How a Man Blew $718K on Psychics

He allegedly spent $90K for a gold bridge in another realm
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 16, 2015 5:33 AM CST
How a Man Blew $718K on Psychics
A psychic handles Tarot cards, Friday, Aug. 10, 2007, in New Orleans.   (AP Photo/Cheryl Gerber)

Niall Rice met Michelle while receiving treatment for acute anxiety at an Arizona rehab clinic. "We had such a strong connection, it was unbelievable," the 33-year-old Brit tells the New York Times. "I loved her deeply." The pair broke up weeks after leaving rehab, but Rice couldn't move on. Heartbroken, he found himself in a psychic shop in Manhattan, where he met a woman named Brandy who "knew a lot of stuff" about him, he says. He gave her at least $10,000 within the first week, then a $40,000 Tiffany ring to defend against evil spirits. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Over 20 months, Rice—who had earned six figures in drawing traffic to websites—says he shelled out $718,000 to Brandy and another psychic who promised to reunite him with Michelle. "I just got sucked in," he says. "It's embarrassing now."

After a conversation with Michelle didn't go as planned, Rice switched psychics, deciding on Priscilla Kelly Delmaro, 26, who called herself Christina. "She somehow said all the right things." He says he gave her $90,000 to build a bridge of gold in another realm which would trick an evil spirit that was haunting Michelle. Then he learned Michelle had died of a drug overdose and says Christina promised to reincarnate her. He gave her $100,000 and dated a woman he says Christina implied was the new Michelle, but it didn't work out. Rice, who admits he slept with Delmaro once, pressed charges in May; he says Delmaro will plead guilty to grand larceny in exchange for a year in jail and he likely won't see his money again. "I just want justice," he says. "I just don't want her to do to anyone else what happened to me." Click for the full piece. (More psychic stories.)

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