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Tuesday, January 18, 2005 -- 1:00 PM
Following up on evidence recovered at the vandalism scene, YCSD
investigators uncovered information that a Denise Hartigan had
lived in the Yoknapatawpha County area in recent years, though
no evidence was found that any Denise Hartigan currently resides
in the area. Investigators did locate the parents of the Denise
Hartigan who had lived in the area at one time. Adam and Alicia
Hartigan were interviewed at their residence in the Tara Estates
subdivision in Oxford. 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
- AdH = Adam Hartigan
- AlH = Alicia Hartigan
TA: Good afternoon, folks. Thank you for taking the time
to talk with us.
AdH: What can we do for you, Detective?
SM: Before we get started, would you please give us your
names, ages, occupations and address for the record?
AdH: Is it necessary to be so formal? What is this about?
SM: Mr. Hartigan, we just need to have that information
for our paperwork. I'm sure you understand.
AdH: I see. My name is Adam Hartigan. I'm 52 years old
and an attorney, though I'm not currently practicing because of
my health. I live here at 1315 Mesquite Drive.
AlH: I'm Alicia Hartigan. Age 51. I am a homemaker and
my address is the same as his. As you know.
TA: Thank you. Now, you folks have a daughter named Denise.
Is that right?
AlH: Our daughter hasn't lived here for years. Why are
you asking about her?
SM: Her name came up during one of our investigations.
How long has it been since she lived here?
AdH: Must be about six or seven years now.
SM: And where is she living now?
AdH: Well...
AlH: We don't know where she lives now. Denise abandoned
our family all those years ago. We have had very little contact
with her since then.
TA: When was the last time you spoke with her?
AdH: It's been quite some time.
TA: Can you ballpark when it was? A month ago? A year ago?
More than that?
AdH: I really couldn't say. I don't understand. Why are
you asking us about Denise?
SM: As I mentioned, her name came up in one of our investigations.
We'd just like to talk to her because she may have information
that could help us. We don't know at this stage.
AlH: I'm sorry, but I don't think we can help you. We don't
know where she is now.
SM: According to our information, Denise is about 25 years
old now. Is that correct?
AlH: That's right.
SM: So she left home when she was 18 or so?
AlH: Yes.
SM: Did she leave to attend college?
AlH: She may have gone to college, yes.
TA: You don't know?
AlH: As we said, she abandoned us. We don't really know
what she's done with her time since she left.
TA: Why did she leave?
AlH: You'd have to ask her. She didn't see fit to tell
us at the time.
SM: Pardon me for saying so, Mrs. Hartigan, but you sound
a little angry.
AlH: This is a very painful subject for us. Denise left
at a time that was already very difficult for us. We had suffered
a family tragedy and then my husband was diagnosed with a serious
illness, which was devastating for us. Denise left us shortly after
the diagnosis and has had almost no contact with us since. We can't
explain to you why she did what she did because we don't understand
it ourselves. All we can tell you is that her absence has caused
us a lot of pain.
SM: You say you had suffered a family tragedy? Would you
mind telling us about that?
AdH: Detectives, I don't see how that's related to Denise.
We're happy to help you as much as we can, but I don't think that
includes reliving painful events from our past merely to slake
your curiosity.
TA: I understand, Mr. Hartigan, and we certainly didn't
mean to upset you. Just one more thing and we'll get out of your
hair.
AdH: What is it?
TA: Would you two be willing to give us DNA samples?
AdH: Why would we do that? Do you have a warrant?
SM: No, sir. It's just that there's a possibility your
daughter, Denise, was in town recently. We'd like to determine
whether it actually was her and your DNA can help us do that.
AdH: Has something happened to her? Is that why you're
asking us for DNA?
SM: Sir, we can honestly tell you that, at this point,
we don't know that anything at all has happened to her. If both
of you will provide is with DNA samples, we hope to be able to
answer that question.
AdH: I have to tell you, it's against my better legal judgment.
But if my daughter has been injured, I want to know about it so
I can help her. And if this is the way to find out, then this is
what we'll have to do.
AlH: Adam?
AdH: It's all right, Alicia. Let's just give them the samples.
Denise wouldn't come to town without contacting us, so I'm sure
it will all turn out to be nothing.
TA: So you both agree to voluntarily provide samples?
AdH: Yes, we do.
SM: Mrs. Hartigan?
AlH: Yes. If Adam says it's the right thing to do, then
it is.
TA: Thank you. Now, if y'all will just sit tight for a
minute, we'll get the DNA collection kits and take care of it right
now. Then we'll be on our way.
AdH: We'll wait right here.
Interview ends -- 1:28 PM |
