J'can woman seeks psychic's help in solving daughter's murder

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

NEW YORK, USA (CMC) — A Jamaican-born mother says she is now working with a paranormal investigator and a clairvoyant, hoping their powers of perception can provide long-awaited answers and long-denied peace in the murder of her teenage daughter inside their Queens, New York, apartment in 2008.

Sharida Matthews said she has fought a haunting pain as she pursued Sabrina's killer — a frustrating hunt that has led her from New York Police Department (NYPD) detectives to devotees of ESP.

The NYPD also said its investigators are willing to meet with the mediums in an effort to close the cold case.

"That's all I want. I want justice for my child," a sobbing Matthews told reporters here on Saturday. "Somebody slaughtered her. Every day I cry because I want justice."

Sabrina Matthews, her throat slashed and her body partially clothed, was found in a pool of blood when her father returned to the family's Cambria Heights, Queens home on the morning of November 9, 2008.

Police said there was no sign of forced entry. The 14-year-old's father and three older sisters were questioned and cleared in the slaying.

The family wanted answers, but couldn't afford a private investigator. Their own probe soon hit a dead end — until a friend suggested a sit-down with the unorthodox investigators.

After resisting at first, Matthews agreed to speak with paranormal investigator Chris Johansen during a November candlelight vigil marking the third anniversary of the murder.

Johansen, 49, came to the family's home, and Matthews came away convinced that he could help find the killer.

He claims the ability to communicate with the dead — a gift possessed by his great-grandmother and his grandmother, who both worked with law enforcement.

This is his first crime investigation. He enlisted the help of clairvoyant Francine Bizzari, who has experience working crime cases.

"God can give them the wisdom," said Mrs Matthews. "Everything is possible."

Johansen has visited the Matthews' home and taken photos, handled Sabrina's clothing to get a feeling of her spirit and spoken to her friends.

Together, the team has come up with a clue: the name 'Jasmine,' a mystery friend of Sabrina's — and a different person than a young neighbour by the same name — who could have answers, Johansen insists.

"She didn't do it, but she knows," he said, adding that he thinks the case can be solved. "I want people to listen to what I have to say."

Matthews said she was shocked recently when one of her other daughters was contacted via the social network, Facebook, by a girl named Jasmine.

A meeting between her daughter and Jasmine — who may or may not be the mystery friend — produced no new leads, with Jasmine acting spooked, Matthews said.

But Jasmine agreed to meet again with her daughter, the mother added.

Cops say there is a US$22,000 reward for information that cracks the case.

"The killer is still out there laughing — 'They can't find me!'," Matthews said. "That hurts. These are not good shoes to walk in — to know that she died like that."