Phaedra Hopkins

Phaedra Hopkins: Testified in Gerald's Trial Only.

Date of Birth: 6/22/81

At Fells Acres Day School: 9/82 - 9/84

First "disclosure": 9/19/84, says mother.

Medical: Vulvitis, mild redness on the area of the labia, and a small "labial adhesion" at the bottom of the labia. (1986: Vol. 35, p.123)

I. Non-Sexual "Hurting Allegations: Nothing in the record.

II. Photography: Nothing.

III. Clowns: Nothing, apparently.

IV. The "Magic Room" and the "Secret Room": Nothing, apparently.

V. Forced Nudity: No direct allegations.

VI. Seeing nude adults:

During a "lengthy conversation" with P.H. on 9/25/84 at the DSS office, P.H. "indicated" that Tooky had "exposed himself to her and some friends by pulling his bathing suit to the side and showing his penis." (Interviews, p.101)
P.H. told her mother that she say Tooky's "wee-wee" and then "tickled it and bit it." (Interviews, pp.106-107,110)
"At another point, after much questioning and prodding by mother," P.H. sat that at Miss Vi's house and swimming pool Tooky "rolled up the side of his bathing suit and showed his wee-wee." (Interviews, p.111; emphasis added.)
Tooky's clothes were off at Fells Acres Day School. (1986: Vol. 34, pp.71-72)

But:

When P.H.'s mother persisted further in her questioning, P.H. said that she never saw Tooky's wee-wee. (Interviews, p.111)

VII. Allegations of Sexual Activity:

P.H. told her mother that "she was involved in touching other children's parts. P.H. would not speak any more about the subject at that time." (Interviews, p.100)
In June, 1984 mother asked P.H. about redness and irritation in her vagina. P.H. said that she and 2 other girls had put fingers in one another "chooches" (vaginas). (Interviews, pp.106,108)

*Note: Many children may have felt guilt and anxiety about what we would consider normal sexual curiosity and exploration by young children.

Mother asked P.H. what she did with Tooky's "wee-wee." P.H. said that she "bit it and tickled it." Then she "refused to talk about it anymore." (Interviews, p.110)
At another point during the DSS office interview on 9/25/84, "after much questioning and prodding by mother," P.H. said she had to "eat Tooky's wee-wee" and this made her throw up. (Interviews, p.111; emphasis added.)
At trial, after the prosecutor presented anatomical dolls, P.H. said that Tooky put his wee-wee on her belly, on her mouth, and inside her "chooch." (1986: Vol. 34, p.72)
Tooky put a fork handle in her vagina. This happened "upstairs." (Vol. 34, pp. 73,87)
Tooky put his wee-wee in her mouth "inside the classroom." She forgets what her teacher did or said when Tooky did this. (Vol. 34, p.81)
Tooky put his wee-wee in P.H.'s "chooch" (vagina) "downstairs" at Fells Acres Day School, and also in P.H.'s upstairs classroom, right in front of her teacher. (Vol. 34, pp.83-85)
Mother admits that during the first official interview, P.H. said "nothing about Tooky or the school." (1986: Vol. 36, pp.103-104)

But:

On direct examination, prior to the prosecutor presenting P.H. with anatomical dolls, P.H. says she doesn't remember Tooky doing anything to her that she didn't like. (Vol. 34, p.69)
P.H. said she never saw Tooky's wee-wee. (Interviews, p.111)

VIII. Threats:

Nobody told her not to tell what happened at Fells Acres Day School. (Vol. 34, pp.74-74)
Tooky did not tell her not to tell. (Vol. 34, p.74)

IX. Miscellaneous:

The first official interview was on 9/21/84 and lasted 1 1/2 hours. There was "much painful prodding from the two workers (from DSS) and her mother, but P.H. made no disclosures." (Interviews, p.110)
After the police precinct meeting of 9/12/84 with parents, mother said to P.H. "let's tell secrets." Mother asked P.H. if she had seen Tooky's wee-wee. (Vol. 36, pp.51,78)
Dr. Emans' report on the medical examination of P.H. on December 13, 1984: "The small labial adhesion and history of vulvitis could result from abuse or from nonspecific vulvar inflammation." (Interviews, p.103)
In the first interview of 9/21/84 there was a "let's pretend" game with P.H. The interviewers used anatomical dolls for this game. The male doll was named Tooky. (Vol. 36, pp.89-90)
P.H.'s mother: "I did my own line of questioning." Asked why she asked P.H. whether P.H. had seen Tooky's wee-wee, the mother replied:

"Partly because of her vagina having been red, and realizing that there was some kind of molestation involved, even though I didn't know what it was." (Vol. 36, pp.95-100; emphasis added).

Mother doesn't remember if she told the police before the first official interview (9/21/84) that P.H. had told her what she had to do with Tooky's penis. (Vol. 36, pp.101-102)
The Commonwealth's medical expert, Dr. Jean Emans, examined P.H. and testified at trial that P.H.'s manifestations of redness and vulvitis were normal. (1986: Vol. 35, pp.123-124)

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