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| Jeanne Hobbs of NorCal Polygraph testing Justin Smeja. Picture courtesy of Ro Sahebi, leave it to a bigfooter to take a blurry picture. No wonder we can't get a clear photo of BF. |
Yesterday afternoon (08.14.2012) I had the pleasure of interviewing the polygraph examiner that conducted the interview with Justin Smeja. Based on the the report from Bigfoot Evidence there were a few details I wanted to clarify. I was curious if the questions were designed by the examiner and if the questions were shared with the Justin Smeja previous to the interview. Both common practices and legitimate practices during a polygraph examinations. I was also curious to the format of the questions, knowing that in all likeliness more than 17 questions were asked.
Below is our conversation with Jeanne Hobbs, thank you Ro Sahebi for arranging this interview. Your a nice guy and have beautiful hair.
Jeanne can you tell me about your background and how you got into becoming a polygraph examiner?I used to work for a private investigator and we were always looking for polygraph examiner, they were hard to come by. Eventually I realized in 2002-2003 that it would be worth it to go to school, become an examiner myself and buy a state-of-the art polygraph machine.
How many tests have you done in your carreer?Over 800
It was reported earlier that Bart Cutino and Ro Sahebi created the questions, isn't it more common for the examiner to prepare the questions?I did prepare the questions. Only the examiner creates the questions for the exam. Bart and Ro had a prepared general outlines of questions they wanted asked and I rewrote some of them as yes and no questions and there were some that I felt might have been redundant, questions about the Fish and Wildlife for example, so I omitted them.
While doing my research I read it is common practice in polygraph tests to share the questions your going to ask with the interviewee, sometime this is done as part of the pre-interview process. Did Justin get to preview these questions?Yes, this is normal during a polygraph examination. The test looks for significant involuntary responses, the physiological reactions that a person would have to be able to control or fake would take years and lots of practice to fake. These questions are not supposed to be "gotcha" questions, they are asked in a specific sequence to determine fluctuation in physiological activities. We create a baseline when the subject is asked to tell a known lie.
There are 17 question on the report, how many questions did you ask all together? 40 questions were asked; four 10-question sets.
Can you talk about the 10 question set?The 10 question set is what we use and is scientifically designed to be used in the exam. 4 Known Truth Questions, 4 Relevant Questions, 2 Know Lies (Control Questions) The "know truth" questions & "know lie" questions are what scores the "relevant" questions.
Was there anything different about this test and the test results?This test went like any of the many other test I performed.
Prior to to this test did you have an opinion about Bigfoot?My brother is a Sergeant for the Washington State Patrol and he has shared some pretty strange stories of bigfoot-like creatures up there. So yeah, it seemed like a possibility to me. there are lot's of strange things that I think are possible, even UFO's You know?
After the test was there a shift in your thinking? I mean not only did Justin see a Bigfoot, but he shot one!Yeah it has definitely reinforced for me that Bigfoot are out there.
One last question, after the interview was complete and the results were recorded what was your impression of Justin as a subject?I believe he was truly scared for his life. His actions were based on protecting himself. Overall he was extremely calm and did not seem to have anything to prove or gain.You can read the results of the 17 polygraph questions in yesterday's post, and images of the original document at Bigfoot Evidence.
That really makes me sad to think that someone killed a Sasquatch, especially a child. Sad.
ReplyDeleteI agree Megan138, it is truly heart-breaking. It should be noted that Justin Smeja felt a great deal of remorse, even when returning to the site last week.
Deletevery good questions guy. awesome my friend. i love your beautiful hat by the way.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shawn!
DeleteYou can't take back the bullets once fired, But he is doing everything he possibly can to ensure this does not happen again.
ReplyDeletewith anyone.
DeleteAnother awesome follow up Guy! Thanks dude :)
ReplyDeletehey Shawn i think its about time u stop hiding behind ur little BF cartoon character and MAN UP!! don't u agree?!
ReplyDeletei agree :) i'm in the video that Ro posted the other day.
DeleteJoaquin Today, Now
ReplyDeleteJustin feels remorse that he shoot something, ran like a girl and has nothing to prove for it. He said he would do it again cause it didnt belong in the forest. Remorse? His friend warned him not to shoot. Justin was blood hunger he wanted a kill no matter what it was. Guess what.... almost every convicted murderer in our prison system says they're remorseful. Should we sympathize with them also?
I agree. If true this guy is a hunters worse nightmare. An asshole with a gun willing to shoot anything that moves.I would need to see a lot of danger to be frightened while holding a high power rifle.
DeleteThere is absolutely no validity to polygraph "exams." Polygraphy has no credibility within the scientific community.
ReplyDeleteDo a little research, for example, on the National Academy of Sciences report on the polygraph -- it completely discredits the machine. What's more, it states the very scientific theory behind the polygraph is flawed, assuming that certain physiological responses are only indicative of deception.
What's more, the polygraph can be easily beaten using countermeasures. Thus, liars can pass an exam, and be assumed to be telling the truth.
The BF community, in seeking scientific credibility, should not rely on junk science to bolster its credibility.
You have made a statement with nothing but opinion backing it up. I have an on going custody battle in Texas where the judge ordered a polygraph test administered by from a former FBI agent who specialized in Polygraph science that administered it. I'm sure it was just a fad that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was going through in which they have an entire team of polygraph experts that they employ cause it was the new hip deal. If you are gonna talk out of your ass...next time try standing your head so we all can understand. Capeche...DAss?
DeleteRead the NAS report I mentioned. That, and a host of other research, are plenty of "back up" to my assertion that the polygraph is a sham. Junk science.
DeleteLaw enforcement uses them for interrogation. If they were "lie detectors" we would no longer have jury trials.
He "passed" the polygraph only proves that he believes the answers to the questions. While it is difficult (not impossible nor "99%A polygraph test means little especially if lies have been repeated in the person's head enough for them to believe them.
ReplyDeleteEven if this is the truth it still leaves more questions on the table than answers. He doesn't have to defend himself since nearly everyone believes him and of course he has nothing to prove since the story is already believed. As far as anything to gain I believe that card will be seen soon.
Joaquin Today, Now
ReplyDeleteBelieving wether its true or not, I am shocked that a man would either do the act out of fear and ignorance or lying bragging and boosting about being a trigger happy killer of animals and their young.
Where is the threat?
ReplyDeleteBy his own statement the creature was far enough away that both he and the driver needed magnification to try and identify it. They had a vehicle to A: take refuge in and B: escape in.
I have not read anything that indicates the creature made any aggressive moves, or approached the armed men. I have not read anything that indicates the juveniles acted aggressively. I have not read anything that said there was no avenue of escape open to the pair at any time.
What Smeja has said, and confirmed by polygraph is that he illegally shot and killed an animal he could not identify. Without hesitation, he shot an killed what he was told may have been a human in a suit. He illegally shot an immature animal.
Where was the threat?
I agree with you 100% It should be noted he was told it might have been human.. But lets not forget that the None Game law can be applied here. Seeing that bigfoot is on on list or proven to exist that law could be a jail time for him. and the None Game law covers all the states and he was not in fear due to useing a scop
DeleteIf there is no proof (a body). Then this is 100% bull. And I don't see any pics of a body. It's as simple as that people.
ReplyDeleteSo... If there is no Body, then nothing happened? Please tell that to the family of PA District Attorney Ray Griecar, who vanished in 2005 and has not been seen since, except for his laptop.
DeleteI'm not saying this guy's telling the truth... The objections to the polygraph's validity above are very valid... But just the idea of "No body, nothing actually happened" is foolish in the extreme.
Hi All across the pond,
ReplyDeleteOne question about the examiner in the so called blurred picture (This has obviously been pixelated to hide her face),I cannot understand why ? as she stated her brother has told her bigfoot creature stories and she has an open mind by the follow up comment.
Either there is a fault with the camera (In which case it should be fixed)or she doesn't want to berecognised.
Like so many professionals who support any particular causes they say no when asked for pictures to back up and promote the cause or statements for fear of ridicule this will go on untill somebody stands up to be counted,surely there are enough professionals now to band together and say the evidence is mounting and we agree there is another unkown creature living amongst us.
Instead the Bigfoot community rely on many private and amateur groups with no proper funding which limits the invastegative tools that can be put into practise I agree the absense of a body does not mean they are telling porkys just means no proof of a specific incident.
In an earlier post I said that where's the body also why no film but at the end of the day you alone decide by waying all the evidence up. I believe in Bigfoot but am puzzled when suspect cases are revealed as there should be a golden opportunity to gather solid evidence and you are forced to ask why no proof still you decide.
1batfastard
1batfastard
Justin Smeja is dangerous in my opinion, he is like the old old guy or inexperienced 14 yr old that decides to go hunting and kills a man in camo because he mistook him for a 4 legged whitetail deer.
ReplyDeleteOf the thousands of BF stories, how many report BF threatening someone to the point of fear of one's own death. Zero.
Is Justin mentally stable? Just curious.
This boy needs to learn how to use a bb gun before he is given a rifle
ReplyDeletehe said he shot this animal because it did not belong or he was scared
well I'll tell you it was not the BIGFOOT that didn't belong !
I think Justin is very stupid and very dangerous. He should be locked up. Gun-toting idiots need to back off. That guy is going to regret what he did and I pray to God his Karma comes for him soon.
ReplyDelete