Forensic Considerations in Ritual Trauma Cases (Part 2) - Page 11

Clearly, the most distressing aspect of ritual trauma relates to accounts of child mutilation and sacrifice, cannibalism, and the use of blood, feces, and urine in ritual ceremonies. In spite of historical documentation of such activity, it is extremely difficult to imagine such behavior in a modern setting. Of course, it was likewise impossible for most people to imagine the crimes of Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin, Manson, Dahmer, etc. Therefore, if we are to address this problem with any success, we must move beyond our own limited perceptions and experiences – no matter how uncomfortable the process may make us.

To understand and confront this phenomenon, we must accept the fact that most survivors of ritual trauma not only report severe sexual abuse and torture, they also report exposure to these other most heinous acts. A study of ritual trauma (conducted in conjunction with a research project at the University of Colorado at Boulder) reports results which appear to be consistent with survivor accounts across this country and elsewhere. Of survivors responding:

 100% were subjected to sexual molestation and intercourse  97% were tortured  97% were forced to participate in group sex with adults  97% witnessed or were forced to participate in animal sacrifice  94% were sodomized  88% were drugged  88% witnessed or were forced to participate in human sacrifice  82% witnessed or were forced to participate in cannibalism  76% were forced to torture others  70% were used in child pornography  58% were used in child prostitution  33% were forced to breed children for later sacrifice

These figures were reported by adult survivors, and are consistent with everything that we have heard about the ritual abuse of children. In addition to the above figures, many of these survivors disclosed that they had developed MPD/DID as a result of their abuse. Most reported their father or mother as their primary perpetrator. Additional perpetrators mentioned included other family members, as well as physicians (30%), priests (18%), and teachers (15%). All survivors noted that the abuse began at a very early age.

In the case of children, organized perpetrator groups go to great lengths to create ritual scenarios that will create “unbelievable” disclosures in which discrepancies are rampant. Once again, drugs are used in the process to tremendous advantage. For example:

1) Since confinement and isolation is an effective method of psychological conditioning, children often report having been put in a closet or cage with a lion. In reality, these children might have been placed with a large lion-like dog - or perhaps a human dressed in a lion costume. When this experience is combined with the use of sound effects and hallucinogens, the experience seems very real to a child. This deceptive method ensures absolute terror and compliance, while at the same time, serves to discredit the child should there be subsequent disclosure.

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