Real Name: Philip Pauli
Case: Unusual Phenomenon
Location: Denver, Colorado
Date: 1995
Case[]
Details: Eight-year-old Philip Pauli is an alleged "boy genius" and prodigy with high IQ who is taking college level courses. This case investigates the mind of a "genius" and how rare it is to have a mind like his.
From a young age, Philip's family knew that he was special intellectually. At six months, he began to talk. At around the same time, he was able to remove the bolts from his crib. At nine months, he displayed a highly mature emotional sensibility; in an experiment, he refused to spank a doll when told to do so. At eighteen months, he began to read. At age three, he began to play the violin. He also started studying astronomy. By age four, he started going to the Denver Museum of Natural History. He even noticed a mistake on a painting there. He also noticed that a certain dinosaur skeleton was missing a few of its bones.
More recently, Philip has started working with an archaeological dig. Due to his many interests, he has had difficulty choosing what career he wants to have as an adult. Currently, his mother teaches him at home because gifted classes are unable to keep up with his learning.
Philip's family and others wonder where his intellect came from. Some suggest that he gained this knowledge in a past life. Others believe that certain evolutionary characteristics have played a role.
Extra Notes: This case first aired on the February 18, 1996 episode.
Results: Unsolved. At the age of eleven, Philip completed a three-year internship at the Denver Museum of Natural History. At the age of nineteen, he became the youngest person to ever attend the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy. He studied theology and philosophy at Oxford University. He holds a master's degree in social policy and philosophy from George Washington University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Denver. Currently, he is the Policy and Practices Director of Respect and Ability, a national nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for and with people with disabilities. He has worked with lawmakers to impact federal policy and improve opportunities for individuals throughout the nation. Today, he is married with a rescue cat; his wife holds a Juris Doctorate.
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