LE in Susan Smith Investigation (OFF TOPIC) - CLOSED for Comments

Interesting reading on law enforcement in another high profile case, that of Susan Smith. I don't know how MSP is handling Ayla's case, but I do think the media is being used in a way that is contrary to what most people believe. I see MSP going hard at the DiPietros and Courtney, but I think this may be an attempt to divert attention away from the real perps. Doing so may give the perps a false sense of security...John Nale's speech, when he announced the end of the reward, has always stuck out to me. I DO NOT think he was talking to Justin. I think he was speaking clearly, and directly, to Trista and her crew. Anyway, the full Susan Smith story is here. I have only copied the parts that I found curious.

Experts had made a tremendous error when they told the divers to assume that anyone trying to hide a car would drive it into the water at a high rate of speed. None of the experts considered that a driver might simply let a car roll from the edge of the banks into the water. It is easy to envision that a car driven into a body of water at a high speed would go further than a car driven slowly, in reality, the opposite occurs. The faster that a car hits the water, the more waves it creates which stops the forward momentum of the car. A car driven at a high rate of speed into water simply drops and sinks at the edge of the body of water. Because the Mazda had been rolled into the lake at a slow speed, it had drifted out much further from the edge of the water, nearly 100 feet. Drivers searched the edge of the water, while the Mazda remained submerged. (Kidnapping ruled out in error?)

From the start of the case, investigators carried out meticulously planned interrogations of Susan Smith that were designed to gradually break down her defenses so that she would confess. The investigators behavior and movements were carefully scripted and choreographed. There were no ad libbed or casual questions to Susan.

Investigators learned that Susan was not just a brokenhearted mother but a strong willed woman and that they would have a difficult time getting her to confess. (Is this the same for Trista?)

Investigators met several times each day during the nine days that the Smith children were missing to plot strategy and consider their next move in interrogating Susan.

One of the investigators tactics was to build up the media frenzy directed at David and Susan Smith. One example of the way the investigators shaped the news was at the press conference held by Sheriff Wells on Tuesday, November 1, exactly one week after Susan made her claims about being carjacked. Wells met in the parking lot of the Union County courthouse with a dozen reporters. Wells words were carefully scripted and impeccably planned. There was no question to whom Wells statement was directed to: Susan Smith. Wells said, "I dont know that were any closer to finding the car." "I have nothing encouraging." "Were following old information that weve just not gotten to. "I dont think its developed into anything as of yet to be any more excited about than yesterday." (Media frenzy, sound familiar?)

The investigators contacted the producers of Americas Most Wanted and had them tape a segment on the disappearance of the Smith brothers. The investigators hoped that the additional media coverage would bring pressure on Susan and would push her to confess. The investigators contacted a group of Unions most influential ministers to arrange for them to hold a press conference to appeal to the carjacker. Agent Caldwells most elaborate scheme involved the creation of an authentic appearing newspaper on desktop publishing software that contained an article about a young mother who had killed her children, then served a short prison sentence and upon her release from prison, married a wealthy physician. A photograph of a policewoman Susan did not know would be used. Caldwells intention was to convince Susan to confess with the expectation that she might lead a different life with a wealthy man. (The fact that LE planned to use such deceptive tactics is intriguing)

The Americas Most Wanted segment never aired, the newspaper was never created and the ministers gathered in front of the cameras in front of the Union County courthouse, not to appeal to the carjacker, but to ask for understanding.


Interesting...not much time to blog right now, but hey...