Larry King: Singers want West Memphis 3 Released
Click here to read my review of “Paradise Lost”, the documentary made about the Memphis 3. I believe that the boys are being honest that they were not involved.
Confessing to a Crime You Didn’t Commit
There is an interesting article on false confessions that was published in the NY Times in the last couple of weeks that is well worth reading. I think it is so important that people realize false confessions happen.
Most people will convict a person who admits to a crime without giving it much thought. Here are some interesting statistics of people who made false confessions from the article:
“Of the exonerated defendants in the Garrett study, 26 — more than half — were “mentally disabled,” under 18 at the time or both. Most were subjected to lengthy, high-pressure interrogations, and none had a lawyer present.”
The article talks about important it is to videotape interrogations and I think this should become the gold standard. Right now only 10 states require it for specific cases — such as death penalty cases. I believe they should be a requirement in our legal system in every state. Its the only way we can go back should we need to revisit things.
Have I seen a false confession on this blog? I believe I have. It’s the case of Ryan Ferguson and Charles Erickson. While Ryan has always maintained his innocence, Charles Erickson confessed to the crime, which I do not believe he commit.
Thanks to Nancy for sharing this.
Theresa Parker’s Body Discovered and ID’d
Theresa Parker disappeared in March of 2007 in the midst of a divorce from her husband, Sam, who was a LaFayette, Ga., police officer.
Yesterday police announced a farmer discovered her remains Monday 100 feet from the Chattooga River. While investigators do not know the cause of the death yet they have positively identified the remains are Theresa and the family is relieved that she has been found.
I wrote about Sam Parker on December 1, 2007 before he was arrested. Sam was arrested on February 4, 2008, and he was convicted of murdering his wife September 3, 2009. He was sentenced to life in prison plus five years.
Joran van der Sloot Speaks Out
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We get to see Joran van der Sloot talk to a Dutch reporter in this video for the first time since Stefany Flores’ murder. It is intriguing as the reporter says.
The first thing I notice is how much more down to earth Joran is at first. He says he feels guilty for everything he said in the media since 2005, “yeah”, but that flash of reality quickly disappears as Joran continues talking. His arrogance and ego swiftly take over — he just can’t resist himself.
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Quote of the Day:
Egotism (or arrogance) is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity.
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“I was doing a lot of things I shouldn’t have been doing and mostly going out all the night and sleeping all the day,” he continues with an arrogant smile.
We know immediately by his facial expressions and demeanor here that his sincerity is zip zero.
Read moreJoran still thinks he is smarter than everyone else, and he can dupe the world, but he does a horrible job of it, and everyone including their brother can see it in this interview. You don’t need me to point it out.
Joran is smug. He smirks and smiles when it makes absolutely no sense. If he is feeling remorse and guilt as he says, his emotions, facial expressions and body language should support his speech, but instead they betray him.
Joran doesn’t answer questions. He shrugs his shoulders when he makes statements that he wants us to believe he is confident about, when clearly he is not.
Joran is honest, however, when he says, “I have always been, uh, how do you call it, uh…um…impulsive. I’ve always been, eh, action right away, make a decision immediately and ah, and not think about what the consequences are.”
Wow.
Joran said something truthful to get us to buy into his fabrications…a common trait of a liar. It’s a clever method to make you question your stance, as most people believe we are all or nothing: Honest or a liar, and not a combination of the two. Its uncomfortable for us to hang in both realities that someone is honest and lies at the same time.
Watch Joran talk about how bad he feels for the Flores family. He couldn’t be gloating anymore as he talks. It’s sickening. He stumbles as he makes up his rhetoric.
He says, “I feel really that bad…uh… that her family had to lose a daughter, and it really… does hurt me (shoulder shrug), and i think about it all the time.” His behavior, body language and emotions leak his true feelings. When he shrugs his shoulder here, its like he is thinking “What should I say, uh, I don’t know…yeah, this…” Truly he does not speak from his heart or with any sincerity.
Joran says with laughter, “A web of problems, so I created all of them myself. Yeah. I have to deal with it now…deal with the consequences.”
This statement is so telling. No innocent man locked up in prison for a murder or TWO that he didn’t commit would say this, if they were being railroaded, as Joran so wishes we would believe–even if he did make poor choices. This sentence is all you need to see him say to see the truth.
Go back and read my first review of Joran on ABC after Natalee Holloway disappeared. Check out the comments, too. It’s fascinating to read. A lot of people questioned me and were not sure that body language and words could betray a liar back then. That was long before Lie to Me. Now with all the developments in the Joran case, everyone can see Joran is a classic pathological liar and a psychopath. I wonder what my naysayers from back then would say today?
Unsolved Mysteries Backyard Bones
A reader sent this clip to me from Unsolved Mysteries. I thought it was a fascinating story. Feel free to share your thoughts below and I will share mine in the coming days [Thoughts Here].