according to paula mcmahon, staff writer for the "sun-sentinel" newspaper, the family are vlax roma, the largest gypsy group in the us. mcmahon states members of this group "traditionally drop out of school when they are 8 or 9 years old" and that "mothers train daughters to develop what they call 'psychic' or 'intuitive' powers." this training was presented by both prosecutors and the defense during rose marks' trial. schwarz said marks began working at the age of 8 or 9.