Analyzing Homicide Calls Practical Aspects and Applications CRC SERIES IN PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF CRIMINAL AND FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS VERNON J. GEBERTH, BBA, MPS, FBINA Series Editor Practical Homicide Investigation: Tactics, Procedures, and Forensic Techniques, Fifth Edition Vernon J. Geberth Practical Homicide Investigation Checklist and Field Guide, Second Edition Vernon J. Geberth –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Analyzing 911 Homicide Calls: Practical Aspects and Applications Tracy Harpster and Susan H. Adams Practical Aspects of Rape Investigation: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Fifth Edition Robert R. Hazelwood and Ann Wolbert Burgess Munchausen by Proxy and Other Factitious Abuse: Practical and Forensic Investigative Techniques Robert R. Hazelwood and Ann Wolbert Burgess Practical Analysis and Reconstruction of Shooting Incidents, Second Edition Edward E. 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Adams Boca Raton London New York CRC Press is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300 Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742 © 2017 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business No claim to original U.S. Government works Printed on acid-free paper Version Date: 20161107 International Standard Book Number-13: 978-1-4987-3455-4 (Hardback) This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or the consequences of their use. The authors and publishers have attempted to trace the copyright holders of all material reproduced in this publication and apologize to copyright holders if permission to publish in this form has not been obtained. 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Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data Names: Harpster, Tracy, author. | Adams, Susan H., author. Title: Analyzing 911 homicide calls : practical aspects and applications / by Tracy Harpster and Susan H. Adams. Description: 1 Edition. | Boca Raton : CRC Press, 2017. | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2016026647 | ISBN 9781498734554 (hardback : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781315386508 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Homicide investigation. | Telephone--Emergency reporting systems. Classification: LCC HV8079.H6 H367 2016 | DDC 363.25/9523--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016026647 Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at http://www.taylorandfrancis.com and the CRC Press Web site at http://www.crcpress.com This book is dedicated to the victims of homicide and to their families. It is written in the hope that law enforcement professionals will use our research to obtain justice for victims and peace for their families. Contents Editor’s Note xv Forewords xvi Authors’ Note xix Acknowledgments xxi Section I INTRODUCTION 1 The Critical Value of 911 Call Analysis 3 The 911 Study 5 2 Case Study: Mr. and Mrs. Hunt 9 What If? 13 Section II WHO IS THE CALL ABOUT? 3 Does the Caller Demand Help? 17 4 Does the Caller Provide an Immediate Assessment of the Victim? 23 5 Who Is the Caller’s Focus? 27 6 Does the Caller Accept the Victim’s Death? 33 7 Does the Caller Provide Aid to the Victim as Directed? 39 ix x Contents Section III WHAT IS THE CALL ABOUT? 8 Is the Information Relevant? 49 9 How Does the Caller Describe the Situation? 55 10 How Does the Caller Prioritize the Information? 59 11 How Does the Caller Describe the Conditions? 63 Section IV HOW IS THE CALL MADE? 12 Does the Caller Express Urgency or No Urgency? 69 13 Is the Caller Fearful? 73 14 Is the Caller in Close Proximity to the Victim? 79 15 Does the Caller Begin with Initial Sounds or with Initial Delays? 83 16 Does the Caller Use Aggressive Demands or Passive Defenses? 89 Defendant Mentality 93 Ingratiating Remarks 95 Insults or Blames Victim 98 Minimizes 101 Mental Miscues 103 Freudian Slips 103 Non Sequiturs 106