Wednesday, June 17, 2009-8:45 AM

The witness, Brent Allan Woods, best friend of Alex Coleman’s was interviewed by Detective’s Armstrong and Murphy at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff’s Department. The interview was recorded on a portable tape player with the knowledge and consent of the witness.

Detective Ted Armstrong
Detective Samantha Murphy
Brent Woods

Brent Woods: Hello.

Detective Armstrong: Hello. Thank you for coming in. Will you state your name and address for the record?

Brent Woods: Why not? I’m Brent Woods and I live at 1830 Jackson Avenue, Oxford.

Detective Armstrong: Do you know why you are here, Brent?

Brent Woods: I’m guessing it has something to do with Taylor?

Detective Armstrong: Why do you say that?

Brent Woods: Because she was my girlfriend when she disappeared last year and I can’t imagine what else I could possibly know anything about. I don’t know anything about that either, really. Have you found her? Where has she been all this time? Why did she run away like that?

Detective Murphy: Have you heard from her in the past year?

Brent Woods: No. Not a word. I thought she either just took a hike out of town or someone had abducted her. Like in those slave trade abductions. Is that what happened?  Please don’t tell me that. How horrible that would be.

Detective Armstrong: Yes, it would be terrible, but no, that isn’t what we’re saying. Tell us about your relationship with Taylor.

Brent Woods: I loved her. I wanted our relationship to be exclusive. She didn’t want that, but wanted to date others. She broke my heart when she told me that.

Detective Murphy: When was this, Brent?

Brent Woods: I bought a necklace for her and gave it to her the day she disappeared, I guess. I never saw her after that.

Detective Murphy: Thank you. What do you know about Alex Coleman?

Brent Woods: Alex? Why are asking me about Alex?

Detective Armstrong: You are his best friend, aren’t you?

Brent Woods: Yes, I am, but what does that have to do with anything?

Detective Murphy: Calm down, Brent! At the moment, you’re not in any trouble. Let’s keep it that way.

Brent Woods: Sorry. I was getting a little spooked, that’s all. Just ask me what you want to know about. If I can tell you anything, I will.

Detective Armstrong: Were you with Alex Coleman when he ran off the road in his car?

Brent Woods:Which time? He was always running off the road.

Detective Armstrong: The time he ran off the road and hit the tree. What time of the day was that?

Brent Woods: Tree?

Detective Murphy: Alex told us that you were with him the time he lost control of his car and ran off the road and hit a tree.

Brent Woods: What tree?

Detective Armstrong: What tree!? How many trees have you hit?

Brent Woods: Umm, I don’t remember hitting a tree, but I passed out a few times in his car, so maybe it happened while I was out cold.

Detective Murphy: Come on, Brent, were you ever been bruised or bleeding when you came out of it? Did Alex ever tell you he had hit a tree?

Brent Woods: No, I don’t think so.

Detective Armstrong: You know what, Sam? Maybe we should just go ahead and throw Brent in the slammer. He’s just wasting our time now instead of telling the truth. He’s playing the same head games his friend Alex did.

Brent Woods: No! No! Give me a break, will ya? Alex is my best friend. I don’t want to say anything to get him in trouble.

Detective Murphy: If you don’t answer the questions without all the sidestepping, you’re going to be in trouble. Not Alex. Now what’s it going to be? Truth or consequences?

Brent Woods: Okay. Okay. I’m telling you the truth when I say I don’t remember hitting any trees.

Detective Murphy: Did Alex ever tell you that he had hit a tree while you were passed out?

Brent Woods: Not that I remember. He’s in big trouble, isn’t he?

Detective Armstrong: Could be. Now tell us what you know about Blake Jenson and Lacy Borders.

Brent Woods: I didn’t really know Blake, but I heard Alex talk about him. They were good friends, I think. Alex thought Blake Jenson was going to be famous.  Lacy is Alex’s cousin. She’s weird, I can tell you that. She acts more like a man than a woman. Cussed like one and fought like one.

Detective Armstrong: Were you aware that Alex was staying at her house?

Brent Woods: I heard some rumors that Lacy was letting Alex stay with her because he had some kind of trouble with his parents, but that wouldn’t surprise anyone. Lacy and Alex were very close.

Detective Murphy: Do you know what kind of trouble he was having with his parents?

Brent Woods: Just more gossip. All I heard was that Alex was in big trouble with his folks, but no one seemed to know what it was about and Alex never called me or anything, so I didn’t know what was going on. I thought he was mad at me or something.

Detective Armstrong: Thank you, for co-operating. Finally. You are free to go, but be aware that we may be asking you back at any time.

Brent Woods: Ok. Sorry, I was so evasive. I won’t be if you need to talk to me again. After all, why should I worry about Alex? He hasn’t even bothered to call me.

Interview ended: 9:30 AM