Old skull is given to psychic, forensics experts for clues to person's identity, death

The sad part is that our law enforcement officials would actually think to consult a charletan, fraud such as this so-called psychic.

Frankly, all this accomplishes is that this nut job got some free publicity and will not take advantage of some poor people willing to pay for his hoax

I'm sorry... taxpayer money is routinely used to hire psychics to review cold cases??? So glad I'm not in Lake County. At least here in Cook County tax dollars are well spent. Oh wait...

Mike wrote:

The sad part is that our law enforcement officials would actually think to consult a charletan, fraud such as this so-called psychic.
Frankly, all this accomplishes is that this nut job got some free publicity and will not take advantage of some poor people willing to pay for his hoax

I've been to readers that described in detail my father's appearance.. his teeth, hair etc. He died in 1982 and I have no photos of him anywhere around. You have no idea about this.

Nick,

I'm just taking a wild guess here, but maybe your dad looked a little like you? And maybe you were able to fill in the details from a vague description using your own memory?

But you are right to call the psychic a "reader." It's just that they are reading you and not some nonexistent energy/spirit/force/power or whatever.

nick wrote:

<quoted text>
I've been to readers that described in detail my father's appearance.. his teeth, hair etc. He died in 1982 and I have no photos of him anywhere around. You have no idea about this.

There is no such thing as a “psychic.” Anyone who claims to be is either delusional or a con artist, or both. Do a little research on cold reading, and maybe you will get an understanding as to how you were hoodwinked.

What load of unmentionable stuff! While they're at it maybe the psychic can look for Osama bin Laden.

Pinch me! Is this really the 21st century and there is a coroner who believes in psychics? This despite the fact that none of these frauds has ever been able to prove his/her psychic powers under controlled conditions. For real "science" the coroner needs to consult an astrologer and, who knows, maybe he will.

I´m with all of the skeptics above. Not only is it a waste of money, it also provides free publicity to a deluded person who believes he can perceive the "supernatural" and this in turn contributes to provide an aura of legitimization to it.

It´s outrageous. More people should speak up so that these things are denounced.

Boy, I hope the citizens of Lake County remember this when it's time to get a new Coroner. It's stupid moves like this by supposedly intelligent public officials that legitimize the con game these criminals use to part desperate people from their hard-earned cash.

In summary:

Doerr is a fake.

Keller is an idiot.

Case closed.

Ron wrote:

Pinch me! Is this really the 21st century and there is a coroner who believes in psychics?

It's the 21st century and there's still no shortage of dumb people. Expect the same for the next few millenia.

Can Lake County provide me with the psychic's number so I can get next week's Big Game numbers?

TIA!

nick wrote:

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I've been to readers that described in detail my father's appearance.. his teeth, hair etc. He died in 1982 and I have no photos of him anywhere around. You have no idea about this.

There are ample explanations for how psychics work their business. Only the foolish fall for them. Since no one likes to be called a fool they defend the practice to the hilt....

Maybe you should all take the time to read the story and not just the headlines as it clearly states that the "psychic" in question offered his services free of charge. If it can help who cares how they solve the case?

The article forgot the part where Doerr said, "Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him well." He's still suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder because he didn't get to play Hamlet in high school.

Jimmy Hoffa.

In a statement released by the skull, the skull is extremely upset as being referred to as "old" and would like an apology.

Remember the Psychic Network, with Dionne Warrick. This is the same scam stuff at work. I think Dionne actually admited it was all fake. She didn't go to the pen over it though. Some poor person probably would have. What a joke, for law enforcement to contact a psychic.

I like the part about how Doerr blamed his dizziness and substance abuse on the skull. Since he is undoubtedly in touch with the spirit world, why can't the spirits tell him the person's name instead of just one letter of it? More importantly, why can't they whisper to him the winning numbers in Friday's Big Game?

David wrote:

Remember the Psychic Network, with Dionne Warrick. This is the same scam stuff at work. I think Dionne actually admited it was all fake. She didn't go to the pen over it though. Some poor person probably would have. What a joke, for law enforcement to contact a psychic.

They must be watching reruns of "Medium" on the Lifetime Network Channel.

daryl wrote:

<quoted text>
There is no such thing as a “psychic.” Anyone who claims to be is either delusional or a con artist, or both. Do a little research on cold reading, and maybe you will get an understanding as to how you were hoodwinked.

Wow, how closed minded can you get? Why don't you irrationally close minded people ever think that perhaps at the base of psychic phenomena is solid science? I guess it just scares you too much to think about it.

I have been able to give many people readings over the years, and no, I have never charged anyone a dime, nor have I accepted any money. About 90% of the time I was right on target. That's a lot better than chance would allow for. I think there is a simple scientific explanation, if only close minded people such as yourself would allow legitimate science to look for one without all your derision.

Hey, you know people can operate computers with their mind these days? I bet you thought that was a hoodoo fraud, too, didn't you? Well, it turns out science has been able to effectively translate the electrical impulses in the human brain into actual solid thought. Seeing as many other animals possess the ability to sense these impulses, who is to say that some human beings aren't able to do it as well? And if a computer can translate impulses into thought, who says the human brain can't?

It's all about keeping your mind open to the possibilities of science. I was once able to tell someone how their mother died, what she was wearing in her funeral, who sang, what they sang, and how they sang it.(Acapella) Now how else would you explain that except to say that perhaps I somehow sensed what was in her mind?

Open your minds, otherwise you're just as bad as the catholic church in Galileo's time.