Buzz
The fear of the Devil and malevolent forces influencing the world spans millennia. In the United States, these anxieties date back to the earliest settlers, who brought their beliefs and fears from European folklore, legends, and Christian traditions. The notion of supernatural forces and the Devil swaying vulnerable individuals has persisted throughout history. This list highlights ten notable Satanic scares in modern times, many of which emerged during the 1980s Satanic panic in the US.
10. Santa Muerte Homicides
Nuestra Senora de la Santa Muerte, commonly referred to as Santa Muerte, is seen as an embodiment of death. She is widely revered as an unofficial saint among Mexican Catholics and followers of Santeria. In recent years, her influence has grown among Latino communities in the United States.
The origins of this saint remain somewhat unclear to researchers. She might trace back to Aztec traditions or could be a more modern creation. Nevertheless, Santa Muerte's following has surged dramatically over the last century. Initially practiced in secrecy, her worship has become increasingly visible since the early 2000s. While most devotees are harmless, some gruesome murders have been linked to her veneration.
In 2012, a ten-year-old boy named Jesus Octavio Martinez Yanez disappeared from his home in Mexico. Authorities found a Santa Muerte shrine nearby, stained with blood. Upon questioning locals, they uncovered the remains of three children. The motive behind the killings remains unclear, but several individuals were arrested and accused of carrying out human sacrifices. Many believe the children were slain to gain supernatural favors from the saint.
Since then, law enforcement has occasionally branded the saint's following as a perilous Satanic group. Catholic leaders have also openly criticized it, aiming to curb its public observance. Even Pope Francis has publicly denounced the 'macabre' cult, likening it to Satanism.
9. Judas Priest Teen Suicide Lawsuit
Judas Priest, one of the most enduring and acclaimed heavy metal bands, faced an unexpected legal battle in 1990. Their music became the center of a controversial court case.
A few years prior to the trial, two young individuals from Sparks, Nevada, attempted suicide while reportedly listening to the song 'Better by You, Better than Me.' One succeeded, and the other tragically died from an overdose years later. A letter from one victim mentioned being 'mesmerized' by alcohol and Judas Priest. The bereaved parents interpreted this as evidence of their children being influenced by Satanic messages in the lyrics. Their concerns grew when hired experts claimed to find hidden reverse messages in the song, urging listeners to 'try suicide' and 'do it.' They also reported nightmares of gun violence after playing the songs backward.
Despite the growing skepticism around hidden messages or 'backmasking,' the families pursued legal action. They sued CBS Records and the band, demanding unspecified damages. Rob Halford, Judas Priest's lead singer, testified in court, denying any intent to embed sinister messages in their music. He highlighted his clean lifestyle, contrasting his stage image, and identified as a Christian uninterested in harming young listeners.
The judge ultimately ruled that there was no evidence to prove reverse messages influenced the victims. The case was dismissed.
8. Satanic Themes in Toys, Cartoons, and Cereal
The Satanic panic peaked in the US during the 1980s, with many aspects of popular culture accused of undermining Christian values and promoting Satanic ones. During this era, several authors and researchers gained notoriety by leading modern-day witch hunts to uncover 'hidden' Satanic influences. Among the most notorious were Pastor Gary Greenwald and Phil Philips, who amplified the paranoia to unprecedented levels.
The duo focused their concerns on products aimed at children, such as toys, movies, and breakfast cereals. They argued that these items were subtly crafted to sway young minds and instill Satanic and pagan beliefs. For example, they posited that Darth Vader was a nod to Norse gods and that the Force in the Star Wars universe represented a form of sorcery. They even claimed that something as harmless as the Smurfs carried hidden meanings tied to death and chaos.
To spread their message, they produced a TV special, an audiobook, and a paperback outlining their theory that toys and cartoons were exposing children to occult and pagan influences. They also spearheaded boycotts against popular cereal brands and certain Saturday morning cartoons. Thankfully, their efforts remained largely confined to Evangelical Christian communities.
7. Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is the world's most beloved tabletop fantasy game. Since its creation in the 1970s, it has united millions of players and storytellers. However, during the 1980s Satanic panic, D&D came under scrutiny. Gary Greenwald and Phil Philips included it in their crusade against allegedly Satanic products, especially after several teenage players died by suicide.
In 1979, a 16-year-old vanished from Michigan State University. A private investigator hired by his parents found he was an avid role-playing game enthusiast. When his body was discovered the following year, having died from a self-inflicted gunshot, many blamed D&D for his death. Similar incidents in the early 1980s fueled the controversy. One grieving mother claimed her son's obsession with D&D caused his depression and social struggles, even alleging that a real curse from the game led to his suicide. She sued TSR Inc, the game's publisher, and founded an activist group called Bothered About Dungeons and Dragons (BADD).
BADD initiated a media blitz through various Evangelical Christian platforms, asserting that D&D brainwashed young men into embracing cannibalism, necromancy, sexual deviance, and suicide. This campaign spurred other commentators to join the anti-gaming movement, casting a shadow of doubt over tabletop gaming in popular culture. For example, the 1982 film Mazes and Monsters, featuring Tom Hanks, depicted tabletop gaming as a gateway to violent delusions and murderous tendencies.
Ironically, as the panic grew, so did D&D's popularity. Sales of rulebooks skyrocketed, and countless new players were drawn to the world of tabletop gaming.
6. Michelle Remembers
Alongside the 1980s Satanic panic targeting consumer goods, a parallel fear emerged around Satanic ritual abuse. This panic centered on the belief that secretive Satanic cults were abducting and torturing children, shifting focus from hidden messages in products to alleged real-world atrocities.
One of the most widely circulated accounts of Satanic ritual abuse was chronicled in psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder’s book Michelle Remembers. The narrative recounts his patient Michelle Smith’s alleged childhood experiences of sexual trauma inflicted by a cult. Michelle claimed she was hypnotized, forced into ritual killings, and subjected to rape and abuse alongside her family.
The book gained significant media attention and fueled fears of ritual abuse cults across North America. However, the story was later exposed as a complete hoax fabricated by the author. Smith’s family and friends publicly disputed her claims, highlighting inconsistencies and a lack of evidence.
Despite these revelations, many continued to treat the book as factual. A particularly concerning moment occurred a decade after its publication when Oprah Winfrey featured Smith on her show. Smith appeared alongside Laurel Rose Willson, author of the fictional Satan’s Underground, and both discussed their works as though they were based on real events.
5. Doom
ID Software’s 1993 blockbuster video game Doom became a cultural phenomenon upon its release. Not only was it highly entertaining, but it also pushed boundaries with its terrifying atmosphere. Players took on the role of a marine fighting zombie-like revenants and demons from other dimensions, eventually descending into Hell itself.
Upon its launch, Doom stood out as one of the most controversial games of its era. It showcased extreme violence, occult imagery, and grotesque monsters as enemies. Released during the lingering effects of the 1980s Satanic panic, the game became entangled in the same debates that targeted heavy metal music. The controversy resurfaced in the 1990s following several school shootings, with one Christian magazine labeling it a 'mass murder simulator' and blaming it for the tragedies.
Interestingly, the franchise’s 2016 reboot, also titled Doom, may have included a subtle nod to its controversial past. A user named TomButcher discovered what appears to be an Easter egg in the game’s soundtrack using a spectrogram. The track seems to repeat the number '6,' and others have reported finding pentagrams and occult symbols hidden in the music. While it’s unclear if this was intentional by publisher Bethesda, it serves as a fitting homage to the earlier era of subliminal Satanism fears.
4. Jack Chick’s Cartoon Tracts
In the 1980s, television and radio personalities were among the most vocal advocates of the Satanic scare, but cartoonist Jack Chick arguably had the broadest impact. Chick began his career a decade earlier, creating comics that depicted sin and its harsh repercussions. He rose to prominence during the early 1980s Satanic panic, becoming a key figure in spreading its message.
Chick’s comics covered a wide range of topics, but his most famous works focused on Satanism. He fervently believed in the existence of witches and the tangible threat of Satan’s influence on American society. His comics targeted popular cultural elements like D&D, Halloween, and rock music, labeling them as tools of the Devil. He also condemned religions such as Islam, Judaism, and even Catholicism, portraying them as pathways to damnation. Additionally, he framed feminism, LGBT rights, and New Age spirituality as signs of Satan’s corrupting influence.
Chick’s tracts were significant because they reached far beyond radical Christian circles, gaining widespread popularity among mainstream Protestants and others. His small booklets found their way into children’s school bags, classrooms, and youth group gatherings. They remain influential today, with a comprehensive collection of his works available online.
3. The McMartin Preschool Trial
In 1983, a mother in Manhattan Beach, California, reported to the police that her son had been sexually abused by a preschool teacher, Ray Buckey. Her son’s physical discomfort was cited as evidence. The allegations didn’t stop there, as other children came forward with similar claims. The investigation grew to include accusations of sexual abuse, child pornography, and involvement in Satanic rituals. Eventually, school administrator Peggy McMartin Buckey (Ray’s mother) and other staff members were also implicated.
The resulting investigation and trial became the longest and most costly criminal trial in US history at the time. Over 400 children were examined, 124 witnesses testified, and more than 900 exhibits were presented in court. The defendants faced a $15 million bail. Despite the extensive proceedings, all accused were acquitted when the trial concluded in 1990.
The fallout from the trial devastated many lives. The accused carried the stigma of the allegations, and numerous parents remained convinced their children had been abused. The McMartin case is also infamous for sparking the widespread fear of Satanic ritual abuse in the United States.
2. Thurston County Ritual Abuse Case
In 1988, Ericka and Julie Ingram from Olympia, Washington, accused their father of years of ritualistic abuse. They alleged he was part of a Satanic cult involved in baby killings and gang rapes. Shockingly, they claimed some cult members were employees of the Thurston County sheriff’s department, where their father also worked.
As the investigation unfolded, the sisters’ accounts became increasingly graphic and horrifying. However, no forensic evidence supported their claims. When their father, Paul, was questioned, he initially had no recollection of the alleged crimes. Surprisingly, he quickly confessed to all charges, leading to his conviction and a 20-year prison sentence for rape. He was released early in 2003.
The case not only captivated the media but also triggered a wave of individuals suddenly 'recalling' childhood experiences of sexual or ritual abuse.
1. IRA Black Masses
For much of modern history, Northern Ireland has been a battleground for armed conflict between the United Kingdom and the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This strife intensified in the late 1960s, a period known as 'the Troubles.' Although the Troubles began a decade before the US Satanic panic, fears of Satan were already permeating Western societies. British military intelligence exploited this by conducting covert operations in Northern Ireland, aiming to tarnish the IRA’s reputation by associating them with Satanism.
From 1972 to 1974, the British circulated rumors that the IRA was conducting black masses and other strange rituals tied to Devil worship. They alleged finding evidence of black candles and inverted crucifixes in abandoned buildings. This propaganda campaign sought to align the IRA’s violence with Satanic imagery, leveraging fears popularized by horror films and literature. By framing the IRA’s actions as driven by evil rather than political motives, they hoped to erode Catholic support for the group.
Ultimately, the British campaign failed to achieve lasting impact. Ironically, during the conflict’s peak, Protestant militias began carrying out ritualistic killings of Catholics in Northern Ireland.
