And why do the cops trust psychics? How is it admissable in court and how did they get a warrant? I would love to know how embarassed the department is after this. This is just priceless.
Officers Search For 'Psychic' In Hoax Tip About Bodies - Houston News Story - KPRC Houston
LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas -- A self-proclaimed psychic could faces charges after making a false tip about dozens of bodies being on a rural property in Liberty County. But first, officers have to find her.
The Liberty County Sheriff's Office said the tipster told them 25 to 30 bodies were on a property at the intersection of County Roads 2049 and 2048 between Hardin and Daisetta.
The first tip call came into dispatch about 10 p.m. Monday and directed deputies to a general area, officials said. Investigators said deputies went to the home and because it was dark and no one was there, they left.
Detectives said a second call came about 11 a.m. Tuesday and the tipster said the deputies missed the area. She gave a detailed description of the interior and exterior of a home, a shed and immediate surrounding area, officials said.
"Some of the information provided to us did specifically match information we found here at the scene. That is the driving force that kept us furthering our investigation," said Capt. Rex Evans with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.
The unknown caller indicated investigators would find the bodies of up to 30 children on the property.
Detectives said they spotted blood on the back door and frame and there was an odor of decomposition in the area.
Texas Rangers went onto the property about 7:45 p.m., after obtaining a search warrant. They scoured the house, the shed and grounds with cadaver dogs, but no bodies were found, detectives said.
"There was nothing that would implicate a homicide or some type of serious incident of that nature had occurred there," Evans said.
The investigation at the home has officially been closed, officials said.
"Any type of serious allegation of this nature, especially anything that would involve the possibility of a child, we're going to take it serious," Evans said. "Simply what yesterday was was responding to the allegation, going to the scene and attempting to verify the validity of the information that we were given."
Investigators said they do not know the psychic's identity, but they said that she does not live in Liberty County. Officials said she could face a class A misdemeanor charge of filing a false police report, but other charges may apply.
"Obviously, we'd like to speak to her one on one and evaluate that individual," Evans said.
County officials said they also want to know how the investigation leaked to the media before the information could be verified.
"This was supposed to be a very preliminary and quiet investigation. We certainly didn't want to alarm anybody. The last thing we want to do is cry wolf on something like this," Liberty County Judge Craig McNair said.
Area residents said they were stunned someone would make up that kind of tip.
"Whoever tipped them off with the false tip like that, they ought to be sorry for what they done," resident Elmira McBride said. "Whoever did that, they ought to be charged."
The owner of the home also wants answers.
Joe Bankson is a truck driver and was not home during the incident. He wants to know why he wasn't contacted by the sheriff's department.
"Seventy-four reporters can get a hold of me on my telephone, but the sheriff's office cannot," Bankson said.
Bankson said he and his wife are considering hiring an attorney to take legal action.
