False Positive by Steve Wilkos' Polygraph Operator, Dan Ribacoff, Leads to Attempted Suicide

[George W. Maschke]

Polygaph Operator Dan Ribacoff on the set of The Steve Wilkos Show

Yesterday, AntiPolygraph.org published one of the most poignant stories I've worked on: the case of an innocent mother of four who attempted to kill herself after being publicly branded as a liar, told that she was disgusting, would never see he kids again, and was going to go to jail:

https://antipolygraph.org/blog/2020/01/25/polygraph-test-drives-innocent-steve-wilkos-show-guest-to-attempted-suicide/

The as-yet-unaired episode of The Steve Wilkos Show in which this Kafkaesque scenario was played out is reportedly to be broadcast some time in February 2020.

It's noteworthy that the polygraph operator involved, Daniel D. Ribacoff, is a member in good standing of the American Polygraph Association (APA), and that his daughter and business partner, Lisa Ribacoff, is a member of the APA board of directors.

I invite anyone with relevant knowledge of this incident, including especially employees of NBCUniversal Television Distribution, which produces The Steve Wilkos Show, to contact me privately.

[RIP Kobe Bryant]

The woman's name is Anca Pennington, and she shares her story on this matter in a series of YouTube videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNF0meOmvco

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJG6IlxplcOkjGGkcd20gHA/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0

[George W. Maschke]

A noteworthy update to the original blog post has been added.

[Joe]

I posted this is the comment section of the article but ill post this again here for visibility

I'd like to point out that Mr Ribacoff is in violation of APA code of ethics. His claims of 99% accuracy according to a APA study is not true. I reached out to the APA to find the study and this was the response: "Mean accuracy excluding inconclusive results is mid 80% for the better performance techniques" Under the code of ethics of the APA section 4.1 states "A member shall not knowingly make, publish, or cause to be published, any false or misleading statements or advertisements relating to the Association or the polygraph profession." Further more I'll point out section 3.1 of the APA code of ethics " Each polygraph report shall be a factual, impartial, and objective account of information developed during the examination, and the examiner's professional conclusion based on analysis of the polygraph data." It would seem that its a conflict of interest given the fact that Mr. Ribacoff has a financial stake in the show and catching a liar would drive ratings.

Here is Mr.Ribacoff's site with the APA claim in writing https://www.indepthpolygraphs.com/faqs

[Dan Mangan]

From the APA web site...

Through strict adherence to training and education standards, APA examiners are able to attain accuracy rates exceeding 90 percent.

[Joe]

From the APA web site...

Through strict adherence to training and education standards, APA examiners are able to attain accuracy rates exceeding 90 percent.

I would like to point out that yesterday the site stated 99.4% and that has been corrected to say a vary high rate with a link to the study.

[George W. Maschke]

Joe,

Archive.org's Wayback Machine project has a record of Daniel Ribacoff's FAQ as it appeared in 2017, where it includes his claim of 99.4% accuracy.

It's also worth noting that The Steve Wilkos Show has deleted the video clip of February 2020 previews that it had posted on 26 January 2020, and which contained a snippet from the episode during which Anca Pennington appeared.

[Joe]

From the APA web site...

Through strict adherence to training and education standards, APA examiners are able to attain accuracy rates exceeding 90 percent.

I would also like to know why it is that the APA studies find mid 80% yet they make a claim of over 90% .... witch is it.

and if this is such a god send of a machine like Mr.Ribacoff like to point out why doesn't he show the charts more on the show. 

[Dan Mangan]

Beginning in 1997, for some fifteen (15) years, the APA promoted polygraph as being 98.6%accurate. Since that time the organization has been gradually walking back that lofty claim.

[Animal]

Being exposed as a mother who burned her child's leg would seem more of an impetus to suicide than being falsely accused of lying. Just sayin.

[Dan Mangan]

Animal, are you a polygraph apologist?

[Animal]

I apologize for my apologetic apology.

[Dan Mangan]

Apology accepted, Animal.

You're a DODPI/DACA/NCCA guy, right?

[Animal]

You exist in a strange bubble my friend. My post had nothing to do with the polygraph.

[Dan Mangan]

The polygraph microcosm is a strange bubble indeed.

So what brings you here?