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How to tell if someone is lying to you

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How to tell if someone is lying to you

I love crime TV shows, movies and docs For me it all started with CSI: Las Vegas, Gill Grisom was and always will be a legend. I can’t get enough of these shows on Netflix, Mindhunter, Ozark, Real Detective, Manhunter: Unabomber, and the list could go on and on.

I was snooping around online and found an article that I wanted to share. It’s tips from a former police detective called Stacy Dittrich, on how to tell if a suspect is lying to you. The signs are evident right from the 911 call.

So the next time Bob from accounts helps himself to your avocado from the office fridge here are some of her best tips on not being fooled your suspect.

Law enforcement can tell when suspects are lying, usually beginning with an initial 911 call or first interview.

Stacy Dittrich – Website

A pre-emptive 911 call: Criminals sometimes call police very early to cover their bases. For instance, a man with a missing spouse might call police within a couple hours to say something is wrong. “The first question the detective is asking is why they’re assuming something is wrong because not getting ahold of someone right away is pretty normal,” Dittrich said.

The emotions don’t fit: even if what a suspect is saying on the call appears to be true, their tone is a big tip-off to police, Dittrich said. For instance, a calm demeanor while reporting a home invasion could indicate something is amiss because “most people are hysterical in that kind of situation.”

Not answering “yes” or “no”: an innocent person will usually answer questions with a direct yes or no. Not so for criminals, says Dittrich. When asked “are you involved in this murder?” they are likely to give a long answer like “I swear on my mother’s grave and all my children I didn’t.” This is a way of stalling: even though they tell themselves to lie, they can’t quite follow through.

mindhunter vancouver

Mindhunter – Netflix

Too many details: A criminal usually carefully plans their story in advance, anticipating that they’ll eventually speak with detectives. A 911 call with too many details about the suspect, such as what they did that day or whether they’re happy with their significant other, is a red flag because it shows the person put thought into his or her story.

Lying about small stuff: Even the most innocuous statements can reveal inconsistencies, Dittrich said. A suspect talk of watching a television show in his or her alibi statement, but the show didn’t air that night. Lies about small stuff usually culminate in bigger evidence against the accused.

Referring to a missing person in past-tense: Most people hold out hope that their missing loved one will be found alive. Referring to a person in past tense, saying “I really loved her” or “he and I were happily married,” is incriminating, Dittrich said.

Saying “huh?” : When police ask a direct question, such as “Did you steal those items?” a guilty suspect will often pretend not to hear in order to stall and come up with a story, Dittrich said. Instead of answering a very direct question they say “huh?” or “what do you mean?” Dittrich said.

Helpfully offering another explanation: a suspect will often try and mislead detectives by putting another suspicious person on the investigation’s radar, Dittrich said. If a person denies a kidnapping but mentions a creepy man in a van, it’s important to see if there’s any other evidence of such a person existing. If there’s not, chances are the suspect made up a story to deflect the blame.

unabomber vancouver

Unabomber – Netflix

Most criminals destroy themselves with their own statements. The ones who are acquitted despite ample evidence are “sociopathic” enough to convince themselves that the lies are a reality, Dittricht told us, citing Casey Anthony, the infamous Florida mother acquitted of murdering her daughter.

“It’s haunting because the people who get away are the ones deranged enough to believe their own lies,” Dittrich said.

 

Header image: The Killing – Netflix

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