Post by Tom Sorensen on Nov 17, 2022 15:50:43 GMT -5
This interview1 with Cheriff Leazenby was one of the first I found on YouTube after becoming aware of the Delphi Murder case. What instantly struck me was the vibe of incomprehensible incompetence he was radiating. I decided to bookmark the interview and come back later for an analysis of what he's actually saying; now is the time! What works best for me is to transcribe verbatim what's being said as this allows me to catch every stutter or hesitation which may indicate deception. It also makes repeated use of certain phrases and idioms stand out. Below is the transcript along with my comments.
SUMMARY: Oh dear, what a display of confusion and failure to take responsibility for his own actions. Excuses and deception make his ship analogy even more ridiculous. That ship has no direction. Imagine being a friend or family of the deceased and you realize this dude is supposed to be in charge of the investigation3, horror!
Q: What do you tell your people and the people who come through here...you know, who maybe---not necessary lose hope, but it---it gets difficult after so many months?
A: That's---That's true---it's---this is obviously [inaudible] been something this county has never ex---we've never had this before, and so...um...you know, my, for me---my biggest thing is---is my faith in God, um, I---I have a strong faith, and so, I also have faith in...um... the investigators we have on board...uh... you know, who would have thought that we had, would have, you know, local all up to federal involved with this situation because...um... this is small town USA and so uh... for us to have the---the best of the best, as I've been putting it, on board is that's---that's where I tell folks, you know, that's---that's our drive that's our focus, and um, and we also get feedback from other outside law enforcement agencies that maybe aren't directly connected, um, but from what they see and what were doing here they give us feedback and say you guys are on the right track, you know, your investigators are doing a fantastic job and you're on the right track and you'll get this resolved.
- Right off the bat, the first thing, the biggest thing on his mind is himself and that his faith in God will eventually save his lazy ass!
- All the great people on board come second, which tells you how he actually ranks his crew.
- Repeated use of "you know", appealing to the listener, is the classic way to build trust in whatever garbage you're saying.
- Double homicide is now a "situation", another classic way of distancing oneself from the unpleasant facts of failure.
- Note the use of the "on board" idiom to convince you that he's the captain who directs the other great people he invited.
- I'm sure you've already spotted the appeal to popularity fallacy!
- Playing the Small Town USA card; will come in handy again later...
Continued...
A: Uh, for the community... um...ya'know, I---I, the [inaudible] support is just, some days I can't put words to it, um, it's---it's, I thank the community for every individual that's, you know, either offered food or encouragement, um, those simple things sometimes are some of the best attributes we get from our community, and so [sigh], I think the community obviously---I feel has faith in us---[inaudible], you know, there are the naysayers out there, and that---that happens in every community, but...um.. I feel---I---I feel just as confidence [sic] as we [sic] did from day one, and I know this has been a long time [swallows] and I've commented to different people in the community that, um, I'm not real sure even---even as sheriff of this county if we really know how to react or how to respond because, again, we've never had this, and so, you know, what's the textbook answer here to respond to this? I'm not even sure if there is one.
- Small town USA politician can't say "community" too often, can he?
- "Attributes", what a weird abstract term to throw in...
- Sure, there are naysayers in every community so you don't have to deal with the actual criticism of your performance2.
- Note stutter on pronoun "I", classic, and his grammar falls apart, massive deception going on here; "obviously" bad choice of words!
- Panic has set in since, by his own admission, he can't come up with any explanations despite being as confident as he's even been.
- Even as a sheriff. Well, if anyone knows I would expect the captain on the ship to know!
- Note how he uses "we" to avoid taking responsibility, another classic.
- Let me help: The textbook answer is "amateurs" or "bungled" but that was clearly not what he hoped to find!
- Most telling that he's looking for a prefab answer to get out of trouble, pathetic.
Q: How hard is it though for, you know, some of these investigators and yourself are---are [inaudible] investigation, you lay down and your head may---must keep running and running and running...
A: Yeah, uh, I think, um, it---it is difficult but I think that's the plus with having some of these outside agencies come on board with us that... if, you know, my guys or any of the state's guys need to take a break, we have these other outside agencies to come on board and say hey we'll be glad to fill the gap, and so that---that has helped that process so that, you know...uh...you know, uh and like, uh you know, several county and city agencies surrounding Carroll County have sent investigators to us to come onboard and they've---some have been onboard since day one, um, obviously some have had to go back and attend to their business in their respective [inaudible], uh, jurisdictions and then come back to us, and so, um, so even though we may, you know, provide a---a day or two or whatever the case may be for one of our guys to take a break, um..., you know, there's---there's an opportunity for us to bring a fresh individual into the picture and that being from an outside agency.
- More yada-yada, bring on board, yada-yada, you know.
- Filling gaps doesn't mean they necessarily contribute; typical management bull talk.
Q: Do you see the commitment of... your, uh, deputies...of everybody who's involved in this, whatever, just for a short period of time or---or spending their entire time, what's that like to---to see, just the constant commitment.
A: Uh-hum [Sigh], uh, the initial word that popped into my mind was, um, pride. Um, I---I have a lot of pride for n-not only our folks but for every individual that's committed to this in investigation. Um, and again, I resort back to what I said earlier that the drive and focus. Um, you know, we're---[sigh]---we're in the business of seeking justice in---in all situations that come your way, and so, um, this---this is obviously different that any other case, like I said earlier, but um, the---the pride factor I think, it'---it's as if everyone has a---a hand in this, and so they wanna see it carried through to fruition.
- Loaded question to give Tobe a break. How could the interviewer possible have this level of inside knowledge to state it as fact?
- Interesting that he's hesitating before naming "pride" despite it being the first word that popped (past tense) into his mind.
- Clearly not quite comfortable with the pride thing and want's to spread it out; is he not that proud of how they have performed?
- "We're in the business..." rant, a study in unnecessary language; their job is to solve crimes. Period.
- "Fruition", didn't see that one coming; what a strange word in the context of a murder case.
SUMMARY: Oh dear, what a display of confusion and failure to take responsibility for his own actions. Excuses and deception make his ship analogy even more ridiculous. That ship has no direction. Imagine being a friend or family of the deceased and you realize this dude is supposed to be in charge of the investigation3, horror!
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1 LINK
2 This must be a known, formally named logical fallacy: dismissing a complaint because you'll find complaints everywhere.
3 Unclear to me who's de facto in charge, tip line managed by the sheriff's department: LINK
3 Unclear to me who's de facto in charge, tip line managed by the sheriff's department: LINK