Handwriting Analysis of DC Madam’s Suicide Notes

by

David Riffey

On May 1st 2008, so called DC Madam Deborah Jean Palfrey was discovered hanging in a storage shed at her mother s mobile home in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Two suicide notes were found.

The Pinellas County Sheriff s Department has stated officially that it was a suicide and made the notes public. The Sheriff s Department says that her mother and sister examined the suicide notes and say that they are Deborah s handwriting.

As a Certified Handwriting Analyst, my training experience includes studying writing found on suicide notes. The normal suicide note exhibits personality traits that are emotional dynamics of a suicide state. Depression, low self esteem, moodiness, and impulsiveness disclose a person who may act in a self destructive manor. It is the combination of such traits that tell the hidden tale of what was going through their mind when they penned the note.

There are a couple limiting factors to my analysis. I do not have use of the original notes. Without them, I am unable to discern the depth of pressure in the writing. Pressure indicates the passion and drive in the personality. Heavy pressured writing would show someone who has a challenge letting go of emotional hurt. In this examination, the letters seem relatively heavy, but I can t be totally sure. I also do not have a sample of Palfrey s handwriting to see how she normally wrote.

There is an overlapping of letters on each other, especially the y-loops. This shows confusion of interests. Too many pans in the fire

Block printing the hiding expression of true emotions in the writing. Often a sign of trouble, especially if other traits are found.

There are not many lower case letters but the few that can be measured have a emotionally expressive slant. This person shows her feelings, tends to be moody and impulsive. But this alone is not something that would cause someone to commit suicide.

There are only a few lower case t s. They have low t-bars. The height of the t-bar crossing the t-stem is a general measure of the writer s self esteem. The t-bars are low, some have the bar dropping down to the baseline which is the bottom of the letters.

In the Palfrey s notes, there was no indication of depression. Depression is seen by the downward slant of a line of words. Optimism on the other hand is revealed in upward slanting words, such as the word Mom in the greeting on the mom-note.

The o s are open and well formed. This means that the writer is a frank speaker. No lying or self-deception are indicated.

Many of the y s have large lower loops extending into the words underneath. Large lower loops indicate strong physical imagination. Lots of energy in the physical life. Desire for travel, physical activity. People with large y-loops often have powerful sex drives. This is an interesting aspect. I have analyzed handwriting in autographs of porn stars and was surprised to find small or incomplete y-loops. Meaning very little real interest in sex, or even feeling frustration in that area. This is a generalization but sex workers often have no real interest in sex. They are really in it for the money.

Y-loops that overlap on other words often indicate promiscuity. They have too many irons in the fire . Relationships with several people at the same time. Life is convoluted for them. It also shows a problem with setting personal boundaries.

The “K” in the word know in the first sentence of the Mom note is bigger than normal. This is a rebellious go to Hell trait typical in self employed business people. They don’t like taking orders.

Hooks at the end of many strokes are the desire to acquire. These people like material things. They are stimulated by money. They often are collectors. They may have closets full of shoes. Material things were very important to her.

Bottom line for me there is no clear indication of a suicidal state in the handwriting. There are some problems but not to the extreme usually found in a suicide note. The phrasing is very casual. If it was not for the circumstances surrounding the notes and what is being talked about, I would almost think it was someone saying she was going away on vacation for a while. Bye Mom, I m going away for a while. See you later.

Regardless of the circumstances of her death, I know that this is a difficult time for her loved ones. I am sorry for your loss and pray that you find peace and healing.

———-

David Riffey

Certified Handwriting Analyst

www.moneytalksmagazine.com

David Riffey is a Certified Handwriting Analyst and Freelance Copywriter living in St. Petersburg, Florida. www.moneytalksmagazine.com

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Handwriting Analysis of DC Madam’s Suicide Notes