TV "Psychic" Noreen Renier - Debunked

Police and Crime "Investigator" Made Fantastic Claims

Mar 29, 2009

Renier in Court Many Times, http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/47686

Renier and Naomi Lucks co-authored A Mind for Murder in 2005. A revised edition by Renier was published in 2008. Fascinating case of years of lies and deceptions!

Self-proclaimed police “psychic” Noreen Renier sustained major losses in her federal court battle with John Merrell. On March 31, 2008, she was granted her second Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Her total combined losses and debts are now estimated to exceed $144,000. Who was this scamster and what were her outrageous claims?

Renier Lawsuits

The following is an overview of the lawsuits involving Renier.

1986 - Renier won a libel lawsuit when six jury members found in favor of her against critic John Merrell. Much of the testimony has recently been challenged as lacking credibility.
2005 - Renier's biography was published. Merrell sued Renier in a Washington federal court for breaching a 1992 Florida State settlement agreement.
2006 - Witnesses publicly disputed various testimonies relating to a plane crash where Renier claimed she was "instrumental" in finding.
2006 and 2007 - The Federal court issued judgments against Renier.
August 2007 - Renier filed her second Chapter 7 bankruptcy listing Merrell as her principal creditor with unpaid debts to him.
2008: Merrell sought and was awarded assets from the 2008 revised edition of Renier's book after all references to him had been deleted. Merrell is now the sole creditor and, at his request, the Bankruptcy Court is holding all assets collected until the spring of 2009 when they will be transferred to him and a decision will be reached as to whom owns the book.

Renier’s Brief Bio

She was born in Massachusetts on January 16, 1937 and has over her 30 year “psychic” career claiming she collected an assortment of academic and law enforcement supporters within the paranormal community.

She has repeated many of her outrageous claims, but continually ignores discussing her legal woes.

Renier's relationship with law enforcement personnel has been informal at times. Videos show her using alcohol during some sessions. Video and audio recordings reveal Renier portraying herself being possessed by the Zodiac Killer and murder victims.

A Virginia sheriff called Renier's psychic claims to law officers as "sauced ramblings" after watching Renier gulp substantial quantities of red wine. Once, when working with the police, Renier scribbled a drawing that looked like it was done under the influence.

Renier appeared on many TV programs, including Court TV’s Psychic Detectives, The Larry King Show, Good Morning America, The Nancy Grace Show, CBS Inside Edition, Sightings, Geraldo, Hour Magazine, America's Most Wanted, Greta VanSusteren’s show and The Joan Rivers Show

Renier’s Claims

There have been so many fantastic claims she has made. Renier alleges that, among other “achievements,” she:

Communicated with an oak tree who asked her to extinguish her cigarette;
Can see people’s bodies through their clothing;
Can manipulate human energy fields;
Manipulated animal psi waves to solve a mysterious death of a horse. There’s no record of this;
Solved crimes when facts debunk her versions;
Renier's website includes a long listing of educational credentials, including the University of Florida, University of Delaware, and University of Virginia. She hasn’t graduated from a four year accredited institution.She hasn’t been a faculty member at any of the institutions listed. In one court deposition, she couldn’t remember her date of high school graduation or the name of her school and;
She claims she spent five years being tested in laboratories at the Psychical Research Foundation and Duke University and scored “quite” high in all tests. There’s no evidence supporting these allegations. When asked about being tested at Duke in court, she couldn’t recall the department’s name, date and names of any of the researchers.

Lessons to Be Learned from Renier

While it’s mind-boggling that this con artist got away with what her fakery, hopefully people will learn from her fraud. Obviously, the lawsuits speak for themselves. What can people learn?

Police officials of Renier’s working with law enforcement prove she was under the influence of alcohol during some meetings. Psychics don’t drink when working as such.
Her being on national television as a “psychic” doesn’t prove she is one. As future events show, Renier fooled producers, directors and stars who aren’t experts in psychic phenomena. Unfortunately, some people gave credence at her lies and some believed others that were fooled.
Her claims can’t be substantiated and some are too preposterous to be believed. A tree telling her to put her cigarette out?

What can people do to protect themselves from fraudulent psychics? Research the psychic’s claims and background. Ask probing questions and for references. Above all, be skeptical. True psychics will welcome questions and provide evidence that can be supported by facts.