Sunday, April 6, 2008 - 9:47 AM

The witness, Marlin Duncan, is the 44-year-old father of Taylor Duncan. 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
Marlin Duncan

Detective Murphy: For the record, please state your name and address.

Marlin Duncan: Marlin Duncan. 721 College Hill Road. I have to admit that I don't understand why it is you're interviewing me and my wife. We're certain we don't know where Taylor is. You should be talking to those friends of hers.

Detective Armstrong: Mr. Duncan, first we need to get the big picture.

Marlin Duncan: The big picture? The big picture is that my daughter went to a party and never came home. We called you folks. Then, when we were told we needed to come down and fill out a report, that's what we did. My daughter is out there somewhere, and you're sitting here asking me where I live.

Detective Murphy: We don't know that she never came home.

Marlin Duncan: Are you calling me a liar?

Detective Murphy: Not at all, sir. Maybe Taylor never left the party. Maybe she never arrived. Maybe she left the party and disappeared before she got home. Maybe she arrived home safely, and disappeared some time after that. Taylor might have woke and left ten minutes before anybody else in the house stirred.

Detective Armstrong: Mr. Duncan, if we investigate blinded by assumptions, we might miss something significant. Yes, it's hard to sit here in a room where your daughter definitely isn't, but what we learn here might help us find her.

Marlin Duncan: Okay, okay, okay. I’m just a little bit shook here.

Detective Murphy: We understand. We appreciate what you're going through. The best thing you can do for your daughter is to answer our questions.

Marlin Duncan: Sure. Ask away.

Detective Armstrong: Has Taylor ever run away?

Marlin Duncan: No. She threatened to, of course. She couldn't have a pony at her second grade birthday party, she's going to run away from home and find a family that loves her. But there was never anything more significant than that, tantrums.

Detective Murphy: Did she throw tantrums often?

Marlin Duncan: Who knows? Speaking as her father, one tantrum is more than enough. But kids, kids are kids.

Detective Murphy: Have you or your wife had issues with Taylor recently?

Marlin Duncan: She's eighteen.

Detective Murphy: Does anything in particular stand out?

Marlin Duncan: Nah. She's a good kid. She listens. She's respectful. Some of those friends of hers-- But Taylor doesn't let it rub off.

Detective Armstrong: Does she have a boyfriend?

Marlin Duncan: Nobody in particular.

Detective Armstrong: Has she come to you about any boys who maybe want to be her boyfriend, even though she's not interested?

Marlin Duncan: Nothing like that, no.

Detective Murphy: Does Taylor do drugs?

Marlin Duncan: Not my little girl.

Detective Murphy: She's not so little, Mr. Duncan. She's eighteen.

Marlin Duncan: Taylor stayed away from all that. She never even took a puff of a cigarette.

Detective Armstrong: If she left of her own accord, where might she have gone?

Marlin Duncan: My wife and I have family, but they would have called if Taylor showed up at their door.

Detective Armstrong: Even if she asked for just a little time?

Marlin Duncan: I'm sure of it.

Detective Armstrong: Can you make us a list of names?

Marlin Duncan: Anything that might help.

Detective Murphy: Does Joey have a phone?

Marlin Duncan: A phone?

Detective Murphy: Taylor might try to reach her younger brother.

Marlin Duncan: The kid's only eleven. Why does he need a phone?

Detective Armstrong: We're just asking questions, Mr. Duncan. We want to bring your daughter home.

Marlin Duncan: Sorry. I'm in no mood to have my parenting questioned.

Detective Murphy: We're not questioning your ability to parent.

Marlin Duncan: Maybe you should be. I don't even know where she was last night. For all I know, there was no party. My daughter is just gone.

Detective Armstrong: Has Taylor acted differently lately?

Marlin Duncan: What do you mean?

Detective Armstrong: More listless than usual. More excited. Jumps to answer the phone. Cries at odd moments. Never shuts up at the dinner table. Never opens her mouth. Any behavior that's changed in the last few weeks or months.

Marlin Duncan: I haven't seen anything. But she's an eighteen-year-old female. What's normal? No offense.

Detective Murphy: None taken.

Detective Armstrong: Okay Mr. Duncan, that's probably enough for now. You and your wife go home, keep an ear peeled for the phone. We'll be in touch.

Interview ends: 10:04 AM