" made a show of protecting the child from the abuse.
Later they informed the child that he/she was no good, was bad, and that they no longer
loved hidher. This abandonment was followed by a second set of bogus parents and the
process would be repeated with the result that the children became alienated from parents,
real or bogus, leaving the child without any parent to depend upon. The resultant mistrust
towards his/her own parents reduced chances for disclosure and shut the child victim off
from comfort and healing by the parents.
Alienation between parent and society, parent and child, can include separation
within the child from him/herself, the psycholo@cal term for which is "splitting" or
"dissociation." One type of internal splitting consists of the child deliberately directing his
attention away fiom what was being done to his body. The mind leaves the body, so to
speak, because to focus on what is occurring to the body would be overwhelming. Several
children told me of their elaborate plans to rescue each other and escape. Hiding the
perpetrator's knives was the most common fantasy. Whether this was a belated mastery
fantasy or a primitive method to stop the cutting of animals is not easily determined Hiding
the knkswas, however, the most popular fantasy scheme mentioned in treatment Another
internal split was the "good" child versus the "bad" child. Children who identified with the
aggressor, felt sexual pleasure, assisted in the abuse of other children or were overwhelmed
by fear tended to overcompensate by behaving aggressively. Gould coined the phrase the
"Satanic personality" to desmie the hyperaggressive child1
Enter the therapist who is another stranger trying to "do something" with the child.
The child does not know if you are one of "them", i.e. the perpetrators, or "a friend" of
hisher "mom" (thus suspect) or "a fiiend" to the police, lawyers, judges or, actually a friend
"for real." And by this time the child doubts that anyone would befriend a "bad person" like
him or herself. Thus it takes the therapist a longer time to establish a therapeutic
relaticmship with SRA survivors than with other sexual abuse survivors. Unfortunately, both
l Gould, C (May 5 1987). Term: "Satanic Personality," used in address given at the
&rence AfFumine Childrens' Truth. Los Angeles CA
49
law enforcement and social services workers have too many demands on their time to spend
several months developing a child's trust and convincing the small survivor that helshe or his
fxmily will not die if &/she discloses the abuse. The-child's immediate response to SRA
crime is almost invariably the falsehood, "nothinghappened," because people are honest only
when they feel safe.
Hyperaggression is a very common reaction to ritual abuse. The second common

reaction is displayed by the group I choose to call "frozen," suppressed and repressed. They
are mute in the interview room. They tell nothing about their experiences to their parents,
or to the therapist (although they may disclose to peers), and they lkquently have
post-traumatic play of sexually explicit behavior. They may avoid certain foods and places.
Sometimes they sit for several minutes staring off to one side before answering. They seem
to be both shut off and dissociative. The fact that children who have been ritually abused
often report being drugged only complicates the picture.
The reactions of SRA survivors resemble the "anxiety hysteria" described by the
Russian physiologist Ivan Petrovich Pavlw (1849-1936), who performed neurophysiological
research on the reactions of dogs to stress and conditioning. Dogs were given prolonged and
increased stress until they developed either:
increased excitement and aggressive behavior

or
passive reactions or iuhiiition.
At the farthest extremes of mental breakdown the former group went "wild and beyond
control" whereas the latter developed 'Year paralysis!'l Lest the reader be reluctant to
accept Pavlov's mechanistic approach claiming it applies only to dogs, be advised that
unscrupulous physicians and elements within the national and international espionage
communities have duplicated these experiments on humans with identical r e s ~ l t s .A~ recent
and more visible example in our time is the combat exhausted war veteran who shows the
effects of hisher ordeal called Post-traumatic stress syndrome. These people may not have
been isolated on the experiment table but many were forced to endure stresses beyond their
mental and physical capacities.
It is my opinion that when an individual shuts down or tunes-out the abuse (negative
stimuli), additional protective defense mechanisms develop, specifically aissociation and
glultiok personalities.
1
..
Pavlov, LP. (1941). 'Zectures on Conditioned Reflexes," Condmon m
P m . VoL 2, translated with an Introduction by W.H. Gantt, Lawrence &
Wishart, London U.K.
Thomas, G. (1989). 9
.- Bantam Books, New York NY.
Jean M Goodwin has developed the mnemonic 'BLIND" as a shorthand for
describing the severely and multiply abusive family environment which tends to cause some
children to develop dissociative strategies.' Let me build on this list by adding the
environment of Satanic ritual abuse.
'W for Brainwashing

T' for Loss of a loved one
'T' for Isolation
'W' for Not awake or alert
'D' for Death threats
"S" for Satanic ritual abuse
Dissociation has been defined by F. W. PutnamZas a:
"...complex psychophysiological process, with psycho dynamic triggers, that produce

an alteration in the persons' consciousness. During this process, thoughts, feelings
and experiences are not integrated into the individual's awareness or memory in the
normal way.'' (p. 66).
According to Edward J. Frischholzl
"Dissociation is an amnesic barrier that prevents the interchange of different

memories. Repression is amnesia for unacceptable impulses."
One of my young female clients from the Fort Bragg day care case has a faulty
memory. She cannot recall what she ate for breakfast that morning. Her day dreaming has
thus far not interfered with academic progress but it is only a matter of time before this
overactive fantasy life (she describes as "pictures in her head") will interfere with retaining,
Goodwin,J.M. Rec _
.. n . Department
of Psychiatry and Mental Health Services, Medical College of Wisconsin, and
Mihvaukee County Mental Health Complex, (414) 257-4886.
Putnam, F.W., Jr. (1985)."DDiociation as a Response to Extreme Trauma," Childhood
htecedents of Multi~lePersonali$ Kluft, RP., editor. American Psychiatric Press,
Washington DC, pp. 6 9 7 .
Frischholz, E.J. (1985). 'The Relationship Among Dissociation, Hypnosis, and Child
Abuse in the Development of Multiple Personality Disorder,"
of M d t i ~ l e Personalitv, Kluft, R.P.,editor. American Psychiatric Press, Inc.,
Washington DC, p. 108
adyzing and retrieving information. She is frequently in a trance-like state in the office.
Her parents consider her "shy."
Another child victimized in day care would not speak but would just look at me, fear
in his eyes, lips tightly pressed. I •’inalIy brought his sister into the room to break the
tension.
A second female child stood still, not speaking for 40 minutes in my play therapy
room. When she finally moved, it was to wordlessly draw overly detailed stereotyped
pictures.
At the far end of the dissociative continuum are the multiple personality disordered
children of whom I have had some experience. One day, in my cramped office, a small 5
year old boy's voice suddeniy dropped into a deep-voiced, furious, and iiightening gutteral
adult male voice. Whether this abrupt change indicated an incorporation of the aggressive
male perpetrator or an alter state for the child, I could not say. Perhaps it was his "Satanic
personalityncoming out. What I do know is that my instinctive reaction was fear as the tiny
hairs rose on the back of my neck
The standard treatment of MPD is that the therapist should relate to these alters as
separate entities and endeavor to integrate the fragmented psyche. I have utiIized drawn
puppet figures moving in profile across a background. The child draws the figures and so
externalizes h i s k r different personalities. I tend to conceptualize these elements to the
child as facets of one whole rather than as totally separate alter states, probably because
childreas' ego constr~~cts are less formed, yet forming even as treatment continues and I do
not want to encourage greater fragmentation.
One of my 4 year old ritual abuse s u ~ v o r has

s three distinct personalities and she
protects them a& She becomes angry when we talk about her alternate personalities (the
host, the destructive/avenging alter, and the helpless, inchoate infant alter). Another ritual
abuse survivor age 6% uses the toy telephone to call either her mother or me while in one
of her 8 personalities. Her mother and I share aloud our impressions of the attniutes of
these alter& During a recent session I suggested that all the personalities might like to go
home and bake a chocolate cake. One personality, the avenging-destroyer alter, was so
disruptive we ventured the idea that this one not help bake the cake. Immediately the
mother and I received a series of outraged phone calls from all the alters saying "Sigrid",
must also help bake the cake. At this point her mother and I appealed to the seven other
alters to keep "Sigrid" under some controL They all cheerfully agreed to do so and the
baking session went without disruption. This incident is included to illustrate the fact that
while the avenger alter is generally unwelcomed by therapists, parents, school teachers and
society, it is nonetheless an integral part of the congregation of alters and cannot be
excluded.
Another example is a telephone client age 5 from Southern California whom I have
never met but whose. mother calls when there is a crisis. Young SRA survivor, John, was
in the midst of a raging temper tantrum because his mother made him stop playing after he
struck a child He was screaming, kicking, sobbing, hitting with full force. She asked him
if he could stop. He screamed louder. These uncontrolled tantrums reportedly lasted for
hours in the past. She was still holding down his feet to prevent his kicking her when I told
her to say firmly, 'You need to calm you& down, then you can go play." She repeated
this several times, emphasizing & Immediately he started calming down. There were
some angry remarks but she handled them calmly and clearly. In twelve minutes he was in
suEicient self-control to have a drink of water and then go outside. Again, the emphasis is
on acknowledging and strengthening the s o c w appropriate parts of the child's self no
matter how broken helshe is by ritual abuse.
But, before such interventions are utilized one needs to thaw out the inhibited, frozen
child. This process takes much time. It calls for considerable spontaneity. I reassure the
child that heishe is safe and try to get the child to verbalize hisher internal images. Failing
this, the child is asked to draw them. The closer the therapist is to lowering the veil of
secrecy, the more anxious the child becomes.
G i g sufficient reassurance and showing the child that helshe can be unguarded and
not be harmed will sometimes free the child to disclose the abuse. Once, a closed-off, nice,
quiet boy blew up in fury and started to throw toys at me. "I hate you!" he yelled. His
mother was shocked I said, 'l can understand how you are mad at me. I'm making you
remember. But I did not hurt you Someone else did Now I11 draw their pictures and you
can throw things at the pictures." I picked up paper and pen and he named 3 perpetrators
which I drew on paper and placed on the wall. Whereupon he furiously assailed them with
missiles for five minutes non-stop. The anger subsided, he relaxed and smiled This was the
moment he began to interact with his mother and me. The frozen, distant, inhibited
behavior had gone. Additional disclosures soon followed.
SUMMARY
1. Albeit ritual abuse may account for a relatively small number of all child
abuse cases, they nevertheless do occur in our modem United States, Canada,
and Europe.
2 Ritual abuse occurs in urban settings but it can also occur in nual settings and
examples of cult crime have surfaced in every state in the union
3. Parents of children ritually abused in a day care center are generally middle
class and well educated.
4. Parents of ritually abused children become alienated from a society which they
feel has let them down.
5. Families whose children have been ritualistically abused suffer from grief,
alienation and distrust.
6. Children develop two primary defensive postures as a consequence of ritual

abuse: 1) hyperaggressive behavior, and 2) kozedsuppressedJinhibited
behavior. Both groups reveal an extraordinary amount of anxiety around
bedtime, with clinging behavior, nightmares, bedwetting, and general
regression in toilet training.
7. Children abused in day care are as traumatized as children abused by

relatives.
8. Children ritualistically abused in day care are more traumatized than children
sexually abused in day care without Satanic rituals.
The child therapist must be completely reliable, emotionally calm, attentive and, by
his or her presence, convey confidence that the situation will improve. As a general rule,
the young child is not separated from the non-abusing parents in the early inteniew sessions.
I encourage the parent to join us. Sometimes I will suggest the child to invite the parent
into the office to join us in playing an entertaining board game. I deliberately play the role
of benevolent grandparent and support the parent in hisher support of the child In a few
cases I have let the parent interact with their child in a session while I acted as a supenisor
to the parent who is the therapist or healer of the child If the parent is too overwhelmed
or disturbed, I take the active roll. Both the parents and the child rely on me although, due
to their mistrust, I am frequently tested and challenged. This is to be expected and should
not be taken personally. They are handing their child over to another "child person" and are
naturally wary.
Children have taught me that they, not I, are the best judges of what to inform their
parents regarding the abuse. Too often I have tried to inform parents of details disclosed
by their children, in an effort to explain various types of peculiar play activity or behaviors,
only to see that parent, t o w shocked by the information, pull the child out of treatment.
Obviously this action rules out further disclosures and ends treatment before the child is
ready. One little boy looked up at me and said, after disclosing the blood being poured on
his head and seeing his mother become infuriated, "See, I told you so." I never saw him in
treatment again. This delicate balance between empowering the alienated parents and not
overwhelming them with the enormity of their child's abuse is a continuous challenge to the
therapist treating ritualistically abused children.
I use various therapeutic models interchangeably. Psychodynamic therapy addresses

the guilt each child and family feels. Behavioral modification therapy may be used to curb
the abused child's attacks on his family pets or younger siblings. Cognitive therapy is applied
when assisting a phobic child to address fears. Thinking processes can be altered by the
brain-washing utilized in ritual abuse. This damage will be discussed in another paper, now
in progress. Family therapy sessions and sibling group therapy sessions are appropriate. I
consult with school personnel concerning school adjustment. Grandparents are often very
important and can provide much needed respite to the grieving parents during the initial
stages of treatment.
Hypnotism and pharmacolo@caltherapy were not used in my early work. However,

since March, 1990, I have become convinced that the use of hypnotism may be appropriate
with children who are amnesic or who present a clinical picture of Multiple Personality
Disorder. For this reason I recommend that therapists obtain training and certification in
hypnotherapy.
I recently approached a local pediatrician regarding one young child who was
becoming debilitated because she was too nauseated to eat and too fearful to sleep. He
prescribed Promethazine Hydrochloride (Phenergan Syrup, Plain) dosage 1 or 2 tsp at
bedtime. The results were amazing. The child was mildly sedated so fell into a light sleep
from which she awoke the following morning with a genuine appetite and no anxiety. In
four days she was sleeping regularly and replacing lost weight Her mood had improved and
behavior normalized.
World War II veterans and Pavlov's dogs responded well to prolonged sleep with
Bromides Abreaction, (verbalizing or acting out an adequate resolution of a repressed
traumatic experience with the appropriate emotion or affect)' was even greater and more
quickly obtained when the therapist combined ether gas and guided imagery.* I do not
believe children acting in a stereotyped manner or talking about suicidal or homicidal ideas
necessarily need to be hospitalized Generally this is done to relieve adults who believe
hospitalization will protect the child from hisher destructive impulses. Hospitalization only
serves to further them from their loved ones and this (see Goodwin BLINDS p.
*) furthers their distress. It encourages a loosening of the bond between child and non-
offending parent who is usually persuaded to hospitalize their child against hisher own
better judgement It would be better to post a family member beside the child during
periods of agitation.
GROUP THERAPY
The fear of cross fertilization, ie. the contamination of testimony resulting from
witnesses talking together, ruled out group play therapy for those ritual abuse victims for
whom the group treatment modality might be appropriate normally. I view this
contamination concern as ill founded In another multiple victim case, I saw several children
in a group setting. The group therapy mode allowed them an opportunity to be mutually
supportive and to clarify feelings towards one another regarding instances in which one
victim was forced to abuse another. These children corrected each other's misrepresentation
of the events and were scrupulously honest towards all. They reconciled with one another
and helped heal one another.
Lilre Vietnam veterans, my small Fort Bragg ritual abuse clients were happy to see
one another in town or in passing in the waiting room. They were glad to see that the other
had survived the nightmare. They are still very close to each other. I think group therapy
would have been beneficial and suggest that mental health clinicians disabuse the legal
profession of the myth of "contamination."
1 (1989). Webster's Encyclopedic Unabrideed

D i c t i o u of the EngIish Laneuaee. Portland House, New York NY, p.5.
2 !brgant, W. (1959). Banle for the Mind. Pan Books Ltd, London U.K, p. 56-57.
I am aware of only one therapy group for ritually abused children It occurred in
southern California where the children began the post-traumatic play of torturing and killing
one another ceremordly, at which point the two therapists terminated the group, not
wanting to 'Huthcr" this activity. Actually, the two therapists were unable to cope with the
enonnity of the abuse experienced by the young SRA victims
My most frequently used initial treatment approach is play therapy. I have a doll
house, sand tray,numerous dolls, stuffed animals, puppets, art supplies, board games, and
toys. I may take photographs of the children's sand tray designs and their doll house
arrangements Each child's art work is kept in its own basket which has the child's name
on it They know I keep notes and are gratified by my wanting to include repon cards,
doctors' reports, police reports, and even well done school work in their files. The parents
bring me a written account of the week's developments which also goes into the tile. This
procednre saves lengthy telephone calls, provides accurate records, and sets direction in the
therapy hour.
$use Richard A. Gardner's story-tellingtechnique and his Talking, Feeling and Doing
Game1. If they win in a board game, tell a story well,improve in attitude or behavior at
home m in x h m &they can chose a prize from the Prize Jar which is prominently displayed
on a lowtable. In it are small cars, whistles, sugarless candies or gum,balloons, tiny figures,
peanuts, &arms, erasers, and, their favorite, bubble gum. Very seldom does a child leave
without a prize. It is extremely important to clarify that prizes are not awarded for
additional disclosures of abuse. Rather, sessions are associated with nurturing and other
positiw experiences to keep them pleasant. The child never leaves my sessions horribly
upset, no matter how heinous were the events helshe described
h i d e s Gardner, the therapeutic stories found in Nancy Davis' book, Once Upon a
ane especially h e l p f ~ l .They
~ are divided into iifteen departments with three stories
geared q n ~ S c a l l yto the SRA survivor abused in a day care center. 'The Glass Pitcher"
explains to young children that they are not evil even if they were forced to do evil acts.
After nz&q this story to a 4 year old client, I suggested that the child's mother let her use
the family's ice tea pitcher to play and replay the beautiful metaphor of filling, emptying,
cle- and refilling. One can substitute a faceted clear plastic container if breakage is
a conoem.
l Chrdner, RA. (1986). D B r .

Creative Therapeutics, P.O. Box R, Cresskill, New Jersey, 07626-0317.
a Davis, N. and Sparks, S.A. (1988).
Pbused Children. Nancy Davis, Ph.D., 6178 Oxon Hill Road, Suite 306, Oxon Hill
MD 20745.
If1 have a tiny hyperaggressive junior Satanist in my office, I first set limits on acting
out behavior, then help him/her to see how this ''being mean" is a protection against being
hurt. Sometimes I have the entire family solemnly promise never to allow anyone to hurt
him again, ever. (A ceremony borrowed from the Strategic Family Therapy Model). They
can actually be over protective for awhile. Not infrequently, the child who terrorizes in the
daytime needs to crawl into bed with his parents or siblings in the nighttime. I give
permission for that. If the child needs hugging every evening, give the hugs. One can gauge
how frightened these children are by how aggressive/oppositional they are. It disarms them
when the parents' response is loving and patient.
Generally a parent will ask their extremely agitated child why the child thinks he or
she had such a bad day. Sometimes the child h o w s what was said or done to trigger this
agitation, but sometimes the child is responding to messages or programmed cues. If the
abuser said, "I will come in a helicopter and get you," the child may become irrational
whenever a helicopter flies by. One of my clients does this and at this point he has forgotten
the warning and just responds with panic whenever a helicopter is in his neighborhood
Other messages implanted into the young victim's mind might be, "Everyone wearing blue
pants is one of us," or 'Tll come and get you when you're asleep." The child is forever
watchful, forever fearful, sometimes panicked.
Frae&ppressed/iibited children present an even greater challenge. These

children behave well in school and initially get excellent grades but at some point their
grades dip and to this they appear indifferent. They stare at you and say that nothing ever
happeaedand that everything is just fine. The fact that they are acting bizarre, (e.g. rubbing
against banisten, suddenly attacking a parent with a carving knife, endlessly fingering scissors
or sharp impkments, and asking about death or dying) seems not to register upon their
conscious minds at all. They have a vague indifference, a "float$' quality, an air of dazed
day dreaming. They just do not seem to "be there." They have what I call "floaty eyes".
Their eyes are large, unfocussed and generally gaze somewhere beyond your left shoulder.
To halt the dissociative process I recommend a technique told me by Jean Goodwin, M.D.
Simply say to the child, "One, two, three, awake!" and they will.
Another technique I use to reduce the terror and phobias in small victims is that of
E.M.D, or Eye Movement Desensitization developed by Francine Shapirol 2. The
discovtnr of EMD., Shapiro, at the Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto, California, has
been researching and utilizing this procedure for three years, with promising results. E.M.D.
1 Sbapiro, F. (1989). 'The Efficacy of the Eye Movement Desensitization Procedure

m& Treatment of Traumatic Memories," Journal of Traumatic Stress. Vo1.2, No.2,
pp. 199-223.
shapiro, F. (1989). "Eye Movement Desensitization: A New Treatment for Post-
T r a m t i c Stress Disorder," Journal of Behavior Therapv and Experimental
J%ychiaby,Vol. 20, NO. 3, pp. 211-217.
may accelerate healing in traumatized patients. Its effect is similar to sleep therapy (the
patient sleeps for several days) which the English found beneficial when used on victims of
shell shock during World War 11.' E.M.D. is quicker and less invasive than hypnotism and
holds promise for severely abused victims. It will be interesting to see the results of further
testing of this new technique.
l ibid, Sargant
In ritual abuse, the child's disclosure (e.g. the telling of what happened) is an
incrememal and slowly progressive process It may take a year or more before the entire
story is told Before and after every major disclosure the child experiences another severe
anxiety period lasting from one to several days. This is because the perpetrators told the
children that temble consequences will follow if they reveal what happened Kee
MacFarkne once referred to this as fearing "the curse." Another characteristic of disclosure
in ritual abuse is that of disclosing gradually increasing degrees of horror ending in the
bizarre. TT to picture peeling an onion layer after layer until you reach the center, only to
find a light bulb. It does not make sense, it is implausible, it is too strange to be credible.
Children realize that the more incredible or bizarre their experience appears, the less likely
they Win be believed
The following is an example of an incremental and progressive disclosure:
"Ibey touched my privates,"
" l k y pooped on us,"
They tied us to a tree,"
'?hey took pictures,"
"Ihey steal kids,"
"They killed the doggy,"

'They killed the baby,"
"I ate the baby,"
They took us in a submarine."
Note that the submarine is the least credible and MW. The last disclosure is most
likely disinformation planted by the perpetrators. Possible explanations are that the
perpetrators, who practice magic, created an illusion that the children were drugged and
experienced hallucinations or, more simply, that they lied to the children It is an error to
immediately assume these reports are just flights of imagination or fantasies.
One adult survivor explains this implanted disinformation process thus:
"Children who are trance-induced and then asked to role play are highly
susceptible to accepting that which was role played If cued to remember the
role play post hypnotic state, the child will remember and defend the
hypnotically induced suggestions as factual. The role play programming is
used during rituals to confuse the child For example, the child may have role
playing scenario in which he/she is bathed by a person dressed in a Mickey
Mouse costume. Under hypnosis, the child is given the cue that when he/she
hears a given sound, helshe will see Mickey Mouse. Later, the non-hypnotized
child is sexually molested while the given cue is sounded The child recalls the
hypnotic suggestion and thinks Mickey Mouse is the perpetrator."
RELIGION
Given the premise that Satanic ritual abuse is a "spiritual assault" (Gallant), a
therapist is not permitted the luxury of scienac detachment from spiritual issues when
working with SRA survivors. Therapists will find themselves examining their own belief
systems and that system's impact upon their work This is not the same as examining one's
value system, which is easy to articulate. Though it is a difticult process, spiritual self-
scouring eventually strengthens the therapists's effectiveness. I have treated SRA children
from Protestant, Catholic and Muslim families. There is not one jot of difference in their
pain or grief for their corrupted children. A Jewish father brought to my office an enormous
Strawberry Shortcake doll house complete with furniture and dolls to give to a Muslim father
and his four-year-old ritually victimized daughter. A Christian SRA four-year-old girl
entertained the four-year-old Muslim victim and later said to her mother, 'The bad guys got
her, huh, Mom." No one had told her anything.
SRA children talk about the Devil or Satan or "the God of Hell." They say that they
were forced to chant "Baby Jesus is dead Baby Jesus is dead" over a recently sacrificed
infant They report being sodomized beneath Christian paintings and taunted with, "Have
Jesus help you now." The courts may omit the spiritual assault but therapists cannot be so
oblivious.
My approach is to accept the fact that Satanic beliefs were implanted in the young
child and to investigate the supportive parent's own belief system. Attendance at church is
less significant than whether that belief is comforting and enduring. I ask the parent to re-
examine the beliefs of his or her faith and see what it says about witchcraft, sorcery, human
sacrifice, and Satan, then to talk to a minister, rabbi or other religious leader for guidance
and support. The parent is thereby aligned with "the good guys." Eventually the parent
introduces the young child to hisher own religion, in small increments because the parent
is deprogramming the child and must proceed gently. Suddenly attending church could be
traumatic unless one prepares the child since Satanic ceremonies parody Christian senices
and a flashback may occur. Be very sensitive to the child's reactions in church. But whether
it is God the Father or Allah the Most Merciful, all damaged children are blessed and
forgiven. A combination of prayer, forgiveness, and love is probably the most beneficial
treatment possible, turning the "negative self-cognition" (Shapiro) into a positive one.
Children need to be reassured that they are basically good and that what was done to them
or they did to others could not be helped As one mother says to her child, "You couldn't
help it, I love you"
Let us assume that the therapist has addressed David Finklehor's post-traumatic
stress disorder symptoms: "nightmares, phobias, hypenigilance, dissociation, somatic
complaints, sleep problems, deadness of affectu1 And let us also assume that the therapist
has dealt with the child's impaired coping skills, low self esteem, inability to protect
himmerself, depression, overcompensating by acting aggressive and dominating. What does
the therapist do when the child reports human sacrifice, canniialism, tortures, kidnapping,
drugs and maskedkaped perpetrators? I think the best approach is to explain these events
to the child: appeal to hisher cognitive capacities.
At first, I did not do this because I worried lest I influence the childrens'
conceptualizations and damage cases from the point of view of criminal prosecution. My
concern about prosecution grew dimmer as the years rolled by and none occurred Now my
Eust concern is helping the little children. While I caution against explaining to a small child
in the early stages of disclosure and trauma, the aims and methodology of Satanism, I will
not hesitate to explain it to the over 6 year old who has one year's time between himjher
and the abuse. At this age a child can comprehend abstract belief systems, motivation, and
planned outcomes. Sometimes just learning that one purpose of ritual abuse is to make the
victim sexually assaultive and hyperaggressive is enough to motivate the child to change. If
in psychodynamic therapy, the child is asked to understand his feelings and thoughts, hetshe
can also be asked to understand those of the perpetrators.
In order to do this effectively, the therapist should study Satanic writing and occult
literature to understand its form of communication, theory, and goals. Discussion with adult
swivors is invaluable and I owe much to those who have shared their experiences with me
so that I can better help the children.
Specifics such as 'hiwriting in the book" (The Book of Shadows) during the ceremonies
can be explained to the child, as well as why babies are killed, why humans are eaten, why
mock marriages and mock operations are performed. We even know why the child is told
his parents are not his real parents. AU these brainwashings, tortures, disinformation, and
distortions are explainable and should be explained.
Children's questions such as, 'Will they come back and get me?" are less easily
answered because these children were filmed and we know from adult sunivors that very
often Satanists recontact their ritual participants. Kidnapping fears are prominent in ritually
abused children
1 Finkelhor, D. (1987). 'The Trauma of Child Sexual Abuse: Two Models," journal of
b7t VoL,2, No. 4, pp. 348-365.
Parents' questions such as, 'What will happen when my child grows up?" are also
difficult. While studies show that therapy for abused children is more beneficial than no
therapy1, we have no way of predicting whether Satanic programming will result in
permanently altered personalities now or in the future. Adult survivors report numerous
commands which they were programmed to obey at certain times in their lives. When
terminating treatment of these SRA children, I recommend that the parents watch for
relapses into excessive aggression or excessive withdrawal. If these occur, the parents are
advised to bring the child back for more therapy. Only an extended study of these children
will provide information regarding predilection for molestation of other children, drug and
alcohol abuse, self mutilation or suicide.
Adult ritual abuse survivors state that one possible outcome of SRA indoctrination
is vulnerability to Satanic recruitment at an older age. These and similar worries cause
parents and therapists to ponder the childrens' futures and the course our society should
take if Satanism becomes more prevalent One hopes that with early identification, therapy
for both child and family, and a growing public awareness of the heinous nature of ritual
abuse, its evil influence can be mitigated.
In 1896, Freud presented a paper entitled 'The Etiology of Hysteria" to the Society
for Psychiatry and Neurology in Vienna, Austxia h this paper he outlined the seduction
theory which postulates that the patient's hysteria, e.g. mental illness, has its origin in a
''violent infantile sexual scene." He believed that these experiences were real, that the
patients were telling the truth, and that these experiences had a damaging and lasting effect
on their later lives. His words were: "rape, abuse, seduction, attack, assault and t r a ~ m a . ' ~
By 1903, he appeared to reverse his views and said the scenes were fantasies. This reversal
has created skepticism, the skepticism, injustice.
The significance of this event most keenly affects those of us involved in ritual abuse
cases because the case which changed Freud's mind, the singular case of Emma Eckstein
(which he and his hiend Fliess mishandled), was one of the earliest examples of ritual abuse
in the history of psychoanalysis. Emma told of a devil sticking pins into her finger (today
the children speak of being "poked")and putting candy on each drop of blood (and probably
eating it). Our children speak of people wearing devil masks bleeding them with needles.
1 (December 1986). "Effectiveness of Therapies",

Children's Me
Background paper,n ta
Congress of l
the United States, OEce of Technology Assessment, Washington, D.C.,20510-8025,
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 86-600539.
W o n , J.M. (February 1984). "Freud and the Seduction Theory," The Atlantic
Mont& p. 5 2
The other scene Emma recalled in hypnosis was being circumcised, which consisted of
cutting off a piece of the labia minora (confirmed by medical examination), and someone
sucking up the blood "following which the child was given a piece of the skin to eat"
7 dream, therefore, of a primeval devil religion whose rites are camed on

secretly, and I understand the harsh therapy Cjudgement) of the witches'
judges." (Freud)
In his landmark book, The sa t on

Theorv. Masson mstulates that Freud believed that Sabbats ("ritualized ceremonies in which
p e r v e are
~ acted out") were real events. But for pers&l and not scientific reasons,
Freud decided to interpret the patient's memories as fantasies, not real events.'
N k t y four years after Freud's landmark paper was presented in Vienna, we are back
to the startling decision that our patients are telling the truth. They were raped and
traumatized and the 'lasting effect" is chronic post-traumatic stress syndrome not hysteria.
One hopes that by 1996, one hundred years after Freud's initial paper on Hysteria, we shall
have adopted the more logical view that previously repressed rape memories are, in the
words of one ritually abused child, "no fun"to recall. I submit that it is "no fun" to fantasize
ritual abuse and that 3 or 4 year olds could not possibly invent identical reports across the
United States, Canada, and Europe.
Therapists are still developing approaches to treatment. Learning centers are

c o n d u d q longitudinal studies of SRA victims and their families2. There is much more
information needed but we do have some data and, by sharing our work, we can develop
practice guidelines which are effective in the treatment of ritually abused victims.
END
* Waterman, J., Kelly, R.J., McCord, J., and Oliveri, MK (October 1990). Reported
mtualistic and Non-ritualistic Sexual Abuse in Preschools: Effects and Mediators,
Department of Psychology, U.C.LA, Research and Education
-
Institute, Harbor U.C.LA Medical Center, Los Angeles CA.
"Thepolitico-rebous struggle For the mind of
man may well be won by whoever becomes most
convermnt with the normal md abnormal hctions
of the brain,
and is r e a d a t to make use of the knowledge

p e d ."
CHILDREN'S DMWINGS
l
l
o a tree and another girl on the ground

Drawing by 4 year old nYI
& showing one costumed perpetrator
Drawing by a 9year old victim showing two costumed perpetrators
Drawing by 4% year old w'ctim showiug one costumed peptrator wearing a pentagram
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Bissociation VoL III, No. 1, pp. 3-9.
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Washugton DC, pp. 66-97.
Putnam, F.W., Jr. (1989) P D m et Pe v a'sorder. The

Guilford Press, New York NY and London U.K.
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Zafetv Partnership, Final Report. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DE 20402,
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Contror &wrt of the Ritual Abuse Task Force. Los Angeles County Commission for
Women, Los Angeles CA.
Sargant, W. 11959). Battle for the Mind. Pan Books Ltd., London U.K.,p 5657.
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C in Chicago (February 5, 1990). "On the Cover: After the Verdict, Solace for None,"
Peopie Weekly, VoL 33, No. 5, pp. 70-80.
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Book
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Stress Disorders," J m o d f . Vol. 20, No.
3, p p 211-217.
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Thornas, G. (1989). J]J e to ' d cont
a
d n.
Bantam Books, New York NY.
Van Benschoten, S.C. (March 1990). "Multiple Personality Disorder and Satanic Ritual
Abuse: The Issue of Credibility," Dissociation. VoL 3, No. 1.
L . . J., KeQ,
Waterman,
on-
RJ., McCord, J., and Oliveri, M.K (October 1990). Re~orted
'ti utwe
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Summary. Department of Psychology, U.CLA, Research and Education Institute, Harbor-
U.C.LA Medical Center, Los Angeles CA.
(1989). 1
W st ' ona
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of.the
-F Portland House, New York NY,p. 5.
Wilson, J.P. (1989). T a r to

Trapy. Brunner/Mazel, New York NY.
Wood, W. and Hatton, L (1988). g e
Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Beyond Words Publishing, Inc., (800) 284-9673.
Young, W C , Sachs, RG., Braun, B.G. and Watkins, RT. (1988). 'tu 1
. .
Abuse m Childhood. A Chmcal Svndrome. Manuscript available from Walter C Young,
M.D., Columbine Psychiatric Center, 8565 South Popular Way, Littleton CO 80126.
These impatient facilities have treated victims of ritual abuse. They are widely
recognized as leaders in this field. There are many other facilities providing this s e ~ c e
however it is not within the scope of this book to survey all of America's resources Families
or mental health clinicians can contact their local Mental Health Center for referrals to the
nearest program.
Child and Adolescent S e ~ c e

Lagley Porter Psychiatric Institute
University of California
401 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco CA 94143
(415) 476-7266
In-~atienttreatment for adolescents
Center for the Treatment of Ritualistic Deviance

Hartgrove Hospital
520 North Ridgeway Avenue
Chicago IL 60624
(312) 722-3113
h - ~ a t i e n ttreatment for adults
Dissociative Disorders Program

Rush North Shore Medical Center
9600 Gross Point Road
Skokie IL 60076
(708) 933-6685
IDAHO STATE LAW
TlIE STATE O F IDAHO
CENTENNIAL LEGISLATURE S E C O N D REGULAR SESSION - 1990
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE BILL NO. 817
BY JUDICIARY, RULES AND ADHINISTRATION COHHITTEE
AN ACT
RELATING TO RITUALIZED ABUSE OF A CHILD; AMENDING CHAPTER 15, TITLE 18, IDAHO
CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 18-1506A, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE A
FELONY OFFENSE FOR SPECIFIED ABUSE OF A CHILD AS PART OF A RITUAL, TO PRO-
VIDE EXCLUSIONS, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES AND TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION; AMEND-
ING CHAPTER 50, TITLE 18, IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION
18-5003, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION OF CANNIBALISM AND TO PROVIDE
A PENALTY; M E N D I N G SECTION 19-402, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT PROSECU-
TION FOR RITUALIZED ABUSE OF A CHILD MUST COHHENCE WITHIN A TIME CERTAIN;
AND M E N D I N G SECTION 19-3024A, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT A CHILD WITNESS
m RITUALIZED ABUSE HAY PRESENT TESTIMONY BY AN ALTERNATE PROCEDURE.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
SECTION 1. That Chapter 15, Title 18, Idaho Code, be, and the same is
hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and des-
ignated as Section 18-1506A, Idaho Code, and to read as follovs:
18-1506A. RITUALIZED ABUSE OF A CHILD --EXCLUSIONS --

PENALTIES -- DEFI-
NITION. (1) A person is guilty of a felony when he commits any of the follow-
ing acts with, upon, or in the presence of a child as part of a ceremony, rite
or any rimilar observance:
(a) Actually or in simulation, tortures, mutilates or sacrifices any
varm-blooded animal or human being;
(b) Forces ingestion, injection or other application of any narcotic,
drug, hallucinogen or anaesthetic for the purpose of dulling sensitivity,
cognition, recollection of, or resistance to any criminal activity;
(c) Forces ingestion, or external application, of human or animal urine,
feces, flesh, blood, bones, body secretions, nonprescribed drugs or chemi-
cal compounds;
( d ) Involves the child in a mock, unauthorized or unlawful marriage cere-
mony vith another person or representation of any force or diety, foltoved
by sexual contact with the child;
(C) Places a living child into a coffin or open grave containing a human
corpse or remains;
( f ) Threatens death or serious harm to a child, his parents, family, pets
or friends which instills a well-founded fear in the child that the threat
will be carried out; or
(g) Unlavfully dissects, mutilates, or incinerates a human corpse.
( 2 ) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to apply to:
(a) Lawful agricultural, animal husbandry, food preparation or vild game
hunting and fishing practices and specifically the branding or identifica-
tion of livestock;
(b) The lawful medical practice of circumcision or any ceremony related
thereto: or
(C) Any state or federally approved, licensed or funded research project.
(3) T h e penalty upon conviction of a first offense shall be imprisonment
in the state prison for a term of not to exceed fifteen (15) years. Upon con-
viction of a second o r subsequent offense, the penalty shall be for a term not
more than life imprisonment.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "child" means any person under
eighteen (18) years of age.
SECTION 2. That Chapter 50, Title 18, Idaho Code, be, and the same is
hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and des-
ignated as Section 18-5003, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:
18-5003. CANNIBALISM DEFINED -- PUNISHMENT. ( l ) Any person who wilfully

ingests the flesh or blood o f a human being is guilty of cannibalism.
(2) It shall be an affirmative defense to a violation of the provisions
o f this section that the action was taken under extreme life-threatening con-
ditions as the only apparent means of survival.
(3) Cannibalism is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not
exceeding fourteen (14) years.
SECTION 3. That Section 19-402, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
amended to read as follows:
19-402. COMMENCEMENT O F PROSECUTIONS FOR CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN AND

OTHER FELONIES. (1) A prosecution for any felony other than murder or any fel-
ony committed upon or against a minor child must be commenced by the filing of
the complaint o r the finding of a n indictment within three (3) years after its
comnission. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a prosecu-
tion for any felony committed upon or against a minor child must be commenced
within five (5) years after the commission of the offense by the filing of the
complaint o r a finding of a n indictment.
(2) A prosecution under section 18-1506 or 18-1508, Idaho Code, must be
commenced within five (5) years after the date the child reaches eighteen (18)
years of age.
( 3 ) A prosecution under section 18-1506A, Idaho Code, must be commenced
within three (3) years after the date of initial disclosure by the victim.
SECTION 4. That Section 19-3024A, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
amended to read a s follows:
19-3024A. ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE FOR TAKING TESTIMONY O F A CHILD WITNESS

-- ORDER -- PRESENCE O F COUNSEL AND DEFENDANT -- FILMING, VIDEOTAPING O R
TRANSUITTING OF TESTIMONY. l. As used in this section:
(a) "child witness" means a person who is under the age of sixteen (16)
years and who is alleged to have been a witness of, or a witness to a n
alleged violation of the provisions o f sections 18-1501, 18-1506, 18-1501,
18-1508, 18-1506A, 18-1514, 18-1515, 18-6605 and 18-6608, Idaho Code.
(b) "Simultaneous electronic transmission" means any device capable of
projecting a live visual and aural transmission such a s closed-circuit
television.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule of court, the court
in any criminal, youth rehabilitation, or child protective act proceeding,
upon written notice of the prosecutor made at least three (3) days prior to
the date of the preliminary hearing o r trial date o n which the testimony o f
the minor is scheduled, or during the course of the proceeding o n the court's
own motion, may order that the testimony of a minor sixteen (16) years of age
Or younger at the time of the motion be taken by contemporaneous examination
and cross-examination in another place and out of the presence of t h e judge,
jury, defendant and attorneys, and comnunicared to the courtroom by means of
two (2) way closed-circuit television, if the court makes all of the following
findings:
(a) T h e minor's testimony will involve a recitation of the facts of a n
alleged sexual offense or ritualized abuse c o m i t t e d on or with the minor.
(b) The impact on the minor of one or more of the factors enumerated in
paragraphs (1) through (4) of this subsection 2(b), is shown by clear and
convincing evidence to be so substantial as to make the minor unavailable
a s a witness unless closed-circuit television is used.
( 1 ) Threats of serious bodily injury to be inflicted on the minor o r
a family member, of incarceration or deportation of the minor or a
family member, or of removal o f t h e minor from the family or dissolu-
tion of the family, in order to prevent or dissuade the minor from
attending or giving testimony at any trial or court proceeding or t o
prevent the minor from reporting the alleged ritualized abuse, physi-
cal or sexual offense or from assisting in criminal prosecution.
( 2 ) Use of a firearm or any other deadly weapon during the comnis-
sion of the crime.
(3) Infliction of great bodily injury upon the victim during the
commission of the crime.
(4) Conduct o n the part of the defendant or defense counsel during
the hearing o r trial which causes the minor t o be unable to continue
his o r her testimony notwithstanding the notice requirement contained
in subsection 2 of this section.
In making the determination required in this section, the court shall con-
sider the age of the minor, the relationship between the minor and the
defendant o r defendants, any handicap or disability of the minor, and t h e
nature of the acts charged. The minor's refusal to testify shall not alone
constitute sufficient evidence that the special procedure described in
this section is necessary in order to obtain the minor's testimony.
(C) T h e equipment available for use of two (2) way closed-circuit televi-
sion would accurately comnunicate the image and demeanor of the minor to
the judge, jury, defendant or defendants and attorneys.
3. (a) The hearing o n a motion brought pursuant to the provisions of this
section shall be conducted out of the presence o f the jury.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule of court, the
court, in determining the merits of the motion, shall not compel the minor
t o testify at the hearing; nor shall the court deny the motion o n the
ground that the minor has not testified.
(C) I n determining whether the impact on a n individual child of o n e (1)
o r more of the four (4) factors enumerated in paragraph (b) o f subsection
2 of this section is so substantial that t h e minor is unavailable a s a
witness unless closed-circuit television is used, the court may question
t h e minor in chambers, or at some other comfortable place other than the
courtroom, o n the record for a reasonable period of time with the support
person, the prosecutor, and defense counsel present. The defendant or
defendants shall not be present. The court shall conduct the questioning
of t h e minor and shall not ~ e r m i t the prosecutor o r defense counsel to
examine the minor. The prosecutor and defense counsel shall be permitted
to submit proposed questians to the court prior to the session in cham-
bers. Defense counsel shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity t o con-
sult with the defendant o r defendants prior t o the conclusion of the ses-
sion in chambers.
4. When the court orders the testimony of a minor t o be taken in another
place outside of the courtroom, the court shall do all of the following:
(a) Make a brief statement on the record, outside of the presence of the
jury, of the reasons in support of its order. While the statement need not
include traditional findings of fact, the reasons shall be set forth with
sufficient apecificity to permit meaningful review and to demonstrate that
discretion was exercised in a careful, reasonable and equitable manner.
(b) Instruct the members of the jury that they are to draw no inferences
from the use of two (2) way closed-circuit television as a means of facil-
itating the testimony of the minor.
(C) Instruct respective counsel outside of the presence of the jury, that
they a r e t o make no comnent during the course of the trial o n the use of
two (2) way closed-circuit television procedures.
(d) Instruct the support witness, outside the presence of the jury, that
he is not t o coach, cue, or in any way influence o r attempt to influence
the testimony of the minor.
(C) Order that a complete record of the examination of the minor, includ-
ing the images and voices of all persons who in any way participate in the
examination, be made and preserved o n videotape in addition t o being
stenographically recorded. The videotape shall be transmitted to the clerk
of the court in which the action is pending and shall be made available
for viewing to the prosecuting attorney, the defendant, and his attorney
during ordinary business hours. The videotape shall be destroyed after
five ( 5 ) years have elapsed from the date of entry of judgment. If a n
appeal is filed, the tape shall not be destroyed until a final judgment o n
appeal has been ordered. Any videotape which is taken pursuant to the pro-
visions o f this section is subject to a protective order of the court for
the purpose of protecting the privacy of the witness.
5. When the court order8 the testimony of a minor to be taken in another
place outside the courtroom, only the minor, a support person designated by
the court, a nonuniformed bailiff, and, after consultation with the prosecu-
tion and t h e defense, a representative appointed by the court, shall be physi-
cally present for the testimony. A videotape shall record the image o f the
minor and his testimony, and a separate videotape shall record the image of
the support person.
6. When the court orders the testimony of a minor to be taken in another
place outside the courtroom, the minor shall be brought into the judge's cham-
bers prior t o the taking of his testimony to meet for a reasonable period of
time with the judge, the prosecutor, and defense counsel. A support person for
the minor shall also be present. This meeting shall be for the purpose of
explaining the court process t o the child and to allow the attorneys a n oppor-
tunity to establish rapport with the child to facilitate later questioning by
closed-circuit television. N o participant shall discuss the defendant or any
of the facts of the case with the minor during this meeting.
7. When the court orders the testimony of a minor t o be taken in another
place outside the courtroom, nothing in this section shall prohibit the court
from ordering the minor t o be brought into the courtroom for a limited purpose
including the identification of the defendant or defendants as the court deems
necessary.
8. T h e examination shall be under oath and the defendant's image shall be
transmitted live to the witness via two (2) way contemporaneous closed-circuit
television.
84
9 . Nothing in this section shall affect the disqualification of witnesses
pursuant to section 6 0 1 of the Idaho rules of evidence.
10. The criminal justice council shall submit a report to the legislature
o n or before January 1, 1990, sumnarizing the experience of courts which have
used contemporaneous closed-circuit television pursuant to the provisions o f
this section.
11. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to amend sec-
tion 19-3024 or 19-809A, Idaho Code, or rule 803(24) or 804(5) of the Idaho
rules of evidence.
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Child

"A Survey of Ritual Child Abuse Cases: Symptoms and

"Ritual Child Abuse: A S w e y of Symptoms and Allegationstr

'Therapy With Children Who Have Been Ritually Abused"

'Ritual Child Abuse Questionnaire" copyright0 March 17,1989

P.O.Box 2008, Saratoga, CA 95070

Cover art drawn by a 4 year old victim of ritual abuse.

First published January 1, 1991

Therapy W irh children Who Hwe Been Ritually Abured

Pamela S. Hudson, LC.S.W.

professional organization, The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children.'

The children came from households comprised oE

are represented in this sample.

saliva, an easy gag reflex, and complain of abdominal pain.

Symutoms. is largely self explanatory. Section B, AUeeations. is set apart since it is

composed of prosecutable crimes. Section C, Reported Phvsical and P s v c w Abuses.

FORT BRAGG DAY CARE

2 Sudden extreme fear of the bathroom,

bathing, washing hair.

4. High anxiety disorder, separation anxiety.

5. Temper tantrums, oppositional behavior.

2 Molested by strangers, day care workers, parent.

C Phvaiad and pslvcholonical Abw

anyone of the abuse.

Buried in the ground in coffins which they called "boxes."

Threatened with guns and knives.

Injected with needles, bled, drugged

Photographed during the abuse.

Perpetrators wearing black robes, masks.

Participated in mock marriage.

Defecated and urinated upon

Observed torture and molestation of other children.

Saw children and babies billed

Had blood poured on their heads.

the ritual abuse.

or more of the 16 forms of abuse.

pattern in ritual abuse of children and if so, what is it?"

special circ~mstance.~Section I, "Ritual Abuse Symptom Cluster in Young Victk," and

Physical or Psychological Abuse."

a. 1. Cm6mmcnt in Cage 10111

Confinement or isolation, frequently reported in ritual abuse cases, is an effective tool

and killed in her presence.

3. Live burial in caakcta, c a f h , h 8 6111

5. Threats with grrm or knives 10/11

his first day of school

child in the Babysitter case plays bondage games.

and noncooperation during investigation or trial.

10. Mock Mauiqp 6111

can alleviate a crisis at this point in their lives.

11. Defc€ation, urination,foraik ingesth of human wecrtes

on their personality development.

people in photographs about the house.

13. Fabeoph 6111

replaced by that of the day care operator.

masturbate or pretend to penetrate one another. Earlier in this paper I d e s c n i d children