Friday, March 19, 2004 -- 1:13 PM

The witness was a pageant finalist and was interviewed by the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department. The follow up interview was conducted by Detectives Armstrong and Murphy and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness' knowledge and consent.

TA: Miss Freeman, I'm surprised to see you come here of your own will. Before we get into the reason for your visit, would you just tell us your name and address for the record?

IF: Sure. My name is Ingrid Freeman, and I live at 208 Sisk Avenue.

TA: Thank you. Now, what brings you here today?

IF: Detectives, I've got something that will blow this case wide open.

TA: How so?

IF: Scarlett's mother, Erma Webb, was up to no good on the night of the murder.

TA: And what leads you to say that?

IF: I was on my way to the photo shoot, when I saw Erma in the banquet area. She was being real secretive. Her eyes darted furtively. She took a something out of her bag. Then she started messing with Barbara's chocolates

TA: And Miss Freeman, what were you doing in the banquet area at the time you happened to see Mrs. Webb?

IF: I'd come from my room and was on my way to the photo shoot. I had to go there after dinner. I thought I'd left my evening clutch in the banquet area, so I went to back to look for it.

SM: So you went back into the banquet room?

IF: No, I stopped out in the hallway. I could see into the room, but I didn't go in.

SM: Why not?

IF: I saw Erma messing around and I stopped. Nobody else but Erma was there. She didn't see me out in the hallway, but I got a good look at her.

TA: Did you see anyone else in the room?

IF: The janitor guy. He was kind of hiding. And he was staring at her feet.

TA: What exactly do you think Ms. Webb was doing?

IF: Whatever it was, it was no good. I'm sure it was for her daughter. It wasn't just me who lost to Barbara Dubois. Scarlett hadn't won a single pageant. Scarlett wanted to hit the big time. She was tired of living on the farm and being a nobody. But the judges always picked Barbara. Erma wanted to make sure Scarlett won this pageant. I bet it has something to do with ipecac. Erma always has Syrup of Ipecac around because of Scarlett. Erma keeps it around and pretends that she doesn't know. She's manipulative and controlling.

SM: You think Mrs. Webb is capable of doing something like that?

IF: When you want to win bad, you're capable of anything.

TA: Even set up one of your competitors?

IF: Yes. Of course. You do what's necessary.

SM: Does Scarlett Webb have an eating disorder, Ms. Freeman?

IF: Yes. Scarlett told me herself. She's had had it since she was a teen. Ask Scarlett. Ask her mother. Erma hid that nasty secret from the world because Erma knew the bulimia would get Scarlett disqualified if word got out. Erma Webb knows that Scarlett told me.

SM: Is that why you were blackmailing Erma Webb?

IF: I never said I was blackmailing her, Detective Murphy. Scarlett and I are best friends. You know that.

SM: Ms. Freeman, people tell us that Barbara and Scarlett were best friends. Why would Scarlett want to do this to her best friend?

IF: Scarlett wouldn't do anything to hurt Barbara. But her mother would. Erma is as mean as they come. And as for Barbara and Scarlett being best friends -- that's a lie. Barbara treated Scarlett like dirt to keep her in second place. Scarlett hated Barbara as much as I did. Scarlett had no one to confide in, except me. Scarlett trusted me, and only me, with her bulimia secret.

SM: Or she trusted you and you used it against her, by way of her mother. Or maybe you just found out.

IF: I resent the implication. Maybe Erma Webb is just trying to control her daughter another way.

SM: Even if Mrs. Webb did as you allege, that doesn't mean Mrs. Webb killed Ms. Dubois.

IF: Yeah, and it doesn't mean she didn't, either.

SM: It also doesn't mean that you're not involved, Ms. Freeman.

IF: You want to know something, Detective?

SM: Tell us.

IF: I'm the only contestant who doesn't have a 'disqualifying' secret -- no black marks in my history. This was my big chance at winning and I should have won. Now the pageant is cancelled. And I'm so angry, I could--

TA: Kill?

IF: No. Not me.

TA: Would someone else kill for you if you asked?

IF: I wish. I wish I had someone who would do anything for me. Bill once told Barbara he'd do anything for her.

SM: Ms. Freeman, you're saying Ms. Dubois had a disqualifying secret?

IF: You bet

TA: And just how would you know this?

IF: A woman knows. You watch Allie Lamar and Susan Dubois, you watch them talk and then look at Barbara. There's a secret there.

SM: And what's your involvement in all this, Ms. Freeman?

IF: None. Nothing.

TA: Let's see. An individual with a clear motive, who can't account for her whereabouts during the time of the murder, and who certainly had access to the kind of weapon used to commit the crime -- this individual comes forward and points a finger directly at her rivals and at someone who may have cause to implicate her in an extortion scheme. What do you think of that, Murph?

SM: I think that, despite what that individual did, I sure as heck wouldn't cross them off my suspect list. In fact, I might look at them even harder.

IF: Detectives! I'm only trying to help.

SM: The question is, Ms. Freeman, just who are you trying to help?

TA: We're not going to find anything to make us think you're lying, are we?

IF: I haven't said one untruthful word. I never do.

SM: Do you have anything else you'd like to tell us, Ms. Freeman?

IF: No, not now. If I remember anything else, I'll call you.

TA: Thank you for your information.

IF: Are you going to arrest Erma and Scarlett?

SM: Which would disqualify them from future competitions and leave the door open to you?

IF: I resent that implication, too.

SM: Thank you for your time, Ms. Freeman. I'm sure your information will be of assistance.

IF: Any time, Detectives. Glad I could be helpful, that's all.

Interview ends -- 1:49 PM