Saturday, January 31, 2004 -- 5:30 PM

The witness, who is the victim's mother, was interviewed by Detectives Armstrong and Murphy of the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department. The interview was conducted at Yoknapatawpha Sheriff's Department Headquarters and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness' knowledge and consent.

TA: Good morning, Mrs. Dubois. I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure this must be difficult for you, but the more information we have, the sooner we can catch whoever did this.

SM: Can I get anything for you? Coffee? Water?

SD: Thank you, Detectives. A glass of water, I guess. I'll help anyway I can. You have to catch the monster who killed my baby! I can't believe she's gone. Oh God, how could this happen? She never hurt anyone in her life.

TA: Here, have a sip of your water and take a deep breath. Now. Better? Okay. First, would you state your name and address for the record please?

SD: Susan Dubois. 3043 Davis Drive, Oxford, Mississippi.

SM: Now, Mrs. Dubois, I know you talked to the first officers on the scene, but would you tell us about the events leading up to finding your daughter's body this morning?

SD: I'll try. But everything is sort of jumbled.. Oh god. It is such a shock! I... I... I... ah... can't... ah... I can't believe she's gone. I... I don't know how long I can keep it together.

SM: Well, just do the best you can and we'll try to help you get through this. When did you realize she wasn't in her room?

SD: I went to get her up about 6:30. I called her first and, when there was no answer, I thought she was in the shower or something. She's usually up early. So I went to her room and knocked on her door, but there was no answer. I knocked and knocked and when I still didn't get an answer, I began to think something was wrong. Like maybe she was ill or something. So I called the manager on my cell and he came right up. He unlocked the door with his passkey and I went in. She wasn't there. I called to her, but there was no answer. I looked in the bathroom. That's when I noticed the bed hadn't been slept in. That isn't... wasn't like Barbara. She was very conscientious about going to bed early the night before the finals of a pageant. I r- r- really got s- scared then. I called Scarlett to see if Barbara was with her. Then I called Mary.

SM: Take your time Mrs. Dubois. Scarlett is...?

SD: Scarlett Webb. She and Barbara are-- were... best friends. Oh, I can't believe she's gone.

SM: And Mary is?

SD: Mary Jones. She's my dear friend.

TA: Okay, so you were all looking for Barbara. Then what happened?

SD: After we'd looked for a few minutes and there was no sign of her, Mary called 911.

SM: I know this must be very difficult for you. You're doing great. Just a few more questions and we'll be through here.

SD: Okay. I'll try. This is... s-o-o... hard.

TA: Hang in there, Mrs. Dubois . We're almost through. Did Barbara have any enemies?

SD: Oh, no. Everyone loved her. She was such a sweetheart. Who could have done this terrible thing? I don't understand. How could God let this happen? She never hurt anybody. Oh... why?

TA: What about her competitors in the pageant?

SD: Oh, no. Most of these girls were friends. They competed yes, but it isn't a matter of life or death to them... unless...

SM: Unless what, Mrs. Dubois?

SD: Well, Ingrid has been acting a little strange lately. Sort of standoffish with Barbara. In fact, Barbara mentioned it just yesterday. Yesterday. It... seems... like a h- h- hundred years ago.

TA: And that is Ingrid...?

SD: Oh, Ingrid Freeman. One of the other contestants. But I can't imagine her hurting Barbara.

SM: But someone did hurt her, didn't they? What about the guy who found her... Bill Lamar? They knew each other from high school, I understand.

SD: Bill? I can't imagine him harming her. They were so in love-- but they were so young. That was a long time ago and they hadn't seen or talked to each other since he left. You think he could have done this?

TA: Anyone else, Mrs Dubois?

SD: Nooo... I... can't even think. Oh God, how can I go on without her? Now I don't have anyone. I'm all alone again. Oh God..

SM: Ted, she's too distraught to go on. Let's wrap this up for today. Is there anyone we can call for you, Mrs. Dubois? Family?

SD: I don't have any family anymore. I don't have anyone. I'm all alone.

TA: A friend then?

SD: Mary. Mary Jones. And Billie Jo. They will have to be my family now. I don't have anybody else. My darlings are all gone. Oh God! What am I going to do?

SM: I'll call her for you. Do you have a number?

SD: She's here. She drove me over. She didn't want me to go through this alone.

TA: That's enough for today, ma'am. But we will probably want to talk to you again. Take care, now.

SD: Thank you. You've been very kind. Please find whoever did this t- t- terrible thing

Interview ends -- 5:52 PM