Psychic Predators - Voice for the Missing

[chillzero]

I need to share a site with you all. Some of you have seen me refer to this already, but there is always something of interest in this blog.

Kelly Jolkowski lost contact with her son Jason five years ago. He went out to the trash, and never returned. That was it - he walked out the back door, to the end of their garden, and vanished. His phone and money were still in his room, and no clothes were missing.

Kelly has spoken to a few psychics in the search for her son, and has appeared on the Montel Williams show to make her case. She has helped change laws across the USA and provide training for law enforcement on how to deal with missing persons cases. She helps provide support and counselling for families who have missing loved ones.

Her blog:
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

The blog is updated regularly and recently she posted a request for help for funding:
What if Project Jason earned a penny every time you searched the Internet or shopped online? Well, now we can!

GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results.

GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates a percentage of each purchase to your favorite cause. More than 100 great stores including The Gap, Best Buy and Barnes and Nobel have teamed up with GoodSearch and every time you place an order, you’ll be supporting your favorite cause. With the holiday shopping season coming up, don't forget to go through our GoodSearch link when shopping online.

Just go to http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=857029 and be sure to enter Project Jason as the charity you want to support. And, be sure to spread the word!
But perhaps the most relevant information for this section - something that should be required reading to anyone that asks "where's the harm?" is the section on psychic predators. The term was coined by the father of Molly Klaas, when he referred to them as the second wave of predators that a family has to deal with when forced into the public eye by such shocking circumstances:
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com...chics-and.html (http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2006/03/30606-pmp-introduction-to-psychics-and.html)

Personally I have no end of admiration for Kelly, and am looking forward to meeting her in January, having had regular contact with her over voluntary efforts. I will be glad to pass on any messages or suggestions or articles.

I will use this thread to update not only information about Kelly's blog - which is very USA centric - but also to highlight any similar efforts I can find in the UK. I had intended to put together a similar site based on UK cases, but health issues have interfered with all my plans this year. However, Kelly's forum for Project Jason has a UK section, so I hope we may direct people there, should they need to highlight a case, or provide information.

[John Jackson]

Hi, Chilly.

I've stickied this topic so it remains prominent.

Feel as free as you like to promote Kelly's excellent efforts anywhere on this forum.

I will do a feature for the main site too and, hopefully, it will come up highly in UK searches on the engines.

[chillzero]

Thanks John - that's wonderful!

[chillzero]

An update for today will be really important if we have any Amercian readers here:

There's not much I can say to add to what Kelly explains in her blog today. Please take a few minutes to send an email, or write a letter, to help this incredibly important organisation to survive.

http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2006/07/71006-matter-of-urgency.html (http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2006/07/71006-matter-of-urgency.html)


To Family Members and Friends of the Missing,



Monday, November 5th, 2007, might be remembered by those involved in the missing persons cause as a day in which a huge step backwards was taken.

Unless something major breaks in the way of funding, this will be the day in which the National Center for Missing Adults (NCMA) will close their doors. Thousands of families will be affected, now and in the future.

Why is this happening?

The answer is complex, but in summary:

· The NCMA stepped up and assisted over 13,000 victims of Hurricane Katrina and was to be reimbursed for those expenditures, which were close to $250,000. At this time, the NCMA has only received $50,000 to cover the work they did at the request of the Dept. of Justice.

· The 2007 re-authorization of Kristen’s Law, (HR 423) which would provide the NCMA with up to $4 million per year in funding for 10 years, continues to remain in the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Securitycommittee, with no action taken to help the center. This re-authorization effort has been in the works unsuccessfully since 2005.

· As experienced not only by the NCMA, but by other national organizations, including ours, the public does not generally consider missing adults’ assistance nonprofits as a part of their charitable giving plans. Corporations are also hesitant to provide funding, and grant makers don’t seem responsive, either. This lack of support has also contributed to the problem.

What will save the NCMA at this late hour?

If an “angel” company or person comes forward who can help keep the center operating until the Kristen’s Law Re-authorization funds are released.

AND/OR

The DOJ immediately releases the funds owed to the NCMA from their work related to Hurricane Katrina.

What Can I Do?

<Please see the link for information>

[fruitfly]

Thanks for this thread, Chilly. It was Kelly’s blog that first alerted me to the exploitative and predatory nature of the psychic and, by extension, to the cons perpetrated by peddlers of mysticism and magic in general.

John, I was going to suggest you make a link to Kelly’s site a sticky on the psychic forum but see you have been thinking along the same lines. An article in the main section is a fantastic idea. Thanks. Perhaps we can direct those misguided and often well-meaning people who may be considering giving money to these contemptible parasites (Brian Ladd et al), or who buy into the “where‘s the harm” school of thought, towards this thread and the proposed article.

To see a missing person (child or adult) case as a money making opportunity or exercise in self-promotion is beneath contempt. If you are considering donating money to any of these self-seeking predators, read Kelly’s blog and think again. There are better and more constructive ways of helping and organisations you can donate to that may actually aid those who most need it - the families who have lost loved ones. I mean, really think: would you rather your money went to a fund like Kelly’s that provides training for law enforcement agencies and gives support and counselling to families of the missing, or would you prefer to swell the coffers (and raise the profile) of some self-proclaimed psychic whose only interests are making money and self-promotion?

These people do not and cannot possibly know anything that will help in an investigation. This is borne out by the fact that there has not been one single documented instance of a psychic solving a missing person/murder case. All they do is waste police time and resources and cause extra pain to those already suffering unimaginably. For that they gain both financially and in terms of free publicity! Be constructive and expose them for what they are and, if you want to help financially, donate to a fund for missing persons. Chillzero's postings and links above show how it can be done.

[chillzero]

Update regarding assistance for families.

If you have a missing loved one, then I would invite you to go to the Project Jason forum. They have a unique service available to offer help and advice and counselling for those in need.

There is a UK section on the forum, so you can add your missing loved one to the list, as well as join conversations with those who understand your situation better than most.

Families of the missing suffer a unique tragedy, one with which many professional counselors do not have the training or experience to be able to properly service their clients. In addition, many families do not have the financial means to seek professional counseling. Duane is one of the nation's most qualified counselors in regards to issues faced by these families, and we are honored to have him with us to answer your questions.



Healing Harbor can provide answers and assistance on a variety of emotional issues that effect family members of missing persons. This assistance may provide the boost needed for that family member to deal with and adapt to the situation without seeking counseling. (Please keep in mind that Healing Harbor should not be viewed as a substitute for individual, private counseling if needed.)



Families of the missing who elect to participate in Healing Harbor are invited to post their question to Duane in our private forum area. These questions may cover any topic of interest in respect to emotional issues that relate to having a missing person in their life.



Some recent topics covered include:

Helping a young child to deal with having a missing loved one
Understanding fear of change as it relates to having a missing person in your life
What it means to be "stuck on the day the person went missing"
Understanding feelings of guilt


If you are a family member of a missing person, and would like to take advantage of this service, please register at our forum, located at http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php (http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php)

[chillzero]

Added to the forum today:

http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=2187.0

I wish all the best for information to our stephw.

I am about to start a new thread here, however, as the future of the UK section of Kelly's forum is in doubt, and I need your assistance.

[chillzero]

Please read and help with this thread:
http://www.skeptics.org.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=1997

[dalriada]

Have PM-ed you.
O0

[chillzero]

In March, there is a march for the missing planned in London, which is being coordinated with the Missing Person's Charity in the USA. There's an online petition here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/280079339

if anyone would care to add to it. The petition wants to help spread global resources, to ensure that missing persons cases receive the time and attention they need, and that information is shared as far as possible.

I'll update any further info I get, when I get it, and also obviously will provide any more UK specific links when I can too.

[chillzero]

I have a correction to make, having had further communication with the charities involved. The march is not being driven by a charity, but by the families of the missing, although several charities support the event.

More details:
http://www.missingpeople.org.uk/news-and-events/events/detail.asp?dsid=1009

[chillzero]

I forgot to supply an update. Sorry.
Kelly has discontinued the UK section of her site, although she retains Jaqueline Windsor's information for us.

steff - please let me know if you get anything further on this, and I will endeavour to follow it up where I can.

I am still considering my options as to what I can do to assist in this field, and will keep you up to date as required.

For any that may have seen a news story about remains found in Kelly's town, they were not those of her son, Jason. They were the remains of Michael O'Connor, whose family Kelly had been working with since he went missing in February 2007. I am sure you join me in wishing Kelly, the O'Connors and all their loved ones all best wishes in these difficult times.

[chillzero]

The following article is not related to Project Jason, or psychic predators. However, it relates directly to families of the missing, and concerns a UK based charity which we should support if we can.

http://chillzero.blogspot.com/2008/04/missing-people-on-tv.html#links