In a press conference following the arrest of Steven Isaiah Williams for the murder of Tricia Todd, Martin County, Florida Sheriff William Snyder attempted to gainsay reports, based on his earlier statements, that Williams had passed the polygraph:
Quote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr3jX1rl-YM&feature=youtu.be&t=18m4s Reporter: I think a lot of people go back to that press conference where you talk about the polygraph test that he [Steven Isaiah Williams] did, and I think that raises a lot of questions with people. Well, how did he -- you say you can't really pass a polygraph, but you said there was no indication when he did the polygraph. So, can you explain that to some people?
Martin County Sheriff Williams Snyder: That's a good question. I was waiting for that to come up. And the question was, could I deal with my earlier statements about the polygraph. If you want we'll replay the tape, and we actually have the tape. The question was, Did he.. Did he pass the polygraph?... Or, um, I don't remember how the question was framed. My answer was, he said nothing in the polygraph indicating that he had been involved in a homicide. So if you listen to my words carefully, what you heard me say was that there is no answer on the results of the polygraph, and I'm still not commenting on the answers to the polygraph. I reserve the right now and always to say what I have to say throughout any answers I give to further the case. And so, how I couch, and how I nuance my answers is something that is solely my responsibility, and it worked out to our benefit.
Reporter: Did he say -- has he said since why he... Because didn't he offer to take the polygraph? Why did he do that? Has he told you [inaudible]?
Sheriff Snyder: Your question was why did he take a polygraph?
Reporter: Why did he do it? Has he said now?
Sheriff Snyder: He has not said why he took the polygraph, but we just know from experience that people trying to get the focus off of them will al-- will take chances.
Contrast Sheriff Snyder's above remarks with the following reporting, including a direct quotation, published on 5 May 2016 by
Huffington Post senior crime reporter David Lohr:
Quote:A search of Williams' car showed nothing unusual, authorities said, and he passed a polygraph examination.
"He did voluntarily submit to a polygraph exam," [Martin County, Florida Sheriff William] Snyder said. "Nothing in Mr. Williams's lengthy interview — and it was a long, detailed interview — nor his polygraph exam indicated that he was involved or had any additional information about Tricia Todd's disappearance."
Snyder added that "at this point, there is no focus that needs to be on the former husband."
In addition, a WPBF 25 News report published on 3 May 2016 states in relevant part:
Quote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC629kTUgXk&feature=youtu.be&t=19s The sheriff's news conference today for the most part focused on that ex-husband. He's in the military, and has since flown to North Carolina as part of his job. The sheriff tells us that a team from the Martin County Sheriff's Office flew to North Carolina today, but he said they did a very lengthy interview with the ex-husband, and they even put him through a polygraph test, which the sheriff says he passed with flying colors. The sheriff says every single part of the ex-husband's story has checked out completely...