Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore announced on Tuesday that she is dropping the charges against Dan and Fran Keller, a couple in Austin, Texas, who spent more than 20 years behind bars for alleged sexual abuse of a child at their day care center before the court found the evidence was not solid enough to keep them in prison. The allegations involved bizarre claims of satanic rituals performed at the center.  Moore believes the couple is innocent.

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“It was not just Dr. Mouw who was too quick to believe,” Johnson said. “If he is to be blamed for the failure to provide applicant with a fair trial, the missteps of other persons and entities need to be examined also. We do not learn from our mistakes unless and until we are required to acknowledge those mistakes.”Keith Hampton, the Kellers’ lawyer, said he was extremely disappointed with the court. “I’m not happy,” said Hampton, who took on the case free of charge and advocated for the couple’s freedom.  He indicated he is not done with the case, and will continue to work on it until the Kellers are truly found to be innocent.  He said he may file a “suggestion” that the Court of Criminal Appeals re-examine the evidence.  “I don’t know how in good conscience you can ignore the overriding claim in this case, which is not Dr. Mouw. The issue is they’re innocent,” he said.

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Convictions tossed out in Austin satanic day care caseConvictions are tossed in satanic day-care case; concurrence decries 'witch hunt' prosecutionDay care providers who blame satanic panic for 21-year prison stint are 'actually innocent,' DA says