Sylvia Browne, Wrong in High Profile TV Reading
Eleven-Year-Old Shawn Hornbeck Disappeared on October 6, 2002
Jun 7, 2009
Shawn Hornbeck was 11-years-old when he vanished while riding his bike to a friend's house in Richwood, Missouri. About four and a half months later, the parents asked Browne what happened to him. All of her “reading” was wrong. In January 2007, Shawn was found alive, held captive by his kidnapper. When proved wrong, Browne sloughed it off and gave no apologizes.
Browne’s Wrong “Reading”
The “psychic” told Shawn’s parents, Pam and Craig, he was dead and his body was in a wooded area near two large rocks. It appears Browne was trying to make an educated guess that a boy who is missing for several months was likely killed.
Browne didn’t stop there. She added that his killer was a tall Hispanic male with dreadlocks. His car was an old blue sedan with fins, like those seen on Chevrolet in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Browne Tries to “Help” the Hornbecks
A family spokesman said Browne called Pam and Craig to try to get money from them about a month after the Montel broadcast. She offered to continue to help them for a fee of $700. Now, it’s $850 for a “reading.”
It's speculated that if Pam had had the money, she would have paid her. This was a mother who wanted her son to have a decent burial or, perhaps, to hear Browne was wrong and get hopeful information.
Browne Proved Wrong, Hornbeck Found Alive
In January 2007, two police officers, Chris Nelson and Gary Wagster solved the case of the missing Shawn Hornbeck. They were working on another case at Michael Devlin’s apartment complex when they noticed his truck matched the description of a vehicle involved in William Ben Ownby’s kidnapping.
When Devlin, a non-Hispanic Caucasian without dreadlocks, took his trash out, the officers asked him questions. The man was friendly at first, but his attitude did an about face. The officers felt uneasy when they left Devlin and alerted the FBI. The bureau’s investigators went to Devlin’s apartment and found Hornbeck and Ownby alive.
Browne’s Reactions to Critics
Critics called attention to one of her biggest high-profile failures to date. She posted a statement on her website, stating that she chooses to work directly with law enforcement on missing person and homicide cases and doesn’t charge for this.
She also averred that she can’t be 100% correct in all of her predictions, although, at times, she has claimed otherwise. She further boldly alleges that if her critics had attacked scientists, their progress would have been impeded.
Browne’s “Reading” and Facts
Sylvia appeared on national TV when she gave the “reading.” It’s unknown whether or not the original tape still exists, but there is media documentation of it. Facts about the case are found in police and FBI records, TV newscasts and other shows, media articles and on the internet.
- Browne said Hornbeck was dead. He was actually found alive several years later.
- Browne said Hornbeck’s body was in a wooded area near two boulders. In reality, the boy was alive.
- Browne said the killer was Hispanic. Devlin, the kidnapper, was a non-Hispanic Caucasian.
- Browne said the killer had dreadlocks. Devlin did not have dreadlocks.
- Browne said the killer drove an old blue sedan with fins. Devlin drove a truck.
- Browne's “answers” to critics evades the issues and was removed from her website, which changes information frequently.
- There’s nothing on her current website indicating that she works with law enforcement.
- She caused Hornbeck’s parents further emotional damage by offering to “help” for $700.
Related Articles about Alleged Psychics
People who enjoyed this article might want to read:
- Beware_of_Fake_Psychics features ways to find out if the "psychic" is a con artist.
- How_to_Debunk_Paranormal_Hoaxes advises readers how to detect scams.
- Psychic_Noreen_Renier_Debunked discusses what led to her unmasking and some of her con game tactics.
Source:
- “Sylvia Browne’s Biggest Blunder,” by Benjamin Radford, Skeptical Inquirer, May/June 2007 issue.
 |
