Karissa Alline Schell

Karissa Alline Schell was last seen at the home of a friend in Turlock, California on April 21 of 2011, at the age of fourteen. There was some speculation on the part of law enforcement that Karissa may have run away from home, but there is no evidence to back up that idea. Runaways are also in just as much danger as children who disappear under duress, so I have no idea why police promoted such a theory, in the first place. Someone asked me to read for her, and next month, it will have been six years since Karissa disappeared.I will start with the obvious question about Karissa's whereabouts, and see if the Tarot can shed some light on how she can be found.

We begin with the nine of wands, reversed, crossed by the Knight of Pentacles, which is also read reversed. The nine of wands in reversal speaks of impatience and obstacles. The Knight of Pentacles, when he falls reversed, often represents a man who promises to get things done, yet is very slow to deliver. See also "laziness". This dynamic, impatience with a lazy man, somehow played a role. Giving us a bit of background, we have the Page of Swords, reversed. This can represent a snitch or a young person who lies, but it also can represent unforeseen misfortunes. At this point, I am going with the latter. To describe the past, we have the three of cups, reversed. This card often refers to end of something pleasing, but it also often speaks of too much of something....often too much of something that would have been a good thing if done in moderation, such as alcohol. Knights often represent coming and going, as well as men; it appears distinctly possible that Karissa wanted a ride home from a man involved in the scenario, and it somehow did not materialize.

Among possibilities, we have the Fool. This relates to the choice made by Karissa the minute she left the home she was visiting. This choice changed everything, for her. Next, we have the High Priestess, who represents all things hidden. Another symbol on this card is water. This is the card of initiative and resistance; the idea and desire to take action; and the traction, in the form of resistance, needed by the idea in order to take form and become reality. This is the energy at work, behind the scenes.

In the place of fears, we have the Chariot. The Chariot is another card of balance, but unlike initiative v. resistance, the Chariot seeks to persuade two opposite extremes to pull together and work toward a common goal. In practical terms, this means getting two horses to pull the Chariot in one direction, rather than each going in his own direction. Someone, somewhere, is afraid to take the practical steps to bring Karissa home. Next, in the place of environment, we have the Tower, reversed. This is a card of imprisonment of sorts.....sometimes literal. It is interesting that it would turn up in the place of environment. Next, in the place of hopes, we have the Star, reversed. This is pessimism and doubt. This leads me to wonder if Karissa is still alive, and thinks that there is a threat, or a reason that she cannot go home. Perhaps Stockholm Syndrome. Jaycee Dugard's kidnapping comes to mind. The last card is the five of swords, reversed. This is the only card of violence in the reading, and it is the only card that suggests that Karissa might no longer be with us. The five of swords, either reversed or upside right, is a card of violence and revenge, and I never like to see  it in a missing person's reading. Here, it tells us that there is a chance of defeat.

I do not want to give anyone false hope, because of the statistics regarding this type of case, but it appears that there is a chance that Karissa may yet be found alive. I think that the last adult male with whom she was seen should be questioned, and that his testimony can help law enforcement construct a time line that will help shed light on this case. The water symbolism on the High Priestess's card is important. For reasons I cannot fully explain, I have not been given a direction to search. I will say this: living victims move from place to place, while deceased victims do not, adding obvious challenges to finding missing persons who are living.

Anyone who has information should call the police in Turlock, California, at 209-688-5550.

Where Is Kathy Sue Wilcox?

Almost forty-three years ago, sixteen year old Kathy Sue Wilcox walked out of her family home in Michigan and never came back. She was billed as a "runaway" in a day and age when "runaways" were not taken too seriously, but she was never seen again. No one ever found out what happened to her.



We begin with the Page of Wands, reversed, crossed by the seven of pentacles, which is also read reversed. This is bad news, brought on by indecision and lack of progress in the investigation. An initial impression I get is that there is something that could have been discovered years ago, but wasn't, because the proper effort was not made.

Beneath this, we get the seven of swords, reversed. Sadly, it looks as if Kathy planned to leave home, for a bit. This is followed by the nine of swords, which is the expected worry and pain felt by her family. Above this, detailing the best possible outcome, we have the three of pentacles, which is the card of the tradesman. This tells me that there IS something that can be done, professionally, to locate Kathy. Unexpectedly, the six of wands follows, telling us that the case actually WILL be solved one day. The six of wands is generally good news, but it tells us to wait for "science to give us an answer". The Knight of Cups appears in the middle of the investigation.......he is upside right, so we must assume that he is kindly disposed toward Kathy. From him, we can expect well thought out ideas and propositions that will actually work. He is an adult, but not as old as most of the people who remember Kathy in Michigan. He either knows something substantial and can help the investigation, or knows how to put together clues in order to find Kathy. Next, we have the six of swords, reversed, describing the environment of the situation. This bothers me a bit, because it screams "standstill!" What is standing still? The investigation? Kathy, herself? This is really the only truly morbid detail in this reading.

Next, in the place of desires, we have the Sun. This tells us that no one who is involved, right now, in the search for Kathy and the investigation played a role in her disappearance. This is good; sometimes guilty parties pretend to search for missing people, in order to throw off police and investigators. Also, this card is telling us that somehow, pleasure in things like gardening, farming, and homesteading play a role in finding Kathy. The final card is the ten of cups, which almost never comes up to describe the lot of a missing person. This card is the definition of happiness, happy marriage, good family life, and soul completion. It is not what I expected. Perhaps Kathy is alive and well. I think it is a possibility. If she is not, she will be found, and her disappearance will be explained.

For clues to Kathy's whereabouts, both cards that usually tell us about location in a Celtic Cross reading about a missing person are "six" cards; the six of wands, and the reversed six of swords. Perhaps the message is "six through the forest, stop at the water." The two "sevens" also give us some clues. The seven of pentacles is often called the card of the farmer, because of its association with crops, trees, and waiting for fruit or crops to ripen. Perhaps there is a clue, therein. And the reversed seven of swords is simply careful planning.....Kathy had every intention of running away. Ultimately, south and west appear to be key directions.

The contact information for this case is in the poster above. Please; if anyone has personal knowledge of Kathy Sue Wilcox, call one of the numbers.

Myra Alissia Freeman

Myra Alissia Freeman was taking out the trash one evening at her home in Alabama, where she lives with her parents. She is seventeen years old, and the back story, along with the sheriff's contact information, is on the poster. But what happened, and where is she?

The basis is the seven of wands, reversed, crossed by Temperance. The seven of wands usually refers to something left unguarded when it falls reversed, and it speaks to loss, and the embarrassment that follows loss; as if one should have known better. Temperance shows good combinations and management. Beneath this, we have the eight of pentacles, reversed. The eight of pentacles is the card of the apprentice, but as Alissia was only seventeen, we can probably safely assume that this refers to schooling. As it falls reversed, it shows stresses, or problems, in that area. So we are given school stresses as a backdrop.

Following this, but still in the recent past, we have the four of wands, reversed. This is completed harvest and the chance to relax after hard work, and that is what it means in either the reversed or upright position. Reversed sometimes suggests that while things are not perfect, things are still pretty good. A possible outcome is the seven of pentacles, reversed, which I do not like. The seven of pentacles is the reaping of the fruits of one's labor when it falls upside right, but in reversal, it means the opposite: wasted efforts with no reward. This is a suggestion that Alissia may not be found immediately. The next card, in the near future, is Death. While the card can foretell a death, it is much more common for this card to tell us about a major change in someone's life, or in a situation. So far, I have not seen any violence in this reading that would have caused a death.

In the place of fears, we have the four of pentacles, which is a fear of waste, or a fear of not having enough money. I am actually happy to see this card in this position, as it relates to things that are on Alissia's mind. The next card is the Page of Swords, reversed. This page is in the place of environment, and is a young person who probably knows exactly where Alissia can be found. As the card has come up reversed, it suggests spying and lying, which is how this young person helped Alissia disappear. In the place of hopes, we have the Empress. This is the "mother" card of the Tarot, and as she appears upside right, we can assume that the mother in the situation, Alissia's mother, is her ally, here. This is also something that is on Alissia's mind. The final card is Justice, reversed, which worries me a bit. When Justice falls reversed in a reading, it usually warns that an authoritative decision somewhere along the line will be made, and it will impede progress. This could mean several things. First, it could be telling us that the police will determine that Alissia "ran away", and since she is seventeen, they will not realize that runaways are in just as much danger as kidnapping victims, and close her case. Or it could warn us that someone with whom Alissia is spending time could become paranoid or unjust in some way, and harm Alissia...or it could mean that law enforcement simply looks in all the wrong places and does not have any solid leads. I hate to see this card reversed as a final outcome.

As for location, Death would point us north. The item on the card that caught my eye is his flag, bearing the white, mystic rose. Could Alissia have ended up in a place that has "rose" in it's name? The four of pentacles also points us north, but the card is reversed, so perhaps things are stalled. The Page of Swords would use east as a direction, but he is also reversed, but the transformation of Death clearly shows that Alissia has traveled enough to dramatically change her situation. It appears, by this reading, that while she is in danger, it is not too late for rescue. I hope she is found soon.

What Happened To Ashley Summers?

 

Ashley Summers disappeared from her home in July of 2007, when she was fourteen years old; apparently having run away from home. She telephoned her mom about a month later, but no one has heard from her since. So what happened?

We begin with the three of cups, reversed, crossed by the King of Wands. The three of cups reversed is often a message about excess, such as too much drinking, too much partying, ect. The King of Wands, taking his position crossing this, seems to be a clear enough message; an older male attempted to put a stop to the behaviors and excesses described by the three of cups reversed. Beneath this, we have the Page of Cups, reversed. This is a young person, quite possibly Ashley, who is a bit sneaky at times, and difficult. The nine of wands, reversed, follows, giving us a clearer picture of the impatience on the part of the King of Wands, and the defiance on the part of the Page of Cups. We have a rebellious teen.

Crowing the situation, we get the eight of wands, which is a card of infatuation and sudden decisions and actions. Somewhere in the background to this, Ashley had a love interest who inspired, and possibly assisted in her disappearance. Next, we see the seven of wands, reversed. This is indecision and anxiety; it is the fast forwarded "snapshot" of part of the situation today, over eight years later. Indecision and anxiety play major roles in the continued lack of resolution of Ashley's case. 

In the place of fears, we find the Queen of Pentacles. This is a woman connected to the situation, who was an adult at the time Ashley went missing. As she falls upside right, I will assume, for now, that she has Ashley's best interest at heart. The next card, in the place of environment, is the High Priestess. The High Priestess represents hidden matters and mystery, and this aptly describes Ashley. She has not decided to come forward yet. In the place of hopes, we have the ten of cups, which gives us two things: hopes of Ashley's well-wishers, hoping to find that she is doing well; and hopes of Ashley, herself, for happiness and family. As a final outcome, we have the Empress, which is an interesting card as an outcome. The Empress represents feminine influence and motherhood, and this is the energy at play, here. I think that the mother figure, and perhaps Ashley's own mother, is the voice to which she is most likely to respond, and in turn, the echo in her own life.

Kara Kopetsky

Kara Kopetsky, of Belton, Missouri, was last seen at her school on May 4, 2007. She was initially listed as a runaway by law enforcement, but it has been seven years....an awfully long time for a runaway to stay hidden. So I will put the obvious questions to the Tarot.

We begin with the seven of swords, reversed, crossed by the eight of swords. The seven of swords generally denotes a theft, or an effort that is incomplete due to lack of ability or resources....the subject is attempting to take or do something he or she does not have a right to take or do. But here, it is reversed, but crossed by the eight of swords, a card of entrapment and restraint. What this gives us is a picture of someone who THOUGHT he or she could either take or get away with something, but actually couldn't. It was tried, though. The background for this is the King of Wands, who is an unyielding older male whose advice should have been followed, and the six of cups, a card of childhood and memories. So a deeper picture of a conflict here has to do with being a child vs. being an adult, and being recognized as an adult. Somehow, and I am not sure where this fits.....a yellow cat seems to be part of the scenario.

Above this, we have the Empress, who is the mother in this situation. Kara's mother is still looking for her, and will not stop until Kara is found. And a future event is Judgement, which is a renewal of search efforts for some reason, possibly an overlooked clue suddenly come to light. As a physical location and event, this card would literally depict an object suddenly being revealed in water deep enough for hidden objects, such as a lake or a reservoir. The swords point us east, yet not east.....once again, the seven is reversed. I would expect the answer to lead us somewhere rather close to where Kara was last seen, within thirty miles. 

The Emperor appears at the base of the staff; he is a male with authority in this case, and if not Kara's father, has an air of fatherly authority. He is upside right, so I will assume he is kindly disposed toward Kara, and looking for her, as is her mother. The six of pentacles appears in the place of environment, lending an element of "you get what you pay for", or "give and take" to this situation. Did someone perceive Kara as owing money? Was some sort of blackmail involved here? This card points to a trade or an exchange as having taken place between Kara and someone immediately before she disappeared. The next card is a card of regret: the five of cups. The regret is not on Kara's part, however; it is on the part of the last person to see her. While this person would be a man, I am not seeing a romantic relationship. In fact, the nature of the acquaintance between Kara and this person may have been the source of tension between Kara and the King of Wands. But the five of cups speaks to regret and loss, things that were not intended. It is also another water card. The last card we have is the Moon. The Moon is often psychic knowledge, but can also indicate deception and can tie into the aspect of that which is hidden by the High Priestess. We can be quite certain that Kara probably did not run away from home, but encountered some very bad circumstances that were covered up and well hidden. As a physical location, the Moon is also a watery card, specifically in a place where the reflection of the moon can be seen on the water. 

I wish this reading could have given us a more positive outlook. I always advise not to ever give up or stop looking for a missing person until he or she is found.

April Susanne Wiss

What happened to April Susanne Wiss, of Wichita Kansas, in January of 2000? She was sixteen at the time she disappeared, and would be thirty now. Law Enforcement was largely not concerned about April's absence, regarding her as a runaway. Fourteen years seems like an awfully long time for a runaway situation.

We begin with the Page of Wands crossed by the Hanged Man. The page can be a message or a person here, and the Hanged Man is assistance that is above and beyond the call of duty. This is founded by Judgement, which, on a mundane level, is often fact-finding and legal agreements......not necessarily legal trials, but agreements. April had some important news to share somewhere, but judging from the position of the Hanged Man, it appears that she was not properly prepared to share her message, and not properly compensated.

We move on to the seven of wands, appearing in the background, as well. This is a card of self protection and of guarding one's home or surroundings. Young April and her family were really trying to keep known dangers at bay. The two of pentacles appears reversed as the outcome of those efforts: messages pertaining to something important were somehow missed by April, advice was overlooked or ignored, and she was unable to handle two conflicting pressures at the same time. The Knight of Wands appears as a young man who was somehow involved in transporting April away from home on the last evening she was seen alive. He appears upside right, and it looks as if he somehow felt that his contribution to April's disappearance was innocent. He was someone who was trusted by April and by those around her.

The reason she did not return home has to do with the reversed two of pentacles and Judgement. There was a sense of something that had been buried or swept under the carpet coming back out and creating major changes. The problem the actual perpetrator had with April has to do with monetary risk and loss of business reputation. This is illustrated by the ten of pentacles appearing reversed in the place of fears. In the place of environment, we have the King of Pentacles, and he is the one who can tell us why April never came home. There is also a suggestion of payment for making April disappear: he "didn't want to get his hands dirty". This is a middle aged man with a career; someone who can buy testimony and scare people. His power has more to do with economics local to his town than actual power. On surface levels, no one would suspect him of committing a crime, and if someone did, there would be pressure to look the other way. His hope was to keep everyone looking for April, as portrayed by the Hermit in the place of desires, but that was all he really ever wanted. He did not want anyone to actually find her. This reading ends with the Wheel of Fortune reversed as the final outcome. This refers to the perpetrator's general feeling about April....he just thought she had an unlucky day, and that she was insignificant enough not to matter.

The ten of pentacles came up reversed in this reading, as did the Wheel of Fortune, which is number ten in the major arcana. A possible dark clue concerning location? In the physical realm, these two cards could be interpreted as a description of family owned property or a business that had somehow been risked. The ten of pentacles reversed speaks of poor risks, and the Wheel of Fortune is all about ups and downs and risks. Also, a search warrant will be needed in order to find April, or find any evidence connected to her missing persons case. "Family" honor, "family" obligation, and monetary risk are all motives, and these are people who feel entitled.

I really hate to see a message like this about a sixteen year old girl.

Two Sad Updates

The remains of Skylar Neese were finally identified a couple of weeks ago, after she was found, during the winter, in Pennsylvania, a few miles over the West Virginia border and from the area where she lived. Her mother issued a statement. While her remains have been identified, the circumstances surrounding Skylar's death have barely begun to be investigated or explained. Skylar's mother, in the above referenced statement, makes a very relevant point about law enforcement's treatment of situations involving teens who have allegedly "run away" from home and are missing persons. The second update is about Robin Pope. The remains of a woman have been found near the area where she was reported to have last been seen, and Maryland is working to identify the person. There are speculations that she may be Robin Pope.

 

More information, as of Sunday, March 24; Robin Pope has been identified through dental records.