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Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 1:30 p.m.
Robyn Dykman, who was identified as Andrew Fine's sister-in-law, was interviewed at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department. The interview was conducted by Detectives Armstrong and Murphy and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.
- TA = Detective T. Armstrong
- SM = Detective S. Murphy
- RD = Robyn Dykman
SM: Thank you for coming in to the office this afternoon, Mrs. Dykman.
RD: Um. You're welcome. What do you want from me?
TA: Well, first please state your name and address for the record.
RD: Robin Campbell Dykman. 202 Williams Avenue.
SM: Now, Mrs. Dykman, we'd like to learn more about Andrew Fine, and your sister. Can you help us?
RD: I really don't know what you want from me. I don't know anything about who killed Andy.
SM: I understand. But he was your brother-in-law, and maybe you can help us understand Mr. Fine -- and, of course, your sister's relationship with him. Could you do that?
RD: I guess so. Poor Cindy's so broken up over this whole thing. I'd sure like to see it cleared up. Who could have done such a terrible thing?
TA: That's what we're trying to determine, Mrs. Dykman. Now for starters, how long had you known Mr. Fine?
RD: I don't know exactly, but ever since Cindy started dating him. They were married nearly 20 years, so a while longer than that.
SM: You must have been pretty young then.
RD: Yes, I was about fourteen, I guess. It seems a lifetime ago.
SM: How would you characterize your relationship with him?
RD: I don't know what you mean. He was Cindy's husband, my brother-in-law. He was family.
SM: Yes, but we don't always get along with everyone in the family, do we? How did you and Mr. Fine get along?
RD: Oh, he was okay. In fact, he could be rather charming when he wanted. Especially with the ladies.
TA: Oh? Was he charming to you, Mrs. Dykman?
RD: Oh, sure -- when he wanted something. He tried to get on my good side. I talked to him a few times about how he treated Cindy. I didn't always like the way he acted toward her. Butter would have melted in his mouth he was so smooth. He could talk his way out of most anything.
SM: What did he do that you didn't like?
RD: Well, he'd gotten so grouchy with her all the time. She couldn't do anything right according to him. I hated the way he talked to her, put her down, always on her back about something she did -- or didn't do -- that he didn't like. He'd gotten to be a real pain in the... Well, he just didn't treat her right. She was getting so beaten down mentally and emotionally. It was really taking a toll on her, but she always said everything was okay. That Andy loved her so it was okay.
TA: Did he physically hurt her, too?
RD: Yeah. She would deny it, but I know he whacked her whenever he felt like it. I'd seen the bruises and the swelling and the cuts around her mouth.
SM: What did you do about it?
RD: There wasn't anything I could do except be here for her when she
needed me. I'd tried to get her to go to the Domestic Violence Project for counseling. I have a friend who is a counselor there. But Cindy wouldn't do it. I even tried to get her to leave Andy, but she said she loved him and he needed her. I finally just gave up and prayed a lot. I know enough about domestic violence to know it was escalating and she was in danger. To tell the truth, I was afraid he might kill her.
TA: So you had reason to want him dead, didn't you?
RD: I had reason to want him out of my sister's life, but dead? No, I don't think so! I just wanted him to leave her alone. My life is dedicated to nursing people back to health, not killing them because I don't like the way they act!
TA: Not even when you felt your sister was in danger?
RD: Oh no. Oh my God. You can't think I had anything to do with Andy's death!
SM: It's okay, Mrs. Dykman. Would you like a glass of water, a soda, or coffee? Take a few minutes to get yourself together?
RD: No, thank you, Detective. I'm all right. Sorry about the outburst, but this whole thing is so... well, it's upsetting. Cindy is about out of her mind trying to figure out what happened and why.
TA: Yes, and we would like to know too. What do you know about Mr. Fine's relationship with other people: his boss and coworkers, for example?
RD: I really don't know. Andy bragged how much Mr. Laughlin trusted him and gave him special jobs and the other workers were jealous of him because he had an in with his boss. Andy was so full of it, though. You could never tell how much was truth and how much was bull-- ah... exaggeration.
SM: How well did Cindy know Mr. Laughlin?
RD: As far as I know, just from seeing him at the shop when she'd go there to take Andy his lunch or the car or something.
TA: Did Cindy and Mr. Laughlin ever see each other when Andy wasn't around?
RD: No, I don't think so. Cindy was shy around Andy's work. I don't think she even knew Mr. Laughlin... Hey, what are you sayin'? That you think Cindy and Mr. Laughlin had a thing going? You're terrible! You're trying to say Cindy was unfaithful to Andy? No way! She loved that bum. She was faithful to him, even if he wasn't to her. She always stuck up for him no matter what he did.
SM: Well what about Andy's brother, Carl? What was going on with him?
RD: Carl? He's family, too. There was nothing going on with Cindy and him except they were in-laws. Carl is to Cindy like I was to Andy -- in-laws.
SM: We kind of got the impression Carl was maybe still stuck on Cindy. I understand he dated her before Andy did. Was Carl still bitter that Andy took her away from him?
RD: Bitter after twenty years? Oh, come on now. Aren't you stretching this a bit, Detectives? I will say one thing for Carl -- he didn't like the way Andy treated Cindy either. He's always tried to stay out of their business, but I know he was getting fed up with the way Andy treated Cindy. He had told me recently he was going to talk to Andy about it.
SM: Did he talk to Andy about Cindy?
RD: I don't know. I guess you'd have to ask him. He was just concerned for Cindy.
TA: And then there's Cindy's old buddy and ex-boyfriend, Dudley Brinkman. What about him? He's not family. Just what is he to your sister?
RD: You know... you are something else! Dudley is a good guy. Serious and sensitive. I always felt he had a soft spot for Cindy, but they were just longtime, dear friends. He was concerned about her like I was. In fact, I talked to him a couple of times about Cindy and how worried I was about her. In the strictest confidence, of course. But I knew Dudley could keep his mouth shut. I didn't want Cindy's business blabbed all over town. She had enough to deal with. Friends. That's all there was... that's all they were. You're trying to make all this more than it really was. Cindy was a loyal, loving, caring, faithful wife. And no matter how you try to make up something more, there is no more. I've known Dudley as long as my sister has, and he's just a downright good friend.
SM: Now, Mrs. Dykman, I know this is difficult, but we need to ask you about the night Andy disappeared. Where were you the evening and night of July 3rd?
RD: Bill and I were right here. We aren't great party people. We just had a usual quiet evening at home. We went to bed about 11:00, I guess and we were here all night.
TA: Did you see Mr. Fine any time that evening?
RD: No, I hadn't seen Andy for a week or so.
SM: Do you remember exactly when was the last time you saw him?
RD: Let's see. We all went to my folks' house for dinner the Sunday before the holiday. I couldn't tell you the date without looking at a calendar.
TA: Did anything unusual happen that day. With Andy and Cindy?
RD: Heavens no. Andy was always on his best behavior when my folks were around. That day he was sweet as pie to Cindy, and everybody else for that matter. He wasn't his usual obnoxious self. I told you he could turn the charm on and off. That's how he conned Cindy all the time. I guess that Sunday was one of his charming days.
SM: And that was the last time you saw Andy?
RD: That's right. I see Cindy at least once a week and we talk on the phone most every day, but I'll admit Bill and I didn't go out of our way to be around Andy lately. We only tolerated him for Cindy's sake, and when we had to.
TA: Now to get back to the early morning hours of July 3. Mrs. Fine stayed with you?
RD: That's right.
SM: Would you tell us, in your own words, how that came about?
RD: Well, Bill and I were in bed -- asleep. As I said, we'd gone to bed about 11:00. I woke up when I heard Bill getting up and saying, "Who the hell is that at this time of night?" My first thought was that something had happened to Cindy. I was scared. I followed Bill to the front door. He looked out, then unlocked and opened the door when he saw it was Cindy.
TA: What time was that, Mrs. Dykman?
RD: It was very late. I don't know what time, exactly. Maybe 3:00 or 3:30? I'm not sure, but I know it was very late.
SM: Go on. What happened then?
RD: Bill opened the door, of course, and let her in. She was in such a state. She was crying and practically hysterical. Seems Andy had come home, dragged her out of bed and started in on her. Something about a watch. He never had to have a real reason. Anything that went wrong was her fault, according to him. I gathered that when he finally passed out, she got in the car and drove to my house. She wasn't dressed and was in her bare feet. She was dirty and tear-streaked.
SM: When you say she wasn't dressed, do you mean she was naked?
RD: No, I mean she wasn't in regular clothes. She had her nightgown on. She didn't even have a robe or a jacket or anything over it.
SM: It must have been upsetting to see her like that. What did you do?
RD: I got her in the shower, then got her into one of my nightgowns and put her to bed. I sat with her until she'd calmed down, and then I went back to bed. None of us got much sleep that night.
TA: What happened to the nightgown she was wearing that night?
RD: It was a mess. I threw it away and bought her a new one. She deserved it.
SM: How did you say Mrs. Fine got to your house?
RD: She drove their car. She was crying so and was so upset, I really don't know how she managed it.
SM: She drove to your house? You didn't go pick her up someplace?
RD: That's right. Didn't Cindy tell you?
TA: And she said she came from their house? Did she mention having been to the farmhouse?
RD: No. I'm sure of that. She was not at the farmhouse that night.
SM: Tell us again what time she arrived at your house that morning.
RD: I told you. It was late Thursday night... or I guess it would have been Friday morning.
TA: Can you be more specific about the time, Mrs. Dykman?
RD: No, I really can't. We woke out of a sound sleep and I was so upset about Cindy I don't think I looked at my watch, or a clock.
SM: You said you thought it was 3:00 or 3:30. Does that sound about right?
RD: You know, I'd really rather not say because I don't remember for sure. Didn't Cindy tell you what time she got here?
TA: We'd like you to tell us from your best recollection.
RD: I'm sorry. I really couldn't tell you because I don't remember. That whole night is kind of a blur. Don't you have all you need from me? I've told you everything I can and I'm due at work pretty soon.
SM: How long did Cindy stay with you?
RD: What do you mean?
SM: Did she just spend the night and go home the next morning? Or did she stay a couple of days?
RD: She stayed with us that night and a good bit of the next day.
TA: Why did she leave?
RD: What do you mean? She left because she went home. People go home because it's where they live.
TA: Didn't she come to your house in the first place because she wanted to get away from her husband?
RD: Yes.
TA: What had changed?
RD: I don't know. You're asking me to explain something I don't understand myself. Cindy was worried about Andy. She felt like she had to get home because he might need her. We were having a cook-out and she left right in the middle. She tried to stay because she knew I wanted her to, but, finally, she just couldn't take it anymore and she left.
TA: She couldn't take what anymore?
RD: The worrying about Andy. She thought he might be at home waiting for her and not knowing where she was, and that made her really... tense about being at our house instead of there. She felt like had to go home, in case he was there and needed her or in case he came home at some point and needed her. Don't ask me. I'm just telling you like she told me. As far as I was concerned, she didn't need to go home at all. But there never was any talking sense with Cindy where Andy was concerned.
TA: Did you try to stop her?
RD: From going home? Sure. I told her I didn't think it was a good idea. I told her she could stay with us as long as she wanted to. But I'm her sister, not her keeper. I couldn't force her to stay.
SM: Did Cindy call home before she left your house? To see if Andy was there?
RD: No, I don't think so. But I wasn't watching her every minute. She might have.
SM: Did she make or receive any other phone calls while she was at your house?
RD: No, I don't think so. Now, like I said, I have to be at work soon. Is it okay if I leave now?
SM: All right, Mrs. Dykman. We'll wind it up for today, but we may need to talk to you again.
RD: Okay. But I really have to go now.
SM: Thank you for coming in, ma'am. We'll be in touch.
End interview - 2:19 p.m.
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