Psychics Fail

That’s the only conclusion a reasonable person could make.

Over two months ago I wrote Psychics Make Firm Predictions – about how some “TV psychics” had information about Madeleine McCann, the four year old English girl who disappeared in Portugal in May 2007.  As I wrote back then, the information they came up with included:

• What the abductor looks like – with a drawing
• The abductor’s first name
• The actual address of an apartment where the abductor was supposed to have stopped
• The location of Madeleine’s body.

They supposedly gave this information to the Portuguese police.

So far, nothing has come of this information.  Although they gave the police the location of Madeleine’s body, no body has been discovered in this high profile case.  There has been no report of searches of the apartment where the abductor supposedly stopped with Madeleine (and the actual address was given, remember). 

I wrote two emails to the Express reporter, Mike Parker, who wrote the story I cited, requesting more information.  Lacking an actual email address for him, I wrote to the general news desk email, asking it be forwarded to Mike Parker.  My first email, sent Oct 26, was:

Regarding your story about the "psychic" pictures etc of Madeleine McCann's abductor:

You state in your report that the address of an apartment and the location of Madeleine's body have both been given to the local police.  Can you tell me, have the police searched these locations?  Clearly Madeleine's body hasn't been found otherwise we would have heard of it by now.  Do you know why not?  Didn't the police search the area given by the psychics?  If they did, what do the psychics have to say to explain why the body wasn't found?

Also, could you please tell me who at the FBI told you that "all three members of the Haunting Evidence team have been used in major criminal investigations"?

Thank you.

I tried again on December 21:

Mr Parker:

In light of the continued lack of progress in finding Madeleine, and the parents' new video appeal issued today, I wonder if you had thought about my questions that I raised some eight weeks ago (see below).  I understand that you have pressures to write a story, and that "psychic" stories sell copy, but don't you think it's time for another story following up on the psychics' success (or lack thereof) in locating Madeleine and/or her abductor?

I received no reply to either email.  So we have a reporter, who wrote a fluff “psychics are real” piece, who isn’t interested in following up to see if his facts were correct,  Sadly, no surprise.

Perhaps more significantly, I also tried to contact the TV so-called psychics.  They have no published email address, so I used their contact page.  My second message to them, also sent December 21, was:

In light of the continued lack of progress in finding Madeleine, and the parents' new video appeal issued today, I was reminded by the claims made in your TV program some months ago.

As I recall, you stated that that the address of an apartment and the location of Madeleine's body had both been given to the local police.  Can you tell me, have the police searched these locations?  Clearly Madeleine's body hasn't been found otherwise we would have heard of it by now.  Do you know why not?  Didn't the police search the area you gave them?  If they did, how do you explain why the body wasn't found?

Of course I only received their canned “thank you for taking your time to submit comments…” reply.  A message left on their forum on October 25 also went unanswered.  And I wasn’t the only one asking for evidence that they had actually solved any crimes. 

This is the blurb they have about themselves on their website:

Psychic profiler Carla Baron, medium John J. Oliver and paranormal investigator Patrick Burns take a terrifying descent into the heart of evil, as they see murders through the killer’s mind and the victim’s eyes.

These people make me sick.  They make a living and get fame based on made-up claims of using Psi powers.  When asked reasonable questions about why nothing came of their lame pretend-psychic drivel, they hide behind automatic reply emails.  Their enabler in the mainstream press is no better.  “TruTV” (sic) and The Daily Express should be ashamed of themselves.

Three liars, too scared to reply.

Comments

[Jane]

The Daily Express is an appalling newspaper, it's not worthy of the name newspaper. They have absolutely no shame and will print any old shit get a headline that they know will sell papers. Unfortunately name Madeleine McCann, just like Diana will shift copies because there are enough idiots here in the UK who lap it up.

Good luck with getting any substantive information from the Express but I doubt you will do.

[Ramel]

News just in - Pope still Catholic!!!

Seriously, we're talking about the Daily Express here, finding out that yet another of their articles is bollocks is no suprise.

[Helena Constantine]

What you should do is contact a reporter at a rival newspaper, or the headline grabbing investigative reporter at tv station in the same area as the paper. Perhaps they would think the conduct of the first reporter was newsworthy.

[AndyD]

We've "enjoyed" similar success in Western Australia where "psychics" sold tickets ($135 a head) for two sellout shows in which they supposedly identified the Claremont Serial Killer. Almost three months later, no news from police on any breakthroughs or solutions.

I guess we should be thankful Australia's "best" psychics were on the job. Imagine the shambles if our worst psychics were to try and play detective!?!