“Magic Words”: Why Your Confession Might Stick Even If the Police Threatened Your Wife

By: John Guidry

Truth is a funny thing. Everyone thinks they’ve got it. For a hardcore materialist, it doesn’t matter how believable an “experience” may be—it’s not real unless it can be verified. Love is tough to prove. Pain is tough to prove.

So, if there is such a thing as “truth” floating around out there, how do we find it in the criminal justice system? We often rely on Confessions. If a suspect admits to the crime, that’s the truth, right? Not always. If the confession comes after 10 hours of threats and promises, can you really trust it?

Did the police threaten to arrest your family if you didn’t confess?

That is coercion. Call John today at (407) 423-1117.

The “90 Day Fiancé” Problem

There is a TV show that is built on a promise, and this promise makes you question what is true. 90 Day Fiancé. The premise is simple: An American promises a foreigner U.S. citizenship (a Green Card) if they get married within 90 days.

• The Question: Is the foreigner marrying the American because they are truly in love? Or are they doing it for the Green Card?
• The Reality: The massive promise (citizenship) taints the truth. You can never be 100% sure of their motives.

The legal system used to understand this. The rule in Florida has long been:

“It is well-settled that statements obtained through direct or implied promises are involuntary and, thus, inadmissible at trial.” — Ramirez v. State (2009).

Basically, if the cops promise you something huge (like freedom for your wife), your confession is considered “tainted,” just like the love in 90 Day Fiancé.

The Case: Teachman v. State (The Trap)

In Teachman v. State, 261 So. 3d 657 (Fla. 1st DCA 2019), the courts forgot this lesson.

• The Threat: Teachman was accused of a serious crime. During interrogation, the police told him that his wife was going to be arrested too and his children would be left with no parents.
• The Promise: The detective threw him a lifeline: “I think you can tell me the truth to keep her out of trouble… The kids have got to have somebody.”

Teachman confessed. In any normal world, this is an Involuntary Confession. He only confessed to save his wife and kids.

The Twist: At the very end of the interrogation, the officer asked a standard “clean up” question:

“Did I make you any promises in exchange for this statement?”

Teachman, likely defeated and just wanting it to be over, said “No.”

The Ruling: You Didn’t Say the “Magic Words”

Because Teachman said “No” to that final question, the Appeals Court ruled that his confession was Voluntary.

• The Logic: The Court said that because Teachman didn’t explicitly say, “I am confessing right now solely because you promised not to arrest my wife,” there was no “causal link” between the promise and the confession.

This is a new, dangerous rule. The Court essentially requires a traumatized defendant to speak like a lawyer. They want you to wave a wand and recite: “I made this confession in exchange for your promise to release my wife.” If you don’t say those magic words, the threats don’t count.

John’s 2026 Update: The “Clean Up” Question Defense

Note: Police know exactly what they are doing when they ask, “Did we promise you anything?” It is a trap designed to erase their earlier threats.

1. The “Clean Up” Trap In 2026, almost every interrogation ends with the “Clean Up” questions:

• “Have we treated you fairly?”
• “Did we promise you anything?”
• “Are you doing this of your own free will?” The Strategy: Police ask these after the coercion is over. They know you are compliant now. Our Defense: We argue that your “No” answer was just part of the submission. If they broke your will to get the confession, they also broke your will to answer the clean-up questions honestly.

2. Body Cam “Nexus” Proof In Teachman, the court looked for a verbal link. Today, we look for a Temporal Link.

• If the video shows the cop saying, “Your wife is going to jail,” and you confess 30 seconds later, we argue the link is obvious. We don’t need you to say the magic words; the timestamp on the video proves the cause and effect.

3. False Confession Expert Testimony We now use Forensic Psychologists to testify at suppression hearings.

• They explain to the judge that suspects often deny being coerced while they are being coerced because they are afraid the officer will revoke the deal if they complain. We use science to explain why a defendant would answer “No” to the promise question.

Don’t Fall for the “Help Your Family” Trick

If an officer tells you that confessing will “help” your wife or kids, they are manipulating you. Do not believe the promise, and certainly don’t confess based on it.

Call me at (407) 423-1117. Let’s protect your family the right way.

About John Guidry II

John Guidry II is a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founder of the Law Firm of John P. Guidry II, P.A., located in downtown Orlando next to the Orange County Courthouse, where he has practiced for over 30 years. With more than three decades of experience defending clients throughout Central Florida since 1993, Guidry has successfully defended thousands of cases in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties. He has built a reputation for his strategic approach to criminal defense, focusing on pretrial motions and case dismissals rather than jury trials.

Guidry earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in 1993. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of Florida state criminal charges, with a particular emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes through thorough pretrial preparation and motion practice.

Beyond the courtroom, Guidry is a prolific legal educator who has authored over 400 articles on criminal defense topics. He shares his legal expertise through his popular YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, where he has built a substantial following of people eager to learn about the law. His educational content breaks down complex legal concepts into accessible information for the general public.

When not practicing law, Guidry enjoys tennis and pickleball, and loves to travel. Drawing from his background as a former recording studio owner and music video producer in the Orlando area, he brings a creative perspective to his legal practice and continues to apply his passion for video production to his educational content.