Thursday, November 21, 2013

Elizabeth Ramirez, Kristie Mayhough, Anna Vasquez, and Cassandra Rivera: Texas; (Aftermath 3); Reporter Chuck Lindell reports on similarities between the San Antonio 4 case - and the 1992 prosecution of Dan and Fran Keller (Texas; : opinions of sexual assault resting on "hymen tears" (vaginal trauma) and allegations of satanic abuse. The American-Statesman;


STORY: "San Antonio case mirrors Travis County conviction," by reporter Chuck Lindell, published by the American-Statesman on November 18, 2013.

GIST:  "The case of the San Antonio 4 parallels, in several ways, similar allegations against Dan and Fran Keller, whose 1992 Travis County sexual abuse case is back before the courts. Appeals filed in the San Antonio cases and by Fran Keller include medical doctors who have recanted important forensic testimony about vaginal trauma they no longer believe occurred. Both cases also included allegations of satanic ritual abuse of children. At the Kellers’ 1992 trial, emergency room physician Michael Mouw testified that his examination of a 3-year-old girl found two hymen tears that indicated she had been abused within the past 24 hours. It was the only physical evidence of abuse in the case. But in an August hearing on Fran Keller’s recently filed appeal, Mouw testified that he later learned that what he had observed was normal and not an indication of abuse. “I was mistaken,” he said. The 1994 San Antonio case features a change of heart by Dr. Nancy Kellogg, who had testified that a mark found on one girl’s hymen was a scar caused by traumatic abuse. Kellogg also recanted her testimony, acknowledging that medical science now recognizes that hymens do not scar, said Keith Hampton, an Austin lawyer who represents the Kellers and also one of the San Antonio 4 — Elizabeth Ramirez. Kellogg also attributed the San Antonio attacks to possible satanic abuse – a prevailing theory from the early 1990s that featured secret societies and powerful cults engaging in depraved attacks on children. Kellogg was barred from offering that testimony at trial."

The entire story can be found at:

 http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/san-antonio-case-mirrors-travis-county-conviction/nbxKP/

 PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

Dear Reader. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following this case.

I have added a search box for content in this blog which now encompasses several thousand posts. The search box is located  near the bottom of the screen just above the list of links. I am confident that this powerful search tool provided by "Blogger" will help our readers and myself get more out of the site.

The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:

http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:

http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html

I look forward to hearing from readers at:

hlevy15@gmail.com