By Rose Gruenbacher

Valerie Petersen, wife of former Manhattan chiropractor Clark Petersen, took the witness stand in Riley County District Court Friday, in a trial charging her husband with numerous counts of sex crimes against some of his former patients. She was the first witness called in attorney Nicholas Heiman’s presentation of the defense’s case.

She started working full-time as an office assistant in her husband’s private chiropractic practice around 2004, and stayed until the practice closed after his arrest. She told the jury that in her time working at the office, she didn’t notice any patients that seemed unhappy or upset after their appointment with Clark Petersen.

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By Rose Gruenbacher

The state’s prosecution of Clark Petersen in Riley County District Court revealed two of his alleged victims were not only patients of Petersen, but also personally knew him and his family well.

Petersen, a former Manhattan chiropractor, is on trial for 60 counts of alleged sex crimes against 18 victims. Four counts previously included were dismissed by the prosecution.

The Mercury does not identify victims of sexual crimes.

Victim 10 and Victim 11 said their family had known Petersen’s for multiple years and often spent time together.

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By Rose Gruenbacher

patient of former Manhattan chiropractor Clark Petersen testified Wednesday that Petersen gave her a card with what seemed to be an invitation to an invite-only experience, following an unusual appointment with him.

The ninth victim to testify in a Riley County District Court case against Petersen said she first went to him for chiropractic care in 2005 as a senior in high school.

She told the jury that adjustments with Petersen were similar to treatment she’d received from other chiropractors, with the exception of the massage Petersen always gave before making adjustments. However, the victim said the massage didn’t concern her, as the adjustments were easier to perform with relaxed muscles.

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By Rose Gruenbacher

A local chiropractor testified Wednesday morning in Riley County District Court that the files given to him by Clark Petersen did not contain the records for 15 of the clients that say Petersen sexually abused them.

Dr. Mark Hatesohl said he was approached in fall 2024 by Petersen’s attorney at the time, to take possession of Petersen’s patient records after he’d relinquished his chiropractic license. Hatesohl told the jury Petersen delivered the records himself, in five large tubs and with a handwritten list of the files.

Hatesohl explained to the jury that patient records should be kept at least seven to ten years. However, he said when Riley County Police detectives acquired permission to review the alleged victims’ medical records, he was unable to find them.

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