Described by Mark Smith as a "cross-examination that bordered on psychoanalysis" Hardin suggested that Mary Shanley had transferred her anger at her mother to the therapists who treated her at Spring Shadows Glen. Shanley had been sent to Spring Shadows Glen in May of 1991 to be seen by Judith Peterson who was supposed to be an expert in deprogramming people who had been involved with intergenerational satanic cults that practiced murder and cannibalism. Shanley testified that although her mother may have been domineering and abusive, she did not think that caused her to focus her anger onto Peterson and other therapists at Spring Shadows Glen.
Hardin suggested that in the early 1990s, Shanley's anger was focused on the cult that she had come to believe had abused her and that later she substituted the therapists for the focus of her anger. Hardin asked Shanley, "Would it be possible you ultimately replaced the cult as your enemy with therapists, in particular Dr. Peterson?" Shanley testified that she was able to separate her negative feelings about the cult and the therapists.
Hardin then suggested that the reason Mary had filed civil lawsuits against the therapists was to search them for blame. Mary testified that she was not searching for blame. She said "I'm searching for justice." She said that was the reason she had come all the way from Illinois to testify in this case. She told Hardin that she thought she had been victimized at Spring Shadows Glen.
The defense has argued that Spring Shadows Glen provided appropriate treatment for the patients who came they because those patients had already been diagnosed with serious mental illness before they arrived. Hardin pointed to medical records and statements from Shanley and others that showed she already believed she was involved in a satanic cult before she arrived at Spring Shadows Glen.
In response to defense questions, Shanley admitted that she had once lied about the details of a sexual assault when she was in her first year of college. She testified that was because she was confused about the interpretation of 'rape' and because she was concerned about embarrassing her mother.
This report is based on a Houston Chronicle article by Mark Smith, "Transfer of anger suggested on stand: Trial of ex-hospital staffers continues" 10/7/98.