u/Bjork00098

I came across this short interview with Damion Stein (from The 2005 doc “Michael Jackson Boys”), who met Michael when he was 9 yo… he seems to describe MJ’s classic grooming tactic:

1. After Damion sent him a poem as a fan, MJ started calling him obsessively. 
2. MJ sent him numerous letters, saying he was his best friend. 
3. MJ invited him (alone without his parents) to his secret hideout apartment.
4. MJ started visiting the family frequently, arriving at evenings and staying overnight. Telling them that they allow him to experience what it’s like to be part of a real family. 
5. MJ started having intensive and frequent, long telephone conversations with his mother Glenda, in which he confided in her about his traumatic childhood and life (these are the famous ‘Glenda Tapes’).

When MJ started calling Glenda 3-4 a day, during all hours, including in the middle of the night, her husband started getting suspicious, wondering if they’re having an affair… he started recording their conversations (unknowingly to both Glenda and MJ). 

One day, without any warning, MJ stopped calling. He completely disappeared, and they never heard from him again.

Damion and the family were heartbroken… little did they know how lucky they got, that he dropped them mid-grooming.