Speech Patterns in Messages Betray a Killer
Monday, May 11, 2009 - 19:49
in Psychology & Sociology
On June 7, 2005, Julie Turner of Sheffield, England, told her partner, Darren Akers, that she was heading out to do some shopping. But as the clock inched toward midnight and Ms. Turner, 40, failed to return, Mr. Akers began to panic. Two days later, on June 9, he received a cryptic text message: “Stopping at jills, back later need to sort my head out.” He was baffled — he didn’t know anyone named Jill, and Julie didn’t usually send text messages. Soon afterward, Mr. Akers received another message: “Tell kids not to worry. sorting my life out. be in touch to get some things.” He knew Julie was always careful to let her children know where she would be, and he couldn’t shake a feeling that something was off about the text messages.