When these family killers turn to the camera and start to make the big plea—for the safe return and the no harm and the please come back—something always feels off. Like Barry Morphew or Chris Watts types, the unusual phrasing and big emotions that are small and flat don’t feel authentic to the raw heartbreak of a truly desperate parent.
So the SS interview with all the weepy sob sounds and wiping away of nonexistent tears. When he turns to the camera to make the big plea, he can only hold his gaze (into the camera directly looking at the vast public) for a split second before glancing away. And he says, “Bring her home, IF you find her.”
He is not the desperate parent saying, bring her home! Please find her and bring her home! Just bring her home no matter what! And he’s not the desperate parent saying find her! Find her! no matter what find her! you must find her! do whatever it takes to find her!
He says “bring her home” on a condition. IF you find her. Because deep down he so strongly doesn’t want her found, doesn’t want what he has done found. So his “bring her home” is qualified, and finding her is merely an IF. As though his subconscious won’t let him say “find her and bring her home” with all of his heart. Trust me if my 10-year-old daughter was missing I would have no problem saying those things with all of my heart, with 110%, 200%, with roaring banshee tiger certainty.
So what about the moment when Madeline‘s mom makes the big plea to the public? Here’s the transcript:
We are desperate for any answers…anything that you can do to help…I’m here for it…Just, please… (Big Sigh)
If you see my daughter, please bring her home…I just hope you are OK Maddie…I hope you are safe…I hope you are not hurt…(Sigh)…I just hope she’s OK.
Hmmm, unusual phrasing, flat emotions, the same vague words as SS
IF you see my daughter
HOPE ok, HOPE safe, just HOPE