Jordan, Minnesota has the distinction of being one of only two American cities on Wikipedia's list of Satanic ritual abuse allegations. On September 26, 1983, Christine Brown accused her trailer park neighbor James J. Rud of molesting her daughter. Rud confessed, but also pointed a finger toward numerous other adults in the community for similar crimes. By June 24, 1984, thirty children had identified a total of twenty-four adults as perpetrators, one of which being Christine Brown herself.
These allegations drew a picture of secret Satanic sex rings consisting of child pornography, ritualistic animal sacrifice, and infanticide - one story described a baby being hung above a tub and drained of blood as a group of adults looked on. The first to stand trial were Robert and Lois Bentz, accused of molesting their own children along with several others. However, the children's testimonies quickly fell apart in court, with one Bentz son eventually testifying that they had not been molested at all.
Scott County attorney Kathleen Morris soon fell into public scrutiny, as her methods came to be viewed as a witch hunt. The Bentzes believed they had been initial targets due to their past public criticism of Morris, and both were found not guilty on September 19. The FBI then got involved over the infanticide claims, with the judge ordering Morris to hand over notes on the investigation.
The case was given to Minnesota attorney general Skip Humphrey, son of the late Vice President Hubert Humphrey. Children were then re-interviewed, revealing damning information on the initial investigation - kids had been interviewed dozens of times, often being coerced by police officers for information, and many were interviewed together to easily corroborate stories. The judge determined that due to this massive bungle, it was now impossible to fully investigate allegations and know who was actually guilty.
James Rud admitted to lying about the involvement of other adults in November 1984 and sex charges against the remaining adults were dropped. However, a number of the accused did confess to sexual abuse but received immunity in exchange for undergoing treatment. Parental rights were also taken away for six children involved in the case.
Reports of a Satanic sex ring were determined to be lies. The FBI was set to dredge the Minnesota River to investigate claims of dumping infant bodies, but never followed through.
A law was passed in 1986 that encouraged law enforcement to work with trained medical workers in child sex-abuse cases to avoid multiple interviews, and soon after the Midwest Children's Resource Center became one of the first children's advocacy centers that evaluates potentially abused children.
James Rud was convicted in 1985 and continues to serve a 40-year term.
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Additional References
Minnesota Townspeople Jolted by Sex Scandal with Children" (NY Times, 09.06.84)
Minnesota Townspeople Jolted by Sex Scandal with Children" (NY Times, 09.06.84)
"Divided by Multiple Charges of Child Abuse, a Minnesota Town Seethes with Anger" (People, 10.22.84)
"Man From 1980s Jordan Sex Scandal Up For Release" (Shakopee Valley News, 02.11.10)
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