CSICOP
Assists in Philadelphia TV Station's Psychic "Sting"
Joe
Nickell
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A
cleverly conceived and strikingly effective psychic expose was conducted in May
1995 by Philadelphia WCAU-TV's Herb Denenberg.
A
starting point for the investigation was Jody Himebaugh, whose 11-year-old son
Mark disappeared November 25, 1991. Although Himebaugh conceded that the likelihood
of his son being found alive was very small, more than 100 alleged psychics had
contacted him with their visions. He said they typically saw a "dark car,"
"the number 5," or similar "clues" that were never any help.
(After a case is finally resolved, the psychics typically interpret their vague
pronouncements to fit the actual facts. This is called retrofitting. See my Psychic
Sleuths, Prometheus Books, 1994.)
Prompted
in part by the Himebaugh case, Denenberg first consulted with CSICOP investigators.
Then he and other members of his Newscenter 10 unit went undercover to test the
alleged powers of "so-called psychics," some of whom, the investigative
segment announced, "prey on the parents of missing children."
As
the focus of their test Denenberg's team utilized a 15-year-old named Kate. Although
film clips showed her playing softball in her front yard, various tarot card readers
and "psychic advisors" -- as well as certain 900-number clairvoyants
-- were told that the schoolgirl had been missing since January.
In
response, some psychics saw her experiencing "physical harm"; one collected
a fee of $50 for seeing her "confined against her will"; another charged
$180 to report that the girl had run away and was "probably pregnant";
and, while one psychic envisioned her only two miles from home, another saw her
far away in Florida. Not one among the several psychics ever divined the truth
about the teenager -- that she was not missing -- or about the true purpose of
Channel 10's investigation.
When
confronted with the evidence that their psychic powers were inoperative, the alleged
clairvoyants chose not to appear on camera. However, a spokesman for "Miss
Ruby, Psychic Reader and Advisor," conceded she should have foreseen the
sting operation, and she refunded the TV station's money.
Denenberg's
investigative report also featured Frank Friel, who has 30 years of experience
in law enforcement. He stated that he had never had a psychic provide a valuable
clue, and he criticized the alleged seers for their phony offerings, which he
described as "catastrophic to the well-being" of the families concerned,
and, indeed, "out-and-out fraud."
Himebaugh
said psychics took an "emotional toll" on families. He said he had twice
ended up in the hospital suffering from anxiety attacks brought on by psychics'
false hopes.
Whether
or not Denenberg's efforts are successful in retarding future psychic activities
in the Philadelphia area, he and Channel 10 are to be commended for a fine piece
of investigative reporting -- one in which a paranormal claim again fails to withstand
the light of scrutiny.
