Man Who Blew $718,000 on Manhattan Psychics Comes Forward To Tell His Grim Tale
A man who gave a total of $718,000 to two New York City psychics in cash and gifts has come forward with a real doozy of a sad story.
Niall Rice, a 33-year-old British consultant, made headlines anonymously last June when court documents revealed the bizarre situation. Now, the Manhattan district attorney’s office has suggested that one of the psychics who swindled him, a 26-year-old woman named Priscilla Kelly Delmaro, could plead guilty in exchange for just one year in jail. Rice came forward in an interview with The New York Times published on Sunday.
Rice said that the psychics lured him in by promising to help with his problems, and to help him reincarnate an ex-girlfriend who had recently passed away.
It began at a psychic shop on Delancey Street, Rice said, where he quickly dropped thousands as well as a $40,000 ring from Tiffany’s when asked by a psychic named Brandy.
She asked for $2,500 that day, and he withdrew it from a nearby Chase bank. She said he would have his money back soon.
Things just got weirder from there. When Rice’s ex-girlfriend Michelle died from an overdose, Delmaro, who was going by the name Christina, denied it.
Mr. Rice said he had just paid Christina $90,000 that she said was needed to build a bridge of gold in another dimension to trick an evil spirit that was haunting Michelle. He called her and told her Michelle was dead.
“Christina said, ‘Don’t believe it,’ ” he said. “ ‘If you believe it, it’s true.’”
The whole thing is a bizarre twist of false pretenses and weird happenings, and is well worth the read.
