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The Herald, 29 October, 1980
DALLAS. – A Texas man, who claimed to have psychic powers, told searchers where to find the body of a murdered man who had vanished without trace 10 weeks ago, police said yesterday.
Police had been looking for Mr Michael Dickens, an 18-year-old East Texas electrician, after he failed to show up for work on August 1, reports Iana-AP.
After conferring with the psychic, Mr John Catchings, policeman Ron Roark and two other officers went to a wooded creek bed near the Dickens’ home and found Mr Dickens’ decomposed body.
Authorities later determined he had been stabbed several times in the back.
Dozens of searchers had combed the same area several times before Mr Catchings gave his advice, said Mr Roark.
“I’ll say this,” said Mr Roark, “we went right to the body within 10 to 15 minutes of the time we got there. He (Mr Catchings) told us we would find shoe first and we did.”
On Sunday night Mrs Diana Dickens said she had called Mr Catchings for help on the advice of a friend.
“He just said very calmly, I get very bad feelings about this. I think your son has been killed,” Mrs Dickens said. “He told us exactly where to go to find the body and he said Detective Roark would be the one to find it, and he did.”
Mr Catchings said he had also picked out a photograph of the person whom he believed was responsible for Mr Dickens’ death, and Mr Roark said he would use that information to put together a murder case, since Mr Catchings was so accurate about the location of the body.
Mr Roark called Mr Catchings’s work “amazing”.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
The involvement of persons claiming to have psychic abilities in criminal investigations has several implications for policing.
This phenomenon raises questions about the effectiveness and reliability of such claims, as well as the potential consequences for law enforcement practices and public perception.
The use of clairvoyants in police investigations can influence public perception of law enforcement’s credibility. If a psychic provides accurate information, it may enhance public trust in both the psychic and the police department involved.
Conversely, if the psychic’s claims lead to false leads or wasted efforts, it could damage the reputation of the police and undermine public trust in their investigative methods.
Incorporating psychics into investigations also raises legal and ethical questions. Police departments must consider whether relying on such claims could lead to wrongful accusations or misdirection in cases.
Online Reporter