Appeal Filed for Fran Keller: The Oak Hill Daycare 'Ritual Abuse' Fiasco

Appeal cites outdated medical evidence and Brady violation

"...that allegation quickly morphed into an allegation of sexual abuse. Before long, two other children who'd been in care..."

Jan. 14, 2013 News Post by Jordan Smith

'Ritual Abuse,' the San Antonio Four, and Public Hysteria

San Antonio case shows innocent are still behind bars

"...leave prison after being caught in the satanic child abuse hysteria of the Eighties and Nineties. At least we..."

Dec. 6, 2013 News Feature by Debbie Nathan

Appeal Filed for Fran Keller: The Oak Hill Daycare 'Ritual Abuse' Fiasco

Appeal cites outdated medical evidence and Brady violation

Jan. 18, 2013 News Feature by Jordan Smith

The Satanic Abuse Scare

By the early Nineties, satanic abuse allegations at day care centers had become a national trend

"...child-care workers across the country had been charged with ritual sex abuse of children, and 20 day care workers..."

March 27, 2009 News Feature by Jordan Smith

SXSW Film Review: Satan Wants You

The Satanic panic as a guidebook to the dangers of crazy conspiracies

"...book purported to reveal Smith’s repressed memories of Satanic ritual abuse and moments from her childhood where she was..."

March 12, 2023 SXSW Post by Matthew Monagle

Believing the Children

In 1992, Fran and Danny Keller were convicted of multiple counts of child sexual abuse at their Oak Hill day care center and sent to prison for 48 years. It's likely they were innocent. Indeed, it's very likely that no crime ever occurred – except an absurd and overzealous prosecution

"...a period of hysterical national rumors about supposed "satanic ritual abuse" at day care centers, made it virtually impossible..."

March 27, 2009 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Freedom for the Kellers

Fran and Dan released after 21 years for 'satanic abuse'

"...to 48 years in prison, for the alleged sexual abuse of 3-year-old Christy Chaviers, who, in the summer of..."

Dec. 6, 2013 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Free the San Antonio Four

And other victims of mass hysteria

"...bars for more than a decade for the supposed ritualistic sexual abuse of a friend's nieces – abuse that..."

Nov. 16, 2012 News Post by Jordan Smith

Can Keller Conviction Stand Without Physical Evidence?

Hearing in Austin ritual abuse case questions evidence of sexual abuse

"...When a child is sexually abused, there isn't necessarily physical evidence to prove any abuse..."

Aug. 27, 2013 News Post by Jordan Smith

Psych Experts Support Keller Appeal

'Satanic ritual abuse' is not real

"...grave doubt on the veracity of any allegations of abuse made against Keller, according to the letter penned by..."

March 26, 2013 News Post by Jordan Smith

Family Law Attorneys Say Keller Is Innocent

Veteran practitioners support Fran Keller's bid for freedom

"...that allegation quickly morphed into an allegation of sexual abuse, and before too long the allegations expanded again to..."

Feb. 20, 2013 News Post by Jordan Smith

Fran Keller Released From Prison

After more than 20 years, Keller is home for the holidays

"...to 48 years in prison for the alleged sexual abuse of 3-year-old Christy Chaviers, who in the summer of..."

Nov. 26, 2013 News Post by Jordan Smith

Point Austin: A Taste of Freedom

Thanks to those who fought for justice – the fight continues

"...celebrate this week that their 1992 convictions on "satanic ritual abuse" charges will almost certainly be overturned, and that..."

Dec. 6, 2013 News Column by Michael King

Point Austin: Welcome to the Madhouse

The Keller day care fiasco and the madness of crowds

"...of her 1992 conviction on multiple counts of child abuse. Keller and her husband, Dan, had run a small,..."

Jan. 18, 2013 News Column by Michael King

Keller Case Returns to Court

Hearing in Austin ritual abuse case questions evidence of sexual abuse

"...When a child is sexually abused, there isn't necessarily physical evidence to prove any abuse..."

Aug. 30, 2013 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Article Is Flawed

"...Secondly, Randy informed the prosecution of the nature of ritual abuse and the fact that much of it is..."

March 31, 2009 Postmarks

Learning From Our Mistakes

Free, but not exonerated, Fran and Dan Keller are the victims of a continuing injustice

"...case in California, which involved more children, more alleged abusers, and equally fantastic tales. But the Fran's Day Care..."

March 11, 2016 News Feature by Michael King

Kellers Await Vindication

Judge says Kellers can't prove they're innocent of a crime few believe happened

"...to 42 years in prison for the alleged sexual abuse of then 3-year-old Christy Chaviers. The two were freed..."

Dec. 12, 2014 News Feature by Chase Hoffberger

Children and Testimony

Inexperienced interviewers can lead children to make up stories

"...became that children were too frightened to tell about abuse and that social workers – with little training in..."

March 27, 2009 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Point Austin: Legitimate Public Concern

The Keller prosecution is an enduring stain on Austin's honor and sense of justice

"...into the period and the decadelong era of "satanic ritual abuse" hysteria of which it was a part. It's..."

March 27, 2009 News Column by Michael King

Dan Keller Freed

After 21 years, reunited with Fran outside county jail

"...the Kellers had subjected Christy and other children to "ritual abuse." The allegations were fantastic: That the Kellers had..."

Dec. 5, 2013 News Post by Jordan Smith

Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four

Doc chronicles a shameful chapter in San Antonio history

"...tail end of the last gasp of the satanic ritual abuse mania that needlessly ruined countless lives, four women..."

Sept. 16, 2016 Movie Review by Josh Kupecki

Fantastic Fest 2015: “Satanic Panic: Evilspeak”

Original Alamo programmer Kier-La Janisse, Satan, return

"...instead a seething nest of unspeakably vile Satanic sexual abuse – this literal witch hunt continued for decades...."

Oct. 1, 2015 Screens Post by Marc Savlov

DVDanger: The Club

Home release roundup time

"...the arrival of, first a new resident, then a spiritual director (Marcelo Alonso as Father Garcia) from the diocese,..."

May 21, 2016 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Kellers Granted Relief

Court rules with little explanation

"...at trial that he observed physical indications of sexual abuse on the child's vagina that, he later learned, were..."

May 29, 2015 News Feature by Chase Hoffberger

Headlines

"...years in the notorious Oak Hill Day Care child abuse case. The brief claims that Keller was a victim..."

Jan. 18, 2013 News Feature

Fran Keller Released

"...convicted in 1992 of multiple counts of child sexual abuse at their Oak Hill day care center. He, too,..."

Nov. 29, 2013 News Feature

Fran Keller to Be Released from Jail

Agreement allows former day care owner to post bond

"...Austin day care owner was convicted of the sexual abuse of a 3 year-old child in her care. Keller..."

Nov. 26, 2013 News Post by Brandon Watson

Point Austin: Introducing the Constitution

Texas Civil Rights Project remains a 20-year work still in progress

"...poorer communities, where there has been a history of abuse and where there has not been a presence before."..."

Oct. 1, 2010 News Column by Michael King

Terror Fest Picks

"...they're both as Southern as Jimmy Carter. 2010 breakout Ritual Abuse and Still They Prey in 2016 both belong..."

June 15, 2018 Music Feature by Kevin Curtin

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