Page "McMartin preschool trial" Paragraph 6

Several hundred children were then interviewed by the Children's Institute International ( CII ), a Los Angeles abuse therapy clinic run by Kee MacFarlane.

The interviewing techniques used during investigations of the allegations were highly suggestive and invited children to pretend or speculate about supposed events.

By spring of 1984, it was claimed that 360 children had been abused.

Astrid Heppenstall Heger performed medical examinations and took photos of what she believed to be minute scarring, which she stated was caused by anal penetration.

Journalist John Earl believed that her findings were based on unsubstantiated medical histories.

Later research demonstrated that the methods of questioning used on the children were extremely suggestive, leading to false accusations.

Others believe that the questioning itself may have led to false memory syndrome among the children who were questioned.

Ultimately only 41 of the original 360 children testified during the grand jury and pre-trial hearings, and fewer than a dozen testified during the actual trial.