Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 4:30 PM

Blanche Duncan is a 40-year-old woman and the mother of Taylor Duncan. The interview was conducted at the Yoknapatawpha Sheriff's Department and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.

Detective Ted Armstrong
Detective Samantha Murphy
Blanche Duncan

Detective Murphy: Thank you for coming down. We'll need your name and address for the record.

Blanche Duncan: My name is Blanche Duncan and I live at 721 College Hill Road, Oxford.  Please call me Blanche.

Detective Murphy: We had your husband look at a picture, and he identified the person in the picture as your daughter Taylor.  I know this must be difficult but the more information we gather the more it will help us find the person that killed your daughter.

Blanche Duncan: Marlin was right.  Now I have to face the fact that Taylor won't be coming back to us. I guess there's no need to keep putting up fliers. Marlin told me about the picture you showed him. He said it was Taylor with a young man kneeling beside her. Marlin said the picture was horrible. He cried in my arms when he told me. It's the first time we’ve been that close since Taylor's been gone.  Marlin lost it when Taylor disappeared. He comes home late from work and he drinks too much. We argue all the time. I don't understand him at all. It's strange this is the first time I've seen him shed a tear since Taylor's been gone. He acts like he's the only one that has lost a child.  I'm sorry I can't seem to stop the tears from coming.

Detective Murphy: Blanche, here’s some tissue. If at any time you need to stop, please let us know.

Blanche Duncan: No, please continue, you're both very kind but all I need now is to help find the horrible person that did this and locate my baby's body so we can give her a proper burial.  It's hard to imagine I will never see her beautiful face again. Who would want to kill my little girl?

Detective Armstrong: Can you tell us about the day Taylor disappeared?

Blanche Duncan: It was a normal day. My husband and I went to work. I work at the Downtown Oxford Inn and Marlin works at the water treatment plant. Taylor was home with our son Joey but she left for a party before we got home. Joey said she was excited about meeting a boy that was going to be at the party.  His name was Blake Jenson. He was killed awhile back by electrocution. Taylor's best friend Martina was at the party and the last time she saw Taylor she was sitting in this Blake’s car. 

Detective Armstrong: Did Taylor hang out with people that you or your husband disapproved of?

Blanche Duncan: I didn't know all her friends but the ones that I do are great kids. I had a lot of trust in my daughter. She never gave us any problems. She would make it a point that at least one day on the weekend was spent with her family.

Detective Armstrong: Was there anyone that you can think of that would have wanted to hurt Taylor?

Blanche Duncan: She never complained about anyone except maybe her boyfriend Brent Woods. But that wasn't anything serious.  She said at times he was too clingy and he didn't want to date other girls even after she told him she was going to date other boys. She said he wasn't happy about it but they weren't fighting.

Detective Armstrong: Blanche, did your husband tell you about a barrette that was taped to the picture?

Blanche Duncan: Marlin said it was one of the ones we had made for Taylor a few years ago. It was gold and had her initials on it, TD. We had them special made for her sixteenth birthday. She loved them and wore them often.  

Detective Murphy: How is your son Joey doing since Taylor disappeared?

Blanche Duncan: Joey is more withdrawn than ever.  When I told him about Taylor, he said he was the last in his family to see her alive. He was sobbing hard when he said he should have stopped her from going to that party. I held him in my arms while he cried and he finally cried himself to sleep. He loved his sister very much.

Detective Armstrong: Blanche do you think Joey might have some information that would be helpful to this case?

Blanche Duncan: I can't say for sure. He doesn't talk to us much anymore.  He stays in his room most of the time with his TV on. I think it’s mostly because his father and I argue a lot.

Detective Armstrong: With you and your husband's permission we can question Joey. Kids tend to listen more than we give them credit for. Maybe Joey overheard a conversation Taylor was having with someone.

Blanche Duncan: You most definitely have my permission to speak with Joey, and I can't think of any reason Marlin would object. We just want to find the person responsible for our daughter's death.

Detective Murphy: Blanche, thank you again for coming to talk with us. We're going to do our best to find the person that took your daughter from you. Once again, I can't tell you how sorry we are for your family.  You can leave when you're ready.

Blanche Duncan: Thank you Detectives. I wish I could be of more help.

Interview ended:  5:15 PM