Tarot Spread: Rita Jolly

Rita left her residence on Horton Road in West Linn, Oregon at 7:15 p.m. on June 29, 1973 to go for a walk. She never returned. She was last seen between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m. that day, walking uphill on Sunset Avenue. Rita has never been heard from again.

Rita may have been a victim of the serial killer Theodore Robert "Ted" Bundy. A photograph of Bundy is posted with this case summary. He was executed in Florida in 1989. He is a suspect in scores of murders, mainly from the Pacific Northwest, though he was convicted only of killing three females in Florida. He confessed to many deaths prior to his execution.

Bundy may be responsible for the disappearances of Nancy Baird, Ann Marie Burr, Lynette Culver, Julie Cunningham, Susan Curtis, Georgeann Hawkins, Vicki Hollar, Donna Manson, Denise Oliverson, Nancy Wilcox, and many other girls and young women.

The women continue to be listed as missing persons. Their remains have never been recovered. It is worth noting that Bundy did not confess to Rita's murder before his death, but he is considered a suspect in many deaths and disappearances he did not claim responsibility for.

Rita's disappearance remains unsolved, as her body was not found and Bundy was never charged or confessed to her murder. Foul play is suspected in her case. She was a junior at West Linn High School in 1973.

I have been interested in Rita for a long time. I found that people still seem to think that Bundy is responsible despite the fact that he had an alibi that day (I will provide a link below).

It is not just Bundy whom people like to point a finger at. Warren Leslie Forrest was also active in Washington and Oregon at the same time. Unlike Bundy, Forrest is still alive as of this publication. I would like it if he was questioned on Rita's disappearance - if he has not been questioned already - but as you will see in this reading, perhaps Rita's fate lies closer to home.

1.       Eight of Swords, reversed. Being released from obligations, taking steps to empowerment, obstacles clearing, fatality.

This could be a sign that Rita met with death. This is not surprising, considering who the main suspects are, but I cannot say for certain if this necessarily means death.

 

2.       Nine of Swords, reversed. Prolonged anxiety, going over old ground, not finding the solution, mental exhaustion, seeing an end to despair. It could mean imprisonment or reasonable fear.

Could this possibly mean that Rita was alive for a time after she was last seen?

It might also link to the search for her. The second card refers to obstacles that the Querent – in this case Rita – comes across, but it might connect to law enforcement. They possibly latched onto the idea that Bundy killed her and refused to let go of this possibility. The idea of ‘going over old ground’ could literally mean examining a place that was previously searched, or looking back at other suspects.

 

3.       The Hanged Man, reversed. In limbo, being narrow-minded, not seeing from all sides, not letting go, having false motives, holding back. Freedom fighters, humanitarians, eco warriors and protesters.

The idea of protesters makes me think of the Vietnam War, although Rita’s case may have nothing to do with it. Did she know anyone who took part in a protest? This card represents the Querent’s past, but I cannot find anything online that may suggest that she was involved in any protests.

The idea of false motives, however, makes me wonder about someone tricking her. Someone that she thought that she could trust. It might NOT have been Bundy, though; since this card links to the past, she may have been hurt by someone in her past, or someone that she knew lured her away.

 

4.       Seven of Pentacles. Delays in payment, long term returns, slow but steady growth, not working as hard as you could, working for nothing, little reward for a lot of effort. Farmers, long term investors, garden centre workers, tree surgeons.

The fourth card indicates the future. In the case of a reading for a missing person, the future refers to the time after they were last seen. Pentacles relate to money, so this makes me think that money was involved somehow. Did Rita owe someone money?

The idea of ‘little reward’ and ‘working for nothing’ makes me think that for forty-five years law enforcement has been barking up the wrong tree. A quick look at Bundy’s timeline shows that he was in Seattle on the day that Rita went missing. The exact timing is unknown, but I do not believe that he was in Oregon at all on that date.

 

5.       Eight of Pentacles. Being cautious, foresight, careful with money, learning, education, a period of study, working hard, attention to detail, meeting deadlines. Factory workers, the self-employed, mature students, tradesmen, skilled workers, craftsmen.

Could Rita be the ‘mature student’ described here? Is she the one who is ‘careful with money’? How does money fit into her disappearance?

Regardless, I think that the person responsible for her disappearance could fit into one of the jobs listed above. The fifth card symbolises the best that the Querent can hope for. The idea of money worries comes up again in regards to this.

This card also represents the Sun in Virgo, which it certainly was on the day that she went missing.

 

6.       Eight of Cups, reversed. Questioning your decision to leave, not being able to move on, fear of the unknown, clinging to the past. Backpackers, travellers, night shift workers, solitary workers, groundsmen and maintenance workers.

Rita had to ‘leave her life behind’. Whether or not she chose to, however, is another question. Something that interests me is the idea of groundsmen and maintenance workers. Warren Forrest worked for a Parks and Recreation department. Could this be a factor?

Since the Eight of Cups when standing upright shows a figure making his way towards the mountains, when this card is in reverse I believe that it means that the Querent went AWAY from the mountains. Since the mountain range was to the east of West Linn, I think that Rita went westwards.

 

7.       Two of Pentacles, reversed. An imbalance between work and home, not coping with work, discord, resisting change, incomplete projects, buckling under pressure. Injustice.

Was Rita also struggling at school? I believe that school had just ended on June 29^th, so it does make me wonder if she believed that she hadn’t done as well as she expected.

However, the idea of resisting change or an incomplete project again makes me think about how rigid investigators seemed concerning whether or not Bundy was responsible. All of the cards so far heavily imply that he was NOT involved in Rita’s disappearance, as well as the fact that he seems to have an alibi for that date.

But the idea of ‘injustice’ infuriates me. I think that the police were so focused on Bundy that they missed the real culprit, who may have been right in front of them! Most crimes are committed by someone the victim knows, after all.

 

8.       Seven of Swords, reversed. Being caught out, ashamed of your actions. Blaming others, making excuses, walking away at a crucial point, uncovering a sham. Private investigators, researchers, burglars.

Compared to the last card, this one is somewhat favourable, especially since the eighth card signifies the Querent’s hopes and fears. Rita, wherever she is, must either be scared that those looking for her are making excuses – and may even have been diverted from the real culprit when Bundy was caught – or hopes that her case will be reopened and as such the culprit will be named.

 

9.       Five of Swords, reversed. An attempt at disruption, petty arguments, attention-seeking behaviour, malicious gossip, paranoia, intimidation, manipulation, humiliation.

The Five of Swords depicts three people on a beach. One of them is carrying two swords, while three others lie on the sand. I may have been right in thinking that Rita was taken westward. Perhaps she is near a beach, or even underneath one.

 

10.   Two of Wands. Being in control, dynamism, gaining control, dominating another or a situation, seeing the big picture, wanting more, not satisfied with your lot, focusing on your intent. Business partners, office workers and planners, travel agents and hotel inspectors, hoarders and collectors, silent partners.

The last card not only represents the outcome of a situation, but is the most important card in a reading. I wonder if this particular card represents the person responsible for Rita’s disappearance. He – or even she – may not have been satisfied with whatever happened to Rita. They chose to dominate her, whether before or after her abduction. Even after they were finished with Rita, they wanted more. This is a very sad card to end a complex reading.

In conclusion, I think that Rita might have been taken by someone she knew. Perhaps it was someone she owed money to, or someone she knew owed them money. It could have been someone that she met at school. Either way, I think that it ended tragically and one of the reasons that the culprit may have been able to get away for so long is because people – particularly law enforcement – chose to put all of their resources into questioning Bundy.

People chose to focus on serial killers because they do not like the idea of someone from their own community being responsible for a horrific crime.

http://web.archive.org/web/20200707115440/https://web.archive.org/web/20060621144017/http://tedbundy.com/errata/freebies/Ted%20Bundy%20Multiagency%20Investigative%20Team%20Report%201992%20from%20tedbundy.com.pdf

Tarot Spread: Michelle Jolene Lakey

Jolene visited her mother at Mercy Hospital in their hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania on August 26, 1986. She was last seen walking on north Washington Avenue towards her home, which was in the 1300 block of that street. She was planning on spending the night at a female friend's house on Myrtle Street.

Jolene may have entered an unidentified light yellow car approximately one block from her family's residence. She has never been seen again. Authorities believe she was abducted by a non-family member.

Frank Osellanie is considered a possible suspect in Jolene's case. He was convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering a nine-year-old Scranton girl in 1990 and has been in prison ever since. He is considered a person of interest in several other cases, including the 1978 disappearance of Joanne Williams.

Osellanie admitted to knowing Jolene and said she sometimes visited his auto shop and he gave her rides home. He maintains his innocence in her disappearance, however, and investigators are not sure whether he was involved.

Jolene's parents are divorced; she had not seen her father for three years prior to her disappearance and he was not notified of her abduction for seven months afterwards. Her mother moved away from Scranton shortly after her disappearance and now lives in Oxford, New York. Her case remains unsolved.

This seems to be a case of grabbing a child off from the streets; a crime of opportunity. I am not certain as to whether the suspect involved was responsible, but I shall keep an open mind.

1)                  Nine of Pentacles. Gain, reward for your efforts, success in projects and business deals, realizing your goals, a kept man or woman.

This card signifies the Querent’s present – in this case when Michelle was last seen. I wonder what ‘project’ refers to. The card shows a woman surrounded by tall bushes. Maybe Jolene is surrounded by bushes or there were bushes close to where she was abducted.

 

2)                  Two of Wands, reversed. Self-doubt, loss of control, scattered energy, abuse of power, being dominated, disrupted plans and interruptions. Business partners and office workers, travel agents, hoarders and collectors, silent partners.

Might Michelle have been taken by someone she knew? Or at the very least someone she trusted. She might have had doubts about this person or persons’ plans soon after entering their house or vehicle. The idea of disrupted plans appears to me to link to her disappearance.

The card shows a man standing behind a wall as he looks out onto other buildings and onto water. Could Michelle be behind tall walls, or perhaps be close to a large body of water? Lake Wallenpaupack is the nearest large body of water that I can think of. Might she be there?

 

3)                  Fool, reversed. Folly, chaos, lack of direction, poor judgement, being gullible, blocks, restrictions.

I think that Michelle must have been tricked somehow, whether or not she knew her abductor.

 

4)                  Justice, reversed. Miscarriage of justice, imbalance and unfair treatment, being discredited, not being able to speak your truth, making or receiving the wrong decision, jail.

The fact that Justice happens to be reversed makes me think that Michelle may never receive justice, which is a horrible thought, especially when it concerns a child. However, the jail and unfair treatment might imply that she was held for a time after her abduction. I still cannot work out if she will receive actual justice, however. It is rather interesting that Justice represents the number 11, the age Michelle was when she went missing.

 

5)                  Five of Swords. Defeatism, arguments, negativity, troubles, disturbances, feeling broken, spite and malice, selfishness, revenge.

The fifth card symbolises the best that the Querent – Michelle – can hope to achieve. If so, then this is a very unhappy card and therefore she was in an unhappy situation. Or perhaps these were feelings that Michelle herself had, either before or during her ordeal. Were there problems at home? Child predators can easily spot a child who is in need of love. This happens far too often, I am sad to say.

 

6)                  Seven of Swords, reversed. Being caught out, being ashamed of your actions, blaming others, making excuses, walking away at a crucial point, uncovering a sham. Private investigators, researchers, festival staff, fairground or attraction workers, thieves, burglars.

This card shows a man walking away from a group of tents. Might this mean that Michelle was taken out of Scranton? I wonder if her abductor will be caught, if he has not been arrested already for another crime.

I think again of the suspect. I CANNOT say for certain that he is involved, but this is something to take into account when looking for Michelle.

 

7)                  Magician, reversed. Deceit, con artist, liar, communication blocks, abuse of power, ill intentions, manipulation. Electricians, communications workers, the self-employed or technologically minded.

This card links to Michelle’s environment. I believe that this card signifies the person who took her, especially if she currently shares his environment. He may have known her and abused that trust to get Michelle to come with him.

 

8)                  Queen of Pentacles, reversed. Narrow-minded, selfish, immoral, insecure, obsessive, neurotic, a gold-digger. Teacher, cook, interior designer, career woman, manager, works with animals.

This card symbolises Michelle’s hopes and fears. There might have been a female involved in her abduction. This woman likely has dark hair and eyes and may be over forty.

I see an animal-themed park close to Lake Wallenpaupack. I wonder if this could be a clue as to where Michelle is now.

 

9)                  Lovers, reversed. A broken love affair or relationship, infidelity, business falling apart.

The ninth card connects to the Querent’s hopes and fears. Perhaps Michelle is afraid of love or trusting the wrong person. I would not be surprised, especially if she already knew her kidnapper. Or maybe if a business fell apart then somehow Michelle would be found. Could evidence be buried underneath a business’ foundations?

 

10)               Ten of Cups. Fulfilment, perfect harmony, satisfaction, a happy family unit, your dream becoming reality, a growing family, a happy communal living. Landscape gardeners, festival organizers, youth workers, churchgoers, charity workers, community workers, volunteers.

This is a very pleasant card to end a reading on, despite the circumstances, as the Ten of Cups is always a joyful card. I believe that whatever the outcome, Michelle’s loved ones will receive closure and, if Michelle was alive as of the reading, she will be found alive. The card shows a house on a hill with two adults and two children underneath a rainbow. This links back to my theory that she is not in Scranton, but in the countryside.

Tarot Spread: Christopher Kerze

Christopher stayed home from school on April 20, 1990. He said he had a bad headache and planned to stay home from school. His father went away on a business trip that day and his mother left him alone at their Eagan, Minnesota residence, after giving him an over-the-counter pain medication for his headache.

When they came home, the family's light blue 1988 Dodge Caravan was gone, the family dog was running around loose, and there was a note on the kitchen table from Christopher reading: "Mom, Something important came up + feeling somewhat better. Back by six. (Unless I get lost.) Love, Chris" The word "lost" in the note was underlined twice. Christopher's mother believes his statement about getting lost was just a reference to the fact that he occasionally got lost while he was driving.

Christopher never arrived home and has never been heard from again. He withdrew $200 from his savings account the day he disappeared. The next day, a handwritten note arrived at his parents' home, postmarked Duluth, Minnesota; that town is about two and a half hours from Eagan.

The note said Christopher had lied about being sick so he could use the family's car to get away "to not even I know where." He said he intended to take his own life, and apologized for hurting his family and loved ones.

Two days after Christopher was last seen, the Dodge Caravan was found abandoned on the roadside in Itasca County in northern Minnesota, near the George Washington State Forest and the Chippewa National Forest, about twenty miles north of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Christopher's grandparents lived in Grand Rapids. Inside the van were the keys and a note from Christopher explaining who owned the van.

An extensive search of the area turned up no indication of his whereabouts; it's possible he hitchhiked to an unknown destination. After Christopher's disappearance, his family got a tip from someone who claimed they'd picked up a hitchhiker resembling him who asked to be taken to Duluth, the place where the suicide note had been mailed from. This story has not been verified.

The family also got a lot of strange calls where the caller would not speak and there would be background noise like a party. Christopher's mother believes the strange calls were from him. They continued for six months before stopping abruptly.

In 2004, the Eagan Police Department got an anonymous letter postmarked Seattle, Washington that asked them to stop looking for Christopher. The letter writer said Christopher was a "guardian angel" and that he would return home when he was ready. Police eventually concluded the letter was a hoax.

Prior to his disappearance, Christopher hadn't given any indications there were problems in his life. He was an excellent student who'd been invited to join the National Honor Society and was a National Merit Scholar semi-finalist, and he was a member of his school's swimming team and played the clarinet. His other hobbies included skiing, camping, reading, laser tag and computers.

Christopher was carrying his father's 1954 to 1956 model Mossberg 20-gauge bolt-action shotgun with a three-shell clip at the time of his disappearance, but he apparently didn't take any ammunition with him. Authorities believe the gun may have been abandoned somewhere in rural Minnesota and was possibly found later by a hunter.

Photos of a similar gun, and watch similar to what Christopher was wearing, are posted with this case summary. Investigators would like to hear from anyone who found such a gun in 1990 or afterwards.

Christopher's case remains unsolved and many agencies classify it as a runaway. His parents still live in the house where they lived in 1990, and have kept the same phone number. Police believe it's likely he took his own life and that his body has not been found yet.

I felt a little uncomfortable writing about a boy who may have committed suicide. But I decided to look into his case nevertheless. There are roughly thirty more cases from across the world that I wish to look at, mainly those of children, but I believe that this is the only one where suicide may be involved.

I shall add links to suicide hotlines at the end of this reading.

1)                   Two of Pentacles, reversed. An imbalance between work and home, discord, resisting change, a turn for the worse, incomplete projects. Accountants, shift workers, those with multiple jobs, stock market investors or traders, market traders.

Due to Christopher’s age, I wonder if the imbalance refers to his school work. Did he have trouble at school? From what I can find, he appears to have been a good student. Maybe he felt overworked?

 

2)                   Nine of Pentacles. Gain, rewards for your efforts, realizing your goals, financial and personal independence, material security, self-sufficiency, a kept man or woman. Those with a trust fund, horticulturists, the retired, bird keepers, landscape gardeners.

The second card represents the obstacle for the Querent – in this case Christopher. It seems to be an odd card to indicate an obstacle. But perhaps it may refer to a person. Could someone who fits the criteria suggested perhaps have quarrelled with the boy?

 

3)                   Seven of Pentacles, reversed. Failure in business, blockages in production, fruitlessness, poor investments, a turn in either direction, fear of success, self-sabotage. Planners, long-term investors, garden centre workers, plant growers.

I think about Christopher’s alleged – and I cannot stress that word enough – suicidal tendencies when I see the word fruitlessness. Remember, if you or anyone you know has suicidal thoughts, I have listed some helplines below.

The fruitfulness could normally indicate someone’s fertility, but as Christopher was seventeen, I am not sure that this what the card is referring to.

 

4)                   Four of Swords. Calling a truce, a rest, agreement, considering your position, tomb, coffin.

I had a terrible feeling in my gut when I turned over this card. I felt as if I were intruding on Christopher’s private moments, especially since the fourth card in a reading indicates the future (when I do readings for missing people, the future refers to the time after they were last seen). I feel positively awful as I say with certainty that it seems as if Christopher is dead, whether by his own hand or someone else’s.

 

5)                   Strength. Inner strength, self-assurance, self-control, patience, strength through personal power, vitality, compassionate.

This card is a little difficult to interpret. On the one hand, as the fifth card represents what the Querent wants to achieve, it could signify what Christopher wanted from life, but did not feel as if he could achieve. If this were the case, I think that this particular card might have been reversed. So perhaps he set out with the intention of suicide, but something changed his mind. If so, what happened to prevent him from going home? Was he the victim of a crime? Was he ashamed?

 

6)                   Fool. New beginnings, spontaneity, adventure, innocence, fearlessness, a leap of faith, freedom from constraints, seeking freedom.

Does this mean that Christopher ran away? It certainly seems so. He was seventeen, an age where foolishness and spontaneity abound. Could it be entirely possible that the sadness of the Four of Swords was a turning point and not an omen of death, with Christopher realising how string he really was? I truly hope so.

But if this is the case I must ask again where he has been all this time.

 

7)                   World, reversed. Plans falling through, unfinished business, delayed success, non-movement, stagnation, being stuck in a rut.

The seventh card signifies the Querent themselves. Whether or not Christopher chose to die that day, this card may indicate his suicidal tendencies. As the card is reversed, the ‘success’ that may have been delayed, or ‘plans’ that fell through may refer to ‘bad’ plans – his intention of killing himself.

Either way, the non-movement is confusing. There is some evidence that he made his way to Duluth. He could still be living there if this is true.

 

8)                   Nine of Wands. Determination, test of character, belief in your personal power, being able to push through. Soldiers and the military, security guards, striking workers.

The eighth card refers to the Querent’s environment. Again the idea of failing to kill himself comes up. It is the only explanation I can think of.

 

9)                   Page of Wands. Messages, electronic communication, renewed vigour, school or college friend, youngster or child.

The ninth card represents hopes and fears. The message makes me think of the note he left behind, or even the letter mailed from Duluth. I wonder if a school friend managed to help him get away. Perhaps they were the first person that he went to. Maybe Christopher is scared that this person may give away what they know. Is he frightened of returning home? Ashamed?

 

10)               King of Pentacles, reversed. Materialistic bigot, exploiter or harsh employer, opinionated, cruel, poor business decisions, sex addict. Estate agent, businessman or manager, banker, teacher or other educator, mentor, exporter or importer.

This card may indicate the reasons behind Christopher’s decision. There must have been someone in his life that Christopher wanted to get away from. I think it would be best to take another look at his school life and any extracurricular activities that he undertook. I believe you will find the answers there.

Suicide Hotlines

https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/suicide/ (UK)

https://suicidepreventionpathways.org.au/ (AUS)

https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/ (CAN)

http://www.suicide.org/hotlines/international/germany-suicide-hotlines.html (GER)

https://www.youthline.co.nz/(NZ)

http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ (USA)