BRADENTON -- Manuel Landaverde was down on his luck and hoped a psychic would lead him to better fortune.

The supposed mystic said she would bless Landaverde's money to make him prosperous. Landaverde handed over $32,000 cash.

He returned the next morning. The woman, and the money, had vanished, authorities say.

The woman, whose real name investigators were trying to confirm, bilked more than $35,000 from at least four people. Sheriff's detectives are trying to find her and arrest her on theft and fraud charges.

"I'm feeling a little of everything, but more angry than upset," Landaverde said Tuesday. "I never expected her to do this to me."

Landaverde, 29, of Arcadia, heard a Spanish-language commercial about a psychic on radio station WZSP-FM 105.3. He arranged a meeting.

The two met several times at the Bradenton duplex where the woman was staying in the 3200 block of 51st Avenue Drive West. Landaverde said his construction business was not making money and he needed help.

"She was trying to make me believe her, to trust her," Landaverde said.

The woman lit candles and waved flowers to banish evil spirits. One routine, sheriff's officials said, included cracking an egg.

On Jan. 27, Landaverde delivered $32,000.

The psychic requested he leave the money overnight. Don't tell anyone about the cash, she said.

Landaverde left his wife in the dark about the money. He was nervous that night. He couldn't sleep.

When he returned, and the woman had disappeared, he got in touch with the property manager.

The apartment was empty.

Landaverde slept overnight in the parking lot, hoping he would see her.

No luck.

Bryan Hollenbaugh, general manager of Heartland Broadcasting, said WZSP includes a disclaimer with advertisements regarding alternative medicine, Tarot readers and other practices.

"Because of its acceptance within many cultures, it is not uncommon for these practitioners to advertise their services," he said in a statement. "However, the vast majority of these people are sincere in their beliefs and practices."

Hollenbaugh said the station would cooperate with the sheriff's investigation. He said the woman began advertising with WZSP last month.

Even if the authorities find the woman, he said, there's no certainty Landaverde will ever get his money back.

"It's either an act of desperation or an act of foolishness," Hollenbaugh said. "Either way you still feel sorry for the guy."

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