In the words of Dale Myers, "This is the first computer study to examine Abraham Zapruder's filmed record in three-dimensions, allowing precise measurements of the motion recorded on film. In essence, this computer study allows us to examine the actual event with an incredible degree of accuracy never before possible. In addition, the dimensional nature of this project presents the opportunity to test various theories against the facts of the shooting as revealed by this study." Myers has created two computer studies, the first, Secrets of a Homicide, Research Edition, is a video that has been on sale since 1994, and a slicker version that was shown in November 2003 on ABC television, Peter Jennings Reporting: The Kennedy Assassination. Beyond Conspiracy.

Trick 1: Delaying Kennedy's First Reaction to Coincide with Connally's by Falsifying Z-224

Dale Myers was confronted with realities that disprove the single bullet theory: timing and geometry: we start with timing. According to Myers, his words and his animation, the two men are hit at Z-223, and both react at Z-225. But the real Zapruder film shows that (a) John Kennedy and Governor John Connally react to bullets at separate times, and (b) the shots were too close together to have come from one man firing a Mannlicher-Carcano. The film shows the accuracy of these two quotes:

"...the thought immediately passed through my mind that there were either two or three people involved... or someone was shooting with an automatic rifle... because of the rapidity of these two, of the first shot plus the blow that I took..." Governor John Connally's testimony before the Warren Commission. (4 WCH133) (Emphasis mine.)

"You would think if Connally had been hit at the same time [as Kennedy, he] would have reacted in the same way, and not reacted much later as these pictures show." (Warren Commissioner Allen Dulles) (5 WCH 155) (Emphasis mine.)

Myers rolled these two shots into one by delaying Kennedy's first reaction (Trick 1), and accelerating Connally's (Trick 2). (The remaining tricks concern geometry.)

The first indications on the Zapruder film that Kennedy had been hit are subtle. Many believe the moment comes just before he disappears behind the Stemmons sign. His previously waving right hand freezes, as if he were about to deliver a karate chop. He then seems to hunch down, and bring his right hand close to his face as if covering a cough. His features, unlike those of everyone else in these frames, become indistinct. It is not hard to believe that he has been hit by this time, but Dale Myers has another explanation for his behavior. From his article in Video Toaster User, November, 1994 (VTU) "The House Select Committee on Assassinations interpreted the blurry images between Z-189 and Z-197 as an indication that JFK had been shot... It appeared... that JFK's right hand 'froze' at this point. However, the computer re-creation reveals something else -- a sharp, abrupt continuation of JFK's turn to his right... it is clear that the president was tracking the women at curbside." Tracking women?

When Kennedy comes into view again, at Z-224, the ambiguity is gone: he has been hit. He is turned to his left. Only a sliver of face shows, his profile. His left arm is up, his elbow is out, and his left hand has become a fist and is near his face. The fingers of his right hand are curled, as if he is clawing the air.

This one frame destroys the single bullet theory: it shows JFK already reacting at a time when John Connally is not.

Dale Myers plants a smile on Kennedy's face, and transforms the left fist into a waving right hand, and the left hand is passive. Apparently Myers believes that although you can see hands in that frame, you are unaware of what they are doing and, therefore, would not notice this revision.

As you can see from the above, there are two frames representing Myers's fictionalized Z-224. This is because he converted the 18 frames per second Zapruder film to 30 frames per second. Myers's description of the action: "When JFK emerges from behind the sign (Z-224 to Z-225), his arms change from a smooth, gradual downward motion to a radically quick, jerking upward motion." (VTU) This is nonsense. There was no "change" when JFK came back into view; he was already reacting to the bullet.

Myers was not the first to resort to chicanery in dealing with this troublesome image in Z-224. John Lattimer, a urologist who has played the role of "independent" researcher since 1964, simply covered up the offending frame when he published a sequence of stills from the film. On top of Kennedy's hands, he superimposed a photo inset of the single bullet itself, Commission Exhibit 399. This trick is demonstrated in the computerized drawing below. (Lattimer, J.K. Additional data on the shooting of President Kennedy. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1993; 269(12):1544-1547, p.1545.)

John Lattimer has several more tricks of his own, but they will be revealed in a separate section of this website.

To be continued.