[Tommy]

Before answering my own question, let me state that I am not married and have no "significant other," so my question was entirely hypothetical for discussion. It seems to me this is a no win situation in which the choice is between two bad options. If an innocent person secures the services of a lawyer and restricts conversation with police, it would seem to increase suspicion by the police, family, friends and neighbors. Further, even talking with a friend or family member could turn out to be a recorded conversation that might be taken out of context by police or prosecutors. On the other hand, if in an all out effort to help authorities find the missing spouse, the innocent person answers all questions candidly and without reservations, he/she could be helping the police build a case against him/her. In my opinion, I'd rather lose suspicious friends and family than end up wrongly convicted and in jail. So I would reluctantly secure the services of an attorney.

It makes me wonder how many of these guilty looking people who get attorneys after their spouses go missing are actually innocent.