FMSF Online

<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFEBD1" TEXT="000000" LINK="#4D4DFF" VLINK="8E236B" ALINK="ff3300"> <CENTER><H3>False Memory Syndrome Foundation Online</H3> <H1><I>The Houston Trial</I><BR> USA v Peterson, Seward, Mueck, Keraga and Davis</H1> </CENTER> <H2>Introduction</H2> <P> On Tuesday, September 8, 1998, the first <strong>criminal</strong> trial involving charges against therapists in connection with "false" or "recovered" memories opened in Houston, TX. A sixty-count <A HREF="usavpete.html" target="_top">indictment</A> had been brought against five former employees of <A HREF="hospital.html">Spring Shadows Glen Hospital</A>. One count was for conspiracy, the other 59 for mail fraud. Each carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Among other things, the prosecution intended to establish that the defendants applied techniques associated with mind control or "brainwashing" to induce patients to believe that they had been ritually abused, sexually and otherwise, in satanic cults. <P> On this site, the <A HREF="brochure.html">False Memory Syndrome Foundation</A> will present <A HREF="archive.html">background material</A>, <A HREF="current.html">current events and expert commentary</A> and a compendium of the <A HREF="latenews.html">latest news about the trial</A>. In addition, the <A HREF=chron.html>Houston Chronicle</A>'s <STRONG>Mark Smith</STRONG> covered this trial on an ongoing basis, and his coverage is available (with some restrictions as to access) on the Chronicle's <A HREF="http://www.chron.com">web site</A>. <P>Be sure to check back often!<P> <ADDRESS> Except where noted, all material on this site is copyright (C) 1998, 1999, False Memory Syndrome Foundation. </ADDRESS></BODY>