A couple from Austin – 67-year-old Fran and 75-year-old Dan freaking Keller boys received $ 3.4 million in compensation for what had been in prison for almost 22 years.
From prison they were released in 2013 and fully met only in June last year, reports the Washington Post.
Fran and Dan were convicted in 1992 for «the satanic rituals» and «violence against children», including sexual.
This was the era of the so-called «satanic panic»that began in the USA in the 1980-ies. Police and psychiatrists have received thousands of reports of satanic rituals, dozens of children were seized from parents who are accused of devil worship.
But the case of the freaking Keller boys stands out of all.
«This country has not seen anything like it since the trials in Salem,» wrote the publication Texas Monthly.
The couple in 1989 opened his own kindergartenin which they took care of about 15 children, including subjected to violence in their families and emotional problems.
And at some point a couple of kids began to say that teachers make them participate in satanic rituals. Carry to the cemetery, buried in the grave, dismembered animals, a bloody mass, dressed in white, and so on.
The children were sent to the analysts, and the testimony of physicians and psychologists were the key to the indictment process. By the way, during the «satanic panic» freaking Keller boys were not the only adults who the children were told this, but in 20 cases, adults have been acquitted and freaking Keller boys – no.
When with the beginning of 2000-ies of the satanic panic died down, the newspaper Austin Chronicle published an article, «Believe the children» in which he wrote that the words of the children sounded absolutely fantastic.
The lawyer from Austin Keith HAMPTON read this article and decided to help the freaking Keller boys and seek a retrial.
In the end, the authorities acknowledged that the children were questioned improperly, causing false memories – all this is easily fueled by the then atmosphere of fear and stories that Satanists prey on children. Doctor the affidavit also stated that «he was wrong».
The couple was released from prison in 2013, but was completely cleared of charges in the summer of 2016. The pair haven’t seen each other for over two decades.
A few days freaking Keller boys was able to get his compensation in the amount of 80 thousand dollars for each year they spent in prison.
«This means that we are finally able to start living — and no more nightmares,» said 67-year-old Fran Keller.
