Saturday, February 6, 2010 - 5:44 p.m.

The witness, Ms. Jessica Durham, was located by the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Office as a result of the final list of possible license plate matches, based on witness testimony. The interview was conducted at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Office with Det. Sam Murphy.

Detective Sam Murphy
Jessica Durham

Detective  Murphy: Please state your name and address for the record.

Jessica Durham: Jessica Anne Durham, 116 Thacker Loop, Oxford.

Detective Murphy: Ms. Durham, you are the owner of a 2002 black Nissan Sentra, license plate number OZI 477?

Jessica Durham: Yes ma'am.

Detective Murphy: Are there any distinguishing characteristics of the car of note?

Jessica Durham: Well, I have a pretty colorful bumper sticker on it, from a really good band called, Phish.

Detective Murphy: With the image of a balloon on it?

Jessica Durham: No ma'am, though it sorta looks like that I guess. Never thought of it - but you could think so... sure. And also, well it did have some damage on the right rear fender, but my boyfriend fixed for me a few weeks ago.

Detective Murphy: Do you remember when, what date?

Jessica Durham: Well, it was just after we moved - about mid-January.

Detective Murphy: You understand that the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Office contacted you because your car matches a general description of one seen near the home of Devlin Beauchamp the night of January 2, 2010? The night he was murdered?

Jessica Durham: Yes ma'am. I understand that my car or one like mine was spotted around Dev's house on the night he was killed...

Detective Murphy: Dev? You knew Devlin Beauchamp?

Jessica Durham: Sure. Our bakery used to play against the Home Plate softball team. I know all the Home Plate folks. Really fun bunch! Anyway, from what the officers said, sounds like it could have been my car there...

Detective Murphy: Were you in or around Devlin Beauchamp's neighborhood on the night he was killed?

Jessica Durham: Oh no ma'am. Like I said, we were moving. No, I borrowed a friend's truck and she borrowed my car... guess you could say we swapped for the weekend.

Detective Murphy: And who is this friend?

Jessica Durham: Mickie Webster. I guess we aren't what you'd call close, but we pal around sometimes. And she was such an angel to lend us the truck. We're trying to save all the money we can to buy some decent furniture, so she saved us about a hundred bucks on rental fees.

Detective Murphy: How long did you have Ms. Webster's truck and she your car?

Jessica Durham: Well we swapped early Saturday afternoon - about 1:00 or so and Jed, my boyfriend, he brought the truck by Monday morning to her and got my car back and then that's the day he fixed it - because when I got home, I had a brand new fender.

Detective Murphy: Did Ms. Webster mention to you where she had gone that weekend? Where she had taken your car?

Jessica Durham: No...but I didn't ask either. The tank was full and the speedometer didn't show any real mileage, so I assume she just more or less scooted around town with it. You know, running errands, going back and forth to work, and such?

Detective Murphy: I see what you mean. Have you had any reason to talk to or spend any time with Ms. Webster since then?

Jessica Durham: Well, we did see her at Dev's memorial, you know... but I wouldn't call that socializing. She came in a couple times to the bakery for coffee and some rolls.

Detective Murphy: Did you talk?

Jessica Durham: A little. She is pretty depressed about Dev and what happened to him. I noticed she started smoking again, poor thing. And her hair, I guess she's still not thinking straight.

Detective Murphy: What do you mean?

Jessica Durham: Well, the upkeep on that kind of lightening is going to be precious! Anyway, I don't mean to be critical... she actually looks real cute as a real blonde, don't you think?

Detective Murphy: Yes, Ms. Webster is an attractive young woman, I'm sure. Well thank you for coming in. If we should need to speak to you again, you will be available?

Jessica Durham: Oh of course, ma'am.

Detective Murphy: The officers have taken photographs of your car. Should we need any witnesses to look at it or need to perform any forensic analysis of it, will you make it available?

Jessica Durham: I surely will.

Detective Murphy: Okay. Well thank you for coming in Ms. Durham.

Jessica Durham: You're welcome, ma'am, and good luck.

Detective Murphy: Thank you.

Interview ends: 6:13 p.m.