When a child goes missing, there is a disruption in parental activity that is provocative to their instincts.
The missing child is in dire need of help and the innocent parent cannot reach him.
This dominates the parent's thinking, hence it is revealed in language.
Consider the flow of instinct first----
the child is hungry, so I feed him.
the child is wet, so I change him.
the child is fussy, so I comfort him.
Childs need leads to action.
Suddenly, the child's status is such that the need is magnified to its extremity and the parent, so used to acting upon impulse and instinct, is impotent to help.
It is weighing constantly upon the parent:
right now, at this moment in time, my child needs me and I cannot help him.
Impotency.
This frustration and fear of inability is coupled with deep empathy for the child: it is not about my suffering but the suffering of my child in the hands of a stranger.
When the child is young, the innocent mother will have a schedule in her mind---time for the child to eat; time to nap, time to be rocked, hold his teddybear, or his favorite blanket. The mother cannot shut this off.
Gannon’s mother, Landen Hiott, used this natural impulse to plead with the public to not hesitate if they know something that may help her son:
She begged the public to “imagine how afraid he is” when considering whether to call a tipline.
This is in the moment, or "current status" for the victim.
“My son deserves to be here,”
Note her concern (empathy) for the victim’s current status. This is something an innocent parent cannot shut off. It shows in her language and it is the most natural thing she can do.
She believes others will understand, without question, that her missing child is afraid. It is projection of parental capacities and empathy.
She believes others will understand, without question, that her missing child is afraid. It is projection of parental capacities and empathy.
They have always cared for the child (action) yet are now left impotent with parental instincts for protective action inflamed.
They want to ease the pain/anguish/suffering of the child, but cannot.
*****************************************************************
This is often missing or not a priority in the statements of guilty parents or caretakers.
They know the child is beyond their help.
They are stressed over getting caught but not about helping the child. They have processed the child's death.
Therefore, it comes out in the language appearing to be utterly selfish and void of basic empathy for their own child.
Some guilty parents learn that in subsequent interviews to edit this info into their statements.
There are examples of guilty parents in this blog.
If you wish to study deception detection, please visit Hyatt Analysis Services.
9 comments:
The contrast between his bio mom and his stepmom’s statements is severe.
When the stepmom asks her daughter Harley (and coaches her on what to say) to verify Gannon was at home she says to the interviewer:
“I [told] her she didn’t have to be too [in depth] ‘[cause] she is still, you know, a child. But I want to make sure that [someone] knows that there’s another, person to verify that Gannon.”
I wonder if her use of “in depth” could be connected to water or something similar. The amount of information her daughter is allowed to give (she “told” her she could say), is sensitive due to her justifying it with “cause”, and then supplying the reason as she can’t say much because she is still a child. Harley is seventeen which makes her mother’s words seem ridiculous, yet in the eyes of the law she is still not a legal adult. The stepmom is not aiding with the flow of information, and is also attempting to stop her daughter from speaking freely.
She also wants to make sure that “someone” knows that there’s another person to verify Gannon’s whereabouts. She doesn’t say I want to make sure that “people” know, but puts her focus on “someone”, which speaks to an individual person. It could be possible that she feels no one knows, so that “someone” (anyone) believing her is her goal. She needs "someone" to believe her.
Adrian.
"And I would never ever hurt this child"
Where there is a "this" there is often a "that", "this", being close.
Has she "hurt" others, just not "this child".?
John Mc Gowan said...
"And I would never ever hurt this child"
Yeah that is interesting John. She avoids saying “Gannon” or “him” but instead uses “this” to reference him. By saying “I would never” she puts future conditions on what follows, which is “never ever hurt [this] child”. That doesn’t speak to the past so it is not a denial. She has introduced the word hurt into her language and connected it with “this child”.
In her mind is there two different versions of Gannon? One being a well behaved kid and the other being the opposite. Could that allow for the “this” and “that” scenario? In her mind is she thinking I wouldn’t hurt “this” child and connecting to the thought of the good Gannon (in her perception).
From another standpoint the statement when taken literally says “[I]would never ever hurt this child”. She is saying this is something “I” would never do. That allows for someone else (perhaps known to her) to have done so. Or if Gannon suffered an accident while with her she could make that statement and not be lying, but rather be withholding information.
The fact she brings Gannon close with the use of “this” and connects it with “hurt” is definitely worrying.
Adrian.
Anyone else get this weird feeling that
- the father is pretending, badly
- the mother is a great little actress & knows it
???
Something in their interviews isn't emotionally real.
I would gather you are a friend of the stepmother since there is zero indication Landen or the dad have any involvement.
Peter, is there an email address for you? I have something you might be interested in.
Hope
Oh dear, this audio was posted on SM from Gannons step Mums phone the night before Gannon went missing Gannon is very upset at being told off.
Start @ 3:10
https://youtu.be/8U5octKd04Q
perhaps the don't go "in depth" remark could be an allusion to Gannon being buried in a shallow grave
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