Big crime happened near Denver this week. So my phone and e-mail went crazy yesterday. I woke up to the news of a man who killed his family not too far from where I live in Fredrick, CO. He gave an interview saying he didn’t do it.
Friends, clients and a three TV reporters wanted to know my take on it. Did he show any signs of deception? At first I thought there were very few signs. Almost nothing to work with. But when I was able to see it on a screen bigger than my phone, the tells were everywhere.
Watch this video first, write down what you see. Do you think he’s lying? Then keep reading and I’ll tell you what I saw, and what I discussed today with some FBI body language and interrogation trainers.
Did you watch? No peeking…
Ok Here’s the breakdown:
- He’s swaying around the entire interview. That’s his body making the first movements to leave the threatening situation. But consciously he knows he needs to stay.
- He’s hugging himself tight. This is to pacify anxiety. Is it anxiety about being on TV or anxiety about being caught? We don’t know.
- Watch his lips. He cracks the slightest of smiles several times. Notice when it happens. He’s happy about the event and that he’s getting away with it.
- Watch his lips closer. He shows contempt at least once-that’s moral superiority- indicated by a snarl or asymmetrical smile
- His emotion is flat. People who are sincerely upset won’t be able to hold back the negativity and sadness
- Whenever he says his wife’s name, he sticks his tongue out a bit. That signifies anger.
All these things add up to someone who’s pants are on fire. The signs are all there. And the next day he confessed to the murders.
So now you know. Remember. The body can’t lie.
Want to see my TV interviews on this? Check out my Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/BodyLanguageSpeaker
