Thursday, May 22, 2014

Myra Lewis' Mother Statements


This is the Ericka Lewis, mother of missing 2 year old Myra Lewis.  Thanks to John for transcription. 

 The distancing language is obvious.  She avoids Myra's name.  Note the lack of personal reference outside of the shared "our baby" in her second sentence.  

A missing child for an innocent parent is up close, personal, and a priority.  Here, the priority is for the subject, herself, as her pronouns show.  


She shows no concern for the welfare of Myra.  This, along with other statements already analyzed, should lead police to believe that the mother knows Myra is dead. 



"It's a struggle out here, for me and my family right now, they just don't know what we are going through. With our baby being gone and my children are with somebody else, and not in the home with us."

Note also that besides "our baby" (mothers generally same, "my"; yet here there is a need to share), there is not "our home" but "the" home.  After the need to share the child, I expect to hear the need to continue consistently, with sharing, with "our" home.  


Question for analyst:  Did something happen in "our home"to not want to 'share' ownership?  John commented upon this point, astutely.   

Note above the use of "we", which could have continued but suddenly changed.  

Next, note the focus upon the subject, herself: 

"I just want all of them, they just don't understand what i am going through, i just want my children. My life would better. I just want em, that's all i want, i just want them to come home to me. so i can continue to raise them. And have them be the, what they want to be in life. I just want them to come home."


The focus is not upon the missing child, but upon the subject, herself.  This is very heavy pronoun use.

Note that she will have them be "what they want to be in life."  One might wonder what caused this statement:  does Myra not have the ability to be what she wants to be in life?



"I miss them so much its been two months. I just want them so bad. (Pause), i just want em. 


Myra is missing.  Her name is missing from the language of the mother.  We saw previously the same distancing language from both parents, as well as indication of death.  

Note that she misses "them", without mentioning the specifically missing child, yet she does not express specific concern for what the missing child might be going through. 

We all give ourselves away by what we say, and by what we do not say. 

Myra is not missed. 

Myra is not fretted over.  

Myra is missing and Myra is missing from the mother's language.  

This transcends culture and education.  

27 comments:

John Mc Gowan said...

OT.

I wish i could get the transcripts to this. Its very suspicious.

Siblings Died Suspiciously Months Apart, Codey Cummings And Julia Hodges Talk To Dr Phil

Dr. Phil Brings New Life to Cold Case of Siblings' Deaths

Four-year-old Kiera Pulaski died in Republic back in 2010, just months after her baby brother, Darby Hodges, died in Kalispell, Montana.

The children's mother and boyfriend at the time are the last two people to see the children alive, according to investigators.

Police have not ruled out wrongdoing in either of the deaths, but there has not been enough evidence to charge anyone for a crime.

Since these deaths four years ago, police in both Republic and Kalispell have been working together on this case.

Two states, two victims, and two persons of interest: Julia and Codey Cummings.

"Julia was the mother of Kiera and Codey was her boyfriend at the time," Republic PD Lt. Mark Wilcox said, "They are now married and they were the last two in the apartment prior to the death of my victim."

Lt. Wilcox is investigating Kiera's death.

Another detective in Montana is investigating Darby's death, but they are working together.

Wilcox said there's evidence to show that a crime's been committed, but no arrests have been made.

"Now at this point we have to have enough evidence to bring probable cause forward and at this point in the investigation without any cooperation from Julia and Codey we don't have that," Wilcox said.

This case had been at a stand-still, until the children's grandmother got the case on Dr. Phil last week.

"Dr. Phil really opened a lot of doors for us," Grandmother Cheryl Hodges said in a phone interview from Montana.

Hodges' persistence has helped keep this case open in Missouri and Montana.

"I have to do this, I have to do it for Darby and Keira to get justice for them because they were killed," she said.

Wilcox said the Dr. Phil episode revived his partnership with the investigator in Montana.

"We're hoping some new information comes out," he said, "We're actually right now trying to track down where Julia and Codey are living right now to see if we can speak with them again,"

He's hoping anyone with additional information about what happened to Keira on Windmill Way in Republic four years ago will come forward now that this case has national attention.

"I want to have this case solved not only for us here at the police department, but for the victims families," he said.

Lt. Wilcox asks that you contact the Republic Police Department if you have any information on the case or the whereabouts of Julia and Codey Cummings.

Part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHfVHb30O_g&src_vid=A7dVelVy1LY&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_3663263681

Part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7dVelVy1LY&src_vid=yHfVHb30O_g&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_1637894329

Anonymous said...

A few thoughts:

I always make note of the use of the word ‘just’. It is a form of the lie of minimization. People feel better that they express that they ‘just’ want this one thing. For example, they didn’t want to take all the pants from the store, they ‘just’ wanted that one pair of pants. They minimize the fact that they stole that pair of pants by asserting that they exercised restraint and only took one pair rather than all of them. It is a logical fallacy but commonly used. In 5 lines she uses the word ‘just’ 9 times. Lot and lots or repetition in her statement about what she wants.

“so i can continue to raise them. And have them be the, what they want to be in life.” Strange sentences. I take the second sentence as being a continuation of the first thought and would highlight both sentences in blue – highly sensitive. It is also a broken sentence. The speaker originally had one thought, stopped herself, and changed the sentence in mid-phrase. What did she want? ”have them be the…” What?

“in life” is extra words. It is included so it is important to the speaker. Why would she feel the need to clarify “what they want to be” by adding, “in life”. Is it because she wants her remaining children, who she knows are still alive, to be what they want to be in life, as opposed to Myra, who she may know is dead and cannot be what she wants to be, “in life”. It is a distinction the speaker makes and is worth exploring.

-Akula

Anonymous said...

A few thoughts:

I always make note of the use of the word ‘just’. It is a form of the lie of minimization. People feel better that they express that they ‘just’ want this one thing. For example, they didn’t want to take all the pants from the store, they ‘just’ wanted that one pair of pants. They minimize the fact that they stole that pair of pants by asserting that they exercised restraint and only took one pair rather than all of them. It is a logical fallacy but commonly used. In 5 lines she uses the word ‘just’ 9 times. Lot and lots or repetition in her statement about what she wants.

“so i can continue to raise them. And have them be the, what they want to be in life.” Strange sentences. I take the second sentence as being a continuation of the first thought and would highlight both sentences in blue – highly sensitive. It is also a broken sentence. The speaker originally had one thought, stopped herself, and changed the sentence in mid-phrase. What did she want? ”have them be the…” What?

“in life” is extra words. It is included so it is important to the speaker. Why would she feel the need to clarify “what they want to be” by adding, “in life”. Is it because she wants her remaining children, who she knows are still alive, to be what they want to be in life, as opposed to Myra, who she may know is dead and cannot be what she wants to be, “in life”. It is a distinction the speaker makes and is worth exploring.

-Akula

elf said...

Red flags popping up all over this short statement :( if we are to believe that someone took Myra how come she is 'gone' and the moms other kids are 'with somebody else'? Why the difference in language? I don't know about y'all but I believe the mom is telling the truth- Myra is gone. She's not with somebody else. Our baby is gone (sharing responsibility) my kids (isn't Myra one of her kids? Why the possessive pronoun here and not MY BABY or BABIES?) arewith somebody else. And since there is that early distinction (our baby/ my kids) in the second part where she says she wants her children back, does she mean Myra too? Or just her kids? Maybe its just my personal dictionary, but kids is short for children, but in hers does children include the baby? Or is she using the word children because the other kids were removed from the home by protective services?
and not once in in 125 1/2 words did she say Myra's name, there was no plea for Myra to be brought home or found, nothing that expected from a parent of a missing 2 year old baby. Its all about how hard it is for the mom. No concern for what their baby or her children are going through. Incredible.

elf said...

Good catch akula on the words 'in life'
it makes it all that much sadder for little Myra, though :(

John Mc Gowan said...

With our baby being gone and my children are with somebody else, and not in THE home with us."

Why the distancing language with "the Home

The expected would be ( in OUR home, or their home). Did something happen in "The Home" for her to distance herself from it.

Statement Analysis Blog said...

ohn said...
With our baby being gone and my children are with somebody else, and not in THE home with us."

Why the distancing language with "the Home

The expected would be ( in OUR home, or their home). Did something happen in "The Home" for her to distance herself from it.
May 22, 2014 at 9:38 AM


I will add this excellent point to the analysis.

Trishapatk said...

Besides the fact that "just" can be used to minimize I think it can be used to specify one thing to the exclusion of others. So when we hear this mother using the word "just" in reference to wanting them home I think that she could be meaning that she wants other peoples focus to be on "just" that one thing, that specific thing. I do think it indicates knowledge of other things that she doesn't want others to pay attention to - she "just" or "only" wants the focus on her wanting her children home and that is all she wants other people to be focusing on so that they're not focusing on her or what happened.
Maybe Peter can elaborate on that use of the word "just" also since I think it is common whether there is deception or not. When we want one thing focused on and others put aside we sometimes use the word just to mean "just this one thing to the exclusion of the others" - not as a means of minimizing but of specifying and prioritizing.

Statement Analysis Blog said...

Trish,

interesting point.

Peter


John, I updated analysis.

John Mc Gowan said...

Thank You Peter.

Unknown said...

I hope these 'parents' never regain custody of their remaining children.

Their deception is evident, and they don't even care enough about Myra to FAKE concern, or exert any effort to find her. Pathetic.

Tania Cadogan said...

off topic

BAY CITY, Mich. – A young man who killed a 4-year-old boy on an American Indian reservation in central Michigan has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison, the maximum under his plea agreement.

Anthony Bennett appeared in federal court in Bay City on Thursday, months after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and admitting he killed Carnel Chamberlain.


The 22-year-old Bennett lived with Carnel and the boy's mother on the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Reservation, near Mount Pleasant. Carnel was killed in 2012.

Murder cases are uncommon in federal court. But the U.S. government has jurisdiction over major crimes on Indian reservations.

Police and volunteers searched for a week before Carnel's remains were found under his house. The body was badly burned.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/05/22/man-who-killed-boy-on-indian-reservation-burned-body-gets-40-year-prison/

Dee said...

Not enough Hobs, not enough for that monster.

Anonymous said...

Also, to add to that statement -

Our baby being GONE, not missing but gone. That one is "our baby". Then we see her say next, "MY children"...

Our baby is gone, AND my children are with somebody else.

So, Myra is gone, and on top of that her remaining children are with somebody else. Myra is not with somebody else, as she is gone. :(

Anonymous said...

Some justice for Carnel, but 40 years is definitely not long enough, in my opinion. Especially taking into account, God forbid, whatever he did to poor Carnel, then if I remember correctly, I think he burnt him, then not to mention hiding his body, lying, etc. Idk how that equals 40 years. :( RIP Carnel.

John Mc Gowan said...

OT Update.

L-A Harley ride dedicated to Maine's Ayla Reynolds

Lewiston-Auburn Harley will host an event for the organization LostNMissing called "Ride for the Missing" from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 24, in Lewiston, and the "featured missing child" is Ayla Reynolds of Waterville.5-20-14-Ayla-Reynolds-1

Also, according to L-A Harley, people have been asking for a flyer, titled "Hidden," which Ron Reynolds, grandfather of the missing Waterville toddler, has been posting around Portland. WGME-13 reported, "Ron Reynolds says he hanging the flyers in any store that will let him, and that he will never forget his granddaughter."

The ride registration begins at 9 a.m. at 839 Main St., Lewiston, home of L-A Harley. At 12:30 p.m., organizers plan a welcome, prayer and presentation for Trista Reynolds, Ayla's mother, according to a schedule posted at www.aylareynolds.com.

Other points on the schedule include:
1. Start at L-A Harley, 839 Main St., Lewiston.
2. Hodgeman's Frozen Custard; 1108 Lewiston Road, New Gloucester.
3. American Legion, Post 86; 15 Lewiston Road, Gray.
4. Tailgate Sports Bar and Grill; 61 Portland Road, Gray.
5. L-A Harley 839 Main St., Lewiston (ending stop).
From 11 a.m. to noon, participants can enjoy musical entertainment by Meredith Padfield.

At 12:30 p.m. is a barbeque lunch (chicken, burgers, hot dogs, soft drinks and chips); at 1:30 p.m. organizers will announce Winner of Best Poker Hand/Raffle/Door Prize; and from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., attendees will enjoy musical entertainment by Pallaso.
According to www.aylareynolds.com, "Reynolds has become the most publicized case in the State of Maine's history." She disappeared on Dec. 17, 2011, from a family home in Waterville.
For more about the Saturday ride, visit http://www.l-aharley.com.

Lily said...

Off topic - Tammy Moorer purportedly pregnant, bond denied.

http://www.carolinalive.com/m/news/story?id=1048372#.U39WPCiYfj4

Unknown said...

Thanks for posting Moorer update Lily.

We called it didn't we!

Surprise, Surprise...the old 'keep a man baby', lol.

Anonymous said...

Tammy Moorer is not pregnant.

Unknown said...

The article says that she took a test in jail that came back negative, but that two subsequent tests at area hospitals came back positive.

Her attorney's statement is weak, he does not say that she IS pregnant, only that the evidence they presented in court says she is. The last part of the attorney's statement and the judges comments in the article seems to suggest that the pregnancy is not viable. The attorney discusses complications and the judge then states that the pregnancy is 'to be treated as viable'. (why discuss viability, unless there is a question about it?)


The attorney's quote:

"The evidence that we presented in court is that she's been examined at two different hospitals by two different doctors by two different medical staffs and they both say that she's pregnant and we believe that to be true," said McCollum. "She's had some problems that we presented in court and that was our concern and we were very hopeful that based on that and the other things we presented that the judge would modify the conditions."

Judge's quote:

The Solicitors Office raised some questions about the legitimacy of the pregnancy.

"Judge John said Moorer is to be treated as though she has a viable pregnancy, and be allowed access to all necessary care. Any time she refuses care, it should be noted, John added."

John Mc Gowan said...

Hi Jen,

I agree his statement is weak.

"she's been examined at two different hospitals by two different doctors by two different medical staffs and they both say that she's pregnant and we believe that to be true,"

"and we believe that to be true,"

If the Doctors say she is pregnant, then the extra words above are not needed. For me this weakens his statement and is unnecessary.

A stronger statement is, she's been examined at two different hospitals by two different doctors by two different medical staffs and they both say that she's pregnant. The extra words give us extra information.

"we believe that to be true"

This leaves others to believe differently.

"that to be true,"

"This" is close, "That" is distant.

Although he "believes" she is pregnant, why then, does he use distancing language?.

"Judge John said Moorer is to be treated as though she has a viable pregnancy, and be allowed access to all necessary care. Any time she refuses care, it should be noted,"

Even the Judge has his doubts.

It will be interesting to see the outcome of this.

Anonymous said...

Tammy moorer wanted to be released from jail because she tested positive for pregnancy.

elf said...

I'm not sure, but I think its considered child neglect if you don't get prenatal care. That may be why the judge stipulated that any refusal of care should be noted. Or to cover the states a** if the pregnancy is viable and she somehow miscarries. Even prisoners can pursue lawsuits.

Anonymous said...

IF she was pregnant -- and that's big if -- she knows she has already miscarried. This is just a dog and pony by her attorney to garner sympathy. Fat cow will be in jail until her trial and, very likely, long after.

John Mc Gowan said...

Re Tammy Moore Pregnancy.

This is from another article.

During the hearing, McCollum said Moorer has been under stress in jail because of the death of her father and she was taken to a hospital and learned she was pregnant. McCollum said Moorer and her husband were trying to get pregnant before they were arrested in February.

McCollum asked for John to set a bond for Moorer because she has had miscarriages in the past and the stress of being jailed could jeopardize this pregnancy.

Donna Elder, a senior solicitor, said on March 13 Tammy Moorer took a pregnancy test at the Georgetown County Detention Center and it was negative. On March 18, Moorer told officials she believed she was pregnant and requested to be examined by an obstetrics and gynecology doctor because the last time she had one was in 2005, Elder said.

On March 26, Elder said Moorer was taken to Loris Hospital for a human chorionic gonadotropin, also known as hCG, test, which is a hormone produced during pregnancy. That urine test showed hCG levels had increased and indicated she was pregnant, but an ultrasound showed it was questionable, Elder said.

On March 28, Moorer was taken to Conway Medical Center for another hCG test to confirm, but it showed her levels had not risen much from the first test two days prior.

“The doctor said if it was a viable pregnancy it would have doubled,” Elder said.

Officials have asked Moorer to take another pregnancy test and be examined by an OBGYN, but Elder said she has since refused those tests and refused to take any prenatal vitamins offered to her by jail staffers.

“They have many inmates who are pregnant that they take care of every day,” Elder said of the jail staff’s ability to address any needs Moorer has regarding the possible pregnancy.


http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2014/05/23/4244392/woman-charged-in-heather-elvis.html?sp=/99/134/#storylink=cpy

Unknown said...

Thanks John for posting the additional info on TM's supposed pregnancy.

It seems doubtful that she is pregnant based on the information in this article. I have gone through years of fertility issues, and monitoring of HCG levels is a reliable way of determining if the fertilized egg has implanted and the pregnancy is progressing as expected.

Suze said...

This is to John, In reference to the Dr.Phil episode featuring Julia Hodges and Codey Cummings on the death of their two children, I found the most telling statement to be Julia's: "It"s something other than THE ABUSE which did not occur." That statement perked my ears up right away!, I hope Pete can give us an analysis of it! -Suze