Planning and Implementing a Strategy for Ritualistic Child Abuse Investigation with Alleged Occult Links

While some of the same investigative techniques are required of ritualistic child abuse cases with alleged occult links, several specially-tailored steps are also recommended. As Sandi Gallant remarks, "These cases are complicated to investigate and manage. The crime is most clear only in the mind of the perpetrators." Indeed, the ritualistic child abuse cases bring special investigatory problems, including the following:

First, the multiple victim/multiple suspect (MV/MS) situation forces the investigator to work with multiple child victims and to investigate multiple suspects;

Second, as Officer Rick Martinez with the Fountain Valley Police Department notes, "In ritualistic abuse investigations, you can't believe everything you hear. Law enforcers have to corroborate everything they hear. They need to particularly be aware of clinicians and psychologists whose intentions are very good, but they don't have to corroborate what their clients are saying from the law enforcement perspective." (Martinez Seminar, August 16, 1989.)

Third, inadequate cooperation exists between investigators, therapists and the parents;

Fourth, as Officer Sandi Gallant warns, "cops are result-oriented, but these cases don't produce results." (Gallant interview, April 3, 1989.)

To help counter the effects of these investigatory problems, the following procedural guidelines are offered:

1. Document all evidence as soon as it is received

2. Work as a team in which the roles of each team member are clearly defined. Recognize that the perspectives of each team member will differ, but this is a positive rather than negative factor which encourages a broader base for sharing and analyzing information.

The team should be open to new theories, should review the case every 30 days, and should not eliminate any factors unless they are conclusive. Teams should be comprised of individuals with knowledge of ritualized or serial abuse and should minimally consist of investigators, clinicians and child protection workers. The Department psychiatrist may be included in case court testimony about the officer's competence and religious beliefs are attacked by the defense.

3. Assign at least one investigator who is not a member of the investigatory team to act as a liaison with two groups: parents, custodians and other interested parties and support groups; and the media and general public. When dealing with parents, this investigator should help find immediate therapeutic assistance for the victim which will not only help the child deal with the trauma, but will help them become a more credible witness. Additionally, this investigator must caution parents to avoid contamination; they may not question the victim but may document any unsolicited revelations. It will become the job of the investigating team to validate any such revelations if they are to become part of the case. When dealing with the public, the investigator should exclusively handle the media, handle hot line tips, and prioritize leads as they are received.

4. Involve the District Attorney in the early stages of the investigation.

5. Keep all investigative information confidential for as long as possible.

6. Execute search warrants as soon as needed, but not short of probable cause. Be sure to have the crime lab print victims as children touch everything; look for false I.D.'s and birth/death certificates; look for items associated with rituals and/or a belief system.

7. Follow careful, well-documented interview procedures. Keep in mind when designing the interview questions that you need to determine as best as you can if the abuse described by the victim actually occurred or whether it may have been an illusion designed by perpetrators to frighten or discredit the victims.

Prior to questioning, audio tape all interviews to maintain clarity about who first originated the information and to dispel the theory that interviewers "suggest" certain things to the victim; arrange to assess the victim's verbalization skills and plan questions accordingly; arrange for a clinician to be present to monitor the victim's stress level; inform the parent that it may be necessary for him or her to leave the room; and select an interview location where the child will be comfortable.

Before beginning the actual questioning, it may be helpful to play with the child in some capacity that will help build some rapport. During the actual questioning, do not wear your uniform; use the victim's terminology;

do not ask leading or suggestive questions or those with "yes or no" responses; listen carefully and do not interpret what the victim is saying; let the victim speak in the narrative to allow for continuity in the interviewing process and to avoid contaminating the interview's outcome.

8. Keep the following in mind when examining the evidence and interview results: can you determine if the crime involved ritual or violent, random acting out; did the abuse fall into a particular ritualistic pattern; if ritual was involved, was it part of a belief system identified with a particular group or was it an individualistic belief system; and is there any evidence of networking at any level?