Billie Dunn Case: Statement Analysis

by Peter Hyatt and Kaaryn Gough

Does unity between Billie Dunn and Shawn Adkins exist today?  

Are they still co conspirators or have they turned on one another?

We read that attorney John Young said that Billie Dunn will not be giving any interviews, yet that is exactly what she did.  Does this indicate anything about the remains found?
Does she have the need to talk because it is Hailey?
Does she have the confidence to talk because it is not Hailey?  We look for any indication within her words.  

Pronouns do not lie; they are instinctive.  We use pronouns from the earliest days of speech and after using them millions of times, we are completely proficient in their use:  we do not make mistakes. 

"I still have really bad days. It's been two years and it never gets easy. Some days it's easier to pretend it's not going on,” said Dunn.

We've seen pictures of the days when Billie found it easier to pretend its "not going on" 
We do not hear of empathy for what Hailey may be going through in the last two years. 

We note the nouns and pronouns used:

December 27th 2010.... It was the last time Billie Dunn ever saw her then 13 year old daughter Hailey.

Please note that it is 9PM on December 26th, 2010, not the 27th. 

"Telling her it was time to sit down and eat Christmas dinner, she likes to eat like any country girl does...and then I saw her the next morning in her bed,” said Dunn.

Note the missing pronoun.
The tension over Christmas has been noted in previous statements.  Here, we find that she uses the body posture of sitting down in her recall.  When body posture is used, it is often an indication of an increase in tension.

She is "her" and "she" and "country girl", but not Hailey.   We note when she uses the name "Hailey" and when she doesn't.  We also note the frequency.  We note any terms of endearment, or nicknames for Hailey.  

"I can't quit thinking about it and wondering, what if it is her? It's been really tough. It's been a few days now I don't know when it’s going to end and when I’m going to get some answers. I was kind of expecting an answer from dental records yesterday, but if they're not able to use the dental records because Hailey only had one picture one view, we'll be waiting for two to three weeks,” said Dunn.

Note that she says "when" 

Note "what if its her?"  This is in the form of a question and it shows the unknown "if" it is her.  What is unknown?
The expected is that if it is her, the searching comes to an end, and the question of whether she is alive or dead comes to an end.  There is a certain element of finality in finding the body and it leaves "who done it?" only.
Here, however, she asks, "What if it is her?"
What is this question?  Does she wonder to herself:
Will I be charged?
Will Shawn be charged?
Will I be arrested?
Will Shawn be arrested?
Will Shawn make a deal?
Should I make a deal?  Should I attempt to blame Shawn since he will turn on me?
Will I be convicted?  Casey Anthony got away with it, could I?

What if it is Hailey is an open-ended question that only the subject can answer. 

Note that she wants "some answers" and not "the answer"; "the answer" would be that it is Hailey: she is dead, yet it is that she wants "some" answers (plural) and not "all" answers.  This indicates that there are some questions she does not need answers to. 

here we find the use of the name "Hailey" while speaking of the dentist.  

Regarding "can't quit:

"I can't quit thinking about it and wondering, what if it is her.  

"I can't quit thinking about it and wondering…”—not, “it’s all I can think about”. Sentence in the negative=very important to subject and sensitive.

"I can't quit thinking about it and wondering…”—“can’t” indicates the subject has tried but failed.

"I can't quit thinking about it and wondering…”—“ “quit” speaks to addiction.

"I can't quit thinking about it and wondering…”—“it” not “Hailey”. What is “it”?  Why would the subject call her "it" and not "Hailey"?  

"I can't quit thinking about it and wondering, what if it is her.”—“wondering” suggests there are multiple possibilities present that are “unknown”. One can only “wonder” if there’s no definite direction or conclusion. What would the subject be wondering?

"I can't quit thinking about it and wondering, what if it is her.”—not, “…and wondering if it is her” The inclusion of“what if” changes the focus to ‘what will happen next?’—in other words, what will happen if the remains are Hailey’s.

“"I can't quit thinking about it and wondering, what if it is her.”—not, “Hailey”  

Life since:  
"It's been utter chaos. It's just been a mess knowing my daughter's not here. There's so much I’m missing out on. I see people in the stores all the time, moms and daughters… and the daughter’s throwing a fit because she's not getting what she wants. That should be me and my daughter arguing over what shoes she’s going to get or what car I’m going to buy her…. I’m missing out on so much,” said Dunn.

Note the focus is on her, and not upon Hailey; not upon what Hailey went through or may be going through.  Narcissistic lack of empathy for what Hailey suffered. What is Hailey missing out on?
Her academic career?
Cheerleading?
Prom?
Nothing is mentioned about Hailey, only about what she is missing.  The expected is that a mother would be full of fear over what her child has gone through and may be going through. 

Bilie Dunn and Shawn Adkins were both named "Persons of Interest"

Is there still a conspiracy of unity between Shawn Adkins and Billie Dunn?  Even while carefully watching her words:  Pronouns do not lie. The word "we" shows unity and cooperation:

"We have no contact whatsoever and haven't in a long time and I don't want any contact with him. When I finally did get him to move out he started harassing me badly. I saw another side of Shawn. He harassed me day-in and day-out, at work, at home….cussing me, threatening me...” said Dunn.

That she can use the pronoun "we" in connection to him, adding the word "whatsoever" (sensitivity) indicates contact and unity with him.  Note that he is "Shawn", first name. 

on Adkins' guilt:  

"I think it's a possibility, a good possibility. after seeing the way he reacted when we broke up and I think back to what local law enforcement had told me and been trying to tell me. I just thought it wasn't true,” said Dunn.

The unity of their deception continues.  The use of the word "we" shows, even in breaking up, there is unity and cooperation.  

What about those suspect her in any way? 

This is the perfect place for her to deny involvement: 

“As much as we say we hate each other - and I try not to say hate cause it's such a strong word- but I hate the guy, and people are still saying maybe he did something and I knew about it. I think it's ridiculous. I’ve got such bigger things going on with my daughter missing,” said Dunn.

Note that in the first sentence, she uses the word "we" twice, regarding herself and Shawn Adkins. This shows a unity between her and Adkins even if not romantically involved. They are in unity and in communication. The guilt of one is tied to the other. 

We have seen the things on her mind in the past two years. 

“How much I love her and want her home so bad… how beautiful she is and how happy I am to see her. I would never let her go."

The only use of the word "Hailey" is when she was alive, at the dentist.  All other quotes avoid using the name, yet she calls Shawn Adkins by his first name, generously using the word "we"

"That pain is always there, and every time a body is found, I'm scared to death that it's her all the time," Dunn said. "I'm looking for answers and closure, but then again, when a body is found, I'm praying it's not her."

Doing the math, this indicates that there are two times she has been scared to death.  
As previously written, it may be that Adkins dumped the body without telling BJD exactly where, but there have only been two bodies found since Hailey went missing and this is the only body in Scurry County, where Shawn said she would be found.