http://www.sentinel-echo.com/local/x1910041038/Family-asks-psychic-for-help
June 15, 2010
Family asks psychic for help
Members say they need information about fire that killed father, brother
By Nita Johnson Staff Writer
LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — Almost four years after the deaths of their father and brother, a Laurel County family continues to question the cause of death — and has asked a Canadian psychic to come to the area to help them find answers.
Crosses with the names of Herbert Brewer Sr. and Herbert “Herbie” Brewer Jr. are poised in the spot on Old Richmond Road where the two men’s bodies were found inside their torched trailer on Aug. 15, 2006.
“The crosses are exactly where their bodies were found lying in the trailer after the fire,” said Alene Spurlock, one of Herbert Brewer’s surviving eight children. “We have always thought that they were murdered.”
For the past 3 1/2 years, family members sought help from local law enforcement — an effort they say has been futile.
However, law enforcement officials and a report from the state medical examiner’s office maintain the Brewers died of smoke inhalation. The case was never investigated as a murder and continues to be closed.
Enter Robbie Thomas, a Canadian psychic who claims involvement in solving several criminal cases — some high profile — of missing or murdered people.
Thomas says he can pick up on incidents and provide details about crimes. Thomas became involved in the case through the “Burning Rubber” radio show, broadcast locally on 101.9 and hosted by retired Florida police officer Andy DeLay. DeLay learned about the Brewer case through a co-worker who is acquainted with one of Brewer’s granddaughters.
“He (DeLay) just called me one day and asked about Herbert and Herbie,” Thomas said. “I knew immediately that they were murdered. They didn’t die from the fire.”
Thomas’ interview with DeLay was recorded on Monday and broadcast on Thursday, before many of the family members knew what details he had given. Once they heard the broadcast, they contacted Thomas and asked him to come to London.
“We want everyone to know that he (Thomas) is not charging us for his psychic services,” said Rosalie Simpson, one of Brewer’s daughters. “We paid for his plane ticket here and back home and his motel while he’s here and that’s all. He’s not doing this for money, he’s doing it to help us.”
Thomas said he has worked on several cases in Kentucky, including one recently in Pineville and Louisville. He said he also helped police with the case involving Alabama teen Natalie Holloway, who disappeared while on a trip to Aruba in 2005.
Thomas says he can visualize events that have lead to deaths.
“People have said to me that they wished they could do this, but I tell them no they don’t,” Thomas said. “I see the pain the family feels.”
Though neither Thomas nor family members wish to publicly release specific details about their findings at this time, they did name questions they believe remain unanswered.
One question centers around the autopsy report from the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office on the condition of Herbie Brewer’s body.
The report shows that both the upper and lower bones in Herbie Brewer’s right leg were broken. His right hand had two broken fingers and his right forearm was also broken, according to the report. The autopsy lists smoke inhalation as the cause of death, although the family questions whether they died from smoke inhalation or because they might have been unable to escape it.
Dr. Emily Craig, a forensic anthropologist with the state medical examiner’s office, declined Friday to answer questions relating to the report.
However, sheriff’s deputies agree the Brewers died of smoke inhalation.
“I’ve been over this case and over this case,” Laurel Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Charlie Loomis said. “No foul play has ever been suspected except by the family. If there ever is any evidence of anything other than that they died in the fire, I will absolutely open the investigation.”
The fire that took the lives of the Brewer father and son occurred during former Laurel County Sheriff Gene Hollon’s administration, with Detectives Jimmy and Johnny Phelps as lead investigators.
“The fire marshall, the medical examiner, Johnny Phelps who was the investigator, all say that they died from the fire,” Loomis said. “There is just no evidence of foul play. It was a tragic incident where two people died in a fire. This is a grieving family and I wish I could help them, but there is just no case to open here.”
The Brewers, however, maintain there is.
“I’ve always thought they were murdered,” said Carmen Brewer, one of Herbert’s sons. “I’ll always believe they didn’t die from the fire.”
