Wednesday, June 24, 2009 - 2:00 PM

The witness, Raschel Coleman, is the 52-year-old mother of Alex Coleman. The interview was conducted at the Yoknapatawpha Sheriff's Department and recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.

Detective Samantha Murphy
Detective Ted Armstrong
Raschel Coleman

Detective Armstrong: Mrs. Coleman, please come in and have a seat. State your name and address for the record. 

Raschel Coleman: My name is Raschel Coleman.  I live at 222 Country Club Road. What's this about? Who do you think you are dragging me away from my job in the middle of the afternoon? Haven't you harassed us enough by storming into our house with your warrant?

Detective Armstrong:  As you know, we're investigating a homicide and we have every right to bring you in for questioning. As for searching your house, the warrant gave us that right. Your son Alex is wanted in connection with a hit-and-run vehicle accident.

Raschel Coleman: This is ridiculous; my son wasn't responsible for that accident. I don't have to take this, I'm leaving.

Detective Armstrong: During our search, we found a lot of interesting items in your basement. We have a lot of questions for you and your family about these items and the hit-and-run accident that left a man dead. So you need to shut up, sit down, and answer my questions.

Raschel Coleman:  What items?  I don't know what you're talking about.

Detective Murphy:  We'll get to that later. First we need to talk about the accident that Alex's Toyota was involved in on May 13, that took a man's life. Alex claims his car was stolen. Did you or your husband have any knowledge of this?

Raschel Coleman: When I talked with you before, I told you we haven't seen or spoken to Alex.  So the answer is no, I didn't know his car was stolen. But if Alex told me someone stole his car, I'd believe him. He wouldn't lie to me.

Detective Armstrong: Did Alex tell you that the car was found on Hurricane Road fully engulfed in flames? That someone had lit it on fire?

Raschel Coleman:  Oh no! Alex didn't tell me. Whoever stole the car must have burned it.

Detective Armstrong: Are you sure Alex didn't torch it himself?

Raschel Coleman:  What reason would Alex have to burn up his own car knowing this would leave him without transportation?  Alex loved that car.  It makes no sense that he would destroy it.

Detective Armstrong: Could it be he was trying to hide something?

Raschel Coleman:I don't know what you’re talking about. Alex has nothing to hide. I think you're just grasping at straws trying to blame my son for crimes you can't solve.

Detective Armstrong: We found a gold chain and a barrette in the trunk of the car. Alex said they belong to you. Can you tell us what the initials TD stand for on the barrette?

Raschel Coleman: I have no idea. Maybe they belonged to the person that owned the car previously.

Detective Armstrong: Now we can talk about the items we found in your basement. During our search for Alex we found human blood along with some other interesting items. You have a big rug with a lot of dark stains that proved to be blood.  Mrs. Coleman, where could this blood possibly have come from?  Are you okay Mrs. Coleman? You look a bit pale.

Raschel Coleman: Not that it is any of your business but I haven't been feeling well. As for your question, it's ridiculous. Why would there be blood in my basement?

Detective Armstrong: Do you know a girl named Taylor Duncan?

Raschel Coleman: I can't say I know her that well. But I heard she got around if you know what I mean. She ditched Brent, Alex's best friend to date other boys. I knew she had disappeared about a year ago and was last seen with a boy named Blake Jenson at a party.

Detective Armstrong: How do you know where she was last seen?

Raschel Duncan: Alex told me she was at the party with Blake the night she disappeared and she was drunk.

Detective Armstrong: I'm sure you’ve heard they found a body out by Sardis Lake. What if I told you the body we found is Taylor Duncan and the blood found in your basement is a match to hers? Now that we have her body we may find other clues to who may have murdered her. Now can you tell us how Taylor's blood got in your basement?

Raschel Coleman: I told you I don't know anything about any blood in my basement. I think you're making all this up. If you have all these clues why don't you find the person that killed her and stop harassing my family?

Detective Armstrong: Mrs. Coleman let’s get back to the gold chain and barrette. What if I told you we now know these items belonged to Taylor and the initials on the barrette stand for Taylor Duncan?   Why don't you explain how a barrette and a gold chain belonging to a dead girl are in the trunk of your son's car?  Did Alex have something to do with her disappearance?

Raschel Coleman: Of course he didn't! He wouldn't hurt anyone. You fat, lazy, donut chomping cops can't solve a case so you try and blame it on an innocent boy.

Detective Armstrong: Just for the record, Detective Murphy and I haven't chomped a donut in over a month! We do our best to solve all our cases and we certainly don't think your son is an innocent boy. We think he may be responsible for a hit-and-run accident involving a fatality. Now we find Taylor Duncan’s blood in your basement and Alex has items belonging to Taylor Duncan in the trunk of his car. You tell me why we should think your son is innocent.

Raschel Coleman: OK, OK, I don't want my son to be in any trouble! I'll tell you the truth. I should have told you from the beginning but Alex made me promise I wouldn't say anything to anyone. He was trying to protect Blake. He told me Blake's car wouldn't start so he loaned him his so he could take Taylor home. She was passed out, and Alex told him he could take her to our house because we were out of town. He said Blake didn't come back to the party so he walked home and when he got there his car was there. The next day, Brent told him that Taylor had disappeared. To think Blake Jenson may have murdered that girl in our basement is a horrible thought.

Detective Murphy: Yes, I agree that is terrible to think about. Mrs. Coleman how often did you or your family go into the basement?

Raschel Coleman: We didn't. It's an old basement that needs to be updated so we don't use it and have no reason to go down there. Now I'm not sure if I'll ever want to go down there again.

Detective Murphy: Is there any other way to get into the basement besides going through the house?

Raschel Coleman: There is a back entrance that we never use and I doubt it's even locked.  Blake could have taken the girl in that way.

Detective Armstrong: Mrs. Coleman, since you've decided to tell us the truth, what can you tell us about the hit-and-run accident and Alex's involvement?

Raschel Coleman: Alex didn't tell me anything about an accident. I know my son wasn't involved in any hit-and-run. Like I told you before, Alex wouldn’t do such a thing. Instead of harassing me and my son, you should be out looking for the person that stole his car. Find that person and you'll find the one responsible for that man's death. As for Taylor Duncan, it's obvious Blake Jenson murdered that girl in my basement and you're trying to pin it on my son.  Alex hasn't done anything and I'm tired of you two accusing him of crimes he didn't commit. This interview is over. I know my rights. Next time I'll bring a lawyer.

Detective Armstrong: Please do. We're finished here and you're free to go. Tell your son not to leave town.

Interview ends: 2:43 PM