Dean Tong is an American author, public speaker, consultant, and trial expert in the field of false child abuse allegations. He has consulted for the media on high-profile cases such as that of Elian Gonzalez, JonBenét Ramsey, and Michael Jackson. He is the author of three books inspired by his personal experience with being falsely accused of child abuse in 1985. In addition to testifying as an expert witness, he has appeared on numerous radio talk shows and television speaking on the topic of false abuse accusations. He has also been quoted by numerous publications on the topic including by the Chicago Defender, The Virginian-Pilot, The Boston Globe, and The Denver Post.
Early life and education
Tong graduated from Hull High School and later obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Pre-Medicine from Northeastern University in 1979. He went on to study at the University of Portsmouth and Leeds in the United Kingdom where he obtained a Master's degree in Psychology and the Law in Child Forensic Studies in 2006.
His Master Thesis at the University of Portsmouth entitled "Penile Plethysmograph, Abel Assessment for Sexual Interest, and MSI-II: Are They Speaking the Same Language" was later published in the May/June 2007 issue of The American Journal of Family Therapy. He originally worked as a laboratory medical technologist prior to becoming an author and consultant.
False allegations of abuse
In 1985, Tong was accused by his then wife of sexually abusing his 3-year-old daughter. He was in a custody battle with his estranged wife at the time. While at work, Tong received a call from his attorney advising him of the allegations. He was subsequently arrested and charged with capital sexual battery and under court order not to see his children. Tong spent two weeks in jail and the charges were dropped against him 14 months later for lack of evidence. After the criminal proceedings, Tong faced ten years of legal battles including two lawsuits and spending in excess of $100,000 to clear his name.
Professional career
Tong runs a consultancy in Florida by the name of Abuse Excuse. He has been retained by attorneys and parents in all 50 states and has appeared on more than 2000 radio talk shows talking about false allegations of abuse. His consultancy is concentrated in the fields of divorce, child custody, abuse accusations, sexual or physical child abuse, domestic violence, parental alienation, and sexual allegations in divorce. He has given expert testimony in 10 states in cognitive child development psychology and is contracted to perform critique of investigations conducted by Child Protective Services and law enforcement agencies related to accusations of abuse as well as forensic interviews of children allegedly abused. He has also been appointed by courts as an expert witness for criminal indigent defendants. Tong has also been hired by protective mothers who lose child custody because they are perceived to be coaching their children to make false abuse allegations against fathers.
Tong was part of the legal team for Darren Mack during his divorce. Mack was later charged with the murder of his estranged wife as well as the sniper shooting of the judge who handled the divorce proceedings. After the shooting, he spoke with Mack by telephone and informed him to turn himself into authorities. He also authored an op-ed piece in the Las Vegas Review Journal condemning Mack's actions. Tong appeared in the 2007 CBS 48 Hours Mystery Special documenting the events surrounding Darren Mack and the murder of his wife as well as commentary about the case on Rita Cosby: Live & Direct Tong has made numerous other appearances on national television talk shows, including on Dr. Phil, CNN's Nancy Grace, and The Montel Williams Show.
Tong was a media consultant to WFTV Channel 9 during the trial of Casey Anthony and a media consultant for cases such as the Elián González affair, Murder of JonBenét Ramsey, and the sexual abuse allegations against Michael Jackson from 2003 to 2005. He was also a media consultant to ABC News during the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case in 2003. Tong has also been involved with the Florida Legislature in relation to the passage of laws to protect children. One such bill, nicknamed the Child Spanking Bill, he assisted Senator Jim Hargrett with the wording for the bill in relation to signs that are consistent with physical child abuse. Tong also played a role with the passage of the Malicious False Abuse Law and the repeal of the Florida Child Abuse Registry.