The Ferguson Township Police investigation into the disappearance of Penn State student Cindy Song -- now in its tenth month -- is continuing to use psychic help.

Song's case is the first investigation in which the department has used the help of a psychic.

Carla Baron, a psychic consultant, and the Penn State Paranormal Research Society (PRS) are working with police.

Baron said she discovered new developments in the case with the help of PRS. Because the case is still being investigated, she said the announcement of the new elements might hinder progress.

"A certain odd discovery that matched what I had seen in the first couple readings with Detective Brian Sprinkle was found this past weekend," Baron said. "If we released this information, the perpetrator may run and we don't want to miss our opportunity."

Baron and Ferguson Township Police said they are unsure whether last weekend's discovery is related to the case. The current investigation is revolving around searching for forensic evidence such as clothing and DNA.

Baron became involved in the investigation through Ryan Buell, president and creator of PRS.

"I have used Buell and his colleagues in PRS to assist in various searches and different aspects related to Carla's information," Sprinkle said.

Sprinkle said Baron is volunteering her services. He said the station has received one phone call of criticism about using a psychic.

Baron gave her first readings and interpretations of the case's events to Sprinkle, head of the investigation, on May 13. Baron called her work with the investigation "remote dealing" since she cannot be in State College during the bulk of the investigation. Baron said she only fills in the missing pieces; she does not and could not know the whole story.

"I feel on the timeline we are close; I also see two months that are highlighted, May and August," Baron said. "Which means things could be uncovered and significant progress would be made during these two months."

Sprinkle noted that Baron has given a lot of information, particularly details about what might have occurred in the early morning hours of Nov. 1 when Song went missing, but nothing that has moved the investigation forward.

Baron said she is not sensationalizing the case, only making the public aware.

Buell was the one who put Baron in touch with the Ferguson Township police. Buell and Matt Ritsko, PRS co-director, head the PRS's field investigation.

"Our involvement at first was documentation to prove that psychic phenomenon is useful to law enforcement," Buell (junior-film and video) said. "Carla was the one who gave the police a lot of information and new leads."

PRS is compiling a search party to look in specific areas where Baron feels there are clues or where Song may be. PRS is not releasing the location of the search until the day of the search.

During the searches Baron will be at her home in California following the search via cell phone. She will be coming to town Tuesday with the cable channel Court TV. The television network is taping a show about police investigations that use psychics to aid investigations, and the Song case will be a main example. The Ferguson Township Police will not be involved in the search because it is outside its jurisdiction. However, if anything is uncovered in their investigation, Sprinkle will be notified.

"Everyone wishes they could do something to help Cindy Song. We are not giving up and from my point of view the investigation is still fresh," Buell said. "I truly believe this person [the perpetrator] is still out there and listening to everything that is going on."

Baron said police have been criticized for not doing enough, but their acceptance of alternative investigation procedures shows they are trying as hard as they can to break the case, she said.

Anyone who wants to help with search party in late August or early September can contact PRS at their Web site, www.clubs.psu.edu/paranormal.

"This is the first case I have actually cried about and I usually do not get emotionally involved," Baron said. "I feel like Cindy's presence is hugging me; that she is so happy someone can finally hear her."