KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Isabelle Zehnder reporting) -- A retired Kansas City detective who watched the Feb. 3 interview with Dr. Phil, missing baby Lisa Irwin’s parents, and their legal team, disagrees with the mother’s claims that it’s impossible to tell the same story, even during a traumatic incident, and that the change in her story affects her credibility.
Lisa’s parents, Deborah Bradley and Jeremy Irwin, and their high-profile New York defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, spoke with Dr. Phil via satellite from New York. Private investigator Bill Stanton was live with Dr. Phil in his studio.
KMOV 4 News reported that retired Kansas City Police detective Captain Roger Golubski, who worked 20 years in the KCPD’s homicide unit, says the interview will definitely be analyzed by law enforcement.
“It’s at least a step in the right direction as opposed to not talking at all,” Golubski said.
Deborah said she’s stopped taking with media because it had become a circus and that comments on the internet had become a “giant theory fest” accusing her of doing something to her baby or of covering it up.
“It is literally impossible to remember every single detail and say exactly the same every single time,” Deborah said.
Many following this case closely have indicated they believe Deborah is underestimating them and say they aren’t dissecting “every single detail” or concerned whether she’s saying “exactly” the same thing every time.
They’re concerned with the dramatic changes in her story, the fact she refused to speak with police independently, that an FBI-trained cadaver dog picked up the scent of a deceased human in their bedroom, that she stalled interviews with the only other known potential witnesses in the case, her sons, that she is shielded by a high-profile defense attorney, that, for nine weeks, she hasn’t spoken with the press, and that she doesn’t appear to be actively searching for her daughter.
Golubski said, “It leads to credibility. In that short span, even though it’s a traumatic incident going on, those sequences of events are essential to an investigator. The change in that then leads to credibility so as far as that juncture goes, I would disagree with her.”
Dr. Phil said Friday, “I am very bothered by the inconsistencies in this story. Very bothered by that. I’m very bothered by the fact that she [Deborah] says that she was drunk when this happened. That bothers me. I can tell you that I believe she is experiencing genuine remorse at this point. I think that is real. I think she misses her baby terribly and is in a lot of pain over that.
“Now, is that riddled with guilt because she’s done something either accidentally or on purpose? I don’t know the answer to that question. What I can tell you is these people need to be talking to Kansas City law enforcement and they kind of portray them as painting them with one brush just deciding they’re guilty and not considering anything else.
“I don’t believe that’s true. I think Kansas City Law enforcement has one goal in mind and that is to find that baby. And I want them to talk to Kansas City Law enforcement because if they’re innocent, then prove that. Give the information. Be transparent so that no resources are wasted looking at the mother and father if they’re not involved then make yourselves transparently available so that everybody can spend their resources finding what did happen to the baby.”
When Dr. Phil asked why Deborah’s story changed about the last time she saw baby Lisa she said the truth is she can’t remember if she checked on her at 10:30 p.m. and she admits she was drunk.
“Pretty much the only thing I’m guilty of is drinking too much,” Deborah told Dr. Phil.
“From law enforcement point-of-view,” Golubski said, “I would have to disagree with that. I would think that would be very critical. It goes to condition and behavior at the time of the disappearance.”
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Baby Lisa Irwin was reported missing Oct. 4, 2011, at around 4 a.m. Her parents, Deborah Bradley and Jeremy Irwin, say she was abducted from her crib. Their repeated inconsistent stories and refusal to cooperate with police have placed them under a cloud of suspicion by police and the public.
An anonymous donor has offered a $100,000 reward for the safe return of Baby Lisa or for information that leads to a conviction of her abductor.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the TIP Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS.
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