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Blogs take psychic to task on Hornbeck case

Readers are angry with psychics, particularly, Sylvia Browne who provided Shawn Hornbeck’s family with misleading information in 2003.

There are 40 blogs or responses from visitors to the Daily Journal Web site about an archived February 2003 Daily Journal article. All but a few were angry at Browne.

That year, Montel Williams aired Shawn’s parents, Craig and Pam Akers, speaking with Browne.

In the 2003 Daily Journal article, it stated Browne told them their son &#8220is no longer with us” but she had the impression his body was in a wooded area about 20 miles southwest of Richwoods – near two large, jagged boulders. She told them she believed his bicycle had been dumped in another state.

Browne told the Akers it was her vision that Shawn was taken by a really tall, dark-skinned man who wasn’t black. She said he had long, black hair that he wore in dreadlocks. She believed he was driving an older model blue sedan.

Afterward, the Akers conducted several searches in that area.

The Akers also did television segments with James Van Praagh, a psychic from the show, Beyond. The Akers said he suggested a person who was involved in Shawn’s disappearance worked for a railroad car plant and the body might be concealed in a railway car. That information also led to numerous searches, including the De Soto railroad yard.

A few blogs referenced a man named Bryan who apparently predicted Shawn was safe in a St. Louis apartment and the 37-year-old male kidnapper worked at McDonalds.

Of course, it wasn’t just the psychics who provided false information. Rumors circulated for years about his disappearance being related to a meth lab or that he was hit by a car.

Despite all of the false information, Shawn’s family never gave up hope and continued to search for him.

On his Web site, Shawn wrote, &#8220Rumors ran rampant that I had been struck by a car and taken away, or had run across a drug lab and been killed. My parents still never gave up hope, and continued their search – week after week, month after month …”

&#8220… Psychics and frauds loudly proclaimed my demise and told my parents they had talked with me from beyond. But still they kept looking, never giving up hope. I prayed every day that my parents would find me. I knew my parents weren’t giving up, and neither would I.”

Scott Sherman, the Akers’ attorney who is answering media questions, said the Akers family has no animosity toward anyone in particular.

He said as long as a person who professes to have psychic powers truly believes what they are saying, it doesn’t hurt to try every avenue. He said they receive thousands of tips from people that didn’t pan out but the family wouldn’t discourage anyone from trying to help a child with information they believe is true and helpful.

In fact, he said they are thankful to people like Montel Williams and Oprah who try to help find missing children. He said the family thinks Montel is terrific and did not intentionally mean to steer them the wrong way.

***The Blogs***

The first post to the Daily Journal story was made by Sherri on Jan. 14, two days after Shawn was found in a Kirkwood apartment. She wrote, &#8220Sylvia apparently missed this one by a long shot.”

Jaimee wrote, &#8220Thank God she was wrong AGAIN!! I am sorry for the pain that she must have caused the family of Shawn! Welcome home Shawn! Welcome home!!”

Bonnie wrote, &#8220I hope this sends a message to desperate people who are searching for their loved ones. Desperate people do desperate things, like go to psychics. If psychics were right, then we would have found every missing child. Has there ever been a case where a psychic found a missing child? Has there ever been a psychic who has said, ‘Yes, your child is alive and here is where the child can be found?’”

Jennie wrote, &#8220… I have to say this – the only one in this world that knows all before and after it happens is GOD!! Don’t believe any thing or anyone else!! I am so glad the Lord brought those boys home!!! God Bless.”

Mary wrote, &#8220I believe that some people do have visions, and I’ve always thought Sylvia was and still may be one of them but to go on and on about the specifics that were so terribly wrong, it would have been OK to just say she really didn’t know and not do that to a set of parents that had already lost so much.”

Not all comments were negative, though.

Lori wrote, &#8220She has helped a lot of people and been right, seems like you are only pointing out this mistake.”

Love also wrote that people make mistakes and she still believes in Sylvia Browne.

There are several other Web sites criticizing Browne’s public mistake. On one of the sites called Stop Sylvia Browne, it references the Daily Journal article.

Browne is a Missouri native who says her psychic powers were revealed when she was just 3 years old. On her Web site, she does say that she can not be 100 percent correct in her readings.

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