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.