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Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 3:10 p.m.
On Wednesday, July 23, 2003, Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's investigators conducted a canvass of the Andrew Fine's neighbors in the Oxford Ridge Apartments. This witness, who has been identified as Cheryl Kline, is the Fines' downstairs neighbor at Oxford Ridge. The interview was conducted by Det. Sam Murphy and Det. Ted Armstrong at the witness's residence and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.
- TA = Detective T. Armstrong
- SM = Detective S. Murphy
- CK = Cheryl Kline
TA: Thanks for allowing us to have some of your time.
CK: Is this going to take long? I have things I have to do.
TA: We will take as little time as possible.
CK: Hey, I agreed to an interview but I ain't making no court appearances.
SM: We will worry about that later. Besides no one mentioned court. Please state your name and address for the record.
CK: Yeah, ah, my name is Cheryl Kline and I live at 594
Hathorn Road, here in Oxford.
SM: We noticed you live below the Fines. That's why we're here. We need some information concerning Mr. Fine
CK: Unfortunately, I do. Constant noise when he is there. What a loser! It's either the stereo or his big mouth. Always yelling.
SM: Is that right? What is it like when he isn't around?
CK: It's quiet. Cindy minds her own business. I hardly ever see her, kinda shy, I think. The last time I saw her she looked like she was in a battle, bruises and small cuts. Other than that I don't know too much else.
TA: Are you on a first name basis with Cindy?
CK: Yeah, you could say that. I mean we aren't like in the same social clubs or nothing.
SM: Do remember what were you doing on the night of July third, say around 1:30, 2:00 o'clock?
CK: I was sound asleep, like every night. Except when there's something going on upstairs in the middle of the night.
SM: Did you hear anything at all that night, particularly from upstairs at the Fines' apartment?
CK: I heard someone coming in around 12:30 or so. After that, I went to bed.
SM: That was almost three weeks ago. Why do you remember the time so clearly?
CK: I'll tell you why. Damn firecrackers!
SM: I'm sorry? What do you mean?
CK: Damn firecrackers! Fourth of July, every idiot in the city thinks they gotta set off firecrackers the whole damn weekend. I hate that s---! Pardon my French, but it just really bugs me. Anyway, I thought I'd never get to sleep that night. I had half an idea it was that Andy Fine out there lighting them off in the parking lot, but I wasn't about to look out there and find out or tell him to stop. That man probably would've just thrown a lit firecracker at me or worse! When I heard them go in upstairs, I figured I'd finally be able to get some sleep.
TA: You heard both of them go in or only one?
CK: I don't know. One. Both. What difference does it make? Alls I know is, it got quiet then and that's all I cared about.
TA: Did you hear anything after that? After 12:30 or so?
CK: I was asleep after that. I don't remember hearing anything else.
SM: When was the last time you actually saw Andy Fine?
CK: I try not to see the guy, if you know what I mean. He makes me
sick just to look at him. He should be shot the way he treats his wife. Anyway,
it was a while ago. Cindy and him were going some place. They were more dressed
up than usual. I don't talk to Cindy when he is around. He gets real P.O.ed and
I don't want to make things worse for her.
SM: When you say it was a while ago, what do you mean?
CK: I don't know. A couple weeks, maybe? A month? I don't really remember.
SM: Anything strike you as odd or out of the way, that last time you saw him going out with his wife?
CK: I guess I was surprised he was taking her with him, wherever he was going. He didn't do that much. But other than that, no. Nothing strange.
TA: Do you happen to remember the next time you saw Cindy after that?
CK: Seems like I saw Cindy coming home by herself that Saturday afternoon. I think it was that Saturday. She was coming in, while I was heading toward the pool.
TA: Did you notice anything unusual about her or her appearance at that time?
CK: Unusual for Cindy or unusual for other people?
TA: What do you mean?
CK: Well, it looked like Andy had knocked her around again, but that wasn't unusual for Cindy. Regular people don't have black eyes as often as not, but Cindy does. Or did. I guess that won't exactly be happening any more now, huh?
SM: Anything else you can add to this?
CK: No, that is about all I can say.
SM: If you think if anything else please let us know. Here are our cards with out numbers on it. Call us if anything comes to mind.
CK: Anything to help poor Cindy out.
End interview - 3:33 p.m.
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