Friday, February 27, 2009 - 9:01 AM

The witness was identified as the Grandfather and legal guardian of the victim, Blake Jenson. Detectives Murphy and Armstrong interviewed him at the Yoknapatawpha Sheriffs Department and recorded the interview on a portable tape recorder with the witness’s knowledge and consent.

Detective Ted Armstrong
Detective Sam Murphy
Luther Jenson

Detective Murphy: Thank you so much for your time. Could you state your name and address for the record?

Luther Jenson: You are welcome. My name is Luther Jenson and my permanent place of residence is 1199 Mimosa Drive.

Detective Murphy: You were at your second home in Texas when you got the call.

Luther Jenson: Yes we were. Our neighbor George called to tell us. It was after midnight and Aggie answered the phone. She said, "Well hello George, is Blake making too much noise again?" Then she yelled, "NO! NO! NO!" and fell to her knees. I picked up the phone and he told me that Blake was gone.

Detective Murphy: Is that all he told you?

Luther Jenson: He said that the sheriff came to his door and asked him if he knew how to contact us and George asked them to please let him make the call. The Raymonds have always been good neighbors and good friends.

Detective Armstrong: Haven't they called the police on Blake numerous times?

Luther Jenson: Why yes, they have. That doesn’t take away from the fact that we are friends.

Detective Murphy: Can you tell us if Blake had many enemies?

Luther Jenson: Honest to God I have never heard of anyone who disliked Blake. He is…was a good boy. I know that people who didn't know him would see his hair and the piercings and the gauges, and they'd think he was a freak, but he wasn’t. He was a kind, gentle soul.

Detective Armstrong: When was the last time you talked to Blake?

Luther Jenson: Around 1:30 the day he died. He called to thank us for the birthday card. He had a birthday just 4 days before he died. He was so full of life.

Detective Murphy: Did he seem any different when you talked with him? Did he mention if anything was bothering him?

Luther Jenson: Aggie said he was all fired up about some contest he was going to have that night with some guy from Water Valley. Was anything bothering him? Hmmm, Nope, he seemed fine as frog hair to me.

Detective Armstrong: Mr. Jenson, I don't mean to offend you but your grandson sounds too good to be true.

Luther Jenson: I know he does, but it's the truth. I would say other than the fact that he was a slob and a little prideful at times he was a model child and young adult.

Detective Murphy: So there's nothing that you think we should know nothing that would help us determine what happened?

Luther Jenson: Well, Aggie said that when she went in the morgue to identify him that his eyes looked odd. I figured it was just because his light had been snuffed out. The eyes are the windows to the soul, after all. I would imagine that the eyes would look…odd…when the soul has departed.

Detective Armstrong: What about the Erdell kid? How were they getting along?

Luther Jenson: Come on now. They're best friends. Why, Kent took Agnes to the morgue and stayed by her side the entire time.

Detective Murphy: You didn’t go with her?

Luther Jenson: I'm ashamed to say that I didn't. I just wasn’t ready to see him like that. I was going to go but when the time arrived I got sick to my stomach, got lightheaded and passed out. I just couldn't. Our world revolved around that boy. He made life worth living.

Detective Armstrong: I understand. I'm sorry we had to put you through this today. If you think of anything that might prove helpful, let us know.

Detective Murphy: I'll walk you out. Feel free to help yourself to coffee and donuts while we talk to your wife.

Interview ends: 9:41 AM