"Nothing to lose": Police hired a psychic to locate the missing girl - and sparked outrage

Nearly a decade has passed since Sophie Reeder, a 15-year-old girl from Florida, disappeared in the dead of night from her home. Despite extensive media coverage across the US, the case remains open and cold. Now, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department is taking a step that is causing great bewilderment among the missing girl's family: hiring the services of psychics (mediums) and "supernatural profilers" in an attempt to solve the mystery.

"I just don't understand it," admitted Sophie's father, Patrick Reeder, in a conversation with CNN. "A psychic?".

A spokesperson for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department explained the unusual step: "Traditionally, we do not consult with entities outside of law enforcement in open criminal cases. However, in Sophie's case, our department is willing to try new and unique approaches for any chance to uncover new information." Patrick's sister, Kirsten Milhorn, called the move a "misallocation of resources."

Sophie, described as a deep and creative girl with a fondness for art and makeup, but one who dealt with "family issues," was last seen on May 19, 2017. After her father told her to go to sleep, she slipped out of the house. Security cameras captured her walking alone along a main avenue at 2:00 AM, wearing headphones.

Communication records indicated that Sophie's last known location was at an apartment complex, about 3 kilometers from her home. Leonard Jennings (37), a convicted felon who was defined by the police as a "person of interest" (but not an official suspect) in the case, lived in this complex.

The last phone call Sophie made was to Jennings' number at 3:07 AM. Her phone continued to transmit signals from the same location until 9:13 AM, and then disconnected from the network. What happened after that remains a mystery.

Now, with the investigation stalled, the police have turned to unconventional solutions. According to reports, the police paid $1,500 to one of the psychics for a 90-day "consultation period," which began with a virtual introductory meeting. Another psychic volunteered to help for free, and following the information she provided, an extensive search was conducted in a local canal - which yielded nothing.

Alejandra Taborn, one of the "supernatural profilers" advising the police on the case, defends her profession: "Not everyone is open to mediums. But what I've found is that even if they aren't - what else do they have to lose?". Taborn claims that her process includes physically touching evidence while wearing gloves to pick up "impressions," meetings with the family to receive messages, and tours of the area to "read the energy of the environment" - steps that have not yet been performed in Sophie's case.

"Close to zero percent success"

Law enforcement's reliance on supernatural powers is receiving sharp criticism from scientific circles. Benjamin Radford, a researcher and expert who examines supernatural claims from a scientific perspective, notes that "usually, in missing persons cases, psychics just 'come out of the woodwork' and offer information." According to him, in 20 years of research, the success record of mediums in locating missing persons is "close to zero." However, he admits that most of them are probably acting with good intentions and a sincere desire to help.

Meanwhile, the heartbroken father is struggling to find rest. "I had to sleep on the couch, by the door, for a few years, just waiting for her to come home," he said about his struggle. Regarding the police's new move, he remains skeptical: "If it's something that will bear fruit, I'll jump on it. But instead, there are many other things they could have done, like, for example, offering a larger cash reward."