ABSTRACT
Homicide calls to 911 centers are unique. They originate from distressed callers confronted with urgent life-and-death situations. These initial phone contacts contain invaluable statements for they are (1) least edited by suspects’ attempts to conceal the truth; (2) untainted, as later statements can be, by attorneys’ coaching or counsel to remain silent; and (3) free of contamination from interviewers’ verbal and nonverbal behavior. In fact, 911 calls are often the only pure statements of the entire investigation.
