This episode focuses on the psychiatrist interview of Jordan Chandler from October 1993. Jordan and his parents flew to NY from LA because Dr. Richard Gardner was known at the time for being in expert in false allegations of abuse. This may have been arranged to help the Chandlers prepare for questioning if their civil case went to trial. Even though the psychiatrist interview was posted on Ray Chandler's book promotion site years later during the media frenzy of Jackson's trial, we never got to see Dr. Gardner's conclusions. The Chandlers' lawyer hired another psychologist to write up his conclusions based on the interview.
This version was reportedly originally on Ray Chandler's book promotion site. This posting includes Chandler's introductory comments. Chandler says he omits the introductory statements between Jordan and the psychiatrist, and he also omits statements different places in the interview that he indicates with a symbol.
In his book, My Friend Michael, Cascio recounts how Jackson invited Jordan to spend time with Frank that summer in 1993, so Frank wouldn't be bored while Jackson was out in the evening. Jordan and Frank just hung out, had fun, and spent the night in sleeping bags on the floor at Jackson's condo in LA.
Culkin testifies that everything at Neverland was open, parents walk in and out of Jackson's bedroom suite freely and at any time. He says sleepovers weren't planned, but kids just played until they fell asleep, wherever they were on the property.
They all testify that there were no boundaries at Neverland--no secrecy, it was all open and inclusive. Jackson did not try to get alone time with kids.
They withstood tough cross examinations by the prosecution, but both are consistent in their statements that nothing inappropriate happened while staying at Neverland.
Debbie Rowe AEG trial testimony describing scalp surgery in 1993
She details the series of treatments/injections required in the months following surgery, and describes the uncontrolled pain and lack of healing on the scalp because of Jackson's lupus and keloid scarring.
Sasaki explains the scalp surgery from March 1993. He details how the metal plates were progressively cranked to stretch the skin, and says procedure is very painful, especially 4-6 weeks after the procedure.
She says that Jackson's inflation device was removed just prior to leaving on Dangerous Tour that summer in 1993:
The transcript of Dr. Schnoll's testimony about the neuroma is included in this post. See page 19 of the transcript to find the description of the neuroma that developed after the surgery, and how it causes "persistent", "sharp-shooting pain" that is one of the most difficult types of pain to treat. This neuroma developed after Jackson's scalp surgery March 16th 1993, and was present during the time Jordan claimed abuse.
Dr. Arnold Klein describes the big ball that formed on top of Jackson's head after his tissue expansion surgeries and how he had to wear a hat all the time post-surgery.
Nordahl was a friend of Jackson's for over 20 years. He says in this interview how Jackson showed him the big mound on top of his head after his tissue expansion surgery that was normally hidden by his hat.
Jackson is wearing a hat to cover healing wound from scalp surgery.
Jackson reportedly never took off the hat front of most people in the period of healing after surgery--he reportedly even slept in the hat.
June in her testimony never directly addresses where Jackson slept in their home, and DA Tom Sneddon never directly asks her, but changes the subject when they get to the topic of where Jackson slept. June says she was always at home on Jackson's visits, and says they had a live-in maid. June is taking a guess when she says Jackson stayed at her house about 30 visits in the mid-April-May timeframe, and she never claims these visits were in a row, as seen in some media reports. My guess is that it's closer to Jackson's driver lower estimate of 20 visits, considering Jackson's schedule in that time period. But even at that number, Jordan's claim of primary abuse at Neverland and the LA condo doesn't compute.
By looking at Jordan's psychiatrist interview and Evan Chandler's account in his book, my guess is that part of the reason for the visits was a possible commitment by Jackson to help Jordan study for his finals in May, with an emphasis on reading and understanding one of Jackson's favorite books, "To Kill A Mockingbird." This would fit in with accounts by other friends like the Cascios, who say Jackson helped them daily with their studies while on tour with him, and gave them a greater appreciation for the value of education. There are many other accounts that we'll cover later about Jackson's nurturing a love of education in his friends.
Hearne said he didn't know for sure but he guessed he drove Jackson to the Chandler's between 20-40 times in this timeframe in the spring of 1993. He said he saw nothing suspicious in anyone's behavior, that the Chandlers and Jackson seemed like a family that liked spending time together.
Larry Feldman hired psychologist Stanley Katz to review the psychiatrist interview between Dr. Richard Gardner and Jordan, for the purposes of the Chandlers' civil lawsuit against Michael Jackson. Dr. Gardner's conclusions from this interview have not been revealed, nor have his interviews with Jordan's parents.
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