Jamie Skeeters, Famed Polygraph Expert Being Sued by Kalpoe Brothers, Passes Away

On January 24, 2007 Jamie Skeeters died suddenly while still in his seat on a connecting flight in Memphis, Tennessee.

While his notable career spans decades, he was recently in the news when he was named in a lawsuit brought by Deepak and Satish Kalpoe alleging libel and slander. The brothers are long-standing suspects in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Dr. Phil McGraw and CBS Television Distribution Group were named in the lawsuit along with Skeeters.

Jamie Skeeters was hired by Dr. Phil as an investigator to travel to Aruba in a search for answers in the Holloway case. During his investigation, Skeeters interviewed suspect Deepak Kalpoe, an interview which he recorded. In the conversation, Kalpoe admits to having sex with Natalee, something he had never admitted in any his multiple meetings with police.

The taped conversation was played on an episode of The Dr. Phil Show which aired last season. The episode also featured Dr. Phil's interview with Beth Holloway Twitty, Natalee's mother.

While it was a significant revelation of information, The Kalpoes claim that The Dr. Phil Show altered portions of the recording to "create false, incriminating, and defamatory statements that the plaintiffs engaged in criminal activity against Natalee Holloway," the lawsuit stated. The suit also alleges that the conversation between Jamie Skeeters and Deepak Kalpoe was secretly recorded, which Skeeters has denied.
Dr. Phil and the show executives deny all the allegations and say they stand by the integrity of the show and its editing process.

Of the recent controversy over the Kalpoe tape and the question of whether or not the tape could be clearly heard, Skeeters had this to say: My old grandmother can even hear what was said on those tapes."

It is unknown how the untimely death of Mr. Skeeters will affect the pending lawsuit. And there have, of course, been questions raised by suspicious people as to the nature of his death. No details have been released as of yet regarding official cause of death. Though there has also been speculation about the possibility of a blood clot, since this can sometimes occur with older individuals during air travel.

Jamie Skeeters was the president of CAPE (California Association of Polygraph Examiners) and an expert in the field of law enforcement with over two decades of experience. A former marine and decorated police officer, he is survived by his wife, Kay of twenty-five years.
He was loved and admired by many, especially by those in his field. Those who remember him considered him a colorful and interesting character, and a brilliant detective.