#5 Believe the Children or Else!

The Satanic Panic

We kick off Episode 5 with a story from Austin Texas, The Oak Hill Satanic Ritual Abuse case. Fran and Dan Keller owned and operated a daycare center in the Oak Hill neighborhood of Austin Texas and in 1991 their lives changed forever. The therapist of a three-year-old child being treated for behavioral problems due to her parents' divorce alleged that the Kellers had sexually abused the child. The allegations went from sexual abuse to ritual abuse as more children were questioned by social workers and therapists. Allegations of sacrifice, murder, drinking blood, and quick trips south of the boarder had parents paralyzed with fear. But how much is true and when do we stop believing the children and start listening to reason?Fear in American culture led for a push in believing the children, and victims, of sexual abuse. But as well intentioned, and absolutely needed, as that push was, it had unfortunate side effects. From aggressively misguided interview techniques, to a new set of laws that awarded money based on the amount of reported abuse cases, American social workers became a key player in the quickly growing Satanic Panic.