<<back
the fifth estate: Scandal of the Century
The Children> Printer Version
Broadcast
February 25, 2004
THE CHILDREN
According to experts, the explantion for how the Ross children first came up with these false allegations may have a lot to do with the conduct of investigators and social workers. Dr. John Yuille, a professor of forensic psychiatry, says there is increasing evidence that children can be induced to admit to false allegations of abuse if they are asked leading questions during the interview process.
In an interview
with the fifth estate Yuille states, "In cases like this, I think
there are several things at work. One is often the investigators show
more interest to these more bizarre allegations, and the children are
responding to that increased alertness, increased interest on the part
of the interviewer. And if, in effect, the child is being rewarded for
these more fantastic elements, they'll add more of those."
 Professor John Yuille tells the fifth estate the Ross children were interviewed improperly. |
To help authorities evaluate sexual abuse allegations Dr. Yuille has developed a standardized interview process for children called the Step Wise Program.
The interview is designed to reduce the trauma a child may experience during an interview, increase the amount and quality of information obtained from a child and maintain the integrity of the investigative process.
The program involves asking children open-ended questions without suggestive details. It has already been adopted by many child welfare agencies across Canada.
KATHY
ROSS
Kathy Ross is Michelle's fraternal twin sister. For a number of years
she was the target of much of Michael's anger and abuse. In one incident
she was hospitalized after Michael pushed her in front of a car.
Kathy Ross now says she and her sister were forced to make up false allegations against the Klassen foster family because Michael threatened them. Shortly after the trials, Kathy says she told her social worker and others that she had lied on the stand.
By 1998, Kathy had been separated from her sister and was living on her own with another foster family. When that foster family moved to BC Kathy lost touch with her sister Michelle for several years.
Michelle tried unsuccessfully to get in touch with Kathy before the first broadcast of The Scandal of the Century in November 2000. Kathy learned about the program when a teacher approached her after class one day.
Kathy Ross has also publicly recanted her stories and has now re-united with her sister. She is suing the government of Saskatchewan and the Saskatoon police department for the years of abuse by her brother.
MICHAEL
ROSS
Michael Ross, the eldest of the three siblings, was born on October
18, 1979. Michael and his sisters were placed in Richard Klassen's brother
and sister in-law's foster home in February, 1987. Michael was unruly,
often displaying violent tendencies. He was removed from the Klassen house
in December, 1989 and placed with another foster family.
Shortly
after arriving at his new home, Michael began to make up stories about
his old foster family. (Watch a video
clip where Michael Ross is interviewed by the police. 
)
In an interview with the fifth estate he admitted that he did this in
an effort to get attention. He also felt badly that he had been separated
from his two sisters. (Watch a video
clip where Michael Ross explains why he made up the stories.
)
Michael's stories of sexual abuse against his former foster family convinced the authorities to remove his sisters from that home and place them in the home where Michael lived. Michael continued to molest his sisters at the new home for several years.
In 1999 Michael wrote out a declaration recanting all the allegations he made against the Klassens and other foster family members.
MICHELLE
ROSS
Michelle Ross was born March 4, 1982. She and her sister had been
involved with Saskatchewan social services since 1983 when they were hospitalized
for malnutrition.
Michelle and her siblings were placed with the Klassens in 1987 where she continued to be tormented by her brother. In December 1989 Michael was separated from his sisters. For the first time in their lives Michelle and her sister were not being abused by Michael.
Michael soon began making up false stories of sexual abuse against their foster parents in an attempt to be re-united with his sisters. In May 1990 the girls were removed from the Klassen foster home and placed back with their brother, who continued to assault them.
Michelle testified at a preliminary hearing where she recanted some of her original allegations. Michelle came forward in 1999 to recant all the allegations she made against the foster families. She is suing the Saskatoon police department and Social Services for knowingly keeping her in a position where her brother could continue to molest her. Michelle Ross now lives with her partner in Saskatoon and they are the parents of two infant sons.
the fifth estate:
Scandal of the Century
Originally Broadcast on January 23, 2002
Updated on Wednesday, February 25, 2004
on CBC-TV at 9PM
TIMELINE
- THE CHILDREN - THE
EVIDENCE
STORY UPDATE - RESOURCES