Ingrid Kristianne Freeman was born in Oxford on October 1, 1980 to Charlotte Andersen Freeman and Chisholm Orvel Freeman. An extraordinarily beautiful baby, she captivated all who saw her, as if she held them in thrall by some unusual charm. Ingrid's beauty soon became legendary. Quite a few townsfolk said Ingrid was destined to be a beauty queen, the likes of which had never before been seen in Oxford and which was not likely to be seen again any time soon. At least that's what they said at the time. Little did Ingrid and her family know just how cutthroat the pageant industry really is.

Ingrid's mother, Charlotte Andersen, a beauty herself, also grew up in Oxford, but under less prosperous circumstances. As a young lady, Charlotte found employment briefly as housekeeper for the wealthy Lamar family. One evening, a flamboyant Chisholm Orvel Freeman came calling on Quentin Lamar to discuss some "business dealings," not long before Quentin's tragic demise. If any business were discussed that night, it , too, became part of the Lamar tragedy, for its secrets died with Quentin. But that night forever changed Charlotte's life. She and Chisholm had a whirlwind romance and married within a few months. One year and one day after the wedding, Ingrid was born. When Ingrid was two or three years old, her mother paid the first of many social visits to her former employer -- the Lamar family. According to local gossip that ended up in the Oxford Eagle's society pages, townsfolk claimed Charlotte's visits were attempts to position Ingrid for an eventual marriage to Bill Lamar. Other rumors flew that Charlotte was trying to insinuate herself into the Lamar Cosmetics company in some other, undefined way. Either way, Ingrid had an early opportunity to know Bill. Ingrid's avid interest in the young boy was a telltale mark of the personality that would later earn her notoriety in the town's gossip hall of fame.

As for Ingrid's mother, Charlotte Andersen well understood the complex man she took for her husband. A fierce competitor, Charlotte knew Chisholm to be an unreliable rapscallion who spent many late nights gambling in dark, smoky rooms filled with Southern Comfort and women who slipped in and out of rooms like shadows behind Oriental screens. The marriage was anything but happy, but Charlotte was not one for brooding. She marked her time for the day when she would sue her husband for everything he was worth and then some.

Ingrid's parents arrived at their seeming wealth by gambling, dishonesty, lying and by any other means available. So Ingrid saw early in life that winning is the only goal and the only rule is to win at any cost -- inside or outside the law. Ingrid's mother saw through the dishonest tactics and people of many in the pageant business. One by one, Ingrid's mother, Charlotte, set herself to taking those people down -- by blackmailing them. Charlotte's plan was not out of a sense of respect for laws or honesty, but simply to enrich herself. For Ingrid's mother, the choice was simple: let others take advantage of you or stop them before they have a chance.

By middle school, Ingrid was a known competitor to Barbara Dubois. Ingrid's beautiful smile greatly enhanced her beauty, even though her smile was often false. Ingrid was becoming known as a masterful manipulator. Ingrid and her mother were tired of Barbara Dubois besting Ingrid pageant after pageant. Ingrid wanted to win the Yoknapatawpha County Literary Festival Beauty Pageant and then eventually to win the Miss America crown. But at 23, Ingrid's time was running out. If she did not win this contest and continue to the state finals, she'd have to find a way to beat the October 31, 2004, deadline as her last attempt for a chance at the most coveted Miss America race. Ingrid was becoming desperate, and her determination to win this and future pageants was more fierce than she'd ever known. She would have her way at any cost.

Ingrid had been an average student, but no matter. She and her parents cared only that she win pageants. She stayed out of trouble most of the time, according to school files, but she was out late many nights, and rumors spread that she knew Denny Buchanan before he met Barbara. Ingrid's friends related how embittered Ingrid became when Denny fell hard for Barbara. They said Ingrid always claimed that Denny did not much care what social status his paramours hailed from, as long as they were beautiful, fun-loving and debauched to a fault.

Recently, Ingrid made plans to open a European-inspired hairdressing salon, with tanning beds, French manicures and the newest trends in skin care, makeup and high fashion. Friends and associates said Ingrid discussed how knew she would need financing and the expertise of those already in the business -- especially from someone who had studied in Europe. For Ingrid, this meant Bill Lamar. But he had been in Europe for several years already and the two had lost touch long ago. Ingrid's second plan was to find Denny, as his wealth would go far in financing her venture. But he, too, was nowhere to be found.

By the time of the pageant, friends said, Ingrid acted like she was furious. She was without a financial backer for her salon and without any real assurance she would be the favored winner in the pageant. In fact, when friends tried to tell her she might be second runner-up, the news only made her blood boil hotter. They said it made her more determined than ever to scheme with whomever necessary to get the job done.