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

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​US Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation
National Center For The Analysis of Violent Crime
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
* Acknowledgements................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................i
* Table of Contents................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................iii
* I.Introduction................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1
* II.Historical Overview ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................3
* "Stranger Danger"................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................3 Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4 Return to "Stranger Danger"................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4 The Acquaintance Molester................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................5 Satanism: A "New" Form of "Stranger Danger"................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................5
* III.Law Enforcement Training................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................7
* IV.Definitions................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9
* What is Ritual?................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................10 What is "Ritual" Child Abuse?................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................11 What Makes a Crime Satanic, Occult, or Ritualistic?................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................12
* V.Multidimensional Child Sex Rings................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15
* Dynamics of Cases................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15 Characteristics of Multidimensional Child Sex. Rings................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................16 Scenarios................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................17 Why Are Victims Alleging Things that Do Not Seem to Be True?................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................18
* VI.Alternative Explanations................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................21
* Pathological Distortion................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................21 Traumatic Memory................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22 Normal Childhood Fears and Fantasy................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22 Misperception, Confusion, and Trickery................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................23 Overzealous Intervenors................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................23 Urban Legends................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................23 Combination................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................24
* VII.Do Victims Lie About Sexual Abuse and Exploitation?................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................25
* VIII.Law Enforcement Perspective................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................29
* IX.Investigating Multidimensional Child Sex Rings................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................33
* X.Conclusion................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................39
* XI.References................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................41
* XII.Suggested Reading................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................43
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17 U.S.C. 105).
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