Paul Ingram

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Paul Ingram was the county Republican Party Chairman of Thurston County, Washington and the Chief Civil Deputy of the Sheriff's department, accused by his daughters of sexual abuse, by at least one daughter of satanic ritual abuse [1], and later accused by his son in 1988.[citation needed] During interrogation he confessed to many crimes, despite the lack of any confirming physical evidence. He originally pled guilty, but has henceforth maintained his innocence. After pleading guilty, he attempted to withdraw his plea and requested a trial or clemency. These requests were refused. He was released in 2003.

Doctor Richard Ofshe claimed that Ingram was hypnotized during the interrogation, although no mental health professionals were present, and that the confessions were the result of false memories being implanted with suggestion.[citation needed]. In attempt to demonstrate this, Ofshe performed an experiment where he convinced Ingram to believe that he made his daughter and son have sex.[2] Although no such allegations were made either of them, after repeated interrogation, Ingram came to believe it actually happened. However, this information was not considered in his hearing.[3]

His story became the basis of the book Remembering Satan by Lawrence Wright. The Ingram case was also the basis for the TV-movie Forgotten Sins, in which John Shea played "Sheriff Matthew Bradshaw". Richard Ofshe, the only individual whose name was not changed for the movie, confirms that it is based on the Ingram case.[4] Lawrence Wright, the author of Remembering Satan, received a "Story by" WGA credit for the movie.[5]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Ofshe, Richard. Ofshe Report on the Ingram Case.
  2. ^ See Richard Ofshe, 'Inadvertent Hypnosis During Interrogation: false confession due to dissociative state; misidentified multiple personality and the satanic cult hypothesis', International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 1992; R. Ofshe and E. Watters, Making Monsters, New York, 1994.
  3. ^ The comment about Dr. Ofshe's report not being admitted to the trial as evidence was probably taken from the book, Remembering Satan by Lawrence Wright (New York: Vintage Books, 1994.) pages 177 and 178, "'The implications of my opinions should be clear to anyone who reads this report,' Ofshe concluded. 'They are clear to me. I fear that my conscience would trouble me greatly were I not to communicate these conclusions to you in the most forceful and direct manner available. If I am correct in my judgment about the general truthfulness of Ericka and Julie Ingram and the extreme degree of suggestibility of Paul and Sandy Ingram there is a substantial danger that innocent people will be made to undergo a trial and a danger that they might be convicted.' When Tabor refused to turn the report over to the defense as exculpatory evidence - on the ground that, in his opinion, it was not real evidence - Ofshe compained to the presiding judge of the court. The judge agree to make the report available to the defense attorneys. The report landed a shattering blow to the prosecution's already shaky case."
  4. ^ "Sociology Professor Featured In TV Movie 'Forgotten Sins'", The Berkleyan, Office of Public Affairs at UC Berkeley, 1996-03-06. Retrieved on 2007-04-24. 
  5. ^ LMN.tv Movie Credits. LMN.tv Movie Credits. LMN. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.

[edit] External links