The fact that polygraph test results are not admissible in a court of law has not deterred an ongoing debate about the significance or lack thereof of the test results in this case.

Jeffrey MacDonald
Polygraph expert John Reid administered a polygraph exam to MacDonald in the spring of 1970.  The test results were deemed inconclusive and MacDonald told interviewer Jeffrey Elliott that the results were due to the fact that he was "frantic with worry."  Several weeks later, polygraph expert Cleve Backster administered a polygraph exam to MacDonald. Backster concluded that MacDonald had flunked the exam.  In 1985, polygraph expert David Raskin administered a polygraph exam to MacDonald in prison.  Raskin concluded that MacDonald had passed the exam. MacDonald also refused to take a polygraph exam for the CID in 1970, and in 1973, a friend of MacDonald’s approached famed attorney Vincent Bugliosi to inquire about Bugliosi representing MacDonald. One of Bugliosi’s stipulations was that MacDonald take a polygraph exam. MacDonald’s refusal to take a polygraph exam coupled with information gathered about the Government’s case against MacDonald, resulted in Bugliosi refusing to represent MacDonald.

Helena Stoeckley
In 1971, CID polygraph expert Robert Brisentine administered a polygraph exam to Stoeckley.  He concluded that Stoeckley believed that she was present at the crime scene, but added that the results were inconclusive due to Stoeckley's excessive drug use.  In 1980, polygraph expert Scott Mero administered three separate polygraph exams to Stoeckley.  Mero concluded that Stoeckley flunked one exam and passed the other two.

Greg Mitchell
In 1971, CID polygraph expert Robert Brisentine administered a polygraph exam to Mitchell.  Brisentine concluded that Mitchell passed the exam.

Bruce Fowler
In 1971, CID polygraph expert Robert Brisentine administered a polygraph exam to Fowler. Brisentine concluded that Fowler passed the exam. During her polygraph exam, Helena Stoeckley told Brisentine that Fowler’s wife accompanied the Stoeckley group to 544 Castle Drive. Brisentine subsequently administered a polygraph exam to Janice Fowler. He concluded that Mrs. Fowler passed the exam.