Satanic Panic II: Judy Johnson and the McMartin Preschool Trial
Category: Podcasts
3 Feb 15
Ray Buckey (far right) on trial in 1987
Manhattan Beach, California, 1983. A gorgeous, affluent seaside town – nobody suspected that half a dozen evil, satanic child molesters were hiding in plain sight.
5 Comments
Interesting show, I remember the case. Do you know why more of the students did not recant their stories publicly later on? Googling I just came across one. It is so weird to think you can make someone think they were abused for real. It seems like a therapist could help them figure out now if it was real.
If it’s the same effect on the child either way then aren’t the therapists guilty of abuse? Are the children as traumatized as abused kids? Didn’t the ‘well-meaning’ prosecutor say she’d never seen such frightened kids?
That’s a really good question. Very few of them ever made it to the testifying stage, and since they were minors at the time, we’ll never be able to know who all of the children were, what they were led to believe, and what they may believe now. Kee Macfarlane is certainly not talking about it. I’d like to think most of them knew they were pretending/making up stories, so the damage is hopefully minimal for a majority. I’m sure a good percentage of the parents must have realized pretty quickly that these allegations were ridiculous, even if they were swept up in the momentum of the case.
For a more in-depth discussion of that kind of thing, you should check out the movie Capturing The Friedmans, which depicts a different abuse hysteria case. The interview with a (disguised) adult “victim” is very enlightening.
You should also check out the book “Satan’s Silence” by Debbie Nathan. Very, very in-depth about this stuff, and a fascinating look at how this stuff happens.
Thanks for listening!
You guys mentioned West Memphis 3, are you thinking of ever exploring that case? Damien Echols openly participates in podcasts, you may be able to draw his attention to the show.
I’ve been thinking about it, yeah. I’ve gotta find a way in that isn’t just a retread of the Paradise Lost movies or West of Memphis.
has anybody ever considered that the threat of all the Satanist back in the 80’s never went away it just disguises itself better?? its called DCF now
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