Statement Analysis Test
Detective: "I want to know who did this and I think you can help me."
Wells: "I don't have any idea. Why would I have any idea?"
Detective: "Do you know who hurt your family?"
Wells: "No, I do not."
Detective: "Did you ask anybody to hurt your family?"
Wells: "No, of course not."
Detective: "Did you pay anybody to hurt your family?"
Wells: "I don't have any money sir. I have $5,000 in my bank account in my business. I have $100 in my personal."
"I don't have any idea. Why would I have any idea?"
Rarely can a person honestly say "I have no idea" or "I have no clue." Most people have an idea or an opinion on just about everything. Saying, "I don't know" is a much better answer.
"No, I do not."
Answering with "No" is a good answer. We have a slight problem with his answer, "I do not." Deceptive people will sometimes not use contractions. Saying, "No, I don't" is a slightly better denial than saying, "No, I do not." Two other times Wells used the contraction "I don't" but here he did not use a contraction. Keep in mind, I would not conclude that someone is lying because he did not use a contraction. However, the lack of contractions along with other deceptive indicators can point towards deception.
"No, of course not."
When people use the phrase "Of course," they want you to take for granted what they are saying is true. In Statement Analysis, we take nothing for granted. Saying, "No" is a good denial since "No" means "No." When Wells said, "Of course not" he wants the detectives to assume he did not ask anybody to hurt his family.
"I don't have any money sir. I have $5,000 in my bank account in my business. I have $100 in my personal."
The problem with his answer is that Wells did not answer the specific question. He was not asked if he had any money. He was asked, "Did you pay anybody to hurt your family?" The best answer would be to say, "No" or "No, I didn't pay anybody to hurt my family." By not answering the specific question, Wells is withholding information.
Chris Wells pled guilty to first degree murder and is serving two life terms without parole.