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Polygraph Transcript: Sheriff Charles James Lamar
 
Polygraph examination of Charles James Lamar, October 29, 1997. Polygraph conducted by Jackson Detection Services, Inc. at the subjects request for the purpose of eliminating himself as a possible suspect in the disappearance of his daughter, Macy Lynn Lamar. This polygraph must be considered in light of the examiner comments below as experimental.
 
Examiners Summary:
 
At the request of Charles Lamar a polygraph examination was administered in the Sheriff's office conference room on October 29, 1997. The examiner, Johnson P. Griffin, is a fully licensed and accredited polygraph examiner with advanced training and 12 years experience.
 
The purpose of the specific issue examination was to determine Mr. Lamar's veracity with regard to the following issues: 1) whether or not Mr. Lamar saw his daughter, Macy Lynn after her disappearance from the Oxford Mall on September 20, 1997, 2) whether or not Mr. Lamar has heard anything from or regarding his daughter, Macy Lynn's disappearance since her disappearance, 3) if Mr. Lamar has any knowledge of the disappearance, 4) if Mr. Lamar was involved in the disappearance, 5) if Mr. Lamar was responsible for the disappearance, 6) if Mr. Lamar is responsible for the death of Macy Lynn. Mr. Lamar signed an examination statement acknowledging that the test is voluntary, that he could stop anytime, and anything he says can be used against him.
 
In addition to the specific issue examination, a general issue examination was conducted under what must be called experimental conditions. For this examination, Mr. Lamar was administered questions by the examiner as relayed from an on-line group of questioners. The nature of the questions was therefore, not determined under controlled examiners conditions. While this examiner finds that the questions were overall well composed and inferences may be drawn from analysis of same, the degree of accuracy for this portion of the examination is substantially lower than normal. See additional comments.
 
The specific issues examination consisted of three separate phases totaling approximately two and one half hours. The first phase was a conference with the subject obtaining a history. The second phase, the pretest interview, consisted of a review of the test questions that were asked during the controlled, specific issues examination. This examiner's assessment of the subject's emotional and physiological suitability to take the test was that Mr. Lamar became easily agitated and was in an excitable state not completely conducive to the test. Mr. Lamar is taking medication for high blood pressure, he is not under any other medication. The third phase consisted of a series of three tests, during which the subject's physiological responses were recorded as the answers to the set of pre-established questions were posed lasted approximately three quarters of an hour. Interpretation of this question series is found below.
 
After careful analysis of the polygrams for the specific issues examination conducted by this examiner, it is the examiners opinion that Mr. Lamar was generally truthful in his response to the relevant issue questions. There was one reaction indicating an attempt at deception. The same result was replicated in the more experimental examination conducted via internet.
 
The question indicating deception in both tests was:
Are you responsible for Macy Lynn Lamar's disappearance?
Answer: No.
 
The answer to this question was borderline in the controlled examination, and showed a more marked indication of deception when posed in the internet relayed questioning. The response indicates that the subject does feel a sense of responsibility for the disappearance. In conjunction with the other specific issue examination questions, however, there is no indication that the subject materially participated in the disappearance of Macy Lynn Lamar.
 
The accuracy of the results of this test by computer&endash;based analysis returned a posterior probability of truthfulness of .982 in the first series, a .909 in the second series in keeping with the standard accuracy of 98% for these tests.
 
The general issue examination was conducted under the following conditions. Mr. Lamar's physiological responses were recorded as the answers to questions relayed from the internet group were posed by the examiner. This session lasted approximately three quarters of an hour. Interpretation of this question series is found below.
 
After careful analysis of the polygrams for the examination conducted via internet relayed questions by this examiner, it is the examiners opinion that Mr. Lamar showed indication of attempt at deception in his response to several questions posed. These are noted in the questions and analysis below. It must be stated that interpretation of this examination is experimental and should therefore not be relied upon with a confidence level above 88%. This is not an examination for which a standard accuracy can be made. The subject voluntarily terminated the examination in a very agitated emotional state.
 
Analysis of the internet relayed examination questions follows:
  1. Of 54 questions posed, two were eliminated from the analysis due to improper phrasing.
  2. Of the remaining 52 questions posed, 7 questions are baseline questions provided by this examiner. It is this examiners opinion that Mr. Lamar was truthful in his answer to all seven of the baseline questions.
  3. Of the 52 questions, 19 questions related to the specific issue of the disappearance of Macy Lynn Lamar.
  4. Mr. Lamar refused to answer a total of 8 questions posed. The polygrams indicate extreme agitation at these questions, but a determination of truthfulness cannot be made with any accuracy.
  5. Of the 52 questions, 26 questions were posed on issues not relating to the specific issue of the disappearance of Macy Lynn Lamar.
Findings:
 
Computer analysis of the polygrams returned a posterior probability of truthfulness of .8269 overall for this examination. Posterior probability of truthfulness of .9998 was returned on the baseline questions. Posterior probability of truthfulness in specific issues questions with respect to the disappearance of Macy Lynn Lamar returned a result of .9375. Posterior probability of truthfulness in general issue questions returned a result of .8077. The overall findings and the findings in the general issue questions would, in this examiner's opinion indicate an attempt at deception.
 
Due to the experimental nature of this examination, these findings should be interpreted in that light. It would be this examiners recommendation that a re-examination under controlled conditions would be required to independently verify these results.
 
Questions posed in the internet relayed examination:
 
Baseline Questions and Responses:
All answers in this section indicate truthfulness in response.
 
#1 Is your name Charles Lamar?
RESPONSE: Yes
 
#3 Do you live in Oxford, MS?
RESPONSE: Yes
 
#7 Were you married to Caroline Blanchard?
RESPONSE: Yes
 
#11 Did Macy Lynn Lamar have a boyfriend?
RESPONSE: Yes
 
#13 Is your mother's maiden name Janet?
RESPONSE: No
 
#44 Have you been in contact with Jeannie Golden?
RESPONSE: Yes
 
#50 Are you on any medication at this time?
RESPONSE: Yes
 
Specific Issue Questions and Responses regarding
the disappearance of Macy Lynn Lamar:
Indication of attempt at deception or refusal to respond is indicated.
 
#2 Was the last time you saw Macy Lynn Lamar on Friday September 19?
RESPONSE: Yes
 
#4 Do you know who caused the disappearance of Macy Lynn Lamar?
RESPONSE: No
 
#5 Do you know where Macy is now?
RESPONSE: No
 
#6 Are you responsible for Macy Lynn Lamar's disappearance?
RESPONSE: No
 
**Indication of attempt at deception, see analysis notes.
 
#9 Do you know of any reason that Macy Lynn Lamar would voluntarily disappear?
RESPONSE: No
 
#17 Sheriff Lamar, do you believe Caroline Blanchard had Macy Lynn Lamar killed?
RESPONSE: No
 
#18 Did Macy Lynn Lamar have a relationship with Detective David Anderson?
RESPONSE: No
 
#21 Did Macy Lynn Lamar have a relationship with Detective Armstrong?
RESPONSE: No
 
#22 Did Macy see you do something illegal?
RESPONSE: No
 
#31 Were you aware your daughter suspected you were having an affair?
RESPONSE: No
 
**indication of possible attempt at deception
 
#34 Do you have knowledge of who took your daughter?
RESPONSE: No
 
#35 Was Macy threatening any form of exposure of your activities?
RESPONSE: No
 
#36 Do you have any knowledge of your daughter's whereabouts?
RESPONSE: No
 
#37 Did you kill Macy Lynn Lamar?
RESPONSE: No
 
#39 Is Macy's disappearance related to your election?
NO RESPONSE
 
**indication of possible attempt at deception
 
#43 Did Macy Lynn Lamar pose any threat to you?
RESPONSE: No
 
#48 Did Macy Lynn Lamar have cause to be upset by any of your behavior?
RESPONSE: No
 
#52 Do you believe that Harold Mazza is behind Macy's disappearance?
RESPONSE: No
 
#53 Do you believe that Chambeau is behind Macy's disappearance?
NO RESPONSE
 
**indication of possible attempt at deception
 
General Questions and Responses:
Indication of attempt at deception or refusal to respond is indicated.
 
#8 Did you have an extra marital relationship with someone other than your wife?
RESPONSE: Yes
 
**subject expressed extreme displeasure with this question
 
#10 Did you have a personal relationship with either Edward Pierce or Anthony Phelps?
RESPONSE: No
 
#12 Are you currently in an intimate relationship?
RESPONSE: Yes
 
#14 Sheriff Lamar did you have an intimate relationship with Purity Knight?
RESPONSE: No
 
#15 Did you know Purity Knight well?
RESPONSE: No
 
#16 Did you know Valerie Wilson well?
RESPONSE: No
 
#19 Is you relationship with the Mayor strictly professional?
RESPONSE: Yes
 
#20 Do you owe Chambeau money?
NO RESPONSE
 
**subject refused to answer, indication of possible attempt at deception
 
#24 Were you responsible for the death of Purity Knight?
RESPONSE: No
 
#25 Were you responsible for the death of Valerie Wilson?
RESPONSE: No
 
#26 Were you personally in any way involved in murdering Purity Knight?
RESPONSE: No
 
#27 Were you involved in any conspiracy to withhold information in the deaths of Purity Knight or Valerie Wilson?
RESPONSE: No
 
#28 Did you aid or abet in the accident that freed Pierce and Phelps?
RESPONSE: No
 
#29 Were you being blackmailed?
NO RESPONSE
 
**Subject refused to answer, indication of possible attempt at deception
Subject first indicated he wanted to stop the examination at this point, then agreed to continue
 
#30 Do you feel you are accountable for the accident that freed Pierce and Phelps
RESPONSE: No
 
#33 Are you personally engaged in or involved in any illegal activities?
NO RESPONSE
 
**subject refused to answer, indication of possible attempt at deception
 
#38 Was your wife aware you were having an affair?
RESPONSE: Yes
 
#40 Is your affair with Victoria Symons?
RESPONSE: No
 
#41 Are you in trouble with gambling debts?
NO RESPONSE
 
**indication of possible attempt at deception
 
#42 Is your affair with a male?
RESPONSE: No
 
#45 Is your affair with someone on your campaign staff?
RESPONSE: No
 
#46 Did you play poker with Chambeau?
RESPONSE: Yes
 
#47 Will you divulge the name of the person you are having the affair with?
RESPONSE: No
 
#49 Is your affair with a well known person in the community?
RESPONSE: No
 
#51 Are former Detectives Armstrong and/or David Anderson still working for you on the case under cover?
RESPONSE: No
 
#54 Did he have a personal relationship with Ed Pierce's accomplice Vicky?
RESPONSE: Subject terminated the examination at this point.
 
 
[Signed]
Johnson P. Griffin
Polygraph Examiner
Mississippi State License # 43

 

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