Tools to analyze if someone is lying

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - What would a lie detection expert say about the interview with Riccardo McCray?

While we cannot read the mind of Riccardo McCray, who voluntarily surrendered himself to Buffalo Police at News 4, behavioral scientists like UB's Dr. Mark Frank can read his body language.

Dr. Frank said, "One of the things I will say about this: He looks like someone who is afraid."

In cases like this, Dr. Frank would look for clues in subtle ways a person responds.

"There are times when you see bits of emotions or behavior, things that don't fit with the particular individual. These we call hot spots," explained Dr. Frank.

Hot spots can be detected in several different ways. Scientists can now shoot an infra-red beam off the back of a suspect's eyes. Dilating pupils can be a giveaway.

Dr. Frank said, "Determining whether they maybe know something they say they don't know, or whatever."

They can measure changes in heat patterns through thermal imaging.

"We can distinguish liars and truth tellers at better than 80 percent simply based on changes of heat between the eyes," said Dr. Frank.

There's even a way to measure a person's heart rate through a non-intrusive laser beam. The heart rate tends to go up when a person is lying. While fear may characterize McCray during his surrender, his fear, like so many others who are placed under arrest, says Dr. Frank, could be motivated by many factors.

Dr. Frank said, "Are they afraid of being caught? Afraid of being disbelieved? Afraid of being hurt? Don't know."

Dr. Frank will not directly comment on McCray's guilt or innocence because the defendant has yet to go to trial. As an interesting side note, Dr. Frank became interested in body language when he was a bouncer at a Delaware Avenue bar years ago. He had to get a good reading on people who might have been underage, or potential trouble makers.