Psychic offers her insight in Brown's murders

First published: January 30, 1996

His nickname is "Jay." His last name sounds like "Latchkey." He's in an Ohio prison. And he possibly was on the drug PCP the night he supposedly killed seven employees at a Brown's Chicken & Pasta restaurant in Palatine. At least that's what psychic Patricia Mischell told a national audience watching the Jerry Springer Show Monday about the three-year-old unsolved murders.

The show was called "Psychics at the Scene" and featured Mischell walking through the murder site, now a dry cleaners.

After touching victims' clothing, she began sensing things, she said.

In one of the show's most dramatic moments, Mischell strolls amongst laundered shirts with her hand pressed against her head. She begins crying as she "witnesses" one of two conspirators demanding money from owner Lynn Ehlenfeldt who is kneeling on the floor in front of a safe.

"The woman is begging," Mischell said. "He's got a knife to her throat. She can't find the key. She's crawling on the floor saying she can't find it. He thinks she's lying. She's begging and he hates her begging."

Mischell said employees were shot and killed quickly during a robbery, which was "an inside job."

At the show's conclusion, Springer said Mischell has "an amazing track record" when it comes to solving crimes. He urged police to consider the information.

Palatine Police Cmdr. James Haider said members of the task force investigating the Jan. 8, 1993 killings viewed a tape of the show before it aired.

"We have no comment at this time," he said.