According to an article in the Windsor Star newspaper, “The family of a missing Windsor native hopes a psychic can help find her. Windsor-born Ani Ashekian, 31, was last in contact with her family on Nov. 10, 2008, from Hong Kong and hasn’t been heard from since. Family, friends, volunteers and police have searched for her the last two years without success—but they still have hope.”

That hope comes in the form of alleged psychic (and convicted felon) Sylvia Browne, who was on tour in Windsor and spoke to Rosie Kampstra, Ashekian’s sister. “She said that we need to contact her office and she said she would do it pro bono,” Kampstra said. “The Toronto police have already sent the information to Sylvia Browne’s office and they are going to look at it. We’re just waiting now.”

It could be a long wait for any useful information. According to an analysis published earlier this year in Skeptical Inquirer magazine titled “Psychic Defective,” Browne has a long and documented track record of failure. In fact despite her numerous claims to the contrary it seems that she has yet to successfully solve a single case.

Kampstra turned to Browne after being dissatisfied with the inability of other psychics to provide any useful information. “So many people have called the house and there has been numerous, numerous, numerous readings but they are all over the place,” Kampstra said. “There hasn’t been one that has been consistent with the other. It’s hard to believe them when one says one thing and one says another.”

It’s possible that Browne will redeem herself and provide the family with useful information that leads police directly to Ani. If history is any guide, however, the family will be disappointed once again.