Saturday, January 29, 2000 - 10:30 a.m.

This witness, unavailable due to school scheduling conflicts until January 29, 2000, was interviewed in her home located at 818 Country Club Circle, Oxford. As stated, by her father, Carl Dixon, the witness has taken the death of Mr. Beauchamp quite hard and is upset. Witness looks as though she has been crying and lacks sleep but insists she can go through with the interview.

TA = Detective Ted Armstrong
KD = Katherine Dixon

TA: For the record, would you state your full name and address?

KD: Katherine Jacqueline Dixon, 818 Country Club Circle, Oxford, Mississippi.

TA: Ms. Dixon, we have several questions regarding events leading up to the death of Devlin Beauchamp. Do you feel able to answer our questions at this time?

KD: My broken heart will not mend any time soon. What point is there in putting it off?

TA: I see your point. Can you tell me where you were Saturday, January 15, 2000 between the hours of 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.?

KD: I was home, asleep.

TA: What time did you arrive home, the night of the 15th?

KD: About 10 p.m. I had planned to be away for the whole weekend, visiting friends in Jackson. But I wasn't feeling well, so I came home.

TA: When did you leave Oxford for Jackson?

KD: Late Friday afternoon, after my last class. I guess it was about 4:30.

TA: That would have been on January 14, 2000?

KD: Yes.

TA: When did you leave Jackson to return to Oxford?

KD: I would say it was about 8 p.m. To be honest, I don't often wear a watch so I am not absolutely sure. Margie and Jodie and I spent the day shopping and lunching and gossiping. I suppose I could have stayed another night but, as I said, I wasn't feeling well. Guess I had a touch of the flu that's been going around.

TA: Margie and Jodie who?

KD: Margie Jones and Jodie Beckmeire. They live in Jackson on Missouri Street...195. We all went to school together, then they moved down to Jackson after high school graduation. Though for the life of me, why they'd go to work at the WalMart... oh my, I am rambling, ain't I?

TA: They can corroborate your story?

KD: My story? They can vouch for me, if that's what you mean?

TA: Yes, ma'am, that's what I mean. And you returned home because you felt ill, is that correct?

KD: Well, I don't know... ill, maybe just exhausted. Spring Semester started last week and I was just wiped out I guess... getting back in the swing of classes and all. I didn't even work that week because it was so hectic.

TA: I see. So you arrived home at 10 p.m. on January 15th? What did you do then?

KD: I don't know. I came in, put down my suitcase and ran a bath, I think. After my bath, I tried to wait up for Daddy but I guess I was too tired and drifted off.

TA: Did you see your father that night?

KD: Not exactly. I mean, I woke up when he came home. I turned on my light and was going to get up, but he called out and said not to get up. Frankly, I didn't have the energy anyway. So I called out good night and turned out the light and went back to sleep.

TA: When did you get up the next morning?

KD: I guess it was about 8, there was an exercise class I wanted to go to. I got up, threw on my clothes, looked in on Daddy.

TA: Your father? Was he awake?

KD: No, he was sound asleep. He looked so tired, I thought he must've needed the rest because he is usually up by then. So, I turned the ringer off on his phone, since I knew somebody from the restaurant would find a reason to call him and wake him.

TA: Why would they do that?

KD: Because they have been doing it for the last seven years. Why would it stop now? That's how restaurants are, always some stupid emergency. Never become a restaurant owner, Detective. It will rule your life.

TA: So you turned off the ringer on the phone and left?

KD: Yes, I did.

TA: You only have one phone?

KD: You mean one phone line? Yes, that's right. I have a cell phone, but Daddy doesn't believe in them.

TA: How many extensions on the one phone line?

KD: One in the kitchen and one in Daddy's bedroom. It was his ringer I turned off, if that's what you're getting at, Detective.

TA: Yes miss, it was. So, you turned the ringer off on your father's phone and then...?

KD: Yes, I went to the class. Do you want the teacher's name or the people who saw me there?

TA: Is it the class down at the high school?

KD: Yes it is.

TA: We know how to contact the folks down there, so don't trouble yourself. When did you actually see your father again?

KD: Later that afternoon. I went by the restaurant because I was hungry and I wanted to see if Daddy was there, thought maybe we could have lunch together. And my father was having the meeting....

TA: He was telling the staff about Mr. Beauchamp?

KD: Yes sir... I just couldn't believe it. I was so... I still don't believe it. I feel like any minute he's gonna walk through that door and whistle and say, "Hey Kat, what's cooking?"

TA: So, you weren't aware of Mr. Beauchamp's death until you heard your father telling your fellow employees?

KD: That's correct.

TA: And you hadn't worked at the restaurant since...?

KD: January 7th. I was scheduled to go back to work on January 21st.

TA:Had you noticed any strange or unusual behavior on the part of Mr. Beauchamp?

KD: No. Well, yes... a little. He seemed quieter than usual. Dev could really fill up a room with his laughter and his jokes... When he was quiet, you did notice it.

TA: Did he mention any problems he was having, to you?

KD: He told me there was some woman from his past, Natalie Poster, or Paster or something... was bothering him. He said he might call the police... or was it an attorney?

TA: In what way was she bothering him?

KD: He didn't really say. You know women become enamored of him easily. I guess I just assumed she was following him or something like that. Annoying him, you know?

TA: Do you know if he did contact the police and/or an attorney?

KD: He never said.

TA: Anyone else he was having problems with?

KD: I think his brother was driving him to distraction. He's a writer. Jordan Rodale... heard of him?

TA: I am aware he is Mr. Beauchamp's brother.

KD: I mean his books... historic novels... The Romances of George Washington, and there were others. Anyway, he's all charming on those talk shows, but Dev said he could be a real bitch if he wanted something.

TA: What did Mr. Rodale want?

KD: Something of Dev's. Something his mother left him I think... he never said exactly.

TA: Mr. Beauchamp seems to have confided quite a bit in you.

KD: We were smitten with one another.

TA: You were?

KD: Well, I know Dev down played it because of Daddy. He didn't approve. But I knew in time, it would be out in the open...

TA: You had a relationship with Mr. Devlin?

KD: Well, of course...

TA: Excuse me, you had a sexual relationship with Mr. Beauchamp?

KD: Well, it was heading in that direction. If somebody hadn't... if he was... oh my, what will I do without him?

TA: Ms. Dixon, we have been told by other witnesses that, in fact, you wanted a relationship with Mr. Beauchamp but that none existed.

KD: I'll bet I know just who said that terrible thing to you. I'll bet it was Mickie Webster. She is such a jealous, insecure woman that she would lie to make her own mother look guilty.

TA: What makes you say she is jealous?

KD: Any time Dev talked to anybody, she was always there, lurking in the shadows, pretending not to listen. But you just knew she was!

TA: Was there any time that she...

KD: Whenever they were in the restaurant at the same time, she was practically attached at the hip to him.

TA: Did they argue, at the restaurant, to your knowledge?

KD: I never saw them argue. They were wrong for each other. Dev figured that out pretty quick.

TA: How long did Mr. Beauchamp see Ms. Webster?

KD: Couldn't have been more than 6 months.

TA: I see. And after the break up, were there any problems?

KD: It was tense, you could cut the air with a knife. She always looked like she was going to cry or something. He just tried to stay away from her.

TA: Ms. Webster seems to think they had a friendly break up and that they were friends.

KD: Only because Dev wouldn't turn anyone away, no matter how pathetic they were. Because he had such a big heart.

TA: Isn't it true that Mr. Beauchamp also rejected you, Ms. Dixon? And that it made you angry and bitter?

KD: It was because of Daddy. He didn't want there to be trouble between them. I understood. We had to just bide our time. That's why I never told Daddy about that letter...

TA: What letter?

KD: Seemed like a lawyer was saying something about making big changes in the restaurant. But Daddy wasn't mentioned. I got upset about it. I confronted Dev about it, and he explained it to me, that it was just somebody making an offer. That people made offers all the time and it didn't mean he was even going to consider it.

TA: Where did you see this letter?

KD: In the office at the restaurant, it was just sitting on Dev's desk....

TA: Out in the open?

KD: Not completely...

TA: Did your father ever find out about the letter?

KD: Not from me. I kept Dev's secret.

TA: I thought he said it didn't mean anything.

KD: Maybe it did and maybe it didn't. I guess I just wanted to believe him, you know what I mean? When you're in love...

TA: Do you know what happened to the letter? Did Mr. Beauchamp throw it away, file it, put it in the safe?

KD: He crumpled it up and threw it in the trash - right in front of me.

TA: Did it stay there?

KD: Pardon?

TA: Did you go back later and take the letter out and say... keep it? Put it somewhere?

KD: To be perfectly honest, I did go back. But the trash had been emptied and I didn't think I could explain my fishing around in the dumpster out back.

TA: So you never saw the letter again?

KD: No, I did not.

TA: Is there any information you have that you feel we should know, regarding Mr. Beauchamp?

KD: I think I have told all, Detective. My heart is broken and I can't think any more thoughts of him. Can we end this now?

TA: Yes, of course. We may need to ask more questions later on.

KD: I understand.

TA: And we will need you to remain available. Should you decide to leave Oxford, you will need to inform the Sheriff's office.

KD: Yes of course. Good bye, Detective.

End interview: 11:14 a.m.