One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LA Psychic Spooks Girl Into Stealing $10,000 in Jewelry
One Los Angeles woman calling herself a psychic is being accused of conducting some very shady business (even for a psychic) -- according to the AP, Jackeline Lopez of Palmdale allegedly frightened a 12-year-old girl into thinking a curse had been placed on her, and that she needed to bring Lopez $10,000 worth of jewelry to have it lifted.
Lopez -- who carried out the psychic sessions in her garage, bedecked with fake skulls, cauldrons and chalk linings -- would reportedly have the girl put the jewels into a cauldron, conduct a ritual, and then tell her that it wasn't enough to take away the "horrible curse," the Sheriff's Department said in a statement. The girl would then go home, get more jewelry, and come back.
The charade lasted until the child's parents noticed that the jewelry was missing, and confronted her about it.
Lopez was arrested on suspicion of extortion, and police are on the lookout for other victims.