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Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 8:37 a.m.
This witness, identified as the victim's wife, was interviewed at her residence, 596 Hathorn Road. The interview was conducted by Det. Sam Murphy and Det. Ted Armstrong, and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.
- TA = Detective T. Armstrong
- SM = Detective S. Murphy
- CF = Cindy Fine
TA: Thanks for letting us stop by so early, Mrs. Fine.
CF: I -- it's okay, I just don't, you know, understand why it can't wait. Are you sure I can't get you something?
TA: How about you start by dropping the act.
CF: What? I--
TA: You're just a good Christian woman, trying to heal your wayward husband, is that right?
CF: No, I-- I mean--
TA: Or maybe it's closer to the truth to say you were married to a jerk and you had enough of his abuse and decided to clean his clock.
CF: No! You're wrong. I didn't do anything -- I wouldn't hurt him.
TA: Why should we believe you? You've lied to us twice now.
CF: Twice? What do you--
TA: You know what we mean.
CF: No. No-- I don't.
TA: Mrs. Fine, you weren't at home the night your husband was murdered. You were out at Aunt Minnie's.
CF: No. I never--
SM: You didn't get to Bill and Robyn's at 1:30, you got there closer to 4:00 a.m. They told us.
TA: Mrs. Fine, do you wear size large underwear?
CF: No. I mean-- that's none of your business.
TA: Keep saying that and you'll end up in jail.
CF: No! No-- I didn't. I can't talk about it. Please... I'm sorry... this is so upsetting.
SM: Talk about what?
TA: Mrs. Fine, we found a pair of black underwear at the farmhouse.
SM: You need to talk with us. We can help you.
CF: Please. No. I can't-- I can't. It's too-- it's private. I can't.
SM: Something pretty bad happened out there, right?
CF: Please... I... I can't -- it wasn't his fault.
SM: Just take your time.
TA: Was it Chas Laughlin?
CF: What? No. No, it was just me. Me and Andy.
TA: You killed him?
CF: No! No-- I left him out there. He passed out. He... I-- we were out in the field. First we were... in the house, then he took me out in the field. He told me he was going to kill me.
TA: Mrs. Fine, we need you to start at the beginning and tell us the truth this time.
CF: I-- he came home and was pretty upset. I couldn't get him to settle down. He was drinking hard. He... had a bottle of whiskey or something. He-- I tried to just tell him to calm down -- I couldn't get him to listen. I wasn't strong enough. He... um, he said we were going out -- he dragged me out in my nightgown. Out to the car -- he dragged me outside like that. I... I couldn't stop him. He said we were going to party.
SM: What was he so angry about?
CF: What? Oh -- everything, I guess. He was mad about the watch and he -- well, I left him in the bar earlier. He was pretty mad about that. I -- he said he was going to show me what it was like to really party. He said Duffy's was just the beginning.
SM: And what were you doing? Where was this?
CF: This was in the apartment. And then he ... he dragged me out to the car. He-- I-- he... he pulled my hair... He had a gun -- I never saw it before, I-- he was so mad, waving it around and pointing it at me. He was... I was just so scared. I'm sorry, I just--
TA: You never saw the gun before? You didn't know your own husband had a gun?
CF: I-- I knew he had it, but... I-- I thought it was out at the farm. I thought-- I thought he just had the extra bullets at our house. He-- he told me, he promised me he wouldn't keep a gun in our house. I'm sorry... I should have known, but I-- he-- I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...
SM: It's okay. Then what happened?
CF: He-- he drove -- I shouldn't have let him drive like that. He drove out to the farm -- Aunt Minnie's. I... I couldn't stop him. I was so scared. I should have tried to stop him. And he had the gun the whole time -- he was drunk and driving and waving the gun while he was driving, I-- he was driving all over the place. I thought for sure we were going to get stopped. He... he said if I tried to run he was going to shoot me. He-- I was just too scared... I was too scared to move -- too weak.
SM: Then what?
CF: We got out to the farm okay. He wanted to go inside. He-- dragged me in. I was trying to calm him down but he wouldn't listen.
SM: Was there anyone else there?
CF: No. No one else.
SM: What happened inside?
CF: Please. I've told you everything.
TA: Mrs. Fine, we need you to tell us exactly what happened. We found blood.
CF: I-- he beat me up pretty bad. You know, at home... I was bleeding. He hit me a couple times inside too. He was real drunk -- he couldn't light the lanterns. He was stumbling around. I kept telling him we should go home but he didn't listen -- I... he just hit me again.
TA: What else?
CF: He -- um, he... he wanted to make out.
TA: Make out?
CF: Please-- you know. He -- I was sitting on the couch and he came over and... put his hands on me.
TA: Did you try to get away?
CF: No. I never fight, I-- I could never hurt him. He just -- I just prayed for it to be over.
TA: Mrs. Fine, that sounds like rape.
CF: No. No-- I-- he didn't mean to hurt me. He didn't -- he couldn't -- I was just lying there and he jumped up and said he heard a noise. He said he was going to kill me. He said someone followed us. I tried to get him to calm down but he -- he had a gun, I was so scared he was going to do something crazy. He took me out on the porch, he was -- you know, waving the gun around. Said he would shoot us both if there was someone out there -- he thought maybe I had someone follow us.
TA: Did you?
CF: No! I said already no. It was just me and him. He was just being crazy and he -- I told him so, I said it was stupid and we should just go home.
TA: Then what?
CF: He got mad again -- I shouldn't've said that. I should've kept my mouth shut. He was mad and he said he was going to kill me. He... I can't understand. I can't believe... he hit me and I fell down. I couldn't breathe very good. He -- I guess he went in the house while I was lying there. I was too slow. I just... I don't know, it was a moment of weakness -- I just lay there and felt like giving up. He went around the side of the house and then he came back and he had his whiskey, he -- I kept asking could we please go home. He had a shovel and he said he was going to kill me and bury me in the cotton field. That's when -- it was so crazy, I... he took me out to the field. He told me to dig a grave -- like he was going to shoot me after I was done. I-- he-- I kept praying he would stop, I kept asking him to stop and put down the gun but he had it pointed at me the whole time. I-- I was so scared. That was dumb of me, but I-- he was acting so crazy.
SM: Did he shoot at you?
CF: No. I was digging with the shovel and he... he just kept watching and yelling at me. He kept drinking. Eventually he just passed out -- you know, from the drinking. I -- he was just lying there. I didn't know what to do -- I was scared, I couldn't think. I'm so stupid. He was lying there and -- well, I just wanted to get away so I... I ran to the car. I drove off. He was lying there and that was it. I just drove to Robyn's. I -- he was just lying there, I didn't realize... you know... I never saw him again.
TA: So you left him lying in the field, passed out drunk.
CF: Yes.
TA: You expect us to believe that?
CF: It's the truth!
TA: Mrs. Fine, we're not sure what to believe any more. This story is completely different from what you said before.
CF: Please. It's the truth. I-- before I was just, I couldn't tell you. I was trying to -- I wanted to honor him. We were married -- that was the most important thing in my life. I could never break that trust. He ... I thought I could help him. You know everything now... I'm sorry... it's still such a shock.
TA: You weren't too shocked to file a claim on that insurance policy you had. Ten thousand dollars -- not too shabby.
CF: What are you saying?
TA: Maybe you were sick of being slapped around and you knew you'd get your hands on some decent money. Maybe you didn't leave him lying there -- maybe you shot him first.
CF: No -- please. Stop saying that -- I could never do that. I could never hurt him, I couldn't hurt someone. Never, I just couldn't.
TA: What about the money then?
CF: No, I-- I mean, I need the money. Without his paycheck I-- I don't make very much. I don't know what I'm going to do. Please -- the insurance company isn't paying me. They think I had something to do with it. It's not like that, I didn't do it. I didn't hurt him!
TA: Well then who did?
CF: No. I don't know, I... left him out there. I thought he would be real mad when he woke up so I went to Robyn's. I-- he didn't have the car. I was worried maybe I should go pick him up. But I-- Robyn said not to worry. She said he would be fine. I-- I mean, I don't know. I don't know anyone who could... I'm sorry -- he-- I can't believe someone was such a monster. I can't believe someone would do that.
TA: Yes, well, monsters are all around us, Mrs. Fine.
SM: What happened when you got to Robyn's?
CF: Bill was pretty mad, he -- I hate it when he does that, he starts swearing and his face turns so mean it scares me. I was so upset. I-- Robyn took me to the guest room and helped me -- I had to clean up and then I went to sleep. I was so tired. Then the next morning -- I told you, Robyn had a cookout that day. I tried to stay and cheer up, but I couldn't -- I needed to go home. I wanted to be home when he came back.
TA: Given what you'd been through, that seems a little suicidal.
CF: No. No -- you don't understand. I had to be there for him. I had to -- everything would be okay when he came home. It was always okay the next day... he -- I wanted to be there. It was the only time we could talk, I could try to... help him. Robyn and Bill wanted me to stay, but I was so worried -- I was worried all morning, ruining their holiday. Bill even went out to the farm to check, but Andy wasn't there -- maybe he thought that would help -- but then I just worried more. I didn't want him to come home without me.
SM: What time was that -- when Bill went out to the farm?
CF: Oh gosh, I -- it must've been early, we all got up early and I was... I guess I was kind of upset. I was just so worried. He must've gone out there by 9:00. He was back for sure at 10:00. We were setting up the barbecue.
SM: And then what time did you go home?
CF: I don't know -- maybe 2:00. I don't remember.
SM: Is there anything else you want to tell us? Anything else that was different from what you said before?
CF: No. Please -- I'm not a liar. I-- you have to believe me. I told the truth... I'm sorry about before. He -- I just wanted to protect him. I'm sorry... Am I under arrest?
TA: No, Mrs. Fine. Not now. But it all comes down to the fact that you've lied to us before and you may be lying to us now. Is there anything you can say to prove this is really the truth? Anything we might find or anything you could show us to prove your story?
CF: No, I -- I know I'm telling the truth. You have to believe me. The things I told you -- I've never told anyone before, I -- it's so shameful. Ask Robyn. I never -- she doesn't know any of this. I would only do that because I want to help -- I would only tell you because I want to give him peace. He -- I need to tell the truth to set him free... maybe now he's saved. Maybe now he's in a better place. I'm sorry... please, don't you understand I love him?
TA: Is that the best you can do?
CF: Please-- I want to-- I want you to go. You -- I don't have to talk if I don't want to.
TA: Not for now. We'll go. But expect to hear from us again, Mrs. Fine.
End interview - 9:14 a.m.
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