Questioninggeller
27th June 2007, 06:10 PM
An interesting article about a serial killer, and psychics being involved:
Shoe leather, not sixth sense, breaks cases open
The truth is out there— but probably not with mediums
By Clint Van Zandt, MSNBC analyst & former FBI Profiler
Aug 17, 2005
MSNBC.com
This article is the second of two parts.
From October 1979 to May 1981, an unknown serial killer was believed to have murdered 27 African American boys in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Statistically speaking, most serial killers are white, so law enforcement initially thought that the killer was likely to be a white racist.
The police and the FBI received many tips during this investigation, including those from professed psychics. One such woman called me and indicated that the killer was a white male who had been interviewed by a detective early on in the investigation. She said that during the interview, the killer lit his own cigarette with a match bent in a particular way from a matchbook. It was a detail the detective would remember, she said. We spoke to every FBI agent and detective assigned to the case but no one recalled this incident.
...
Psychic styles
Some psychics claim to see remote images. Some “read into the future” by looking at the palms of our hands (chiromancy) or tea leaves (tasseography). Some rely on information from “spirit guides” and may even practice cleidomancy, divination through interpreting the movements of a key suspended by a thread from the nail of the third finger on a young virgin's hand while psalms are recited. Others hold an object related to the crime in their hands and get impressions of the victim, the crime, or the criminal (psychometry). One psychic network claims success in just over 20 percent of their cases, something that appears far less successful than that of a mere guess in a 50/50 situation.
It's possible that some psychics are just really good interviewers or body language-readers. Some of them will roll out names and numbers, waiting for some response from the person, and then they will enhance that point of information to fit the situation.
...
A last resort in an hour of need?
Lastly, many, particularly parents of a missing or kidnapped child, turn to psychics and other claimed paranormals as a last resort in their greatest hour of need. I would never deprive any parent the opportunity to avail themselves of every legitimate investigative tool that could help them find and save their child.
But to seek the counsel of psychics outside of law enforcement is simply not wise. There are many in this world who will tell you anything to gain your confidence— or access to the contents of your checking account. In such emotionally-charged situations, one's common sense must run alongside one's overwhelming concern.
...
Full article here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7320305/).
Shoe leather, not sixth sense, breaks cases open
The truth is out there— but probably not with mediums
By Clint Van Zandt, MSNBC analyst & former FBI Profiler
Aug 17, 2005
MSNBC.com
This article is the second of two parts.
From October 1979 to May 1981, an unknown serial killer was believed to have murdered 27 African American boys in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Statistically speaking, most serial killers are white, so law enforcement initially thought that the killer was likely to be a white racist.
The police and the FBI received many tips during this investigation, including those from professed psychics. One such woman called me and indicated that the killer was a white male who had been interviewed by a detective early on in the investigation. She said that during the interview, the killer lit his own cigarette with a match bent in a particular way from a matchbook. It was a detail the detective would remember, she said. We spoke to every FBI agent and detective assigned to the case but no one recalled this incident.
...
Psychic styles
Some psychics claim to see remote images. Some “read into the future” by looking at the palms of our hands (chiromancy) or tea leaves (tasseography). Some rely on information from “spirit guides” and may even practice cleidomancy, divination through interpreting the movements of a key suspended by a thread from the nail of the third finger on a young virgin's hand while psalms are recited. Others hold an object related to the crime in their hands and get impressions of the victim, the crime, or the criminal (psychometry). One psychic network claims success in just over 20 percent of their cases, something that appears far less successful than that of a mere guess in a 50/50 situation.
It's possible that some psychics are just really good interviewers or body language-readers. Some of them will roll out names and numbers, waiting for some response from the person, and then they will enhance that point of information to fit the situation.
...
A last resort in an hour of need?
Lastly, many, particularly parents of a missing or kidnapped child, turn to psychics and other claimed paranormals as a last resort in their greatest hour of need. I would never deprive any parent the opportunity to avail themselves of every legitimate investigative tool that could help them find and save their child.
But to seek the counsel of psychics outside of law enforcement is simply not wise. There are many in this world who will tell you anything to gain your confidence— or access to the contents of your checking account. In such emotionally-charged situations, one's common sense must run alongside one's overwhelming concern.
...
Full article here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7320305/).