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Wednesday, February 16, 2005 -- 10:45 AM
After learning that Joey Grimes, who rented a home to Grant Sexton in
December 2004, was in Oxford, YCSD investigators arranged to talk with
him. Joey Grimes was interviewed at 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 witnesses' knowledge and consent.
- TA = Detective T. Armstrong
- SM = Detective S. Murphy
- JG = Joey Grimes
TA: Would you please state your name, age, address and
occupation for the record?
JG: You bet. Name, Joey Grimes. Age, 51.
Address, 4421 West Summit in Nashville, Tennessee.
Occupation, record producer.
TA: Mr. Grimes, is it correct that you also own a
home at 1323 Coles Point Road near Sardis?
JG: Yes, that is correct.
TA: And did you rent this house to Grant Sexton,
and if so, when?
JG: Yes, that's correct. Let's see, I've got the
information here. Sexton stayed at my Coles Point home
from December 18-30. He was evicted right after I
arrived at my home on December 30. I was in town for
New Year's, checking up on the place, and I found it
abandoned and in a state of severe disarray. That's when
I gave the boy his walking papers and kept his deposit. I
should've had him arrested, but I couldn't ever find him.
If you could've seen what that boy did to my home.
TA: Would you describe the damages?
JG: Darn right, I will. First of all, I walk in and
the front door is standing wide open. There's a
smell that caught my nose as soon as I walked in the
door. It smelled like some strange incense mixed with
feces. That's right. And there were liquor bottles,
many of them smashed, laying about. There had been
dishes broken. A leg of my coffee table was busted.
There were marijuana seeds all in my carpet, not to
mention mud and melted wax. He took one of my guitars
off the wall and broke a string on that -- something that
could be fixed, but still, it's the principle. And the
wall in one corner of the room had strange markings all
over it. I never should've let the kid in, but I took it
on good faith from his references.
TA: Who were these references?
JG: Nicole Barry, a pretty little rock-n-roller in
town; she put in a good word for him. And
Michael Turnage up at the record store. He plays in a local band
and has done some studio work. Those cats gave me the
go-ahead, and I've since let them know what I think about
their friend.
TA: Were there any other damages you recall, or
anything other expenses he incurred?
JG: So many little things. Burned spot on my couch. The
screen on my screen door kicked out from the inside. The little creep
didn't even offer to pay for the damages, and I haven't been able to
locate him since. Oh yeah, he made a telephone call if that helps. I
could get you a copy of the bill.
TA: That'd be great, Mr. Grimes. Have you
rented your home in the past?
JG: Nope. This was a first-time deal, and I tell you,
I'll never do it again.
TA: What made you decide to rent it?
JG: Well, to be frank, I need the money. I was
aiming to turn that place into a studio anyway, so I
figured I'd earn the cash to do that by renting it for
a while. I got another place in Oxford and, of course, my
permanent residence in Nashville, but I just wanted a
little country studio on the lake.
TA: Did you interview Sexton before he moved
in?
JG: Sure. He seemed harmless,
kind of quiet and polite. Told me he wanted to hole up
and write. I even told him he could throw parties out
there as long as he respected my furniture and whatnot, but he said, "Naw, I ain't
got too many friends, and the ones I got don't want to party with me
anyhow." So I thought, well this guy will make the perfect
tenant. Apparently, I thought wrong.
SM: Have you cleaned up the mess since then?
JG: To be honest, I hired someone to come in and
clean it. I was so mad, and I had to be back in
Nashville the following Monday. So any evidence y'all might be able to
use is
destroyed, I'm afraid. The guy came in and did a thorough
job. We got the place looking good again. Even got that smell out of there. I'm telling
you, that boy is
sick. And when I find him...
TA: We can probably help you with that. Thanks so
much for coming in and talking to us, Mr.
Grimes.
JG: You bet, man.
Interview ends --
11:08 AM |
