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

SM: Good morning, Mrs. Jones. How are you doing today?

MJ: I'm okay, I guess. Thank you. I've been better. These last days have been very... difficult.

SM: I understand. Will you please state your name and address for the record before we go on?

MJ: I'm Mary Jones. I live at 1622 Pierce Avenue here in Oxford.

TA: Are you employed, Mrs. Jones?

MJ: Yes, I'm manager at Duvall's on the Square and I design and make specialized clothing.

SM: What do you mean by specialized clothing?

MJ: Mostly formal wear for pageant participants. Barbara Dubois was my first and my best customer. I'll sure miss her.

TA: Because she was such a good customer?

MJ: No, because she was a special friend to Billie Jo and me. She was like family.

SM: Billie Jo is your nine-year-old daughter, I understand.

MJ: She's my daughter, but she isn't nine; she's only seven.

SM: Oh? I thought I saw somewhere that she was nine.

MJ: Oh, you mean that newspaper article. Billie Jo can be a bit of a tease. She thinks it's funny to tell people she's nine. Then she thinks it's even funnier if they believe her, like that reporter, Kelly Shackleton, did. Billy Jo is a bit tall for her age, so sometimes she gets away with it. But she is really only seven.

TA: I see. I understand you were the one who made the 911 call to report Ms. Dubois missing. Can you tell me how that came about?

MJ: Well, I heard a pounding on my door early Saturday morning. It was Susan -- Susan Dubois, Barbara's mother. She was in a panic because Barbara wasn't in her room and her bed had not been slept in. Susan thought I might have seen her or she was in my room... or... I don't know. I guess I was just the first one she thought of to... to... help her look for Barbara. We knocked on some doors in our wing, but no one had seen her since the dinner the night before. I decided not to wait and to call 911.

TA: What time did Mrs. Dubois first contact you about her concern at not finding Barbara in her room?

MJ: It was about 6:35-6:40, I think. We knocked on a few more doors and then I called 911 about ten minutes later, I think.

TA: Can you remember who you specifically talked to after Mrs. Dubois alerted you?

MJ: Yes. I went to Ingrid Freeman's room, and to Scarlett Webb's, and I knocked on Bill's door right after I called 911. That's Bill Lamar. Then we all spread out looking for her. I tried to keep Billie Jo with me because I was getting scared and I wanted her close to me. I had a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.

SM: Where were you when Mr. Lamar found Ms. Dubois?

MJ: I was with Susan. We were getting ready to go out and look around the grounds when someone told us Bill-- Bill had-- Bill found her. I'm sorry. I just can't get used to the idea she's g-g-gone.

SM: Can I get something for you? Coffee or water?

MJ: Water, please.

SM: Can you go on now?

MJ: Yes, I'll try. Sorry

TA: That's all right, Mrs. Jones; we know how upsetting this must be. Just take your time.

MJ: It's such a shock. She was like family... especially since I lost my Elliott last year. She was so good with Billie Jo. Billie Jo idolizes... idolized her. I'm worried about how she is going to handle this.

SM: Whatever you tell us is strictly confidential, Mrs. Jones, and it doesn't mean you are right, but who do you suspect could have done this?

MJ: I know the beauty pageants are cutthroat, but it's hard to believe any of the other girls could have done something like this. Of course, Scarlett had a lot to lose if she lost this pageant. She is getting near the age limit, I think, and she was counting on the pageant to get her out of small town life -- and away from that witch of a mother of hers.

SM: Which witch is this, Mrs. Jones?

MJ: Erma Webb, Scarlett's mother. She completely runs Scarlett's life. That poor girl has no more control over her life than-- well, she just has no control, period. Now there is someone who might harm Barbara -- Erma Webb. I wouldn't put anything past her! I've heard her say she'd do whatever it took to get Scarlett the crown.

TA: Anybody else you can think of?

MJ: Well, as long as we're talking about the competition, there's always Ingrid Freeman. There certainly was no love lost between her and Barbara from what I could see. Barbara was always courteous to her, but the look in Ingrid's eyes... you know like they say, "If looks could kill"?

SM: What about Bill Lamar? He found the body pretty quickly, didn't he?

MJ: Bill? Oh poor Bill. I don't know. I just can't believe he could harm her. They loved each other so when-- but then he hadn't seen her for a long time and... ah... I know... ah... there were some hard feelings when he went away. I don't know, though.

TA: Who can you say definitely did not do it?

MJ: Susan, of course. And me. I loved her like a sister.

SM: When was the last time you saw Barbara, Mrs. Jones?

MJ: Let's see. It... ah... must have been ah... in the dining room after the dinner, I guess. She went off for a photo session or something I-- ah... don't think I-- ah... let me see. No, I didn't see her again after that.

TA: You're sure?

MJ: I'm as sure as I can be in troubled times like these, Detective.

SM: It's important that you tell us everything you can think of, Mrs. Jones.

MJ: I understand that. But you have to understand, I'm the only one who knows, who cares, about Billie Jo. I've always kept her safe. Now I'm the only one left, really. And now this. It's been horrible for her. I feel so responsible.

TA: But you didn't commit this crime, did you? And you didn't help anyone to do so?

MJ: No, no, I would never, how can you ask?

SM: I'm sorry, Mrs. Jones. It's our job. Who are you afraid of?

MJ: Whoever killed Barbara! They could come after Billie Jo!

SM: Why might they do that?

MJ: Because-- because-- I don't know, but they could!

SM: If someone threatens you or your daughter, we can protect you. But you'll need to help us.

MJ: I've helped all I can, really. And I know I haven't been any help. I'm so sorry.

TA: Let's talk about Billie Jo. We understand she was out roaming the halls all night unsupervised.

MJ: She wasn't out all night! About eleven I, we, went to bed. Maybe a bit afterwards. I was very tired. I must have been sleeping very soundly. The little imp snuck out on an autograph hunt. The next thing I know, it's after midnight and she's trying to sneak back in. I was so mad, but at the time I understood--she so wanted autographs. She's a strong-willed child and when she has her heart set on something, she follows it. But I lit into her. I threatened to take her home then and there. the only thing that gave me any peace that night was that the hotel looked like a safe place. But now, I mean, she could have been hurt!

SM: Could we have your permission to talk to Billie Jo?

MJ: She's just a child!

TA: She may have seen or overheard something that will aid our investigation.

MJ: I don't want to put her in any more danger.

SM: She'll be much safer when we apprehend Ms. Dubois' killer, won't she?

MJ: Yes, yes, of course. All right then. But not right away -- the poor child is still in shock.

TA: We will be conducting a very thorough investigation and we may want to speak to you again. Do you have any problem with that?

MJ: Oh, of course not. I'll be glad to help anyway I can.

TA: Thank you, Mrs. Jones.

SM: One last thing, Mrs. Jones.

MJ: Yes?

SM: What size shoe do you wear?

MJ: Well, really, I mean-- size 6. Why do you ask?

SM: Just routine. Thank you, Mrs. Jones. You've been very helpful.

Interview ends -- 3:38 PM