Sunday, February 1, 2004 -- 9:30 AM

The witness, Marty "Slim" Rutgers, is a 45 year-old white male and ex-coach of Barbara Dubois. He was interviewed by Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department Detectives Armstrong and Murphy. The interview was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness' knowledge and consent.

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

MR: My name is Marty Rutgers and I live with my mother over on 9 Rubin Drive.

SM: Thanks for your time. I know this is early for you.

MR: I just hope I can help. I can't understand how someone could want to harm Barbara. She's just a little girl.

TA: She was twenty-three.

MR: She'll always be a little girl to me. I still remember the first time I saw her trying to hit the marks at Gentlewoman.

SM: Gentlewoman?

MR: The Southern Gentlewoman School of Expressive Ballet. That's where I first met Barbara.

SM: You were Barbara's coach at the very beginning, weren't you?

MR: Yes. Barbara wouldn't be where she is today if it wasn't for me.

TA: The young woman is dead.

MR: I know. I work over at the catfish farm. I'm the only one on the floor who speaks English. Between that and the noise, I have a lot of time to think and I wonder if this emphasis on physical beauty is such a good thing.

SM: Did you ever discuss your concerns with Barbara or her mother? Is that why they fired you in 1994?

MR: Fired me? We've had our differences, but my finger is still on the pulse. I talk to Susan once a month on the telephone. She refers to them as conference calls. Susan asks how my mother is doing and I say fine. I ask how Barbara is doing and Susan recites every prize the poor girl has ever won.

TA: How often do you see Barbara?

MR: Every day. I keep a scrapbook of her appearances in the Eagle. Before I go to sleep, I review the stories.

TA: Do you know why you're here, Marty?

MR: Because of what I did to Barbara. I wonder if if I'll ever be forgiven for what I've done.

SM: What did you do to her?

MR: She's just a little girl. I picked her out of a crowd and cursed her. She never wanted this. You think in ten or twenty years, she was going to look back and thank us for turning her into some kind of freak?

TA: In what way were you Barbara's coach?

MR: I signed some forms. I looked out for her. That's why I came to this pageant. I wanted to take her away from all this. I've made up my mind to put things right.

SM: Did you tell her this?

MR: I didn't have a chance. I was going to during dinner, but she was busy with someone else at the time.

TA: She didn't have a free minute for her long-time coach?

MR: I'm not very good with people.

TA: That must have bothered you, her not talking to you.

MR: I thought she might be angry with me, so I decided to let her cool down and talk to her later.

TA: When did you talk to her?

MR: We never got the chance. Things happened.

TA: What happened?

MR: Somebody hurt her.

SM: Where where you that night, Marty?

MR: I sat outside in my car all night, hoping she'd come to the window of her room and look outside so I could signal her.

TA: How did you learn her room number?

MR: I didn't. I just watched one window and hoped I was right.

SM: Did you see anything unusual or suspicious while you were sitting there?

MR: No.

TA: Did anyone see you?

MR: I didn't see anyone see me. Did Barbara keep a diary?

SM: Why do you ask?

MR: Maybe someone was bothering her.

TA: Why would someone bother her?

MR: She's a beautiful little girl. Anyone can see that. Perhaps someone was bothering her and that's why she was afraid to come to the window.

SM: Had you watched her before, sat outside her house perhaps?

MR: No -- well, maybe. A couple times. I did when she was younger, but then Susan told me to stop because it wasn't in my contract. I just wanted to keep an eye on her to make sure no one was stalking her. But, it's just recently that I've realized how her life became twisted and that I'm to blame. I needed to free her from this artificial world before it was too late.

TA: What world is that?

MR: These beauty pageants. I needed to save her.

SM: What if Barbara didn't want to be saved?

MR: You're police officers. If you stopped at the scene of an accident and you saw someone trapped in a burning car, would you simply walk away if the person wouldn't grab your outstretched hand?

TA: Did you reach out to Barbara?

MR: I tried, but I couldn't get her attention.

TA: Did you get her attention the night she was killed?

MR: She will never die, she's always in my heart. And my scrapbook.

SM: Did you kill Barbara, Mr. Rutgers?

MR: I could never hurt her, even though I have.

TA: Did you in any way physically harm Barbara Dubois that evening?

MR: No.

SM: Who do you think might have wanted to hurt her?

MR: Everybody loved her, except her enemies.

TA: What enemies?

MR: I have a list. I keep it with my scrapbook. I looked out for her by making sure none of her enemies got close.

SM: Can you show us your scrapbook? Maybe if two sets of fresh eyes went through it, we'd see something you missed.

MR: Of course.

SM: We could come by the house.

MR: I'll leave it out in case I'm asleep.

TA: We'd appreciate that.

MR: I just wanted to help Barbara.

Interview ends -- 10:09 AM