Saturday, January 13, 2010 - 10:30 a.m.

This witness, unavailable due to school scheduling conflicts until January 13, 2010, was interviewed in her home located at 818 Country Club Circle, Oxford. As stated, by her father, Carl Dixon, the witness has taken the death of Mr. Beauchamp quite hard and is upset. Witness looks as though she has been crying and lacks sleep but insists she can go through with the interview.

Detective Ted Armstrong
Katherine Dixon

Detective Ted Armstrong: For the record, would you state your full name and address?

Katherine Dixon: Katherine Jacqueline Dixon, 818 Country Club Circle, Oxford, Mississippi.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Ms. Dixon, we have several questions regarding events leading up to the death of Devlin Beauchamp. Do you feel able to answer our questions at this time?

Katherine Dixon: My broken heart will not mend any time soon. What point is there in putting it off?

Detective Ted Armstrong: I see your point. Can you tell me where you were Saturday, January 2, 2010 between the hours of 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.?

Katherine Dixon: I was home, asleep.

Detective Ted Armstrong: What time did you arrive home, the night of the 2nd?

Katherine Dixon: About 10 p.m. I had planned to be away for the whole weekend, visiting friends in Jackson. But I wasn't feeling well, so I came home.

Detective Ted Armstrong: When did you leave Oxford for Jackson?

Katherine Dixon: Late Friday afternoon, after my last class. I guess it was about 4:30.

Detective Ted Armstrong: That would have been on January 1, 2010?

Katherine Dixon: Yes.

Detective Ted Armstrong: When did you leave Jackson to return to Oxford?

Katherine Dixon: I would say it was about 8 p.m. To be honest, I don't often wear a watch so I am not absolutely sure. Margie and Jodie and I spent the day shopping and lunching and gossiping. I suppose I could have stayed another night but, as I said, I wasn't feeling well. Guess I had a touch of the flu that's been going around.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Margie and Jodie who?

Katherine Dixon: Margie Jones and Jodie Beckmeire. They live in Jackson on Missouri Street...195. We all went to school together, and then they moved down to Jackson after high school graduation. Though for the life of me, why they'd go to work at the Wal-Mart... oh my, I am rambling, ain't I?

Detective Ted Armstrong: They can corroborate your story?

Katherine Dixon: My story? They can vouch for me, if that's what you mean?

Detective Ted Armstrong: Yes, ma'am, that's what I mean. And you returned home because you felt ill, is that correct?

Katherine Dixon: Well, I don't know... ill, maybe just exhausted. Spring Semester started last week and I was just wiped out I guess... getting back in the swing of classes and all. I didn't even work that week because it was so hectic.

Detective Ted Armstrong: I see. So you arrived home at 10 p.m. on January 2nd? What did you do then?

Katherine Dixon: I don't know. I came in, put down my suitcase and ran a bath, I think. After my bath, I tried to wait up for Daddy but I guess I was too tired and drifted off.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Did you see your father that night?

Katherine Dixon: Not exactly. I mean, I woke up when he came home. I turned on my light and was going to get up, but he called out and said not to get up. Frankly, I didn't have the energy anyway. So I called out good night and turned out the light and went back to sleep.

Detective Ted Armstrong: When did you get up the next morning?

Katherine Dixon: I guess it was about 8; there was an exercise class I wanted to go to. I got up, threw on my clothes, looked in on Daddy.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Your father? Was he awake?

Katherine Dixon: No, he was sound asleep. He looked so tired; I thought he must've needed the rest because he is usually up by then. So, I turned the ringer off on his phone, since I knew somebody from the restaurant would find a reason to call him and wake him.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Why would they do that?

Katherine Dixon: Because they have been doing it for the last seven years. Why would it stop now? That's how restaurants are, always some stupid emergency. Never become a restaurant owner, Detective. It will rule your life.

Detective Ted Armstrong: So you turned off the ringer on the phone and left?

Katherine Dixon: Yes, I did.

Detective Ted Armstrong: You only have one phone?

Katherine Dixon: You mean one phone line? Yes, that's right. I have a cell phone, but Daddy doesn't believe in them.

Detective Ted Armstrong: How many extensions on the one phone line?

Katherine Dixon: One in the kitchen and one in Daddy's bedroom. It was his ringer I turned off, if that's what you're getting at, Detective.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Yes miss, it was. So, you turned the ringer off on your father's phone and then...?

Katherine Dixon: Yes, I went to the class. Do you want the teacher's name or the people who saw me there?

Detective Ted Armstrong: Is it the class down at the high school?

Katherine Dixon: Yes it is.

Detective Ted Armstrong: We know how to contact the folks down there, so don't trouble yourself. When did you actually see your father again?

Katherine Dixon: Later that afternoon. I went by the restaurant because I was hungry and I wanted to see if Daddy was there, thought maybe we could have lunch together. And my father was having the meeting....

Detective Ted Armstrong: He was telling the staff about Mr. Beauchamp?

Katherine Dixon: Yes sir... I just couldn't believe it. I was so... I still don't believe it. I feel like any minute he's gonna walk through that door and whistle and say, "Hey Kat, what's cooking?"

Detective Ted Armstrong: So, you weren't aware of Mr. Beauchamp's death until you heard your father telling your fellow employees?

Katherine Dixon: That's correct.

Detective Ted Armstrong: And you hadn't worked at the restaurant since...?

Katherine Dixon: December 22, 2009. I was scheduled to go back to work on January 8, 2010.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Had you noticed any strange or unusual behavior on the part of Mr. Beauchamp?

Katherine Dixon: No. Well, yes... a little. He seemed quieter than usual. Dev could really fill up a room with his laughter and his jokes... When he was quiet, you did notice it.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Did he mention any problems he was having, to you?

Katherine Dixon: He told me there was some woman from his past, Natalie Poster, or Paster or something... was bothering him. He said he might call the police... or was it an attorney?

Detective Ted Armstrong: In what way was she bothering him?

Katherine Dixon: He didn't really say. You know women become enamored of him easily. I guess I just assumed she was following him or something like that. Annoying him, you know?

Detective Ted Armstrong: Do you know if he did contact the police and/or an attorney?

Katherine Dixon: He never said.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Anyone else he was having problems with?

Katherine Dixon: I think his brother was driving him to distraction. He's a writer. Jordan Rodale... heard of him?

Detective Ted Armstrong: I am aware he is Mr. Beauchamp's brother.

Katherine Dixon: I mean his books... historic novels... The Romances of George Washington, and there were others. Anyway, he's all charming on those talk shows, but Dev said he could be a real bitch if he wanted something.

Detective Ted Armstrong: What did Mr. Rodale want?

Katherine Dixon: Something of Dev's. Something his mother left him I think... he never said exactly.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Mr. Beauchamp seems to have confided quite a bit in you.

Katherine Dixon: We were smitten with one another.

Detective Ted Armstrong: You were?

Katherine Dixon: Well, I know Dev down played it because of Daddy. He didn't approve. But I knew in time, it would be out in the open...

Detective Ted Armstrong: You had a relationship with Mr. Devlin?

Katherine Dixon: Well, of course...

Detective Ted Armstrong: Excuse me; you had a sexual relationship with Mr. Beauchamp?

Katherine Dixon: Well, it was heading in that direction. If somebody hadn't... if he was... oh my, what will I do without him?

Detective Ted Armstrong: Ms. Dixon, we have been told by other witnesses that, in fact, you wanted a relationship with Mr. Beauchamp but that none existed.

Katherine Dixon: I'll bet I know just who said that terrible thing to you. I'll bet it was Mickie Webster. She is such a jealous, insecure woman that she would lie to make her own mother look guilty.

Detective Ted Armstrong: What makes you say she is jealous?

Katherine Dixon: Any time Dev talked to anybody, she was always there, lurking in the shadows, pretending not to listen. But you just knew she was!

Detective Ted Armstrong: Was there any time that she...

Katherine Dixon: Whenever they were in the restaurant at the same time, she was practically attached at the hip to him.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Did they argue, at the restaurant, to your knowledge?

Katherine Dixon: I never saw them argue. They were wrong for each other. Dev figured that out pretty quick.

Detective Ted Armstrong: How long did Mr. Beauchamp see Ms. Webster?

Katherine Dixon: Couldn't have been more than 6 months.

Detective Ted Armstrong: I see. And after the break up, were there any problems?

Katherine Dixon: It was tense; you could cut the air with a knife. She always looked like she was going to cry or something. He just tried to stay away from her.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Ms. Webster seems to think they had a friendly break up and that they were friends.

Katherine Dixon: Only because Dev wouldn't turn anyone away, no matter how pathetic they were. Because he had such a big heart.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Isn't it true that Mr. Beauchamp also rejected you, Ms. Dixon? And that it made you angry and bitter?

Katherine Dixon: It was because of Daddy. He didn't want there to be trouble between them. I understood. We had to just bide our time. That's why I never told Daddy about that letter...

Detective Ted Armstrong: What letter?

Katherine Dixon: Seemed like a lawyer was saying something about making big changes in the restaurant. But Daddy wasn't mentioned. I got upset about it. I confronted Dev about it, and he explained it to me, that it was just somebody making an offer. That people made offers all the time and it didn't mean he was even going to consider it.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Where did you see this letter?

Katherine Dixon: In the office at the restaurant, it was just sitting on Dev's desk....

Detective Ted Armstrong: Out in the open?

Katherine Dixon: Not completely...

Detective Ted Armstrong: Did your father ever find out about the letter?

Katherine Dixon: Not from me. I kept Dev's secret.

Detective Ted Armstrong: I thought he said it didn't mean anything.

Katherine Dixon: Maybe it did and maybe it didn't. I guess I just wanted to believe him, you know what I mean? When you're in love...

Detective Ted Armstrong: Do you know what happened to the letter? Did Mr. Beauchamp throw it away, file it, or put it in the safe?

Katherine Dixon: He crumpled it up and threw it in the trash - right in front of me.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Did it stay there?

Katherine Dixon: Pardon?

Detective Ted Armstrong: Did you go back later and take the letter out and say... keep it? Put it somewhere?

Katherine Dixon: To be perfectly honest, I did go back. But the trash had been emptied and I didn't think I could explain my fishing around in the dumpster out back.

Detective Ted Armstrong: So you never saw the letter again?

Katherine Dixon: No, I did not.

Detective Ted Armstrong: Is there any information you have that you feel we should know, regarding Mr. Beauchamp?

Katherine Dixon: I think I have told all, Detective. My heart is broken and I can't think any more thoughts of him. Can we end this now?

Detective Ted Armstrong: Yes, of course. We may need to ask more questions later on.

Katherine Dixon: I understand.

Detective Ted Armstrong: And we will need you to remain available. Should you decide to leave Oxford, you will need to inform the Sheriff's office.

Katherine Dixon: Yes of course. Good bye, Detective.

Interview ends: 11:14 a.m.