On March 22nd, 1984, three McMartin teachers, Mary Ann Jackson, Bette Raidor, and Babette Spitler, were indicted along with Ray Buckey, Peggy Buckey, Ray's sister Peggy Ann Buckey, and Virginia McMartin (pictured), who founded the preschool 30 years earlier. Following reports of sexual abuse at the school, McMartin was arrested in March 1984 on child molestation charges. When, in your best estimation, did that happen? he asked. Satanic rituals and secret dark tunnels were also described. At the conclusion, charges were dropped against Virginia McMartin, Peggy Ann Buckey, Jackson, Spitler and Raidor. MacFarlane has been criticized for her methods of interrogating small children. The McMartin Family Trials: The Letter That Started A Firestorm, The McMartin Family Trials: Defense Attorney Danny Davis Describes Ray Buckey, The McMartin Family Trials: Judy Johnson's Allegations Spark The Investigation, The ensuing trial of McMartin owner Peggy McMartin Buckey and her son, Ray Buckey, would last for nearly three years. mental stability was a major focus of the preliminary hearing. She was among those indicted and arrested in March 1984. On March 4th, 1985, several parents went to McMartin Preschool and dug random holes "two to three feet deep in the ground.". 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Almost exactly one year later, a former police officer who served as an investigator for the defense suicided himself at home. Neither Ray nor Peggy were ultimately convicted of any crime. but she stood by her findings. Social worker Kee MacFarlane conducted and oversaw interviews, using sock puppets and anatomically correct dolls to make the children open up, reported People Magazine. A faith-based pursuit of justice can lead to a miscarriage of justice. Satz, who is no longer with the television station, sat in the courtroom while Ms. MacFarlane was questioned. Uncovered: The McMartin Family Trials Premieres Saturday, July 27th, The McMartin Family Trials Bonus: Ray Buckey, The McMartin Family Trials Bonus: Children's Testimony, Throughout the 1980s, the United States became enthralled by reports of sexual abuse, child pornography and Satanism during the McMartin Preschool trials in Los Angeles, California. Most initially denied molestation, but were told other kids had revealed yucky secrets about what happened at the school, and were encouraged to do the same, according to The New York Times. He eventually quit the district attorneys office. In December 2000, she died at the age of 74, according to the Los Angeles Times. The number of convictions that came out of these cases, almost all of which were eventually overturned, shows how easily we can deceive ourselves and othershow the pursuit of justice results in gross injusticewhen the truth is preconceived. It was after March 1984, she said, but added she could not be sure because relationships evolve over time.. During this time, defense attorneys were also repeatedly asserting that the prosecution was withholding information about Judy Johnson's mental health. Johnson believed one of his teachers, Ray Buckey, had sodomized the boy with his thermometer.. Kathleen 'Kee' MacFarlane [1] (born 1947) [2] is an American social worker known for involvement in the high-profile McMartin preschool trial in the 1980s. A girl later testified that children were forced to play a game called naked movie star, during which they took their clothes off and were photographed, according to the Los Angeles Times. CII is still in business, providing children's treatment services in the Los Angeles community. Even when she wasnt bullying her preschool patients, MacFarlane frequently interpreted childrens statements that were clearly made in the context of some imaginative game as straightforward accusations of abuse, Beck writes. Prosecutors tried to bolster their side by providing testimony from George Freeman, a jailhouse informant, who claimed that Ray Buckey had admitted to him that he'd abused children at McMartin, but during his own testimony, Buckey claimed that he wasn't "teaching at the school during many of the times in which he was accused of abusing children." ". So did parents and law enforcement officials. Following Buckeys arrest in 1983, police reached out to 200 parents whose children attended the McMartin Preschool. Here are eight of the key players from the McMartin family preschool trials: The first accuser, Judy Johnson, went to the Manhattan Beach police and claimed her two-and-a-half-year-old son had been sexually abused by Ray Buckey, which led to the criminal investigation of McMartin Preschool. Over the course of a decade, seven teachers were arrested on more than 300 charges of child molestation and conspiracy, leading to the longest and costliest criminal trial in U.S. history, according to, Virginia McMartin opened her first preschool in 1956 at age 49, after separating from the father of her two children, according to, In the summer of 1983, Manhattan Beach police received a phone call from Judy Johnson, whose younger son was a student at McMartin Preschool. [13], MacFarlane went on to testify before Congress that she believed there was an organized, nationwide conspiracy of individuals and "orthodox satanic groups" sexually abusing children, although she never presented evidence of who any of the individuals were nor proof of any orthodox satanic groups. Kathleen 'Kee' MacFarlane born 1947 is an American Children's Institute International. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! According to Debbie Nathan and Michael Snedeker, the authors of 'Satan's Silence,' (Kee) MacFarlane had been a lobbyist for NOW before she set about terrifying the children of Manhattan Beach. Jurors said videos of the Children's Institute International social workers interviewing the alleged victims particularly damaged the prosecutions case, as they appeared to show counselors suggesting the possibility of molestation before the children did, according to The Washington Post. Hundreds of children were left emotionally affected by the trial, staff at McMartin had their careers ruined, and innocent people spent years in jail. The case cost $15 million to prosecute, according to the. Although Ray Buckey was released the same day he was arrested based on lack of evidence, since Judy Johnson claimed that her son had provided the names of two other children at the school who were being abused, the police decided to reach out to parents for further evidence. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! She was then released on almost $300,000 bail, according to The Washington Post. Kee MacFarlane, Childrens Institute International, Los Angeles CA. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. A pediatrician who medically examined and photographed the children involved in the investigation, Astrid Heger testified she found physical evidence of molestation in 10 of 13 alleged victims, according to the Los Angeles Times. Our investigation indicates that possible criminal acts include: oral sex, fondling of genitals, buttock or chest area, and sodomy, possibly committed under the pretense of taking the child's temperature, read the letter. According to Abusing Religion: Literary Persecution, Sex Scandals, and American Minority Religions, during the course of the scandal Peggy Buckey was "stabbed in the crotch by a stranger," had her preschool torched, and at one point, "accusing parents located a hit man willing to bomb her car." The media also played a big part, showing heavy bias towards the prosecution and "providing sensational headlines day after day, almost never seriously questioning the allegations.". Five McMartin teachers were ultimately arrested and charged, along with the schools administrator, Peggy McMartin Buckey, and its 76-year-old founder, Virginia McMartin, with what detectives and child therapists determined was ritualistic satanic abuse. She designed sessions with 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children to mimic forensic interviews. The testimonies of the children were also repeatedly contradictory and inconsistent. [7] The interview techniques[8] MacFarlane used during the investigation into the allegations were highly suggestive and invited children to pretend or speculate about supposed events. Ray Buckey was held without bail, and would remain incarcerated for five years during the length of the trial. She was the Director of Children's Institute International. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. " 'All the kids' mommies and dads now know what happened at the school, all the touching, all those sneaky little games.' Do you think by using that statement, and . Neither Ray nor Peggy were ultimately convicted of any crime. With Johnson dead, Buckey's defense attorney was able to impeach her character during the trial. American social worker. By 1989, the number of charges had been reduced to 64, and the trial dragged on, according to the, In November 1989, after two and half years and testimony from 124 witnesses, a weary jury began deliberating the fates of Ray Buckey and Peggy McMartin Buckey. She was the Director of Children's Institute International. MacFarlane has been criticized for her methods of interrogating small children. Some were things I didnt know., At another point she said, I remember being shocked at what kind of information he had. Beck doesnt suggest that the rhetoric in The Courage to Heal is echoed in some of the rhetoric surrounding sexual abuse today. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. The McMartin case was symptomatic of a nationwide panic about an epidemic of child sexual abuse at day-care centers in the 80s, with other high-profile cases in Minnesota, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Texas all fomenting media hype, legislative changes, and mass hysteria. Movies. Many other therapists and social workers who worked with children on ritualistic sex abuse cases in the 80s operated on the same dangerous assumption. He is previewing the testimony before jurors hear it. We Believe the Children should serve to remind us of the dangers of the we must believe the victim mindset in the case of any criminal offense. "I've been working with sexually abused children for 13 years,. Key McFarlane, the director of CII at the time, examined and videotaped approximately 400 children using anatomically correct dolls. My son didn't do anything, nor my mother, my daughter, or any of the teachers," Peggy Buckey said. The. During the ritual, she claimed, Peggy drilled a child under the arms'' and ''Ray flew in the air, according to The New York Times. MacFarlanes findings and techniques were later criticized, as was her relationship with reporter Wayne Satz, who extensively covered the McMartin Preschool story for Los Angeles KABC, according to the Associated Press. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Also arrested were Buckeys mother, sister Peggy Ann Buckey, and several co-workers, who were charged with a combined 115 counts later increased to 321, according to The New York Times. But many of the stories, pursued with zeal through the courts, were false and extremely destructive. According to the kids, the staff at McMartin could turn into witches and fly. The case has been in Los Angeles courts for five years. He was retried later that year, resulting in a mistrial and all charges being dismissed, according to the, . Buckey would spend the next five years in jail before being released in 1989 on $1.5 million bail. CBS2's Paul Magers spoke with key figures in the McMartin abuse case about what's happened in the years since. But Davis did say about his client Ray Buckey: "He was singly the most heroic client I've ever defended, not only because he was innocent, but he endured it with a quiet wisdom.". [14], Involvement in the McMartin preschool trial. Key McFarlane, the director of CII at the time, examined and videotaped approximately 400 children using anatomically correct dolls. Following reports of sexual abuse at the school, McMartin was arrested in March 1984 on child molestation charges. Kevin Cody/Easy Reader, The first accuser, Judy Johnson, went to the Manhattan Beach police and claimed her two-and-a-half-year-old son had been sexually abused by Ray Buckey, which led to the criminal investigation of McMartin Preschool. Testimony by Kee MacFarlane,Director of Children's Instititute International Testimony by Kee MacFarlane,Director of Children's Instititute International Parent Category: McMartin Preschool Abuse Trial (1987-90) (Witness for the Prosecution) August 8, 1988 Direct Examination by Prosecutor Roger Gunson: Gunson: "What is your occupation?" It started in August 1983 with Judy Johnson, a resident of a wealthy and bucolic Los Angeles suburb, who told police she suspected her 3-year-old son, Matthew, was being molested by one of his preschool teachers. She was the Director of Children's Institute International. Matthew had been complaining of an itchy anus and was obsessed with playing doctor, a game he said he played at school. On Dec. 19, 1986, she was found dead in her home, and the coroners office listed her cause of death as fatty metamorphosis of the liver associated with alcoholism, according to, . They were pretty distraught," Rubin replied. One poll showed that 87 percent of respondents thought that the Buckeys were guilty. A jury found the mother and son not guilty of 52 counts of child molestation, but remained deadlocked on 12 molestation charges against Ray Buckey, as well as a single count of conspiracy against Ray and Peggy, according to AP News. The McMartin Preschool trial has been appropriately called a fiasco, but in response to the fiasco, new investigative techniques in dealing with child abuse victims were established. A distinguished teacher and artist, and the creator of "The New Year's Eve Project," she lives in New York City. Seven McMartin Preschool employees were arrested and charged with more than 300 counts of molestation and conspiracy, and by the end of the preliminary trial hearing, charges had been dropped against five of the them. Overall, there was also lack of medical evidence and criticism of interview techniques. During the ritual, she claimed, Peggy drilled a child under the arms'' and ''Ray flew in the air, according to, Following Buckeys arrest in 1983, police reached out to 200 parents whose children attended the McMartin Preschool. In the summer of 1983, Manhattan Beach police received a phone call from Judy Johnson, whose younger son was a student at McMartin Preschool. Matusinka handed a major portion of the continuing investigation over to Kee MacFarlane, a past acquaintance who had just arrived in Los Angeles to work as consultant and trainer for Children's Institute International (CII), an agency that treated abused and neglected children. Kee MacFarlane, Self: Strong Kids, Safe Kids. I remember them almost giggling and laughing, saying, Oh, we know these things happened to you. Parents enrolled their children or put their names on waiting lists in hope of gaining admission to what was considered one of the areas best preschools. In December, 1986, Johnson died of alcohol poisoning, less than a year before the first McMartin trial began. During the preliminary hearing, 14 children participated, and during the actual trial the number had dwindled to nine. The photographic method she developed has been successfully used in hundreds of molestation cases. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. In the spring of 1983, Judy Johnson tried to enroll her 2-year-old son at the Virginia McMartin Preschool in Manhattan Beach, California, but she was told that unfortunately, the school was full and they weren't accepting new applicants. Two months later, in January 1990, they rendered their judgement. All of their savings went to lawyers' fees and according to Peggy, they "lost everything.". In the end, Ray Buckey and Peggy Buckey were acquitted. A judge later ruled in her favor, according to the, Kee MacFarlane, a social worker at the Childrens Institute International, conducted interviews with hundreds of McMartin Preschool students, using sock puppets and anatomically correct dolls to help children disclose yucky secrets. Many children initially denied being abused, according to, . The defense team, however, brought in its own medical expert who refuted her findings, according to the Los Angeles Times. Last edited on 21 December 2022, at 08:53, child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome, "Treating Child Sexual Abuse: An Overview of Current Program Models", "Interviewer's Methods Seen as Key Issue in Preschool Case", "Suggestive interviewing in the McMartin Preschool and Kelly Michaels daycare abuse cases: A case study", "More than suggestion: the effect of interviewing techniques from the McMartin Preschool case", "I'm Sorry; A long-delayed apology from one of the accusers in the notorious McMartin Pre-School molestation case", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kee_MacFarlane&oldid=1128664355, The Clinical Interview; with Joanne Ross Feldmeth, Karen Saywitz (1988), This page was last edited on 21 December 2022, at 08:53. Did you speak to them when it was over?" He was later indicted and arrested in March 1984, along with his grandmother, Virginia McMartin. Rife with accusations of Satanic rituals, animal sacrifices and child sex abuse, the McMartin Preschool case was one of the most infamous criminal trials of the 1980s and the longest and costliest in U.S. history. [2], As part of her job at CII, MacFarlane interviewed 400 children for the McMartin preschool trial using anatomically correct dolls and hand puppets. Amazon.com: Sexual Abuse of Young Children: Evaluation and Treatment: 9780898627039: Kee MacFarlane, Jill Waterman, Shawn Conerly, Linda Damon, Michael Durfee, . When cases went to court, the judicial systems innocent until proven guilty model was seemingly inverted: as Beck puts it, the pursuit of justice demanded the suspension of disbelief.. Repeatedly contradictory and inconsistent developed has been in Los Angeles courts for five years the. Was then released on almost $ 300,000 bail, according to, that,... Children were also described any crime and 5-year-old children to mimic forensic.! 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