Polygraph tests have played pivotal roles in solving numerous criminal cases, from uncovering the truth in high-profile murders to revealing hidden crimes. Discover how lie detector tests helped crack cases like the Weleetka murders, the Golden Rooster theft, and more. Learn about their successes and limitations in the justice system.
Over the years there have been tons of in depth, gruesome, and totally fascinating cases. In fact, some of these cases are so bizarre that you would think they came right out of a true crime novel. Tons of work, investigative research, and evidence collecting went into each one of these cases, but at the end of the day it was the lie detector test that truly solved the entire case. Below, you will learn about some of these cases and how the lie detector broke them wide open.
Table of Contents
The Case Of Renee Walker
Bloody and stabbed to death, Renee Walker’s body laid in her Manhattan apartment three days before it was discovered. The 31-year-old woman lived alone with her 11-year-old son; there were absolutely no suspects, no witnesses and very little evidence. To the least, it looked like the case was going to go unsolved.
Fortunately, for Renee and her family detective Charles Mattson was quickly on the trail and solved the case in less than four days. Charles tracked down an 18-year-old by the name of Matthew Johnson. Matthew Johnson eventually confessed after being interrogated for 11 hours, failing three lie detector tests, and answering multiple questions. However, recently Matthew appealed the case from prison, saying that his confession was false and he was coerced into giving the confession.
It seems that the case is now falling apart as the 18-year-old was recently just released from prison. Matthew was issued another lie detector by an outside expert, which he passed. It seems that the lie detector test was able to convict and free this young man. So, you can see that the examiner and the questions that are being asked are crucial when it comes to getting down to the truth.
The Weleetka Murders
One of the most notorious murder cases of the year 2008 was finally put to rest thanks in huge part to the assistance of a polygraph test. The Oklahoma Police say that the test was absolutely crucial when it came to putting this case to rest.
During the course of the investigation the Oklahoma State Bureau Investigative Unit got Kevin Sweat to agree to take a polygraph test. The test eventually led police to Sweat’s father’s land where they discovered the charred remains of his fiancée, along with several .40 caliber casings. However, the interesting this is that the .40 caliber casings matched a gun that was used in the Weleetka murder, which was another case that had gone unsolved.
The funny thing about the situation is that Sweat wasn’t even on the police’s radar until he agreed to take the polygraph test. Sweat is now awaiting sentencing for the murder of his fiancée Ashley Taylor and the murder of Taylor Paschal-Placker of Weleetka.
Joseph Cambron
On September 30, 2014, Louisville detectives investigating a fatal stabbing of a 12-year-old boy conducted a lie detector test of a suspect. The results showed the suspect was involved in the death of the juvenile. With these results, the detectives were able to get a confession from 21-year-old Joseph Cambron.
Cambron admitted that he “engaged in a physical altercation” with the 12-year-old victim, at which time he stabbed the victim to death. Detectives were also able to recover a 7-inch knife that was utilized in the slaying of Ray Allen Etheridge.
The autopsy report revealed that the victim suffered two stab wounds, in his back and chest. Cambron’s statement was not included in the initial evidence that was filed against him in Jefferson Circuit Court. Since the polygraph test results were not allowed to be utilized in the trial, Cambron was able to deny knowing who Ray was, which played in his favor.
Employees at Mid-City Mall said Ray and Cambron visited the mall library often and they were observed leaving together on September 30. During the initial interview, Cambron admitted to being accused of sexually abusing a total of five juveniles.
Luke Mitchell
Luke Mitchell was previously convicted of murdering a young girl. While Mitchell was serving a life sentence at Shotts Prison, officials agreed to allow him to take a lie detector test. The test would be recorded and later released on YouTube.
The examiner asked Mitchell several questions including:
- “Did you stab Jodi on 30 June, 2003?”
- “Were you present when Jodi was stabbed?”
Mitchell answered “no” to both of those questions and the test revealed that he was telling the truth. He continues to profess his innocence. However, since the polygraph test is inadmissible in Scottish court, he will remain behind bars until more evidence is available to proof his innocence.
Adrian Prout
The case of Adrian Prout is definitely a strange one. The 47-year-old millionaire was actually convicted of killing his 55-year-old wife, Kate. The killer then dumped his wife’s body in a woodland grave. The killer has since been locked away in prison, but none of that would have been possible without help from a lie detector test. In March of 2012, it was reported that Adrian Prout took and failed a lie detector test. After answering the questions, Prout surprised detectives when he stood up and admitted to the validity their test. It was alleged that Adrian told detectives that their test was not wrong.
The test was actually paid for by his fiancée, Debbie Garlick, in an attempt to prove Prout innocence. Ultimately, the move backfired and provided further evidence pointing to Prout’s guilt. The test’s administrator explained that Prout displayed no emotion whatsoever when he admitted to the crime shortly after failing the lie detector. Now, the rest is history. Prout has been locked away.
David Pietz
It was alleged that David Pietz murdered his wife in 2006. David was 36-years-old at the time, while his wife, Nicole, was just 32. Nicole’s naked body was found in the woods near Burien, Washington roughly a week after she was reported missing. The 32-year-old woman had been strangled to death. During the trial, several women came forward to admit that they had romantic relationships with the supposed killer, David Pietz. It was also alleged that Pietz spiked his wife’s drink with ecstasy in an attempt to get her to participate in threesomes.
During the trial, detectives admitted that they put David through a lie detector test. The suspected murderer ultimately failed. He was asked whether or not he wanted to take a second test and quickly refused to do so. This convinced detectives that Pietz was their man. After that test, they zoned in on him closely and never let him out of their sights. Again, the rest is history. Pietz has been convicted and he has been sentenced to a lengthy say in prison.
Richard Madden
There is no doubt that police need to get child killers off of the streets as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, that is often easier said than done. In 2013, 10-year-old Kami Ring was raped and murdered near her home. Eventually, detectives encounter Richard Madden. The Cecil County man became a person of interest in the case and foolishly agreed to take a lie detector test. Madden mistakenly believed that the test would help to prove his innocence. He was terribly wrong.
It was later reported that the retired Maryland State Police officer responsible for administering the test testified that Madden’s results showed that he was lying about his involvement in the 10-year-old girl’s disappearance. Kami Ring disappeared from a Port Deposit home, which was owned by Madden’s stepparents. Ring considered the couple to be her grandparents, despite not being related. The girl’s lifeless body was found in a field approximately 60 yards from the home less than a day after she was reported missing.
After the lie detector test confirmed that Madden was a viable suspect, police linked him to the murder scene via DNA. The man was later charged with the girl’s rape and murder.
Raymond Park
Several years ago, a Yale graduate student was killed just before her 2009 wedding. Annie Le was just 24 years old at the time of her death. At the time, she was studying treatments for chronic diseases. Eventually, police turned their attention to 26-year-old Raymond Clark III. It was determined that Clark could be a potentially viable suspect after he failed a lie detector test. The results of the test encouraged police to dedicate their entire investigation to the man, who worked as an animal research assistant alongside Le. Le’s body was ultimately found stuffed inside of a wall at the research lab. She was discovered on the very day that she was set to be married. Thanks to the lie detector test, Clark was brought to justice. He has now been sentenced to 44 years in prison.
The Disappearance of Heather Teague
Heather Teague disappeared on August 26, 1995, while sunbathing on a secluded beach along the Ohio River in Kentucky. The 23-year-old’s disappearance remained a mystery for years, with few leads and no concrete evidence. Despite extensive searches and numerous interviews, investigators hit a dead end.
In a surprising turn of events, a new lead emerged in 2006 when police received a tip linking a local man, Marty Dill, to the disappearance. Dill had been a suspect earlier but had not been charged due to lack of evidence. After being brought in for questioning, Dill agreed to take a lie detector test. The test results indicated that Dill knew more about Heather’s disappearance than he had previously admitted. Confronted with the results, Dill became agitated and ended the interview. Tragically, before police could gather more evidence, Dill took his own life. Though Heather’s body was never found, the lie detector test provided a crucial breakthrough in understanding the case and suggesting Dill’s involvement.
The Murder of Teresa Halbach
The murder of Teresa Halbach in 2005 gained national attention, particularly due to the high-profile trials and the subsequent documentary series “Making a Murderer.” Halbach, a freelance photographer, disappeared after visiting Steven Avery’s property to take photos for a car magazine. Avery, who had previously been wrongfully convicted of a crime, became the prime suspect in her disappearance and murder.
During the investigation, Avery’s nephew, Brendan Dassey, was also implicated. Dassey, then 16 years old, underwent several interrogations, during which he was given a lie detector test. The test results indicated deception when Dassey denied involvement in the crime. Subsequently, Dassey confessed to participating in the murder, although his confession later became a point of contention due to concerns about its validity and the methods used during interrogation.
Despite the controversy surrounding the case, the lie detector test played a significant role in the investigation, leading to the convictions of both Avery and Dassey. The case remains highly debated, with ongoing legal battles and public scrutiny.
The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen
In 1986, Sherri Rasmussen, a 29-year-old nurse, was brutally murdered in her Los Angeles home. The case went cold for over two decades, with no substantial leads or suspects. It wasn’t until 2009 that the case saw a breakthrough, thanks to advances in DNA technology and the persistence of Rasmussen’s family.
During the renewed investigation, former LAPD detective Stephanie Lazarus became a suspect. Lazarus had a personal connection to Rasmussen, having dated her husband before their marriage. Investigators brought Lazarus in for questioning and administered a lie detector test. The test results indicated deception when Lazarus was asked about her involvement in the crime. Combined with DNA evidence linking her to the murder scene, the lie detector results helped secure Lazarus’s arrest and conviction. She was sentenced to 27 years to life in prison, bringing long-awaited justice to Sherri Rasmussen’s family.
The Disappearance of Natalee Holloway
In 2005, 18-year-old Natalee Holloway disappeared while on a high school graduation trip to Aruba. Her disappearance garnered international media attention, but despite extensive searches and investigations, Natalee was never found. The primary suspect, Joran van der Sloot, gave conflicting statements and was released due to lack of evidence.
Years later, in 2010, van der Sloot was arrested in Peru for the murder of another young woman, Stephany Flores. During his detention, van der Sloot agreed to take a lie detector test regarding Natalee Holloway’s disappearance. The results indicated deception when he denied knowledge of Natalee’s fate. While the lie detector results were not admissible in court, they provided valuable insights and reinforced suspicions about van der Sloot’s involvement.
Van der Sloot eventually confessed to killing Stephany Flores and was sentenced to 28 years in prison. Though Natalee Holloway’s case remains unsolved, the lie detector test added a crucial piece to the puzzle and highlighted van der Sloot’s potential connection to her disappearance.
The Jorelys Rivera Murder Case
In December 2010, seven-year-old Jorelys Rivera went missing from her apartment complex in Canton, Georgia. Her body was found three days later, brutally murdered and hidden in a dumpster. During the investigation, Ryan Brunn, a newly hired maintenance worker at the complex, became a suspect. Brunn initially denied involvement, but after failing a polygraph test, he confessed to the murder. This polygraph test was pivotal in securing Brunn’s confession and ultimately bringing him to justice
The Case of James Elkins
In 1971, James Elkins, an Oregon man, was wrongfully convicted of raping a six-year-old girl based on eyewitness misidentification. Elkins served several years in prison until new DNA evidence emerged decades later, exonerating him. During the reinvestigation, polygraph tests were used to reassess the credibility of witnesses and potential suspects. These tests helped guide the investigation towards the actual perpetrator, who was ultimately identified through DNA evidence
The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen
In 1986, Sherri Rasmussen was murdered in her Los Angeles home. The case went cold until 2009 when DNA evidence linked former LAPD detective Stephanie Lazarus to the crime. Lazarus was brought in for questioning and agreed to a polygraph test. The test results indicated deception, contributing to her arrest and eventual conviction for the murder
The Susan Smith Case
In 1994, Susan Smith reported that her two young sons had been kidnapped during a carjacking in South Carolina. Smith underwent a polygraph test, and the results indicated deception. Under intense scrutiny and additional questioning, Smith eventually confessed to drowning her children by driving her car into a lake. The polygraph test played a significant role in uncovering the truth behind her false claims
The Case of Jeffrey Deskovic
Jeffrey Deskovic was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering a classmate in 1990, largely based on a coerced confession following a failed polygraph test. Deskovic spent 16 years in prison before DNA evidence exonerated him. His case underscores the potential dangers of relying on polygraph results in obtaining confessions and highlights the need for caution in their use
The Case of James Allen Red Dog
In 1992, James Allen Red Dog was executed for the murder of Hugh Pennington in Delaware. During the investigation, Red Dog was subjected to a polygraph test, which he failed. The test results contributed to the evidence used to convict him of the crime. This case is often cited in discussions about the reliability and admissibility of polygraph evidence in capital cases
These cases illustrate the varied roles that polygraph tests can play in criminal investigations, from securing confessions to contributing to wrongful convictions
Need a lie detector test for criminal defense? Book online with ease and ensure your case gets the thorough examination it deserves. Our certified examiners are ready to assist you with accurate, reliable polygraph tests that can be crucial for your defense strategy. Don’t leave it to chance—schedule your appointment now to secure professional support and clarity in your case.
Sources:
The Weleetka Murders
Joseph Cambron
Luke Mitchell
Adrian Prout
David Pietz
Richard Madden
Raymond Clark (Annie Le)
The Disappearance of Heather Teague
The Murder of Teresa Halbach
The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen
The Disappearance of Natalee Holloway
