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

Table of Contents

1. Introduction. 1

2. Historical Overview. 3

A. “Stranger Danger” 3

B. Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse 4

C. Return to “Stranger Danger” 5

D. The Acquaintance Molester 5

E. Satanism: A New Form of “Stranger Danger” 6

3. Law Enforcement Training 6

4. Definitions 8

A. What is Ritual? 9

B. What is “Ritual” Child Abuse? 10

C. What Makes a Crime Satanic, Occult, or Ritualistic? 11

5. Multidimensional Child Sex Rings 14

A. Dynamics of Cases 14

(1) Multiple Young Victims 15

(2) Multiple Offenders 15

(3) Fear as Controlling Tactic 15

(4) Bizarre or Ritualistic Activity 15

B. Characteristics of Multidimensional Child Sex Rings 16

(1) Female Offenders 16

(2) Situational Molesters 16

(3) Male and Female Victims 16

(4) Multidimensional Motivation 17

(5) Pornography and Paraphernalia 17

(6) Control Through Fear 17

C. Scenarios 17

(1) Adult Survivors 17

(2) Day Care Cases 18

(3) Family/Isolated Neighborhood Cases 18

(4) Custody/Visitation Dispute 19

D. Why are Victims Alleging Things that Do Not Seem to be True? 19

6. Alternative Explanations 22

A. Pathological Distortion. 22

B. Traumatic Memory. 23

C. Normal Childhood Fears and Fantasy. 24

D. Misperception, Confusion, and Trickery. 24

E. Overzealous Intervenors 24

F. Urban Legends 25

G. Combination. 25

7. Do Victims Lie about Sexual Abuse and Exploitation? 26

A. Personal Knowledge 27

B. Other Children or Victims 27

C. Media 28

D. Suggestions and Leading Questions 28

E. Misperception and Confusion. 29

F. Education and Awareness Programs 29

8. Law Enforcement Perspective 29

A. The Facts 30

B. Unanswered Questions 30

C. Law Enforcement Problems 31

D. Youth Subculture 32

E. Dabblers (Self-Styled) 33

F. Traditional (Orthodox) 33

9. Investigating Multidimensional Child Sex Rings 34

A. Minimize Satanic/Occult Aspect