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Sheila Queralt is her name. By profession, Sheila is a Linguist.
But if you are thinking of committing crime in Barcelona, her home town, or anywhere in Spain – whether it be violence or fraud, be warned – Sheila will be coming after you!
Helena Jubily was murdered by a 27-year old librarian in 2001. It seemed that the case would not be solved.
Helena received threats on her mobile.
Sabadell was the site of her naked and burned body found on 2 September 2001.
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She had been drank, and then thrown down from a roof.
Police suspected a couple – he was called Santiago, and she was Montse – of having something to do with Helena’s killing, but proof was thin on the ground.
Montse was brought in to be questioned. Montse’s suicide in custody was a shock to all.
They only had the information that Helena, Montse, and Santiago were all members of the same hiking group.
The judge dismissed the case for lack of evidence.
Enter Sheila.
She studied the text linguistically.
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She was able show that someone else had used Montse’s phone. This person used Catalan slang, which Montse would never use when texting.
Santiago had Montse’s mobile phone.
Santiago was arrested and the case reopened.
Sheila was able to prove in court that the slang he used was the same as the language of the threats.
It was only two weeks ago. The police in Sabadell now feel confident that Helena will be treated fairly at her upcoming trial.
Though she hasn’t yet attained the age of 40, Sheila Queralt is recognised as an international authority in forensic linguistics – the science of catching criminals by using their own words against them.
She is the owner of the only Spanish company dedicated to this type of work.
She finds it fascinating. One day I could be catching a killer, the next day proving a student had stolen text from a textbook and dishonestly inserted it in her doctoral thesis.
Her knowledge is neatly summarized: “Criminals are able to use words as a form of intimidation or bribery.” I show you how they did it.”
Queralt defends the innocent and corners the guilty equally.
“I am not motivated by money,” she said, “but by ethical values.”
I am always available to help anyone who is accused of doing something they did not do.
Óscar can thank Sheila for his freedom.
He spent two years in prison in Italy after being wrongfully accused of drug trafficking. His family contacted Queralt.
Sheila demonstrated that although the Italian translation software could translate Spanish, it wasn’t able distinguish between different accents.
“There are subtleties of language that computers can’t detect.”
Óscar was definitely not the drug dealer who spoke on the phone,” says Sheila.
She does civil cases, too.
Analyzing the contract of some workers unfairly dismissed in Badajoz she was able to win 1.8 million Euros.
Sheila has been awarded for her impressive achievements and has written numerous books.
She received the Silver Badge of Spanish Society of Criminology and Forensic Sciences in 2023.
The title of one of her books is “Cornered by words”.
“A person from Córdoba doesn’t speak or write exactly like someone from Málaga, even though they are both andaluces,” she explains.
“You wouldn’t say the same thing to your grandfather as you would with your brother.
“It’s these small differences that make me what I am.”
When asked to summarize it all, she said, “It’s about the ego.”
A fraudster who’s trying to scam you will – unconsciously – try to convince you that he (or she) is intelligent, so they will use a lot of unusual adverbs, like ‘subtly’ or ‘cordially’.
“When I see such words, I know that I am on to them.”
We ask Sheila, if she makes money from catching criminals.
She answers with a pause, then says “Let me just say that it’s more profitable to compile dictionaries!”
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