Hannah said:

This is from Chip's Twitter: "WOW! Watching tonight's episode of Paranormal State brought back all the emotions of being there! NO ONE SHOULD EVER SUFFER ABUSE!"

It is very safe to accuse someone that is dead.  I did not see the show, did she agree that her father was the abuser?  Again, the man cannot defend himself.  

I saw the show.  Yes, she did "agree."  Although…the usual weirdness occurred.

Before Chip arrived, they showed the PS group talking with both the Mother (the victim) and her daughter (maybe 18-24 yrs old).  The clips seemed very choppy to us (watched the episode with a couple of friends).  At the commercial break, we talked about what we had seen, talked about the little "preview" clips of the show before the show actually started and surmised that she had been abused by her father (supposedly), he was haunting her (supposedly), Chip would come in and read this correctly (supposedly) and the show would end with them cleansing the house…(supposedly).  It really wasn't a stretch to see this coming.

It was the "train wreck" that one would expect from PS when dealing with personal emotions and tragedy.

Getting back to those "choppy" clips…I believe this was done on purpose.  I am going to speculate here, I have no evidence of what I'm about to say (how can I?).  I believe that both mother and daughter either said it outright or said enough about it to get the picture and it was intentionally edited out.  The producer, or someone on staff, then communicated this to Chip.  This way, you get the big emotional blow-out that was aired.

I do not think the PS gang is in on this type of thing.  When things like this occur in the show, they do seem to show genuine shock and they aren't talented enough actors to pull that off.  I believe it's behind the scenes between producer and "psychic."  In this manner, the PS team looks "real and genuine," the psychics are amazingly accurate, and the producers have a hit show.  Everyone wins.  Well, except for the real people that they're dealing with.  Again, can I prove this?  No.  Is it a logical way to look at it and explain a great deal?  Yeah, sure is.

As for the father not being able to defend himself?  It's difficult to address this.  Such a serious allegation.  Yet, I have such compassion for the victims of this heinous crime.  Not sure where I fall on this one. 

I did go and read some of the comments on the PS forum, and there was a small debate given that the deceased man was a Captain, or Chief in the fire department.  The point being made was that sometimes a very wonderful person to the public and a tyrant at home. 

Revenant: "I  do not think the PS gang is in on this type of thing.  When things like this occur in the show, they do seem to show genuine shock and they aren't talented enough actors to pull that off.  I believe it's behind the scenes between producer and "psychic."  In this manner, the PS team looks "real and genuine," the psychics are amazingly accurate, and the producers have a hit show.  Everyone wins.  Well, except for the real people that they're dealing with.  Again, can I prove this?  No.  Is it a logical way to look at it and explain a great deal?  Yeah, sure is."

I agree they are not talented actors, and yes, I think the producers feed Chip information.  I believe I saw some of the first season (or second?) on DVD and watched the bonus segment.  One segment was Ryan praising Chip's ability as a psychic.  He seemed very genuine in his belief.  So your speculations are very much on target.  Chip usually asks Ryan if Ryan has given him any knowledge of the case beforehand.  Ryan, truthfully (apparently) answers no. 

So, if Ryan has read all sorts of stuff on the paranormal as he claims was part of his "training", why does he not question Chip's hit rate?  From the research I have done, an excellent "psychic" only gets it right (under controlled testing conditions) about 50% of the time. Has anyone seen Chip "miss"?

This is a very sad situation.  Cannot imagine the mother's guilt for never reporting the situation probably because of the husband's standing in the community? 

Again, as Revenant said, a train wreck brought to us by A & E.

Sabrina:  "Back to the topic at hand, I doubt they did, but do we know if PS did look into the allegation? I don't know if her mother is still living or not; perhaps she was able to confirm. If she is not living, how is it going to be proven? All in all, without knowing the facts I do concede that this should not have been included."

Sadly, I would venture to say there is a 1 in a million chance that anyone connected with this show would have done any verification of any allegations or facts after the filming and, for that matter, before the filming.  Forming any sort of relationship would be so rare as they are in and out and off to the next.  It is not their responsibility to verify personal relationships or accusations.  It's up to the individuals involved and the courts.  And, if they can sensationalize something, they will as it equals ratings and that's exactly what they did or they would have cut that information out of the episode.

Sabrina, you also said:  "Are there fake mediums/psychics that swindle people just wanting to hear from their lost loved ones or get love adice or whatever? Of course there are. Is every psychic who charges money for the use of their gifts a fraud? Nope, not in my opinion. They have bills to pay too. We pay artists, actors, singers, etc. to share their gifts with us, why shouldn't we pay mediums?"

Sabrina, you agree there are mediums/psychics that swindle people just wanting hear from lost love ones or get love advice or whatever.  Yet you are willing to give a pass to others who charge money for the use of their "gifts" because "they have bills to pay too."  Huh?  Please, that is no justification for taking anyone's money.  Just ask all those people in jail for stealing and embezzlement.  We've all got bills to be paid.  And please, you cannot possibly compare paying artists, actors and singers for their legitimate talents which we can see and hear with our own eyes and ears although we can disagree on the degree of their talents.  There is absolutely no comparison between the two and it scares me to think you might actually believe what you wrote.  I hope not.

As far as anyone being angry or starting arguments because of your posts, the strong reactions were because sexual abuse, or abuse of any kind, is a very delicate and sensitive subject and to use it in the fashion PS did was inappropriate, insensitive and just plain wrong.

Thanks ghostgirl74.  Interesting story.  It constantly amazes me what people will believe and how people get away with it.  I have no doubt that she made that comment to her husband.  It is the typical comment and attitude of a con man/woman.

MissMissy said:

 I mean even at my most desperate I would still look at someones track record and if it sucks I would keep going.

And there lies the problem.  Unless the psychic is very high profile, like Sylvia Browne, it's nearly impossible to figure out how accurate a psychic is.  And even the high profile ones, you can only track what makes the news.  The article listed many normal people who were puzzled by her answers.  Those misses will never be counted against Browne.

Before I choose a doctor, I ask the doctor some questions.  If not satisfied, I literally walk out.  I am uncertain why people do not do the same with psychics.  "What is my mother's maiden name?  What did I eat for lunch yesterday?  My grandfather has passed away, what company did he work for his entire life?"  Answer the questions, you get my money.  Easy as that.  If they cannot give specific answers…then what are you paying for?

PS MissMissy…is that the Unabomber? 

MissMissy said:

I thought it was the Zodiac Killer. Unabomber, Zodiac Killer I think supposedly they were both Ted Kazyn…(Nevermind I can't spell his name)

Hmmm…I am no crime expert, but I do not recall hearing or reading that Ted Kaczynski, aka the Unabomber, was ever associated with being the Zodiac Killer.

Here's the link for the Unabomber (with the picture that you're using near the bottom of the page):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unabomber

Here's the link for the Zodiac Killer, presumably still at large:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiac_killer

And not judging or anything…was just curious about the image.