Saturday, January 31, 2004 -- 9:42 AM

The witness, Bob Niwachee, is a 25-year-old biracial male and manager of the Yoknapatawpha County Conference Center. He was interviewed by Detectives Armstrong and Murphy of the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department. The interview was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent. 

SM: For the record, would you please state your name and address?

BN: My name is Bob Niwachee and I maintain an apartment here at the conference center. It beats having to take work home.

TA: You were around the night of the murder then.

BN: Yes, I was working at the front desk. When there is something big happening at the conference center, I like to be available. Typically, I'll try to snatch three or four hours of sleep, which is what I did.

SM: Would you remember the timing of that?

BN: I was in my room from about 2:00 a.m. until 6:00. Otherwise, I was at the front desk.

TA: Could you walk us through the schedule that evening?

BN: Certainly. The finalists were announced at four and then dinner ran from six until about ten-thirty. The guests then dispersed, some going to the lounge, the rest I assume to their rooms or back home if they weren't staying here.

SM: Were there any problems that evening?

BN: There are always problems. I was short a banquet server and someone accidentally unplugged the dessert freezer. Normal things.

TA: Did you see Barbara Dubois after dinner?

BN: Not that I remember.

SM: Who did you see?

BN: I saw Bill Lamar several times, Lucille Ruffin-Moore, Wendy Kullman. The last two had publicly opposed this pageant and I consider it my job to know where possible trouble may lie so that I can nip it at the bud. I was watching for them.

SM: Have you received any threatening mail or calls about the pageant?

BN: A person who identified herself as Ms. Kullman did inquire as to our future conventions, and if those parties knew that the YCCC was hosting an event that in effect supported the torture of helpless animals. I responded that a list of our clients was confidential.

SM: What was her response?

BN: She said not to worry, that everyone would soon know about YCCC. I replied that I hoped that was true. Publicity costs money. This was not what I had in mind, though.

SM: You didn't consider her threatening?

BN: Not at the time. Perhaps I should have been more suspicious.

TA: Did either cause trouble?

BN: Not that I saw. However, given the nature of the defacement of the center, It's pretty clear who's responsible. And Mr. Lamar--

SM: What about Mr. Lamar?

BN: Mr. Lamar called the front desk and demanded Barbara's room number. Then he came and asked in person. Can I check my log?

TA: Of course.

BN: That was 11:13. He insisted that Allie Lamar, sponsor of the pageant and the person paying the conference center bill, needed Ms. Dubois' room number. I called Ms. Lamar's room to confirm, but she didn't answer. I gave Mr. Lamar the information.

SM: You told him Ms. Dubois' room number?

BN: Yes. Unwise perhaps, but I didn't want him causing a scene in the lobby. Dinner was over. People were drinking. This was a delicate time and I didn't want to risk lighting a fuse.

TA: Did you see Bill Lamar again after that?

BN: Around midnight. Actually, I saw all three of them. Ms. Ruffin-Moore left the conference center, Mr. Lamar went into the lounge, and then Ms. Kullman came out of the lounge and she left the conference center too.

TA: Did you see Bill Lamar come out of the lounge?

BN: Close to one o'clock. He was a bit unsteady, but he was heading back towards the rooms.

TA: Did you see anything else that night which was remarkable?

BN: Not really.

SM: How about the next morning then?

BN: I received a call at 6:30 from Susan Dubois. Barbara, her daughter, wasn't answering the door or telephone. I met Susan at the room with the pass key.

SM: And then what happened?

BN: Barbara Dubois wasn't in the room. The bed was turned down but hadn't been slept in. There were some half-eaten chocolates in the bathroom. Since her mother said they were a gift from dinner, I assumed Ms. Dubois had come back to her room and then left.

TA: What did you do?

BN: I started knocking on nearby doors, asking if anyone had heard or seen anything. Nobody had. I returned to the desk. That's when the first police officers arrived, around seven.

SM: Were you there when they found the body?

BN: No, and by the time I'd been informed, the area had been declared a crime scene. Then I heard about the pageant office being wrecked and the stage room being defaced and then those areas were declared off limits to me. I barely know what's occurred in my own conference center.

TA: We apologize for that, but it's standard procedure.

BN: I understand. But then people ask me questions and I don't know the details.

SM: Just tell them you're not free to discuss the matter. Did you happen to see Marty Rutgers last night?

BN: Sorry, but I don't know the name.

SM: Denny Buchanan?

BN: Mr. Buchanan, yes, we're well acquainted with Mr. Buchanan.

TA: How so?

BN: Mr. Buchanan-- let's say Mr. Buchanan desires things in his room just so, and is not hesitant to state in very forceful terms when he is displeased. It's not unfair to say he's been harsh with my staff in the short time he's been here. I'm very glad he has exceptional financial resources -- he'll need them.

TA: For?

BN: For the damage he's caused to his room. Mr. Buchanan is welcome to have his temper, but when he breaks conference center furniture and fixtures, he'll see those on his bill. And we use only quality fixtures.

SM: We visited Mr. Buchanan's room. I don't recall seeing any damage.

BN: We repair damaged items promptly.

SM: What kinds of things were damaged?

BN: A shower door handle was ripped off, as were several drawer handles. A telephone book was pulverized -- pounded and ripped with some kind of pointed object. A mirror was broken.

TA: Sounds violent.

BN: It appears that way, yes. Reminds me of some of the angry fits my preschool age relatives would throw.

SM: Anyone hear this?

BN: Mr. Buchanan's room is somewhat off by itself.

SM: Where are the damaged items?

BN: I instructed Maintenance to secure them for future reference. Insurance stuff, you know.

TA: Did you see Mr. Buchanan on the night of the murder?

BN: He spent some time in the hotel lobby up until about 11:15 or so, off and on, perhaps a little after. He was drinking quite heavily. I didn't see him after that.

SM: What else do you remember about that evening?

BN: I do remember having to call Ms. Jones about her daughter. The young lady was out roaming the halls. She tried to hang out in the lobby area here and ambush contestants for autographs. I finally had to shoo her back to her room just before midnight.

SM: And what else?

BN: Ms. Ruffin-Moore, the retired professor from the college.

SM: What about her?

BN: She was kind of meandering about, mumbling to herself. Came out the the lobby and took her shoes off, complained the heels were hurting her feet. I guess women do that.

SM: Anything else?

BN: Not that I can recall.

TA: We'll need a list of employees as well as guests.

BN: I'll get those for you.

TA: That's it for now, Mr. Niwachee. Thanks for your help.

Interview ends -- 10:18 AM