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Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 2:15 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 James Thurston, is the resident manager
at Oxford Ridge. The interview was conducted by Det. Sam Murphy and Det. Ted
Armstrong at the Oxford Ridge leasing office and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.
- TA = Detective T. Armstrong
- SM = Detective S. Murphy
- JT = James Thurston
SM: Thank you for allowing us to come in and ask you a few questions.
JT: No problem. Call me Jim, please.
SM: For the record, who do you work for?
JT: I work for Oxford Ridge Apartments.
SM: What is your job description here at Oxford Ridge?
JT: I am the resident manager. I oversee the rentals and maintenance of the everyday operation of the apartments. I also collect and document the rent and expenditures and anything else that needs to be attended to.
SM: Where do you live?
JT: I live here at the apartments, ah, 500 Hathorn Road, Oxford
TA: How long have you worked here at Oxford Ridge?
JT: Let's see now. I have been working for Oxford Ridge for almost four years now.
TA: We're here to ask you about two of your tenants.
JT: Sure. If I can help, I will be glad to help.
SM: Are you familiar with the Fines, Cynthia and Andrew?
JT: Oh, yes. There not exactly model tenants, if you catch my drift.
SM: How do you mean, Mr. Thurston?
JT: I'll give you an example. The rent is due the first of the month. There is a ten day grace period meaning the rent can turned in on or before the tenth of the month without penalty, but after that there is a five dollar per day late charge. It never fails, three out of five months they are late with the rent and there is always an argument about the penalty charge. I don't blame the Mrs. so much as I do that Andy Fine.
SM: I can understand that. I was wondering when was the last time you saw Andy Fine?
JT: I generally talk a walk around the apartment complex after lunch, you know to check up on things, to see if things are getting done. Then, of course, I walk back to my apartment when go home for the evening. Those are generally the times I see the residents, unless they come to see me about something. I suppose I bumped into him a couple of times around the first of the month when I was on the way home. I assume he was coming home too. We didn't speak, or make eye contact for that matter. It's one of those deals where he tries to avoid me. It doesn't even have to be rent time.
SM: I see.
SM: Do remember what were you doing on the night of July third, say around 1:30, 2:00 o'clock?
JT: I can't say for sure. Sleeping, probably. We went out to the lake for the Fourth. Me and my wife. Left on the Thursday and came back on the Sunday.
TA: Which lake did y'all go to?
JT: Sardis. Did a little camping, a little fishing.
TA: Catch anything?
JT: Nothing worth talking about.
TA: Other than what we talked about, is there anything else you can tell us about Andy Fine?
JT: Not that I can think of off hand. I don't get into the personal lives of my tenants. It makes life a little easier that way. You might check with my maintenance man. He is out and about more than me.
TA: Well, if you think of anything, please give us a call. Here is our card.
End interview - 2:27 p.m.
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