The McMartin Preschool Nightmare: A Satanic Saga

Header Image
BASED ON STORIES BEING READ: Odds of a WOO event today 0% - Odds of an Alien Invasion today 0%

A Mother’s Accusation Ignites Fear


In August 1983, Judy Johnson, a mother in Manhattan Beach, California, reported to police that her two-year-old son, a student at McMartin Preschool, had been molested by teacher Ray Buckey. Her claims, initially vague, grew bizarre, alleging satanic rituals, animal sacrifices, and abuse in secret tunnels.

Despite no medical evidence, her accusations, later linked to her paranoid schizophrenia, sparked a frenzy. The small coastal town, gripped by the 1980s Satanic Panic, saw parents and police spiral into fear, setting off a seven-year nightmare that shattered lives.

Bizarre Tales of Occult Horror


Children, prompted by suggestive interviews, described chilling scenes: teachers in black robes performing rituals, babies beheaded at churches, nude games like Naked Movie Star, and flights to distant locations for abuse. They claimed Ray Buckey wore capes, killed rabbits, and placed stars on their bodies.

Over 450 children alleged abuse, with tales of secret rooms and tunnels under the preschool. These fantastical stories, amplified by media, fueled public belief in a hidden satanic cult, despite no physical evidence supporting the claims.

Flawed Investigations Fan the Flames


The investigation, led by the Manhattan Beach Police and Children’s Institute International, was marred by errors. Police sent letters to 200 parents, urging them to question their children, triggering panic. Kee MacFarlane, an unlicensed social worker, used leading questions, puppets, and anatomically correct dolls to elicit abuse claims from 384 of 400 children interviewed.

Medical exams, often based on questionable methods, deemed 80% molested without physical proof. The lack of evidence, like photos or tunnels, did little to quell the hysteria, as fear of the occult took hold.

The Longest Trial in History


In 1984, seven McMartin staff, including Ray and Peggy Buckey, faced 208 counts of abuse. The preliminary hearing, lasting 19 months, was chaotic, with children’s inconsistent testimonies, like one naming actor Chuck Norris as a perpetrator. No secret tunnels were found, despite parents and archaeologists digging in 1985.

The trial, costing $15 million, ran from 1987 to 1990, the longest in U.S. history. Only 11 children testified, and evidence was weak. Peggy was acquitted, Ray faced two hung juries, and charges were dropped in 1990.

A Timeline of the Madness


Let’s trace the chilling path of the McMartin Preschool case:

  • August 1983: Judy Johnson reports her son’s alleged abuse by Ray Buckey at McMartin Preschool, sparking investigation.
  • September 1983: Police arrest Ray Buckey, find no medical evidence. Chief Kuhlmeyer’s letter to parents urges questioning, igniting panic.
  • 1983-1984: Kee MacFarlane interviews 400 children, using suggestive methods. 384 are deemed abused, alleging satanic rituals and tunnels.
  • March 1984: Grand jury indicts seven McMartin staff on 115 counts, later increased to 208, fueled by DA Robert Philibosian’s campaign.
  • August 1984: Preliminary hearing begins, the longest ever, with bizarre child testimonies of nude games and animal sacrifices.
  • March 1985: Parents and archaeologists dig for secret tunnels, finding none, despite children’s claims of underground abuse.
  • January 1986: Charges drop against five defendants. Ray and Peggy Buckey face 81 and 27 counts, respectively, after $4 million hearing.
  • April 1987: Trial begins with three prosecutors, 11 child witnesses. Defense highlights inconsistent stories and lack of evidence.
  • August 1988: MacFarlane’s testimony is discredited by a psychiatrist, who notes children were coerced into false claims.
  • January 1990: Peggy Buckey acquitted. Ray’s trial ends in a hung jury on 13 counts, costing $15 million.
  • June 1990: Ray’s second trial results in another hung jury. All charges are dismissed, ending the saga.
  • 1991: McMartin Preschool is demolished, leaving a scarred community and national debate on child testimony.
  • 2000s: Studies confirm suggestive interviewing caused false allegations, reshaping child abuse investigation protocols.

Theories of Hysteria and Evil


Skeptics argue the McMartin case was a textbook case of mass hysteria, driven by 1980s Satanic Panic, media sensationalism, and flawed interviews, as studies later showed children’s false memories were induced. Some believe pranksters or Johnson’s mental illness sparked the chaos.

Yet, a persistent few, citing the sheer volume of claims, insist a real occult network existed, possibly covered up to protect powerful figures. The tales of beheaded babies and demonic rituals, though unproven, keep the specter of supernatural evil alive in some minds.

A Legacy of Trauma and Lessons


The McMartin case left devastation: emotionally scarred children, ruined careers, and a demolished preschool. Ray Buckey spent five years in jail, Peggy two, with no convictions.

The case reshaped child abuse investigations, banning suggestive interviews and emphasizing confidentiality. Its occult-fueled hysteria, with tales of satanic horrors, remains a cautionary tale of fear run amok. Was it a collective delusion, a malicious lie, or a glimpse into real darkness? Well, that's for you to decide.

THE THiNG STANDING BEHiND YOU SAID YOU WOULD ENJOY THE STORIES BELOW ツ