Opinion ID: 2169253
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Alleged Frye error

Text: Defendant next argues that the trial court erred in refusing to allow Dr. Bruce Frumkin to testify concerning his use of the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale (GSS) in evaluating defendant's susceptibility to giving a false confession. Among the pretrial motions filed in this case were motions to suppress defendant's inculpatory statements. The most recent amended motion alleged that (1) defendant was not advised of his Miranda rights; (2) he lacked the ability to knowingly and voluntarily waive his fifth amendment or sixth amendment rights; (3) despite the lack of Miranda warnings, defendant was interrogated in a coercive atmosphere with governmental promises of inducement and coercion, including that (a) defendant would be released from custody upon telling the investigators what they wanted to hear; (b) defendant would not be in trouble as a reward for providing any such help; (c) the interrogation over a five-hour period was excessive and coercive, given defendant's mental functioning, his lack of advisement of his Miranda rights, and the investigators' statements that he would be released from custody upon providing a statement acceptable to them; (4) defendant made repeated requests to consult with an attorney, but each time, the investigators stated that he did not need an attorney and that he could consult with an attorney only after he gave statements to the investigators; and (5) given defendant's mental and intellectual characteristics and the environment in which his interrogation proceeded, defendant's statements were not freely made and were given under compulsion and inducement. Defendant was examined by Dr. Frumkin, a clinical psychologist. Frumkin administered various tests to defendant, one of which was the GSS. Based upon his examination of defendant, including administration of the GSS, Frumkin concluded that defendant is very shy, submissive, deferential, accommodating, and introverted. The State filed a motion in limine, requesting a hearing pursuant to Frye v. United States, 293 F. 1013 (D.C.Cir.1923), or, in the alternative, for a reliability hearing regarding the admissibility of defendant's test results from the GSS. The motion alleged that the GSS does not satisfy the Frye standard because it has not been generally accepted in the field of psychology and it is unreliable because it has no application to a real-life custodial interrogation situation. The motion further alleged that whether defendant falsely confessed is not a concept beyond the understanding of ordinary citizens and is not difficult to understand or explain. Frumkin and others testified concerning the GSS at a hearing on defendant's motion to suppress. While the test is designed to appear to be a memory test, it actually gauges the extent to which a person may be persuaded to change his answers to questions. As it specifically related to defendant, Frumkin testified that he read a short story to defendant containing 40 facts about a woman whose handbag had been stolen from her outside her hotel. He then asked defendant to recall everything he could about the story. He waited 15 minutes, then asked defendant to again recall facts from the story. Frumkin then asked defendant 20 questions about the story. Fifteen of those questions are designed to be misleading. For example, he would ask whether the woman had one or two children. In reality, nothing was mentioned in the story about children. However, defendant answered that the woman had two children. He also yielded to a misleading question about the woman's name, agreeing with Frumkin that her name was Anna Wilkinson, when the name was actually Anna Thompson. Frumkin then determined defendant's yield one score, which shows how much defendant yielded to the 15 misleading questions. Defendant yielded a total of 8 times; compared to others, his yield score was in the upper eighty-fifth percentile. The average person yields 4.6 times. Frumkin testified that he next told defendant that he had made errors and they needed to be corrected. Defendant yielded to 12 out of the 15 misleading questions when Frumkin put pressure on him by telling him he had made mistakes. This is the yield two score. The average person's yield two score is 5.5. Defendant's score placed him in the ninety-third percentile. Frumkin also measured how often defendant shifted from one response to another. For example, when Frumkin told defendant he had erred by saying the woman had two children, defendant changed his answer to one. Defendant received a shift score of 12. The average shift score is 2.9, putting defendant in the ninety-ninth percentile range in terms of shifting to a different response under pressure. Defendant's total suggestibility score was the sum of the first yield score and the shift. His total score was 20. The average person's score is 7.5, placing defendant in the ninety-ninth percentile range. Frumkin testified that this score is very consistent with defendant's other psychological test results that show him to be very accommodating and very deferential, leading him to yield to information that might not be completely accurate. Other experts testified as to the general acceptance of the GSS in their fields. Dr. Antoinette Kavanaugh, who has a PhD in clinical psychology, testified that the GSS is generally accepted within her field. She cited journals and texts that use the test. Dr. Solomon Fulero, a professor of psychology, also testified that the GSS is helpful in assessing interrogative suggestibility and is generally accepted within the field. In contrast, the State called Dr. Eric Neu, a clinical and forensic psychologist. He opined that the GSS tests a different type of memory than is involved in an interrogation. An interrogated individual is questioned about a personal experience, unlike a GSS test subject, who is asked to recall details from a story. Neu stated that this difference undermines the validity of the GSS as a method to determine a person's interrogative suggestibility. In addition, Neu noted that the test is based on a comparison to British test subjects and that Americans perform differently than the British subjects, demonstrating a greater suggestibility. Following the hearing, the trial court acknowledged that the GSS appeared to be generally accepted in the psychological community as one of many tests used by psychologists. However, the court found that the test was not a valid and reliable test to determine a person's suggestibility to admit to a crime. The court found it difficult to accept that a test taken nearly three years after the murders regarding a subject that was not autobiographical in nature could be presented as evidence. The court further stated that it was unaware of any court in Illinois that had allowed the GSS to be presented to a jury on the issue of the defendant's interrogative suggestibility. Thus, the court concluded that the GSS did not meet the standard for admissibility under Frye. Defendant presented an offer of proof as to what Frumkin's testimony would be concerning the GSS test. Defense counsel indicated to the court that, for strategic reasons, the defense would not present Frumkin's testimony to the jury without the ability to have him testify about his administration of the GSS to defendant. Defendant argues that he was prejudiced by the trial court's exclusion of Frumkin's testimony concerning his administration of the GSS test to defendant. He notes that his defense at trial was that someone else had committed the crimes and that his confession was the false product of pressure put on him by Guilfoyle and Ruettiger, combined with his own suggestibility. The State responds that defendant has failed to establish that the detectives pressured him to change his version of events. At the hearing on defendant's motion to suppress, Eric Payne, correctional officer for Will County, testified that he booked defendant into the Will County jail on May 31, 2002, on suspicion of first degree murder. Defendant was visibly upset, crying, and emotional. He was cooperative with the booking process and Payne had no difficulty understanding defendant when he spoke. Because of defendant's emotional condition, he was placed on suicide watch. Detectives Guilfoyle and Ruettiger testified that prior to questioning defendant, the detectives did not have any knowledge as to the nature of the injuries to any of the victims or the locations of the bodies of Harold, Jean, or Eric. They saw only Sara's body. Firefighters at the scene told them they could not go upstairs due to the fire damage. The detectives had no information about cause of death or how the fire started. A computer search informed the detectives that Sara had an order of protection against defendant that he had violated. They also found that there had been a burglary at the Tennant home and that defendant was the perpetrator. They spoke with Matt Grivetti, who told them that defendant and Sara had had problems in the past with their relationship. They also learned that defendant had been at Sara's place of employment the day before the murders and that the police had been called due to defendant's persistent efforts to talk to Sara. For these reasons, they asked that defendant be brought in for questioning. Prior to asking defendant any questions, the detectives read defendant his Miranda rights. He signed the waiver and agreed to speak with them. During the first portion of the interview, which lasted about 30 minutes, defendant was asked about his activities the day before the murders. Defendant was not crying, but seemed nervous. He did not exhibit any remorse or sadness over Sara's death. The detectives left the room to discuss defendant's statements. They felt he was not being truthful with respect to involvement in the murders. When they returned to the room, they told defendant they believed he was involved and Guilfoyle talked about defendant's love for Sara. After about 15 minutes, Guilfoyle asked defendant if he was involved in the murders. Defendant said yes and began to cry. He then gave the detectives an oral statement implicating himself in the murders. This statement took approximately 1½ hours to complete. At the detectives' request, defendant went through the statement again, a process that took another hour and a half. At that point, the detectives left the room and defendant was given something to eat and drink. They learned about an accelerant being used to start the fire and that the evidence technicians could not find any crowbar in the house. Defendant then agreed to give a videotaped statement. That statement was completed in about 20 minutes. Because defendant cried while giving the statements, detective Ruettiger noted on defendant's booking form that he might be suicidal. Although the detectives were told that prior to being brought in for questioning, there had been a report that defendant was jumping in and out of traffic at the home of Sara's grandparents, Guilfoyle confirmed with other officers that this report was not accurate. Guilfoyle denied telling defendant that he could help Sara by telling the detectives what they needed to hear. Defendant did not talk to his mother or mention anything about wanting an attorney. Both detectives stated that it was the totality of the interviews, including defendant's body language and demeanor, and not specific answers to questions that led them to believe that defendant was initially not being truthful about involvement in the murders. Peggy Moore, deputy sheriff for Will County, testified at the hearing that she picked defendant up from a house on May 31, 2002, and took him to the Will County investigations office. When she got there, defendant was being escorted out of the house. She observed defendant's demeanor on the 30-minute drive. He sat in the backseat quietly and was calm. Defendant testified that prior to making a statement on videotape, Guilfoyle and Ruettiger made certain promises to him. They told him six or eight times that if he would cooperate and answer a few questions, that he could go home, and that his mother was downstairs waiting to take him home. They told him that as long as he cooperated, he would not be in any trouble. Defendant stated that he asked for an attorney once the detectives began implying that he had fought with Sara and they believed he had become upset with her and killed her and the others. The detectives responded to his request by saying that it was not necessary for him to have an attorney at that time, that they were only going to ask him a few questions, and that he could speak to an attorney afterward. Defendant requested an attorney six or eight times. Defendant denied that the detectives read him his Miranda rights and he claimed that they asked him to sign the waiver of rights form without explaining what his signature would mean. Defendant did not read the form prior to signing the waiver of his rights. Defendant acknowledged that, prior to May 31, 2002, he was familiar with Miranda warnings. He admitted that he told one of the doctors who examined him, Dr. Henry, that he had been familiar with Miranda warnings since he was 9 or 10 years old from watching television shows and from being at the police station in Beecher, where his stepfather was chief of police. Defendant admitted that he had been read his Miranda rights eight times prior to May 31, 2002, due to his prior involvement with the criminal justice system and that each time he waived his rights and gave a statement. Defendant testified that he took naps several times when Guilfoyle and Ruettiger left the interview room. He napped before he signed his Miranda rights form. He agreed that his mental state was calm enough for him to fall asleep at that time. Defendant recalled telling Dr. Henry and a Dr. Neu on two separate occasions that he could not remember whether the detectives read him his rights. Defendant acknowledged that the detectives had gotten him something to eat and that they did not place their hands on him or yell at him. They treated him pretty well. When he mentioned an attorney to the detectives, he said only that maybe he should talk to one. After giving his videotaped statement, defendant was surprised when he was arrested. Defendant admitted not telling anyone at the jail about the detectives' promises, but he said he was highly drugged in the medical ward and that he slept most of the time. Defendant stated that he was taken to video court where he appeared before a judge by video. He admitted that he said nothing to the judge about the alleged promises. When he talked to Guilfoyle and Ruettiger again at the jail at his request on June 3, 2002, they did not read him his rights. Defendant admitted that he signed the Miranda rights form and waived his rights at that time. The reason he wanted to talk to the detectives was to find out what was going on because he could not believe he was being charged with eight counts of first degree murder. Defendant denied being calm at any time when he was in the interview room on May 31, 2002. He was put on suicide watch when he was returned to the jail after being interrogated by the detectives. At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court denied defendant's motion to suppress his confession and held evidence of the GSS results were inadmissible. A dual standard of review applies with respect to the trial court's admission of expert scientific testimony. It is within the court's discretion to decide whether an expert witness is qualified to testify in a particular subject area and whether the proffered testimony is relevant. The court's decision as to the admissibility of the scientific evidence is, however, subject to de novo review. In re Commitment of Simons, 213 Ill.2d 523, 530-31, 290 Ill.Dec. 610, 821 N.E.2d 1184 (2004). Defendant argues that the trial court erred in holding that, while the GSS is generally accepted in the field of psychology, its reliability had not been established. Defendant cites this court's decision in Donaldson v. Central Illinois Public Service Co., 199 Ill.2d 63, 262 Ill.Dec. 854, 767 N.E.2d 314 (2002). There, this court noted that under the Frye standard of admissibility of scientific evidence, such evidence is only admissible at trial if the methodology or scientific principle upon which the expert's opinion is based is `sufficiently established to have gained general acceptance in the particular field in which it belongs.' Donaldson, 199 Ill.2d at 77, 262 Ill.Dec. 854, 767 N.E.2d 314, quoting Frye, 293 F. at 1014. The court further noted that a Frye hearing is required only if the scientific principle, technique, or test is new or novel. Generally, this means that the test or technique is original or striking or does not resemble something formerly known or used. Donaldson, 199 Ill.2d at 78-79, 262 Ill.Dec. 854, 767 N.E.2d 314. The trial court here seemed to apply what has been called the  Frye -plus-reliability test ( Donaldson, 199 Ill.2d at 81, 262 Ill.Dec. 854, 767 N.E.2d 314), in which the trial court first determines whether a particular technique or methodology is generally accepted in the relevant scientific field. If the court determines that it is generally accepted, the court then considers whether it is reliable. This court clarified in Donaldson that this standard is not the standard to be applied in Illinois. The determination of the reliability of an expert's methodology is naturally subsumed by the inquiry into whether it is generally accepted in the scientific community. Donaldson, 199 Ill.2d at 80-81, 262 Ill.Dec. 854, 767 N.E.2d 314. Thus, the trial court erred in its Frye analysis. The trial court found that the GSS is generally accepted in the field of psychology. A finding of reliability is therefore subsumed in that conclusion. The State does not contest the trial court's finding that the GSS is generally accepted in the field of psychology; however, it argues that any error was harmless because defendant failed to establish that the methods of interrogation used by Guilfoyle and Ruettiger would have induced him to change his story. Thus, the results of the GSS were irrelevant in defendant's case. For example, the State contends that defendant did not establish that the detectives yelled at him or used other coercive tactics and it notes that he started confessing within an hour of the start of the interrogation. The State also observes that many elements of defendant's confession were confirmed by the forensic evidence and could not have been suggested to him by the officers. It notes that the cause of Eric's death was not determined until the autopsy was performed, due to the extensive fire damage to the body. Thus, the detectives could not have suggested to defendant that Eric had been killed by a crowbar. Evidence is relevant if it tends to prove a fact in controversy or render a matter in issue more or less probable. In re A.W., 231 Ill.2d 241, 256, 325 Ill.Dec. 194, 897 N.E.2d 733 (2008). We agree with the State that defendant failed to meet his burden of showing the relevance of the GSS. In addition to the observations made by the State above, we note that the evidence also confirmed defendant's statements about setting fire to Sara's bed, Eric's recliner, and the clothing on the floor between the bodies of Harold and Jean. Defendant's statements also confirmed evidence concerning the location of the bodies in the upstairs of the house. Defendant argues, however, that Guilfoyle and Ruettiger visited the crime scene and spoke to evidence technicians prior to talking to defendant. Defendant contends the detectives learned the location of the bodies prior to questioning him. He argues they also learned that Sara had been beaten about the head and that it was reasonable for them to generalize that the other victims had been similarly killed. Defendant notes that the detectives were unaware of the stab wounds to Harold and Jean and that defendant's omission of the stabbings suggests that he, too, was unaware of them. Defendant's citations to the record, however, do not support his claim that the detectives learned these facts when they visited the crime scene. Guilfoyle testified that he and Ruettiger went into the basement and saw Sara's body on her bed. They also observed fire damage that was done to the room and a rifle near her bed. The detectives were unable to view other areas of the house due to the instability of the upstairs floor in the aftermath of the fire. Thus, they did not know the locations or condition of the other bodies. Guilfoyle also testified that the evidence technician he spoke with suggested that Sara may have been killed by a gunshot wound to the head, based on the fact that a rifle was found near her bed. It was for this reason that the detectives requested defendant to submit to a gun powder residue test prior to questioning him. For these reasons, we conclude that, although the trial court erred in its Frye analysis, this error was harmless.