Sylvia Browne (born Sylvia Celeste Shoemaker on October 19, 1936 in Kansas City, Missouri) is a self-proclaimed psychic medium, and author of numerous books on spirituality.
However, since Browne declines to be tested under controlled conditions, and because her readings are indistinguishable from those achieved by mentalists (entertainers who create the illusion of being psychic by using techniques such as cold reading, warm reading and hot reading), skeptics believe Browne to be a fraud and confidence artist, callously making money off of the pain and suffering of those grieving over the loss of their loved ones. She has been convicted of investment fraud and grand theft.
Shawn Hornbeck was kidnapped and found after 4 years. At an earlier time, on a television show, Sylvia told his parents that he was dead.