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

 There is evidence of multiple pregnancies or “abortion” in adolescence  Child refers to being married; or states that she is married or going to have a baby; or child states that she will never be able to have a baby

B. PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH TOILETING AND THE BATHROOM

 Child avoids the bathroom and is highly fearful or agitated when in or around a bathroom  Child avoids or is fearful of using the toilet; has toileting accidents because he or she puts off going; develops constipation; is unnecessarily fearful or resistant to being toilet trained  Child avoids wiping self; or child’s underwear is soiled because he or she will not wipe, or due to relaxed sphincter muscle  Child fears or avoids the bathtub, panics when being bathed, or resists being washed in the genital area  Child seems preoccupied with urine and/or feces, or spontaneously urinates or defecates at inappropriate times or places  Child either handles urine and feces, urinates on others, or smears feces on self, others, and/or objects  Child attempts to ingest urine or feces, or compulsively discusses it at meal times  Child draws nude pictures of self and/or family members urinating or defecating  Child talks about any of the above scenarios involving urine and feces; or having been urinated or defecated upon; or witnessing these things having happened to someone else

C. PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUPERNATURAL, RITUALS, OCCULT SYMBOLS, RELIGION, ETC.

 Child fears ghosts, monsters, witches, devils, dracula, vampires, evil spirits, dinosaurs, etc.  Child fears Halloween, or themes associated with the celebration of Halloween, Easter, etc; regresses or gets highly agitated at Halloween, Easter, or other ritual holidays  Child believes evil spirits inhabit his/her closet, enter the house, peer at the child through windows, accompany the child, torment or abuse him/her or watch to make sure he/she keeps secrets, inhabit the child’s body, and/or direct the child’s thoughts and behavior  Child is afraid of or preoccupied with wands, sticks, swords, spirits, magic potions, curses, supernatural powers, crucifixions; or makes potions, attempts magic, throws curses, calls on spirits, prays to the devil, etc.  Child sings odd, ritualistic songs or chants, sometimes in an incomprehensible language  Child sings songs with a sexual, bizarre, or “you better not tell” theme  Child does odd, ritualistic dances which may involve a circle or other symbols; child may costume him/herself in red or black, take off his/her clothes, or wear a mask for such dances  Child is preoccupied with what might be considered occult symbols, such as the circle, inverted pentagram, hexagram, the number 6, horns, goats, inverted cross, etc.

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