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Thursday, March 10, 2005 --
10:27 AM
Following lengthy negotiations with Geoffrey Frye, the Haritgans'
attorney, investigators were able to arrange another interview with
Alicia Hartigan. Because of her husband's poor health, Mrs. Hartigan was interviewed at her residence
in the presence of her attorney. The interview was
conducted by Detectives Armstrong and Murphy and was recorded on a portable tape
recorder with the witness' and his attorney's knowledge and consent.
- TA = Detective T. Armstrong
- SM = Detective S. Murphy
- AH = Alicia Hartigan
- GF = Geoffrey Frye
SM: Thank you for talking with us, Mrs. Hartigan.
AH: How is my husband? You didn't get him all worked up, did you? He
can't take that.
SM: He's fine, ma'am.
AH: I need to go check on him.
SM: As soon as we're finished talking, you can do that.
AH: I think I should go now. I'll be right back.
TA: Ma'am--
GF: Alicia, he's fine. Really. Let's take care of this and then you
can see to him.
AH: All right, if you say so.
SM: For the record, Mrs. Hartigan, would you state your
name, age and address?
LM: Alicia Hartigan. 1315 Mesquite Drive in Tara Estates. Oh,
I'm 51.
SM: Thank you. Now, the last time we spoke--
AH: I apologize for interrupting you, but there's something I think
you need to know.
GF: Alicia.
AH: No, it's all right. They need to know and I should have told them
before.
GF: Okay.
SM: What is it, Mrs. Hartigan?
AH: I... I'm the one who sent Denise the money to come home.
TA: Is that right?
AH: I should have told you before, I know. I just...
SM: Why didn't you tell us before?
AH: I don't know. I was just so upset and I... I think I felt guilty.
TA: What did you have to feel guilty about?
AH: Isn't it obvious? If I hadn't sent her the money, she probably
wouldn't have been able to get here and she'd be alive today. It's my
fault she's dead.
GF: Now, Alicia, Denise was a resourceful young woman. She would have
found a way to get home, if you hadn't been able to help her.
SM: When did you send the money to Denise?
AH: I think it was December 14th or 15th, right after I talked to
her.
SM: This is the time you told us about before, when you spoke to her
and she was in Cleveland?
AH: Yes.
SM: So you spoke to her -- she called you or you called her?
AH: She called me.
SM: So she called you, asked you to send her money so she could come
home, and you sent her the money?
AH: She didn't ask me to send it. She demanded I send it. But, yes, I
did send her money.
SM: How much did you send her?
AH: $750.00
SM: And when did you next speak to her?
AH: I didn't.
SM: She didn't call to let you know she'd gotten the money?
AH: No.
SM: She didn't let you know her travel plans?
AH: No.
SM: Did you think that was strange?
AH: I don't know. Yes and no. She was so adamant about coming home
and she even said she wanted to see us, which surprised me. I was happy,
of course, but I was surprised because she'd shunned us for so long. But
at the same time, she was so angry and I couldn't understand why. When I
didn't hear from her again, I thought... I don't know.
SM: What did you think?
AH: It's... it's not a nice thing to say about your own daughter, but
wondered if maybe she'd tricked me. Maybe she just wanted money and... I
told you. It's not a nice thing to say about your daughter and I don't
like saying it, but after a week went by and I still hadn't heard from
her, I started to think maybe I had to face the fact that she wasn't the
girl I knew anymore.
TA: But then you did hear from her.
AH: What? No, I didn't.
TA: This isn't a game, ma'am. Don't lie to us. It will only hurt you.
AH: What are you talking about?
TA: We know she called you. Collect. In the middle of the night.
After she was already in town. We know that.
AH: I don't know what you're talking about. That didn't happen.
SM: Come on, now. We have the phone records. We know she called you.
AH: I don't know what to tell you. It didn't happen. There must be a
mistake in the phone records.
TA: Are you kidding? You don't seriously expect us to buy that, do
you?
GF: Detective Armstrong, Mrs. Hartigan has answered your question.
Berating her isn't going to change it. Move on.
SM: Ma'am, did you tell your husband that you'd spoken to Denise and
sent her money to come home?
AH: No. No, I didn't. I didn't want to upset him.
SM: You thought he'd be upset to know she was coming home?
AH: No, of course not. He would have been happy. I didn't
want him to get overexcited about her coming or for him to be
disappointed if she didn't actually show up. I thought it would be
better to wait until I knew she was here before I told him.
TA: So did you tell him then?
AH: When?
TA: When you knew she was here.
AH: I never knew she was here. I told you that.
TA: See, here's the thing. In addition to that phone call
that you say didn't happen, we also have a witness who saw you with
Denise around 2:30 in the morning on December 23rd.
AH: What are you talking about?
TA: A witness. Someone saw you -- with Denise.
AH: That's crazy! That couldn't possibly be true.
TA: Why not? Because you didn't think anyone was around at
that hour? Or is this another one of those things that didn't happen?
AH: It didn't happen. I would never go out at that time of
night. I was here, asleep.
TA: You wouldn't go out, even if your daughter called and said
she was in trouble and needed you?
AH: That didn't happen!
GF: We've been down this road already. Do you have any other
questions?
SM: What was Denise angry about? When you talked to her when
she was in Cleveland.
AH: I don't know.
SM: She didn't tell you?
AH: She... what she was saying didn't make any sense. I
couldn't understand...
SM: Did it have something to do with Rita?
AH: I think so, but... it made no sense. I'm telling you.
SM: Was it about Rita and your husband?
AH: What? No, she never said anything about Adam.
SM: She didn't tell you that you were as crazy as he was?
AH: No. I don't even know what that means. What does that
mean?
SM: Was it your idea for Denise to come home or was it hers?
AH: She wanted to come home.
SM: Okay, but who suggested it?
AH: I don't know. She must have because she never would do
anything I suggested. Ever.
TA: Did that make you mad? That she wouldn't do what you
wanted her to?
AH: It was frustrating, of course, but that's how it is with
mothers and daughters at times.
TA: Is that how it was with Rita too?
AH: I-- Rita was very unhappy before she left. So, yes,
sometimes that made her difficult to get along with.
TA: Was Rita pregnant?
AH: What? Of course not. She was 17.
TA: Are you sure? We'd heard that she was.
AH: Vicious rumors. People can be so cruel.
SM: So it's not possible that she was pregnant?
AH: We did not raise our daughters to be... like that.
SM: What kind of relationship did Grant Sexton have with
Rita?
AH: Grant was engaged to Denise.
SM: I understand, but how did he get along with Rita?
AH: They got along fine. He treated her like his little
sister.
SM: Did their relationship go beyond that?
AH: What do you mean?
TA: We're asking if he could he have been the father of Rita's
baby.
AH: What is wrong with you? Grant was engaged to Denise. He
loved Denise. He never would have thought of Rita as anything but a
little sister.
TA: So Rita was pregnant, but Grant wasn't the father. Is that
what you're saying?
AH: You have a very sick mind, Detective.
TA: Was your husband the father of Rita's baby?
AH: What! That is... unspeakable! My husband is a highly
respected man in this community. How dare you even suggest
something like that?
TA: Is it true?
AH: What is wrong with you? I understand that, in your line of
work, you see the ugly side of life on a regular basis, but you have no
right to bring that into my home! Get out! Get out of here now! I knew
we were right when we decided not to talk to you and you just proved it.
Get out!
SM: Mrs. Hartigan, we haven't finished our questions!
AH: Oh yes you have! I don't have to put up with this kind
of-- with these inappropriate and offensive accusation! Out!
SM: Mrs. Hartigan--
GF: Detective Murphy, I think my client has made her position
clear. It's obvious that you've upset her tremendously. Perhaps it would
be better to terminate now and schedule another interview at a later
time. That will give her an opportunity to regain her composure and you
can take that time to reconsider your line of questioning.
AH: Oh, no. I'm not talking to them again!
GF: Alicia, that's something we'll discuss after they've gone.
Detectives, if you'll come this way, I'll see you out.
SM: Mr. Frye, we're not finished here.
GF: I believe we are for today. You may contact my office on
Monday to discuss whether we will schedule another interview.
SM: We'll talk again, Mrs. Hartigan. And I suggest you spend
some time thinking about the answers our questions because we will be
asking them again.
GF: That's enough. This way, please.
Interview ends -- 11:38 AM |
