To the Editor of the Reformer:
Nearly three years ago, the Reformer ran two front-page stories about self-proclaimed “psychic investigator” Carla Baron and her involvement with the case of two missing local women, Tina and Bethany Sinclair. Both stories were very positive and uncritical towards Ms. Baron; the only skeptical comment in either piece was a short quote from a local law officer, who said in effect that his department doesn’t place much credibility in psychics.
I’m now curious as to whether the Reformer might consider publishing a follow-up article, updating the public about what help, if any, Ms. Baron’s “evidence” has provided in solving the Sinclair case. I realize that an article along the lines of “Psychic Fails Again” may possess the dog-bites-man quality that newspapers usually try to avoid. But it might serve to provide a more balanced and realistic picture. And it would give you another opportunity to mention Ms. Baron’s long history of exaggerated claims and self-serving statements, as documented here:
http://www.iigwest.com/carla_report.html. You could also note that despite what TV shows such as Medium might like you to believe, no crime in history has ever been solved by evidence provided through psychic means.
You could also mention the experience of Kelly Jolkowski, whose son Jason went missing in 2001 (see
http://www.projectjason.org/). Since that time, Ms. Jolkowski has been contacted by a number of self-described psychics offering their services, often in exchange for money. Through her work on behalf of families of missing people, Ms. Jolkowski learned that many other parents have similarly received unsolicited offers from psychics. She discovered that psychics are often very aggressive when contacting the family of the missing. For instance, if their offer is initially declined, they sometimes accuse parents of not loving their child enough to do everything possible to get them back. The “evidence” these psychics provide is contradictory, terrifying, and depressing, and ultimately totally useless. They sometimes accuse innocent people of being responsible. They waste valuable law enforcement time and effort tracking down bogus leads. And none has ever provided a single clue that helped locate a missing person. In an effort to prevent others from being similarly preyed upon, Ms. Jolkowski created a web site (see
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2006/03/30606-pmp-introduction-to-psychics-and.html) to help warn the friends and family of missing people about these “psychic predators.”
So would the Reformer consider publishing such a follow-up article? Doing so might help others from falling victim to Ms. Baron and her ilk, who shamelessly take advantage of families with missing loved ones, at a time when they are most vulnerable and desperate to try anything, however implausible. And it might determine whether the Reformer is truly interested in serving as a responsible source of information, or whether it prefers to pander to trendy and popular delusions.
Sincerely,
who is fighting a war of sorts, that I myself have also experienced, and battled. I might add.... I didn't know how far this cause had taken you in your efforts so far, I wrongly assumed you were in the laying out of plan/process of bringing this subject to light. My apologies.. You go girl! and as I said. If there is anything I can do to assist you, just let me know. 
