Investigator's guide to allegations of 'ritual' child abuse

by Kenneth V. Lanning

US Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation

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National Center
For The
Analysis of Violent Crime

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Investigator's Guide to Allegations of "Ritual" Child Abuse

January 1992

NCAVC FBI ACADEMY Quantico, Va. (703) 640 6131

NATIONAL CENTER FOR THE ANALYSIS OF VIOLENT CRIME
800-63-4097

INVESTIGATOR'S GUIDE TO ALLEGATIONS OF "RITUAL" CHILD ABUSE

 

January 1992

 

Kenneth V. Lanning
Supervisory Special Agent

 

Behavioral Science Unit
National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime
Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBI Academy
Quantico, Virginia 22135

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author would like to thank Cynthia J. Lent, Technical Information Specialist, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, and Park Elliott Dietz, M.D., Threat Assessment Group, Inc., for their assistance and guidance in the preparation of this book.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   i

2. Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   iii

3. I.

   Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   1

4. II.

   Historical Overview ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   3

5. 1. "Stranger Danger" ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

      3

   2. Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

      4

   3. Return to "Stranger Danger" ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

      4

   4. The Acquaintance Molester ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

      5

   5. Satanism: A "New" Form of "Stranger Danger" ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

      5

6. III.

   Law Enforcement Training ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   7

7. IV.

   Definitions ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   9

8. 1. What is Ritual? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

      10

   2. What is "Ritual" Child Abuse? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

      11

   3. What Makes a Crime Satanic, Occult, or Ritualistic? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

      12

9. V.

   Multidimensional Child Sex Rings ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   15

10. 1. Dynamics of Cases ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

       15

    2. Characteristics of Multidimensional Child Sex. Rings ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

       16

    3. Scenarios ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

       17

    4. Why Are Victims Alleging Things that Do Not Seem to Be True? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

       18

11. VI.

    Alternative Explanations ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    21

12. 1. Pathological Distortion ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

       21

    2. Traumatic Memory ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

       22

    3. Normal Childhood Fears and Fantasy ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

       22

    4. Misperception, Confusion, and Trickery ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

       23

    5. Overzealous Intervenors ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

       23

    6. Urban Legends ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

       23

    7. Combination ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

       24

13. VII.

    Do Victims Lie About Sexual Abuse and Exploitation? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    25

14. VIII.

    Law Enforcement Perspective ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    29

15. IX.

    Investigating Multidimensional Child Sex Rings ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    33

16. X.

    Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    39

17. XI.

    References ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    41

18. XII.

    Suggested Reading ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    43