McMartin preschool trial

The allegations of abuse at the McMartin Preschool affected hundreds of cases alleged satanic ritual abuse of children in a preschool in Manhattan Beach in the 1980s. The process to make the allegations lasted from 1987 to 1990 and was the longest and most expensive criminal trial in the history of the United States. All the defendants were acquitted.

Allegations of abuse

After 1983 first abuse allegations were raised by the mother of a child, started the Children's Institute International ( CII), a clinic for cases of abuse in Los Angeles under the direction of Kee MacFarlane, with investigations. The interviews were suggestive. They wanted to have discovered that it also had produced satanic rituals; the children had spoken of secret doors and tunnels. In the spring of 1984 it was claimed that over 360 children had been abused.

Prosecution

On March 22, 1984, the accused: Virginia McMartin, Peggy McMartin Buckey, Ray Buckey and Peggy Ann Buckey and teachers Mary Ann Jackson, Betty Raidor and Babette Spitler.

The process took seven years and cost 15 million U.S. dollars, he was the longest and most expensive criminal trial in the history of the United States. Ray Buckey spent five years in custody. He was like any other accused had been acquitted in 1990.

Archaeological investigation

1990 undertook the archaeologist Gary Stickel E. of the University of California at the request of some parents excavations on the school grounds, where he met with structures that he interpreted as remnants of tunnels and an underground room, as the children had described them. This interpretation came across unbelief: According to the psychologist W. Joseph Wyatt from Marshall University Stickel found only rubble -filled remains of a waste pit, which belonged to the previous development. The building was demolished in 1991.

Filming

The operations were in the 1995 legal drama Under indictment - The McMartin case with James Woods filmed in the lead role.