The daughter of a New Jersey police chief has filed a disturbing lawsuit, alleging that her father repeatedly raped her for over a decade as part of a “ritualistic” cult that also involved their neighbors. These grave accusations have deeply divided the small Bergen County borough of Leonia.
Allegations and Public Claims
Courtney Tamagny, 20, has made these claims against her father, Leonia Police Chief Scott Tamagny, and neighbor Kevin Slevin, among others. Both Chief Tamagny and Slevin vehemently deny the allegations, stating that the claims were thoroughly investigated by authorities, including the federal government, and found to be unfounded. Slevin has even filed a countersuit against Courtney for defamation.
Despite these denials, Courtney has chosen to make her claims public, appearing on podcasts and social media to detail the alleged abuse. She has also launched a Change.org petition calling for the suspension of her father.
According to court documents, Courtney alleges that her father and Slevin subjected her to heinous abuse in their home and, shockingly, in the woods near their house with “ritualistic” worshippers. She further claims her father threatened to murder her mother if she ever spoke about the abuse.
The lawsuit describes unsettling scenes in the woods: “[Courtney was brought] into the woods in Rockland County New York, and there was what appeared to be other middle-aged men present with masks on their faces.” It claims she recalls “fire and animals being burned, and they would chant as if ritualistic.” The lawsuit explicitly states: “She was sexually assaulted in those woods by defendant Slevin, defendant father, and some of the other men present.”
The alleged abuse reportedly began in 2009, when Courtney was around 4 years old, and continued until 2020, when she was 15. The lawsuit also alleges that both of Courtney’s sisters were subjected to abuse, with their father allegedly using drugs to sedate them before assaulting them.
Courtney’s mother, Jeanne Tamagny, has joined her as a plaintiff in the lawsuit and is currently divorcing her husband.
Recalled Memories and Expanding Claims
Courtney claims she suppressed memories of the abuse for years as a survival tactic, only beginning to recall them after a doctor’s visit for genital pain. The doctor’s question about sexual abuse reportedly triggered flashbacks. Her therapist eventually reported the alleged abuse to authorities in 2022.
She provided more detailed accounts of these alleged memories on the “We’re All Insane” podcast in April. On the podcast, Courtney claimed that generations of her father’s “bloodline” were involved in a satanic cult alongside numerous neighbors in their North Jersey town. She alleged that they ritualistically raped her and her siblings, and even trafficked children and burned them alive in their local woods.
Courtney further claimed that the neighborhood cultists used “tunnels” for covert operations, which allegedly included “taking kids’ blood,” “drum circles,” and “burnings” that lasted all night. She chillingly stated that these burnings involved “animals, animal skins, humans as well,” suggesting the violence was meant to instill fear and silence victims.
She relayed on the episode: “What scared us the most is ‘OK, we’re doing this to these people we’ve trafficked, why wouldn’t we do this to you? Because we just did that to this young girl or this young boy.'” She also asserted that the alleged cult was part of a national cabal of satanists involved in child trafficking.
Other alleged cult activities outlined on the podcast included disturbing “games” that always culminated in children being assaulted. She described a “game” called “Hunter and Gatherers,” where up to 10 children were released into the woods to hide, only to be chased down, incapacitated, and assaulted by cult members.
Courtney also alleged that her father used his position in local law enforcement to facilitate the abuse and that any attempts she made to seek help were rebuffed.
Denials and Counterarguments
In addition to her father and Slevin, Courtney’s lawsuit names the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the State of New Jersey, and various state child protective services.
Both Chief Tamagny and Slevin have vehemently denied the claims. Kevin Corriston, Slevin’s attorney, told The Post: “It’s made up out of whole cloth.” He emphasized that the complaint was “previously investigated by everybody from Homeland Security, to the Attorney General’s Office in New Jersey, to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, and they found no basis at all for these outrageous allegations.”
Corriston further argued: “Having got no satisfaction from law enforcement, she now decided to sue all the people who were involved in the investigation.” He dismissed the claims as “on their face unbelievable,” asserting, “There is no way in the world that there was some sort of secret satanic child sex cult operating out of Riverdale, New Jersey. This is a fantasy made up in her mind.” He also noted that Courtney’s allegations are “remarkably similar” to plots in several books and movies.
Slevin’s countersuit alleges defamation, claiming Courtney’s accusations have caused him to be “exposed to public ridicule and held in disrepute,” and have resulted in “extreme embarrassment and humiliation and severe mental distress.” Chief Tamagny’s attorney echoed similar sentiments, calling the allegations “completely false and defamatory.”
