02-02-06 @ 2:40 am EST

Police seek info in alleged satanic sex abuse case

Friday, January 06, 2006
By Theresa D. Mcclellan
The Grand Rapids Press

CHARLEVOIX COUNTY -- A memory of terror has sheriff's investigators seeking help finding participants in an alleged satanic, ritualistic child sex abuse case in northern Michigan that occurred sometime during the 1970s or 1980s.

Authorities declined to release details of the "difficult" investigation, but are asking for the public's assistance in locating anyone who may have been involved in the case, or has knowledge of it, Charlevoix County Prosecutor John Jarema said.

"That's why we're putting it out there," he said. "It's a tough one to develop."

What got the investigation rolling was "someone came forward and remembered," Jarema said.

These kind of charges are "not an everyday case. Satanic rituals. I don't know how prevalent it is, (but) we haven't had a case like this," he said.

Detective Lt. Michael Wheat of the sheriff's department said, "We're hoping we'll receive some leads from people who either knew what was going on or participated. There is a purpose for what we're doing."

The alleged participants appear to be mainly from the Boyne City area, although some may be from other parts of Charlevoix or Emmett counties.

Some of those involved may be immune from prosecution if they remained in Michigan, authorities said.

Authorities see this as an opportunity for those involved "to clear their conscience."

"We hear incredible stuff all the time, and this is a pretty incredible situation," said Jarema, declining to say how many alleged suspects or victims there are.

The prosecutor in neighboring Emmett County vaguely recalls the allegations.

"I remember hearing about some of this thing back when it allegedly occurred," Prosecutor James Lindeman said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Charlevoix County Sheriff's Department at (231) 547-4461.