Interesting case here that deserves some investigation:
http://www.noreenrenier.com/index.html
In 1981, when Psychic Investigator Noreen Renier first lectured at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, her work with police detectives was considered controversial. Now, she is a well-known psychic detective who has worked on over 400 unsolved cases with city, county, and state Law Enforcement Agencies in 38 states and 6 foreign countries. She has a unique understanding of both the police and the paranormal.
Then this: The Posner Files
http://www.noreenrenier.com/skeptic.html
GARY P. POSNER
A Man Obsessed with A Psychic's Destruction.
“Supporters of Renier’s alleged psychic abilities can be
found in law enforcement and academic communities.” (G. Posner)
“Naturally the Tampa Bay Skeptics are above such people.” (P.Duffie)
“Noreen Renier: The Media's Rising Star Psychic Sleuth”
In an article with the above title, Gary Posner, computer software salesman and founder of the Tampa Bay Skeptics, takes 22 pages in an attempt to discredit Police Psychic, Noreen Renier. Let’s first let's look at the evidence Posner presents for Ms Renier. Then we’ll analyze his debunking attempts.
The Posner article originally appeared in Psychic Sleuths: ESP and Sensational Cases, edited by Joe Nickell (Prometheus Books, 1994).
GERALDO - May 30. 1991.
In 1986, in Albany, New York, a couple were shot to death in their home. By 1988 the case had run full cycle and had hit a brick wall. After reading an article about Noreen Renier in a magazine, the dead couple’s son asked, the investigating officer in charge of the case, Detective Ray Krolak, if he would bring Ms Renier onto the case.
On live television, Detective Krolak, stated,
“We’d just about run out of leads after two years of investigation.... I checked out her credibility through police agencies I knew, through articles I had read about her. I spoke to officers involved with Noreen.... Noreen described the crime scene like she was standing at the crime scene. She described the victims.... She described the killer. I presented her with ten photographs and she picked out the killer’s picture. She also told us where the killer went after the crime, and that fit exactly into where the alibi was.”
This information corroborated much of what the police had already discovered. BUT, remember the case was about to be assigned to the bottom drawer. Also, the police had been unable to break the alibi of the suspect.
As a result of what Noreen Renier told them, the police re-examined the alibis and, after a lot of hard work by the police, arrests were made.
It is interesting to note that later in his article, Posner, while discussing an episode of the TV program 48 Hours that featured Noreen Renier, makes the most astonishing attack on the integrity of Detective Ray Krolak, when he states:
“To further bolster the credibility of Renier and of his uncritical journalistic effort, Tunnell [presenter] also interviewed Ray Krolak about his upstate New York double homicide case discussed earlier in this chapter.”
Make of that what you like. I bet Krolak hasn’t seen that! Yet.
POLICE COMMANDER RECOGNIZES RENIER’S POWERS
New York City Police Squad Commander Vernon J. Geberth, states in a police handbook,
“...a psychic and recognized authority on phenomena of extrasensory perception who has worked with various police agencies including the FBI on homicide cases and other criminal investigations.”
NOREEN PREDICTS ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON REAGAN
While lecturing to the FBI in January1981, Noreen stated that she felt as if President Reagan (in the future) was having a heart attack , chest pains. Later in the same lecture she further stated that these chest pains were sharper, coming from outside of him, more like a gunshot - as she patted her left side. She also said that the assassination attempt would not kill Reagan. And, it would take place within 3 months. That was January 1981.
Reagan was shot by John Hinkley three months later. Yep, he survived.
Supervisory Special Agent Robert K. Ressler was present when Noreen made her prediction. To this day he insists that Noreen made her prediction with clarity and without ambiguity. He has seen the video tape of Noreen’s predictions many times.
copyright 1998 Peter Duffie
Enter Gary Posner.
Unable to laugh the Reagan prediction off by the usual ridicule - remember, Noreen did make her statement in front of an audience of FBI, DEA and Police officers from all over the United States - Posner took another approach. This is really paranormal.
I quote:
“When I called the FBI Academy, I was informed that Robert Ressler has since retired from duty.”
Naturally Posner would contact Ex-FBI Agent Ressler at his home? He is in business and is listed in the directories. But, no. He never did. Instead he questioned Supervisory Special Agent Richard Ault, who a) wasn’t present at the Renier lecture, and b) is a fellow debunker (although his topic at that time was hypnosis!!). It is interesting that when he and Ms Renier shared the platform together - Ault would lecture first and then immediately leave before Ms Renier lectured. Yes, you can always spot an open mind, but his might be empty.
Posner goes on to include the following astonishing out-of-place quote from Ault:
“At no time during ANY (Duffie’s emphasis) of her lectures, or any of the time that I was associated with her, did she make any ‘uncanny’ predictions, nor was I impressed with anything that she did say....I’ve seen that same technique used by a lot of people.”
So, here we have a man who was not present at the lecture where the prediction was made, stating that “At no time during any of her lectures...” As I said, astonishing. Total hearsay and speculation from an FBI Special Agent. It’s worrying isn’t it?
Having taken his statement from the non-witness Ault - a statement that would have been thrown out of any court of law - Posner has the sub-zero brain capacity to state:
“Yet, Ressler continues to publicly endorse (and perhaps even embellish, if the following account is accurate) Renier’s abilities.”
Notice the opening word- “Yet.” As if Ressler is completely wrong to state what actually happened at the FBI Academy when Noreen Renier presented her lecture. This raises another question; there were hundred’s of officers present for that lecture, so why did Posner not seek out someone who was actually there?
The answer, of course, is quite apparent; Posner could not afford to speak to anyone who might further endorse Ms Renier’s talents.
Can it get any worse? Naturally it can.
Posner goes on to state, “Considering his age, I suspect that scores of the nation’s “psychics” had predicted that President Reagan would not survive two terms in office (I had doubts myself).”
Excuse me Mr. Posner, but did not Ms Renier predict that Reagan would be shot, but not killed? Hardly veering towards a natural death, if death had occurred.
After her prediction came to pass, Secret Service Agents interviewed Ms Renier as a possible suspect and collaborator with the would be assassin Hinkley. This unnerved her and she decided never to reveal any predictions publicly about Presidents or International figure heads again. She has stated this on several occasions. However, Posner - even though he included that information earlier in his article - suddenly asks,
“Since I admit to a lack of ESP, I cannot read Renier’s mind to divine why she has chosen to move on.” I suggest he reads his own mind to find out what he previously wrote!
While being interviewed by Joan Rivers on TV, Ms Renier said that she did not advertise and did not solicit work. I asked Ms Renier about this, she said:
“I do not solicit work on headline crimes. I do however as a businesswoman send packets of information about my work to agencies that might be able to use me on an old unsolved crimes.“
Standard business practice.
On the same show, she was asked about the Zodiac Killer, who was active at the time. Ms Renier gave details as she saw them psychically. The following day Joan Rivers announced that Noreen was now working with the NYPD on the Zodiac case. Posner phoned NYPD and was told that she was “not working with the Police Department.” Posner gratefully accepted what the police told him despite his previous sneering comment;
“Supporters of Renier’s alleged psychic abilities can be found in law enforcement and academic communities.”
It is a fact that after Ms Renier’s input, and there was input, the Zodiac Killer never killed or surfaced again.
copyright 1998 Peter Duffie
** Featuring the Downfall Of John Merrell **
On the 13th page of his article, Posner begins,
My initial contact with Renier occurred on October 28, 1986, when she and I were guests on Bev Smith’s former radio program on WKIS in Orlando. Shortly before air time, as we introduced ourselves, Renier informed me of her recent victory in her libel action against John Merrell, a co-founder of the Northwest Skeptics. Renier seemed to believe that her claims of psychic powers had been vindicated by the jury, and that her legal battle with Merrell was now behind her.
Is the above true, or is it a blatant lie? We only have Posner’s word that Ms Renier said any such thing. No-one else seems to have heard her say it. If we are to believe Posner; Noreen Renier is a ruthless publicity seeker. Surely such a person would include this in their advertising package - Federal Court vindicates my psychic powers. That she did not speaks volumes. I fear the only place you will find this alleged utterance by Ms Renier is inside Posner’s head.
We can now see that Posner lied when he made the above statement regarding events in 1986. See the next page for details.
ENTER MERRELL
Apparently, Merrell informed Posner that he first heard of Noreen Renier in mid-1985, at a time “when she was doing her rounds in his home state of Oregon.” What “rounds” I wonder was she doing - a milk round perhaps. Or maybe a paper delivery round? Yes, make her sound cheap to bolster the case. In fact she was living there to be near her father and younger brother.
Merrell, being a true pseudo-skeptic, “conducted some research” on Ms Renier. The final file was a collection of malicious lies and half-truths. Ms Renier sued Merrell, after receiving a copy of a letter that Merrell had sent to a newspaper editor (who quite rightly refused to publish it) in an attempt to discredit her.
After a three-day trial the jury found Merrell guilty of libel and awarded Ms Renier $25,000 in damages. Merrell appealed and lost. He declared himself bankrupt to avoid paying the debt, however, this too failed. Bankruptcy would only alleviate the debt as long as no act of malice had been committed. Merrell’s malicious lies caught up with him once again. Four malicious lies to be precise. Out of ten allegations made by Merrell, the court found four to be “malicious.”
All Merrell’s further efforts to discredit Ms Renier failed...miserably. Merrell claims that Ms Renier’s won because she managed to move several female jurors to tears by her dramatic reenactment of a murder. If that is indeed what tipped the balance, why did he fail to convince the Court of Appeal? Did she also succeed in bringing the Court of Appeal to tears also?
I suspect the only person who cried after the litigation was Mr. Merrell.
Incidentally, in an update article dated January 1997 regarding another of Ms Renier's successful cases (Williston Missing Person Case), Posner says,
"A Tampa law firm (which would just as soon remain unnamed) made a Public Records Request of the police department to provide a copy of its entire file on the case. TBS has been forwarded a copy of the records provided to the firm by the Williston police."
Well, I thought that was very unfair of Mr. Posner not naming this very helpful law firm and therefore depriving them of well-deserved publicity for their business.' Here's what he omitted....
Robert H Buesing, Esq. of law firm of: TRENAM, KEMKER, SCHAFT, BARKIN, FRYE, O'ONEILL & MULLIS. They have an office in both Tampa and St. Petersburg, Fl.
2700 Barnett Plaza
101 East Kennedy Blvd.
P.O. Box 1102
Tampa, Florida 33601-1102
Watch this space for more adventures of Gary Posner. In particular, his assessment of a Massachusetts airplane crash, and the part Noreen Renier played in the eventual discovery of the crash site.
A Good LIAR Needs a Good Memory.
Mr. Posner seemed a tad confused by this page. On reflection I agree that it could have been clearer. I have therefore rearranged the text and I apologize to any other readers who were similarly confused.
In the Tampa Bay Skeptics Report, Volume 3, No.1 - Summer 1990, Gary Posner makes the following statement:
"Noreen Renier is of particular interest to TBS for several reasons. First, she is perhaps the most famous 'psychic', having been featured on national television programs and in national magazines (including U.S. News & World Report). Second, by virtue of her successful libel suit against John Merrell, some may have incorrectly inferred that her 'psychic power' has been vindicated in the courtroom."
Note; "...some may have incorrectly inferred that her 'psychic power' has been vindicated in the courtroom." While suggesting that "some" people may have misinterpreted the court decision as a vindication of Ms Renier's powers, Posner makes no reference whatever to Ms Renier having actually said anything that might suggest it. If she had done, Posner would have certainly nailed her with it.
However, four years later, he made the following statement, with regard to his first meeting with Noreen Renier. The meeting took place in 1984 - six years prior to the previous statement.
“My initial contact with Renier occurred on October 28, 1986, when she and I were guests on Bev Smith’s former radio program on WKIS in Orlando. Shortly before air time, as we introduced ourselves, Renier informed me of her recent victory in her libel action against John Merrell, a co-founder of the Northwest Skeptics. Renier seemed to believe that her claims of “psychic powers” had been vindicated by the jury, and that her legal battle with Merrell was now behind her.”
You will notice that, where before, he referred to "some," he now directly accuses Ms Renier of making this presumption. Did he have a sudden gain of previously lost memory?
If we are to believe Posner, Ms Renier must have said something that gave him this distinct impression. Yet, he swiftly moves on without as much as a hint at what was said. Odd? Most certainly.
It seems quite apparent that this embellishment, or fabrication, was added, for no other reason than, to damage his victim's credibility.
Posner is obviously obsessed with the destruction of Psychic Investigator,Noreen Renier. He seems to be nothing more than a crazy little man living in a sealed box.
BLIND TOO?
On his home page Gary Posner published the following statement:
"In the spring of 1998, Florida "psychic detective" Noreen Renier (and/or an associate) launched an attack upon me as a result of some of my published writings about her. Although venomous and irrational (at least I can't follow much of the "reasoning," especially with regard to the "lie" that I am accused of telling), readers are encouraged to view the site. And perhaps some of you can explain to me what errors of fact I am supposedly guilty of (if you read my original material, you will note that much of the criticism of me is presented without benefit of full context). As is always my policy, I will gladly make every effort to rectify any factual errors in my reporting."
So I have presented his lies and deceits without the benefit of full context? The full context he waffles on about is mere padding. Don't be fooled by this. Read my articles and then read his complete articles. Perhaps, like James Randi, he's trying to get me to infringe on copyright. No amount of extraneous narrative will hide his dirty-work.
It gets worse. Mr. Posner seems to be under the impression that Noreen Renier possibly wrote this "venomous and irrational" article. I have since appended my copyright notice on each page just in case there is someone else who could possibly make the same mistake.
Apart from every page being written in the third person, there is the following text which is prominently featured on page 2:
While being interviewed by Joan Rivers on TV, Ms Renier said that she did not advertise and did not solicit work. I asked Ms Renier about this, she said:[added emphasis]
"I do not solicit work on headline crimes. I do however as a businesswoman send packets of information about my work to agencies that might be able to use me on an old unsolved crimes."
Standard business practice.
Is it likely that Gary Posner is deliberately citing Noreen Renier as the possible author of these articles for an ulterior reason? I think so.
In light of the above Noreen Renier wrote Gary Posner requesting that he correct the errors, pointing out that she was not an associate of mine, nor was she associated with my website. See letter below (Underline added for emphasis).
re: The recent posting on your web site
Dated June 2, 1998
Regarding your comments about the Duffie web site, you should know that Mr. Duffie is not an associate of mine, nor do I have any association with his site. In fact, as I understand it, he is a magician and therefore we could call him a professional associate of the Amazing Randi. However, unlike Randi and you, it appears that Mr. Duffie is interested in the truth and has taken strong interest in my work as a police psychic, thanks to your site.
Since you say that you are willing to make corrections of any inaccuracies, I'd appreciate it if you'd clear up this error. I also want to thank you for all the publicity you are providing me. You are doing for me what Randi did for Uri Geller. Please keep up the good work.
Noreen Renier
In response to the above, Posner said he would correct his errors that day. He did make a change but it was not what Ms Renier had requested! Instead he asserted in parenthesis:
...Noreen Renier (who has informed me that she is not associated with Mr. Duffie).
That is not what she said. Posner also asked if he could publish Ms Renier's letter in the forthcoming Tampa Bay Skeptics Report as a letter to the editor!
Ms Renier was forced to write a second letter:
No, you do not have my permission to put my e-mails to you, in any publication you are involved in.
Now, I remember why I found you so repulsive. You can't tell a truth. Please read my note to you again. I said,..."Mr. Duffie, is not an associate of mine, nor do I have an association with his site." I have "associated" with Mr. Duffie via e-mail. And when he requested the interview and new pictures I was happy to oblige.
You say you are willing to make corrections of any inaccuracies; do so!
Posner once again amended his text. This time he ignored Ms Renier's second letter and used only the information given in the first. Why did it take two letters to make partial progress?
So here is Posner's amended text as it stands at the present time, with the begrudged amendment underlined.
In the spring of 1998, a character by the name of Peter Duffie launched an attack upon me as a result of some of my published writings about Florida "psychic detective" Noreen Renier. Renier informs me that "Mr. Duffie is not an associate of mine, nor do I have an association with his site." Although venomous and irrational...
As a result of the above, Police Psychic, Ms Renier sent her 2 letters to Psy-Zone so that the truth could be published. You've just read it.
Then, on the other side there is this:
http://www.amindformurder.com/
2006: The lawsuit behind the "psychic" book A Mind for Murder
Updated March 16, 2006
A lawsuit against author Noreen Renier was filed December 13, 2005. On February 23, 2006 action against other original defendants was dismissed in the Superior Court of the State of Washington, Snohomish County, leaving Noreen Renier the current sole defendant.
The lawsuit followed a letter dated September 30, 2005 from an attorney for John Merrell. Mr. Merrell's name (the Plaintiff) appears more than 50 times in the pages of A Mind For Murder (see chapters 17 and 18).
In the September 2005 letter, the plaintiff’s demands included an immediate removal of the book A Mind For Murder from all vendors, including the Internet, and that the defendants cease and desist from selling the book.
An attorney for the Penguin Group (USA), Inc., and its subsidiary Berkley Publishing told the court on February 23, 2006 that they have ceased publication of the book.
A court summons was served on Noreen Renier in late January 2006, and in early February she was issued First Interrogatories and Request for Production. As of mid March her responses were overdue.
On February 23, 2006 a civil motions Judge in the Superior Court of the State of Washington, for the county of Snohomish, ordered the dismissal of all other defendants (other than Noreen Renier) "without prejudice" and without sanctions against the Plaintiff. Therefore the lawsuit continues to proceed solely against Noreen Renier.
This site is intended as a response to the many inquiries from the media, journalists, readers of
A Mind For Murder, and the general public. As fabricated statements already exist on the internet incorrectly attributed to Mr. Merrell, this website also serves as a rebuttal to those who have attempted to confuse the public.
The plaintiff in this legal action, John Merrell, has discussed this lawsuit with Gary P. Posner, M.D., the founder of the Tampa Bay Skeptics, a non-profit organization and special interest group of the Center For Inquiry – Florida.
Despite Renier's allegations on page 219 of her book, Dr. Posner's paranormal investigative work is highly credible and has received widespread support from science personnel, educational specialists, and international journalists. An interview about this lawsuit was published in early March 2006: TBS Report. Additionally Dr. Posner's "Noreen Renier" page contains a link to his lengthy "Book Review" of A Mind for Murder (which includes a rebuttal of her charges against him) and is a must-see.
Any information contained herein, including all original statements on this website, are independent and autonomous from Gary Posner and the Tampa Bay Skeptics.
We welcome the many individuals who previously questioned the work of leading investigators scrutinizing psychic proclamations and who now seek the facts for themselves.
This site will be updated as events warrant.
Email comments to: amindformurder@gmail.com
http://www.noreenrenier.com/index.html
In 1981, when Psychic Investigator Noreen Renier first lectured at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, her work with police detectives was considered controversial. Now, she is a well-known psychic detective who has worked on over 400 unsolved cases with city, county, and state Law Enforcement Agencies in 38 states and 6 foreign countries. She has a unique understanding of both the police and the paranormal.
Then this: The Posner Files
http://www.noreenrenier.com/skeptic.html
GARY P. POSNER
A Man Obsessed with A Psychic's Destruction.
“Supporters of Renier’s alleged psychic abilities can be
found in law enforcement and academic communities.” (G. Posner)
“Naturally the Tampa Bay Skeptics are above such people.” (P.Duffie)
“Noreen Renier: The Media's Rising Star Psychic Sleuth”
In an article with the above title, Gary Posner, computer software salesman and founder of the Tampa Bay Skeptics, takes 22 pages in an attempt to discredit Police Psychic, Noreen Renier. Let’s first let's look at the evidence Posner presents for Ms Renier. Then we’ll analyze his debunking attempts.
The Posner article originally appeared in Psychic Sleuths: ESP and Sensational Cases, edited by Joe Nickell (Prometheus Books, 1994).
GERALDO - May 30. 1991.
In 1986, in Albany, New York, a couple were shot to death in their home. By 1988 the case had run full cycle and had hit a brick wall. After reading an article about Noreen Renier in a magazine, the dead couple’s son asked, the investigating officer in charge of the case, Detective Ray Krolak, if he would bring Ms Renier onto the case.
On live television, Detective Krolak, stated,
“We’d just about run out of leads after two years of investigation.... I checked out her credibility through police agencies I knew, through articles I had read about her. I spoke to officers involved with Noreen.... Noreen described the crime scene like she was standing at the crime scene. She described the victims.... She described the killer. I presented her with ten photographs and she picked out the killer’s picture. She also told us where the killer went after the crime, and that fit exactly into where the alibi was.”
This information corroborated much of what the police had already discovered. BUT, remember the case was about to be assigned to the bottom drawer. Also, the police had been unable to break the alibi of the suspect.
As a result of what Noreen Renier told them, the police re-examined the alibis and, after a lot of hard work by the police, arrests were made.
It is interesting to note that later in his article, Posner, while discussing an episode of the TV program 48 Hours that featured Noreen Renier, makes the most astonishing attack on the integrity of Detective Ray Krolak, when he states:
“To further bolster the credibility of Renier and of his uncritical journalistic effort, Tunnell [presenter] also interviewed Ray Krolak about his upstate New York double homicide case discussed earlier in this chapter.”
Make of that what you like. I bet Krolak hasn’t seen that! Yet.
POLICE COMMANDER RECOGNIZES RENIER’S POWERS
New York City Police Squad Commander Vernon J. Geberth, states in a police handbook,
“...a psychic and recognized authority on phenomena of extrasensory perception who has worked with various police agencies including the FBI on homicide cases and other criminal investigations.”
NOREEN PREDICTS ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON REAGAN
While lecturing to the FBI in January1981, Noreen stated that she felt as if President Reagan (in the future) was having a heart attack , chest pains. Later in the same lecture she further stated that these chest pains were sharper, coming from outside of him, more like a gunshot - as she patted her left side. She also said that the assassination attempt would not kill Reagan. And, it would take place within 3 months. That was January 1981.
Reagan was shot by John Hinkley three months later. Yep, he survived.
Supervisory Special Agent Robert K. Ressler was present when Noreen made her prediction. To this day he insists that Noreen made her prediction with clarity and without ambiguity. He has seen the video tape of Noreen’s predictions many times.
copyright 1998 Peter Duffie
Enter Gary Posner.
Unable to laugh the Reagan prediction off by the usual ridicule - remember, Noreen did make her statement in front of an audience of FBI, DEA and Police officers from all over the United States - Posner took another approach. This is really paranormal.
I quote:
“When I called the FBI Academy, I was informed that Robert Ressler has since retired from duty.”
Naturally Posner would contact Ex-FBI Agent Ressler at his home? He is in business and is listed in the directories. But, no. He never did. Instead he questioned Supervisory Special Agent Richard Ault, who a) wasn’t present at the Renier lecture, and b) is a fellow debunker (although his topic at that time was hypnosis!!). It is interesting that when he and Ms Renier shared the platform together - Ault would lecture first and then immediately leave before Ms Renier lectured. Yes, you can always spot an open mind, but his might be empty.
Posner goes on to include the following astonishing out-of-place quote from Ault:
“At no time during ANY (Duffie’s emphasis) of her lectures, or any of the time that I was associated with her, did she make any ‘uncanny’ predictions, nor was I impressed with anything that she did say....I’ve seen that same technique used by a lot of people.”
So, here we have a man who was not present at the lecture where the prediction was made, stating that “At no time during any of her lectures...” As I said, astonishing. Total hearsay and speculation from an FBI Special Agent. It’s worrying isn’t it?
Having taken his statement from the non-witness Ault - a statement that would have been thrown out of any court of law - Posner has the sub-zero brain capacity to state:
“Yet, Ressler continues to publicly endorse (and perhaps even embellish, if the following account is accurate) Renier’s abilities.”
Notice the opening word- “Yet.” As if Ressler is completely wrong to state what actually happened at the FBI Academy when Noreen Renier presented her lecture. This raises another question; there were hundred’s of officers present for that lecture, so why did Posner not seek out someone who was actually there?
The answer, of course, is quite apparent; Posner could not afford to speak to anyone who might further endorse Ms Renier’s talents.
Can it get any worse? Naturally it can.
Posner goes on to state, “Considering his age, I suspect that scores of the nation’s “psychics” had predicted that President Reagan would not survive two terms in office (I had doubts myself).”
Excuse me Mr. Posner, but did not Ms Renier predict that Reagan would be shot, but not killed? Hardly veering towards a natural death, if death had occurred.
After her prediction came to pass, Secret Service Agents interviewed Ms Renier as a possible suspect and collaborator with the would be assassin Hinkley. This unnerved her and she decided never to reveal any predictions publicly about Presidents or International figure heads again. She has stated this on several occasions. However, Posner - even though he included that information earlier in his article - suddenly asks,
“Since I admit to a lack of ESP, I cannot read Renier’s mind to divine why she has chosen to move on.” I suggest he reads his own mind to find out what he previously wrote!
While being interviewed by Joan Rivers on TV, Ms Renier said that she did not advertise and did not solicit work. I asked Ms Renier about this, she said:
“I do not solicit work on headline crimes. I do however as a businesswoman send packets of information about my work to agencies that might be able to use me on an old unsolved crimes.“
Standard business practice.
On the same show, she was asked about the Zodiac Killer, who was active at the time. Ms Renier gave details as she saw them psychically. The following day Joan Rivers announced that Noreen was now working with the NYPD on the Zodiac case. Posner phoned NYPD and was told that she was “not working with the Police Department.” Posner gratefully accepted what the police told him despite his previous sneering comment;
“Supporters of Renier’s alleged psychic abilities can be found in law enforcement and academic communities.”
It is a fact that after Ms Renier’s input, and there was input, the Zodiac Killer never killed or surfaced again.
copyright 1998 Peter Duffie
** Featuring the Downfall Of John Merrell **
On the 13th page of his article, Posner begins,
My initial contact with Renier occurred on October 28, 1986, when she and I were guests on Bev Smith’s former radio program on WKIS in Orlando. Shortly before air time, as we introduced ourselves, Renier informed me of her recent victory in her libel action against John Merrell, a co-founder of the Northwest Skeptics. Renier seemed to believe that her claims of psychic powers had been vindicated by the jury, and that her legal battle with Merrell was now behind her.
Is the above true, or is it a blatant lie? We only have Posner’s word that Ms Renier said any such thing. No-one else seems to have heard her say it. If we are to believe Posner; Noreen Renier is a ruthless publicity seeker. Surely such a person would include this in their advertising package - Federal Court vindicates my psychic powers. That she did not speaks volumes. I fear the only place you will find this alleged utterance by Ms Renier is inside Posner’s head.
We can now see that Posner lied when he made the above statement regarding events in 1986. See the next page for details.
ENTER MERRELL
Apparently, Merrell informed Posner that he first heard of Noreen Renier in mid-1985, at a time “when she was doing her rounds in his home state of Oregon.” What “rounds” I wonder was she doing - a milk round perhaps. Or maybe a paper delivery round? Yes, make her sound cheap to bolster the case. In fact she was living there to be near her father and younger brother.
Merrell, being a true pseudo-skeptic, “conducted some research” on Ms Renier. The final file was a collection of malicious lies and half-truths. Ms Renier sued Merrell, after receiving a copy of a letter that Merrell had sent to a newspaper editor (who quite rightly refused to publish it) in an attempt to discredit her.
After a three-day trial the jury found Merrell guilty of libel and awarded Ms Renier $25,000 in damages. Merrell appealed and lost. He declared himself bankrupt to avoid paying the debt, however, this too failed. Bankruptcy would only alleviate the debt as long as no act of malice had been committed. Merrell’s malicious lies caught up with him once again. Four malicious lies to be precise. Out of ten allegations made by Merrell, the court found four to be “malicious.”
All Merrell’s further efforts to discredit Ms Renier failed...miserably. Merrell claims that Ms Renier’s won because she managed to move several female jurors to tears by her dramatic reenactment of a murder. If that is indeed what tipped the balance, why did he fail to convince the Court of Appeal? Did she also succeed in bringing the Court of Appeal to tears also?
I suspect the only person who cried after the litigation was Mr. Merrell.
Incidentally, in an update article dated January 1997 regarding another of Ms Renier's successful cases (Williston Missing Person Case), Posner says,
"A Tampa law firm (which would just as soon remain unnamed) made a Public Records Request of the police department to provide a copy of its entire file on the case. TBS has been forwarded a copy of the records provided to the firm by the Williston police."
Well, I thought that was very unfair of Mr. Posner not naming this very helpful law firm and therefore depriving them of well-deserved publicity for their business.' Here's what he omitted....
Robert H Buesing, Esq. of law firm of: TRENAM, KEMKER, SCHAFT, BARKIN, FRYE, O'ONEILL & MULLIS. They have an office in both Tampa and St. Petersburg, Fl.
2700 Barnett Plaza
101 East Kennedy Blvd.
P.O. Box 1102
Tampa, Florida 33601-1102
Watch this space for more adventures of Gary Posner. In particular, his assessment of a Massachusetts airplane crash, and the part Noreen Renier played in the eventual discovery of the crash site.
A Good LIAR Needs a Good Memory.
Mr. Posner seemed a tad confused by this page. On reflection I agree that it could have been clearer. I have therefore rearranged the text and I apologize to any other readers who were similarly confused.
In the Tampa Bay Skeptics Report, Volume 3, No.1 - Summer 1990, Gary Posner makes the following statement:
"Noreen Renier is of particular interest to TBS for several reasons. First, she is perhaps the most famous 'psychic', having been featured on national television programs and in national magazines (including U.S. News & World Report). Second, by virtue of her successful libel suit against John Merrell, some may have incorrectly inferred that her 'psychic power' has been vindicated in the courtroom."
Note; "...some may have incorrectly inferred that her 'psychic power' has been vindicated in the courtroom." While suggesting that "some" people may have misinterpreted the court decision as a vindication of Ms Renier's powers, Posner makes no reference whatever to Ms Renier having actually said anything that might suggest it. If she had done, Posner would have certainly nailed her with it.
However, four years later, he made the following statement, with regard to his first meeting with Noreen Renier. The meeting took place in 1984 - six years prior to the previous statement.
“My initial contact with Renier occurred on October 28, 1986, when she and I were guests on Bev Smith’s former radio program on WKIS in Orlando. Shortly before air time, as we introduced ourselves, Renier informed me of her recent victory in her libel action against John Merrell, a co-founder of the Northwest Skeptics. Renier seemed to believe that her claims of “psychic powers” had been vindicated by the jury, and that her legal battle with Merrell was now behind her.”
You will notice that, where before, he referred to "some," he now directly accuses Ms Renier of making this presumption. Did he have a sudden gain of previously lost memory?
If we are to believe Posner, Ms Renier must have said something that gave him this distinct impression. Yet, he swiftly moves on without as much as a hint at what was said. Odd? Most certainly.
It seems quite apparent that this embellishment, or fabrication, was added, for no other reason than, to damage his victim's credibility.
Posner is obviously obsessed with the destruction of Psychic Investigator,Noreen Renier. He seems to be nothing more than a crazy little man living in a sealed box.
BLIND TOO?
On his home page Gary Posner published the following statement:
"In the spring of 1998, Florida "psychic detective" Noreen Renier (and/or an associate) launched an attack upon me as a result of some of my published writings about her. Although venomous and irrational (at least I can't follow much of the "reasoning," especially with regard to the "lie" that I am accused of telling), readers are encouraged to view the site. And perhaps some of you can explain to me what errors of fact I am supposedly guilty of (if you read my original material, you will note that much of the criticism of me is presented without benefit of full context). As is always my policy, I will gladly make every effort to rectify any factual errors in my reporting."
So I have presented his lies and deceits without the benefit of full context? The full context he waffles on about is mere padding. Don't be fooled by this. Read my articles and then read his complete articles. Perhaps, like James Randi, he's trying to get me to infringe on copyright. No amount of extraneous narrative will hide his dirty-work.
It gets worse. Mr. Posner seems to be under the impression that Noreen Renier possibly wrote this "venomous and irrational" article. I have since appended my copyright notice on each page just in case there is someone else who could possibly make the same mistake.
Apart from every page being written in the third person, there is the following text which is prominently featured on page 2:
While being interviewed by Joan Rivers on TV, Ms Renier said that she did not advertise and did not solicit work. I asked Ms Renier about this, she said:[added emphasis]
"I do not solicit work on headline crimes. I do however as a businesswoman send packets of information about my work to agencies that might be able to use me on an old unsolved crimes."
Standard business practice.
Is it likely that Gary Posner is deliberately citing Noreen Renier as the possible author of these articles for an ulterior reason? I think so.
In light of the above Noreen Renier wrote Gary Posner requesting that he correct the errors, pointing out that she was not an associate of mine, nor was she associated with my website. See letter below (Underline added for emphasis).
re: The recent posting on your web site
Dated June 2, 1998
Regarding your comments about the Duffie web site, you should know that Mr. Duffie is not an associate of mine, nor do I have any association with his site. In fact, as I understand it, he is a magician and therefore we could call him a professional associate of the Amazing Randi. However, unlike Randi and you, it appears that Mr. Duffie is interested in the truth and has taken strong interest in my work as a police psychic, thanks to your site.
Since you say that you are willing to make corrections of any inaccuracies, I'd appreciate it if you'd clear up this error. I also want to thank you for all the publicity you are providing me. You are doing for me what Randi did for Uri Geller. Please keep up the good work.
Noreen Renier
In response to the above, Posner said he would correct his errors that day. He did make a change but it was not what Ms Renier had requested! Instead he asserted in parenthesis:
...Noreen Renier (who has informed me that she is not associated with Mr. Duffie).
That is not what she said. Posner also asked if he could publish Ms Renier's letter in the forthcoming Tampa Bay Skeptics Report as a letter to the editor!
Ms Renier was forced to write a second letter:
No, you do not have my permission to put my e-mails to you, in any publication you are involved in.
Now, I remember why I found you so repulsive. You can't tell a truth. Please read my note to you again. I said,..."Mr. Duffie, is not an associate of mine, nor do I have an association with his site." I have "associated" with Mr. Duffie via e-mail. And when he requested the interview and new pictures I was happy to oblige.
You say you are willing to make corrections of any inaccuracies; do so!
Posner once again amended his text. This time he ignored Ms Renier's second letter and used only the information given in the first. Why did it take two letters to make partial progress?
So here is Posner's amended text as it stands at the present time, with the begrudged amendment underlined.
In the spring of 1998, a character by the name of Peter Duffie launched an attack upon me as a result of some of my published writings about Florida "psychic detective" Noreen Renier. Renier informs me that "Mr. Duffie is not an associate of mine, nor do I have an association with his site." Although venomous and irrational...
As a result of the above, Police Psychic, Ms Renier sent her 2 letters to Psy-Zone so that the truth could be published. You've just read it.
Then, on the other side there is this:
http://www.amindformurder.com/
2006: The lawsuit behind the "psychic" book A Mind for Murder
Updated March 16, 2006
A lawsuit against author Noreen Renier was filed December 13, 2005. On February 23, 2006 action against other original defendants was dismissed in the Superior Court of the State of Washington, Snohomish County, leaving Noreen Renier the current sole defendant.
The lawsuit followed a letter dated September 30, 2005 from an attorney for John Merrell. Mr. Merrell's name (the Plaintiff) appears more than 50 times in the pages of A Mind For Murder (see chapters 17 and 18).
In the September 2005 letter, the plaintiff’s demands included an immediate removal of the book A Mind For Murder from all vendors, including the Internet, and that the defendants cease and desist from selling the book.
An attorney for the Penguin Group (USA), Inc., and its subsidiary Berkley Publishing told the court on February 23, 2006 that they have ceased publication of the book.
A court summons was served on Noreen Renier in late January 2006, and in early February she was issued First Interrogatories and Request for Production. As of mid March her responses were overdue.
On February 23, 2006 a civil motions Judge in the Superior Court of the State of Washington, for the county of Snohomish, ordered the dismissal of all other defendants (other than Noreen Renier) "without prejudice" and without sanctions against the Plaintiff. Therefore the lawsuit continues to proceed solely against Noreen Renier.
This site is intended as a response to the many inquiries from the media, journalists, readers of
A Mind For Murder, and the general public. As fabricated statements already exist on the internet incorrectly attributed to Mr. Merrell, this website also serves as a rebuttal to those who have attempted to confuse the public.
The plaintiff in this legal action, John Merrell, has discussed this lawsuit with Gary P. Posner, M.D., the founder of the Tampa Bay Skeptics, a non-profit organization and special interest group of the Center For Inquiry – Florida.
Despite Renier's allegations on page 219 of her book, Dr. Posner's paranormal investigative work is highly credible and has received widespread support from science personnel, educational specialists, and international journalists. An interview about this lawsuit was published in early March 2006: TBS Report. Additionally Dr. Posner's "Noreen Renier" page contains a link to his lengthy "Book Review" of A Mind for Murder (which includes a rebuttal of her charges against him) and is a must-see.
Any information contained herein, including all original statements on this website, are independent and autonomous from Gary Posner and the Tampa Bay Skeptics.
We welcome the many individuals who previously questioned the work of leading investigators scrutinizing psychic proclamations and who now seek the facts for themselves.
This site will be updated as events warrant.
Email comments to: amindformurder@gmail.com