Tampa Bay Skeptics Report - vol 18 no 4 - INCOMPLETE

Magazine Overview

This issue of TBS Report Online, Volume 18, Number 4, from Spring 2006, features several articles, with the lead story focusing on a lawsuit filed against Noreen Renier, a "psychic detective" and co-author of the memoir "A Mind for Murder."

Noreen Renier Sued Over "A Mind for Murder"

The main article, written by Gary P. Posner, details a lawsuit filed on December 13 in the Superior Court of Washington (State) for Snohomish County by John Merrell against Noreen Renier, co-author Naomi Lucks, editor/agent Samantha Mandor, Berkley Publishing, and Penguin Group. Merrell alleges that the defendants have knowingly breached a 1992 settlement agreement, causing him damage to his reputation and mental distress.

The 1992 settlement agreement, which was sealed but is now public due to the breach, stipulated that both parties would end all mutual interaction that could diminish or disparage the other's reputation, including contacts with any news organization or media. Merrell's lawsuit references pages 195-219 of "A Mind for Murder," contending that the book's detailing of the 1986 libel trial in Oregon accuses him of lying under oath and attempts to destroy his career and reputation.

Merrell stated that he had previously won a $25,000 libel judgment against Renier in 1986, which was sustained in a 1989 bankruptcy proceeding, but he had never collected the sum. The settlement agreement stipulated that he would receive $23,800.

Merrell's attorney first notified the defendants in October 2005 about the book breaching the settlement agreement. When no response was received, Merrell filed suit, seeking an injunction against selling the book, turnover of all profits, damages, and attorney's fees. Merrell has also begun a discovery phase by mailing interrogatories to the defendants.

The article draws a parallel to the recent scandal involving James Frey's "A Million Little Pieces," regarding a publisher's lack of fact-checking, noting that Merrell initiated his lawsuit before that uproar. It is mentioned that one of Frey's editors moved from Doubleday to Penguin's Riverhead, and Penguin Group is a defendant in Merrell's lawsuit.

Regarding the 1986 trial, Merrell had previously alleged in bankruptcy litigation that the $25,000 verdict against him was based on fraud and misrepresentation. He claimed Renier used a false name, "Nancy Uzdavinis," to trick him into investigating her psychic abilities. Merrell was sued after he disseminated his findings about Renier.

The article also recounts how, during the 1986 trial, a jury was seemingly convinced of Renier's "psychic" ability by a woman's testimony about Renier helping locate a missing airplane. Renier's testimony claimed she was instrumental in finding an airplane that crashed in Massachusetts, and that the female passenger had been "psychically" envisioned by Renier as "headless" and already dead, while the National Transportation Safety Board determined all occupants died immediately. The jury's belief was possibly influenced by the testifying woman being the ex-wife of an FBI agent who also testified in Renier's favor.

Merrell stated in an interview that Renier had claimed a woman aboard the plane was alive and carried out by her fiancé before both died, contradicting witness reports and the NTSB findings. The article criticizes "A Million Little Pieces" for similar avoidance of fact-checking and embellishments.

An update notes that during a February 23 hearing, after Penguin stated it had ceased publication, the judge dismissed all defendants except Renier "without prejudice." Merrell can still sue the other defendants for claims other than breach of settlement, such as libel. The breach case against Renier continues.

TBS "$1,000 Challenge" Candidate from Belarus

This section reports on Igor N. Simchanko from Belarus, who contacted TBS expressing a desire to be tested for the TBS $1,000 Challenge. Despite a language barrier, Simchanko initially agreed to predict one number for a Florida Lotto drawing, with the potential to continue for seven drawings if successful, a feat with a 1:1,000,000 probability.

After a delay, Simchanko sent a prediction for Florida Fantasy 5 on February 19, stating the number 11 would appear on February 20. The number 11 was indeed among the winning numbers. However, his subsequent prediction for the February 26 drawing was the number 20, while the winning numbers were 4-5-14-27-30. Having failed to achieve seven consecutive correct predictions, Simchanko lost the challenge.

Snippets

Mystic Gems

A new store called Mystic Gems in The Villages, Florida, offers jewelry arranged according to chakra colors and yoga traditions. Co-owner Margaret Morgan, a graduate gemologist, explains that the store explores "a whole other realm of consciousness" by associating Navaratna gemstones with planets and their influence on individuals. The store aims to be a resource center for tarot readings, psychic readings, and astrology.

Feng Shui Consultant

Tampa feng shui consultant Kathy Mann is featured for her work adjusting homes' chi (energy). Her services, which range from $300 to $600, involve rearranging furniture, decluttering, adding plants and artwork, and adjusting color schemes. A client, Michelle Deemer, reported a significant increase in sales after Mann feng shui'd her office.

Noreen Renier's Involvement in Groene Investigation

It is reported that Noreen Renier was consulted by the lead investigator in the high-profile Idaho kidnapping and murder of the Groene family. Renier provided "psychic" vibrations from toys belonging to the children, though her reading was described as general. Some of the information she provided was similar to what was learned after the assailant, Joseph Edward Duncan III, was arrested and the daughter Shasta was rescued.

Letter to the Editor

A letter from a resident of Petal, Mississippi, expresses a desire to contact John Monti, a psychic detective featured in a previous TBS Report issue. The writer's daughter has been missing for 12 years, and she hopes a psychic can help solve the case.

The editor's note sympathizes with the mother's plight but advises that employing a "psychic detective" is an "expensive and heartbreaking road to nowhere," based on research. The editor also enclosed a copy of a previous newsletter article on John Monti.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include skepticism towards psychic claims, legal disputes arising from such claims, and the challenges of verifying paranormal abilities. The editorial stance, particularly evident in Gary Posner's articles and the editor's response to the letter, is one of critical inquiry and a promotion of rational explanations over unsubstantiated paranormal assertions. The publication actively investigates and reports on cases involving alleged psychic phenomena, often highlighting instances where claims are found to be unsubstantiated or fraudulent, and emphasizes the importance of evidence-based reasoning.