Watch Uncovered: The McMartin Family Trials

Uncovered: The McMartin Family Trials is a documentary film that tells the story of one of the longest and most expensive criminal trials in American history. The film is directed by James Blackburn and stars Kevin Cody, Walter Urban, and Marymae Cioffi. The film explores the case of the McMartin family, who ran a preschool in California in the 1980s. The family was accused of sexually abusing the children in their care, leading to a highly publicized trial that lasted for seven years and cost millions of dollars.

Uncovered: The McMartin Family Trials delves into the allegations made against the McMartins, which began with a complaint from a mother who believed her child had been molested by one of the preschool's teachers. As more and more parents came forward with similar accusations, the police began investigating the family for child abuse.

However, as the film shows, the investigation soon became sensationalized, with police using aggressive and misleading tactics to coerce children into making false allegations. The film interviews some of the children who were involved in the case, and also features archival footage of the police interviews that were conducted with them.

Despite a lack of physical evidence and contradictions in the children's testimonies, the prosecution pursued the case with the belief that the McMartins were part of a large, underground network of child abusers. The trial was plagued by delays, controversies, and appeals, and it eventually ended with several of the family members being acquitted of all charges.

Uncovered: The McMartin Family Trials uses interviews with lawyers, journalists, and experts to provide a comprehensive overview of the case, discussing the flaws in the legal system that allowed the McMartins to be prosecuted despite the lack of evidence. The film also examines the impact that the trial had on the families involved, many of whom were traumatized by the allegations made against them.

Overall, Uncovered: The McMartin Family Trials is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that sheds light on a dark period in American history. The film raises important questions about the ways in which the justice system can be manipulated and exploited, and it serves as a cautionary tale for those who seek to protect children from abuse.