Missing Person: Ali Gilmore

Case Summary:
James and Ali Gilmore had recently split-up, but shortly thereafter Ali found out she was pregnant. The couple tried to reconcile by attending counseling. Ali disappeared the morning they had their second session scheduled. To date, she has never been found.
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Yesterday I discussed the case of Debbie Hawk as profiled by Dateline NBC this past Tuesday. Today, I will discuss the case of Ali Gilmore which was also a part of the same Dateline episode. Ali disappeared a little over a year ago now, pregnant and trying to reconcile her marriage — while living apart from her husband.

Oddly enough the after Ali was last seen, she was supposed to go to a counseling session with her husband, and while she failed to show because she subsequently went missing — so did he. That’s a big red flag.

Also, when I watch James Gilmore speak, I don’t see his emotions fitting the situation.

From the interview:

James Gilmore, estranged husband: I want everybody to know and understand how much I love and miss Ali.

Why is James laughing here? If your spouse, who is pregnant goes missing and isn’t found — and you had nothing to do with it — do you laugh when you talk about it? This is NOT a nervous laugh. It’s a cocky laugh.

The interview continues:

“But James says that despite their troubles, he and Ali were trying to work things out—especially now that they had a baby on the way.” (Dateline NBC)

James Gilmore: I was happy. I mean, I was ready to see what it was going to be and what we were going to name it.

When James says the word “see”, I see a squint of the eyes. Squinting can be a sign of anger. It appears that James is not happy about this baby…

Why isn’t James showing us his smiles now? I don’t see any indication that James is happy here whatsoever. It’s a contradiction to see anger when he is saying he is happy.

“In fact, the couple had just begun marriage counseling. Their second appointment was scheduled for February 3 — the very morning Ali disappeared. Not only did she miss the appointment, so did James.” (Dateline NBC)

James Gilmore: I was just up late that previous night and I just overslept.

I sense a hesitation in his speech here. I get the feeling this is a made up answer.

“James maintains he was at his brother’s home the night Ali vanished, but concedes the timing of the missed appointment has raised questions.” (Dateline NBC)

Sara James: Do you know where Ali is?

James Gilmore: I have no idea where Ali is.

There is an odd gesture here. James shakes his head no, and then by the time he finishes speaking, he is shaking his head yes. It’s just another oddity. When we are certain, our body language is certain too.

Sara James: Would you ever hurt her?

James Gilmore: I’d never hurt my wife. (There is a slight smirk here. Why?)

Sara James: Did you kill Ali?

James Gilmore: I – I can’t even believe you’re even asking me that question. (Why the smile here? It’s so out of character for a husband who has lost his pregnant wife!) Wow. No, I didn’t kill Ali, but I can’t even believe you’re asking me a question like that.

Why is he surprised? This isn’t the first time someone has looked closely at him. I clearly believe that James is acting here…trying to play the part he thinks an innocent man should play. He puts on a sad face and oops, smiles!

He forgot to enter in “real emotions”. We don’t play sad and then accidentally smile -unless we are pulling one over on someone.

Also, why is this man so void of any sadness, sorrow, and/or feelings of loss? I certainly do not feel he is upset about his wife going missing. Instead, I feel he is actually quite pleased (which sounds alarm bells in my head)!

Furthermore, why isn’t he wondering who would do this to his wife? This is a natural reaction for a spouse to have — for anyone to have — when someone goes missing!

Sara James: Why?

James Gilmore: That’s my wife, man. I mean…

James’ reply here is lacking. If someone just accused you of killing your pregnant wife — is this how you would respond? An innocent person would be full of emotions for having the finger pointed at them — for saying they killed a love one — even an estranged loved one. That’s a BIG VIOLATION. Why isn’t he feeling violated? He is not even trying to conceal feelings of being violated here. He isn’t feeling it.

Sara James: People have killed their wives before.

James Gilmore: Anybody who knows me—anybody who’s known me for all of a couple of weeks would know that I am not the kind of person that would render harm to any living soul whatsoever.

Throughout much of this sentence, James is smirking on and off. Why??

I believe James knows more than he is letting on… I think James was not happy about the baby because the baby was causing Ali to put pressure on him to step-it-up. James was used to Ali working hard and pulling the load, and he enjoyed the “easy life”. But he realized a baby was going to change all of that — for a long time to come — and I believe he didn’t want any part of that.

“Officer Newland says James has been totally cooperative, answering questions, even agreeing to a voice-stress test similar to a polygraph. They say a preliminary analysis shows he’s telling the truth.” However, James is still a person of interest in this case.

1 reply
  1. Nicki Yvonne Barwick Dumond
    Nicki Yvonne Barwick Dumond says:

    I think the same thing. I bet he paid off or did favors for someone to do this for him. That’s why he can smirk because inside he knows he’s telling the truth that he didn’t kill her. But that’s just my opinion. Whatever did happen, bet he had some part in it. I just can’t believe they haven’t found her yet and he hasn’t slipped up and told someone who has just a little bit of a soul or conceince.

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