Monday, May 18, 2009 - 10:30 am

The interview was conducted at the Baptist Memorial Hospital and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness’s knowledge and consent.

Detective Ted Armstrong
Detective Samantha Murphy
Adela Fitzgerald

Detective Murphy: Mrs. Fitzgerald thank you for speaking with us this morning. We're very sorry for your loss. I know this is very difficult with your injuries. Anytime you aren't feeling well enough to continue, please inform us. Before we get started, can we tell the nurse to get you anything?

Adela Fitzgerald: No thank you, Detective Murphy. I’ll be okay. I want to help in any way I can to find the person responsible for my husband’s death.

Detective Murphy: Would you please state your name and address for our record?

Adela Fitzgerald: My name is Adela Nicole Fitzgerald. I live at 2185 SW 9th Street in Topeka, Kansas.

Detective Armstrong: Can you tell us about the morning of the accident?

Adela Fitzgerald: I'm afraid I don't recall much that happened that morning. It was early for me. I'm a late sleeper so I kept dozing off. John and I had stayed over at a hotel in Oxford for the night. We decided to get an early start. We were traveling through Oxford on our way to Springdale to visit my sister and her family.

Detective Armstrong: Mrs. Fitzgerald, do you remember anything about the collision?

Adela Fitzgerald: We had stopped at a traffic light. I remember seeing a lady walking a small dog. The light was still red when the car came out of nowhere. I remember seeing a flash of something red. I heard John say, "Oh my God," and then all the sounds of the cars crashing were deafening. I must have blacked out. My next memory was waking up at the hospital in the ICU unit and the doctors telling me John had died in the accident.

Detective Armstrong: What did you mean when you said you saw a flash of red. Is it possible that the car that hit you was a reddish color?

Adela Fitzgerald: I don't know. I just now remembered something about a flash of red. I can't say for sure what color the car was or even what kind of vehicle. It's all a blur. The doctors tell me I suffered a concussion, so I could be imagining it. I’m sorry, Detective Armstrong, I want so much to help you find the person that took my dear, sweet John away from me. How can anyone be so cold hearted? It makes me angry they could just drive off and care less that my husband was dead.

Detective Murphy: Please calm down and don't be sorry for anything, Mrs. Fitzgerald. We'll do our best to find the person responsible for your husband's death.

Adela Fitzgerald: Thank you, detectives. You've been so kind. Will you please call my nurse in? My head hurts and I need to rest.

Detective Murphy/Detective Armstrong: Goodbye, Mrs. Fitzgerald.

Interview ended: 10:55