The McMartin Preschool Trial

McMartin Preschool Trial

Written by Courtney Peet

Law

April 12, 2011

The McMartin Preschool Abuse trail will forever be known as the longest and most expensive trial in American history. Over the course of six years, the American government spent over 15 million dollars investigating and prosecuting a case that didn't lead to a single conviction (The O.J Simpson trial, in comparison, costing 8 million.(Robinson, 2005)).(Linder, 2003)However more importantly, left in its wake an estimated 360 children that were claimed to have been molested or abused in some way.(Wikipedia, 2011) Although despite the claims, no one paid a higher price than Raymond Buckey, the chief defendant and grandson of the preschools founder, Virginia McMartin. Buckey suffered five years in jail for crimes, most people believe today, that he never committed.(Linder, 2003)

Raymond Buckey was the son of school administrator Peggy Buckey and grandson to the preschools founder, Virginia McMartin. Alongside him in facing the 208 charges of child sexual abuse were; his Mother, Grandmother, Sister Peggy Ann Buckey, and three of the preschools other teachers(Vera, 2006).

The investigation began in 1983 with a phone call to police in Manhattan Beach, California. Judy Johnson, the mother of a two and a half year old son Billy, who attended McMartin, told Detective Jane Hoag that 25 year old teacher Ray Buckey sodomized her son.(Linder, 2003) What happened next however is still disputed, some sources say that Johnson's son denied having been molested, and others say he confirmed it. Johnson, who was an alcoholic and had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, had also claimed that her son had been molested by her estranged husband, two facts that had been withheld from defense attorneys for three years(Robinson, 2005).

Johnson's belief of the molestation came from her son having painful bowel movements, but medical examinations showed no signs of the alleged abuse. However despite the lack of evidence,police conducted a search of Buckey's home(Linder, 2003). After confiscating items such as; a rubber duck, a graduation robe, and Playboy magazines, Hoag arrested Buckey on September 7th. Buckey was questioned but the DA decided not to prosecute.

Johnson also made further more bizarre accusations against the preschool such as Peggy Buckeydrilling children under the arms, Ray Buckey flying in the air as well as people at the daycare traveling to zoos seeking sexual encounters with giraffes(Wikipedia, 2011)(McMartin preschool trial).During the slew of accusations by Johnson, the Chief of Manhattan Beach police, Harry Kuhlmeyer issued a "strictly confidential" letter to around 200 parents of past or present McMartin students (Robinson, 2005). The letter stated that their children might have been abused and encouraged parents to question their children.

"September 8, 1983

Dear Parent:

This Department is conducting a criminal investigation involving child molestation (288 P.C.) Ray Buckey, an employee of Virginia McMartin's Pre-School, was arrested September 7, 1983 by this Department.

The following procedure is obviously an unpleasant one, but to protect the rights of your children as well as the rights of the accused, this inquiry is necessary for a complete investigation.

Records indicate that your child has been or is currently a student at the pre-school. We are asking your assistance in this continuing investigation. Please question your child to see if he or she has been a witness to any crime or if he or she has been a victim. Our investigation indicates that possible criminal acts include: oral sex, fondling of genitals, buttock or chest area, and sodomy, possibly committed under the pretense of "taking the child's temperature." Also photos may have been taken of children without their clothing. Any information from your child regarding having ever observed Ray Buckey to leave a classroom alone with a child during any nap period, or if they have ever observed Ray Buckey tie up a child, is important.

Please complete the enclosed information form and return it to this Department in the enclosed stamped return envelope as soon as possible. We will contact you if circumstances dictate same.

We ask you to please keep this investigation strictly confidential because of the nature of the charges and the highly emotional effect it could have on our community. Please do not discuss this investigation with anyone outside your immediate family. Do not contact or discuss the investigation with Raymond Buckey, any member of the accused defendant's family, or employees connected with the McMartin Pre-School.

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT THE MANAGEMENT OF VIRGINIA MCMARTIN'S PRE-SCHOOL HAD ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS SITUATION AND NO DETRIMENTAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN DISCOVERED DURING THIS INVESTIGATION. ALSO, NO OTHER EMPLOYEE IN THE SCHOOL IS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ANY CRIMINAL ACT.

Your prompt attention to this matter and reply no late than September 16, 1983 will be appreciated.

HARRY L. KUHLMEYER, JR.

Chief of Police

JOHN WEHNER, Captain"(Letter to McMartin Preschool Parents from Police Chief Kuhlmeyer, Jr.)

The letter stirred up community wide panic and a local TV station reported that the preschool may have been connected with child pornography rings and various sex industries in nearby Los Angeles(Robinson, 2005).

The DA asked Kee MacFarlane, a consultant for the CII (Children's Institute International) to interview the 360 alleged abuse victims(Vera, 2006). In the interviews, the children were asked very leading questions by the interviewers and were insulted if they didn't give the proper answers.

"Kathleen MacFarlane: Mr. Monkey is a little bit chicken, and he can't remember any of the naked games, but we think that you can, 'cause we know a naked game that you were around for, 'cause the other kids told us, and it's called Naked Movie Star. Do you remember that game, Mr. Alligator, or is your memory too bad...

MacFarlane: Maybe. Mr. Alligator, you peeked in the window one day and saw them playing it, and maybe you could remember and help us.

Boy: Well, no, I haven't seen anyone playing Naked Movie Star. I've only heard the song.

MacFarlane: