Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 4:00 p.m.

In response to a request from the detectives, the witness came into the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Office for a follow-up interview conducted by Det. Sam Murphy and Det. Ted Armstrong. The interview was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.

TA = Detective T. Armstrong

SM = Detective S. Murphy

TM = Tate Moore

SM: Could you state your name and address for the record please?

TM: My name is Tate Martin Moore. I live at 603 Tyler Avenue in Oxford.

TA: Thanks for coming in, Tate. We just have a couple follow-up questions, so this shouldn't take too long.

TM: Not a problem. What do you folks want to know?

SM: We understand you know another witness in this case? Arlene Melton? Is that correct?

TM: That pretty little gal from Atlanta? Oh yeah, we met.

SM: When and where did you meet her?

TM: Let's see... it was before we went to Texas... before New Orleans... before that, we played a couple gigs here the weekend of the festival... I reckon it musta been that weekend, whenever that was. Time kinda melts one day into the next when I'm playing. Know what I mean, ma'am?

SM: I think I get the idea. Did you and Ms. Melton get along... well?

TM: I'd say so. I mean, I don't want to kiss and tell, right? That ain't gentlemanly, is it?

SM: So you spent some time together?

TM: Yes, ma'am. We partied some. Had a few laughs and a few drinks. She's a fun gal.

SM: Was she alone? When you met her? Anybody with her?

TM: Not that I could tell. At least, I didn't notice anybody hooked to her belt loop or anything.

TA: Did you spend the entire weekend with her?

TM: No, I sure didn't. We just had some fun and she went home or wherever she's staying I guess. She was a little worried about having to get back to her business partner, so we didn't get to breakfast, if you get my meaning...

SM: Did you happen to notice if Ms. Melton was wearing any jewelry? Earrings in particular?

TM: I think she had some sort of dangly ones she was wearing. They were colorful.

TA: How about any of the other groundskeepers you work with? Any of them attend the festival?

TM: I didn't notice any of them. Well, maybe I saw Lorie, but you know after a few beers and all, things are a little foggy. Not really that I can remember.

SM: Okay. Now I want to take you back to the day you discovered the body. Do you remember seeing a University pickup truck out by the Servants' Quarters where you were working on the door that day?

TM: Yeah, I think I noticed it when I walked up there.

TA: And when you came out, was it in the same spot?

TM: I can't really say. I don't really remember if it was there or not. Then with all the commotion and such, I just don't have a clear recollection of it. Maybe y'all moved it to get the ambulance up there?

SM: Not according to our reports. Say we found the truck later parked in another location, do you have any idea how it might have gotten moved? For instance, did you ever have occasion to move it at any time that day?

TM: Lorie's truck? No ma'am, I don't know anything about her truck. I know I didn't sign one out that day, and when I don't have one signed out that I have to keep up with, I don't pay much attention. So somebody moved Lorie's truck?

TA: Do you remember seeing any unexpected vehicles that day?

TM: Excuse me, sir?

TA: I mean, did you notice any vehicles in or around the grounds that you wouldn't have expected to?

TM: Hmmm... well, there was a car parked near the front, not on the grounds. I could've sworn it was Donna's car, but I don't know...

SM: Who is Donna?

TM: Cal Swinney's wife. But I hear tell she left him and town in one boot, so it probably wasn't hers.

TA: What kind of car was that?

TM: The one I saw? It was a silver station wagon. I think that's what Cal and Donna got. Ask Cal; he knows. Come to think of it, maybe it was hers. Cal didn't want a ride home after work, so maybe she left it there for him. I expect you'll have to ask him.

TA: Cal Swinney, your co-worker? Do you usually give him a ride?

TM: Yeah, usually every day I work, I bring him in with me in the morning and give him a ride home at the end of the day. It's on my way and their car ain't too reliable from what Cal says.

SM: So, you gave him a ride in that morning, but not a ride home that night?

TM: Yes, ma'am. He said he was set, so I took off.

TA: Do you remember Cal being present when you discovered the body? Did he come running when you started to call for help?

TM: I think he came a little later. I don't know where he was working then, so maybe he didn't hear me right off. I don't know. He had his head up his *** that day anyway. Maybe he just thought I was goofing around at first.

TA: Do you know if something special was bothering him?

TM: Probably just the usual. He isn't exactly Mr. Personality. He probably got up on the wrong side of the bed. He can be a ***** a lot of the time.

TA: How about your other co-workers? Their moods any better or worse than Cal's?

TM: Lorie and Scott? They were fine. They tend to be pretty cheerful. Nothing I noticed anyway.

SM: Would you think any of your co-workers would have had reason to be involved in murder?

TM: I just can't imagine that, ma'am. Lorie wouldn't hurt a fly. And Scott, well... Scott looks tougher than he actually is, if you ask me. I don't believe I've ever seen him pissed at anybody 'cept maybe Tobias. But we all think Tobias is a pain. Everybody's been pissed at him at one time or another.

TA: And Cal? What do you think of him?

TM: Well, he's my friend but he can be a *****, you know? Treats Lorie kind of bad sometimes. Not a real charmer when it comes to the ladies, you know?

SM: We get it. You said you'd heard that Cal's wife had left him. Do you think that could be the reason why she left? The way he treats women?

TM: I couldn't say. They fought all the time. I expect it's better for the both of them that they split. Some people ain't meant for each other, you know?

TA: We understand that you can have quite a temper too. Is that right?

TM: I've had my setbacks. Got in some trouble, back when I was younger. Made me go to anger classes. But that's under control now. I expect y'all know that, since you're asking about it?

SM: What size shoe do you wear, Mr. Moore? And the work boots you're wearing, are those the shoes you typically wear to work?

TM: I wear a 10. Yeah, I always wear my work boots to work.

SM: You surf the Internet, like Internet games or computer games?

TM: I surf some, but don't have all that much time. Mostly music sites, you know. And the games, that's nerd stuff.

TA: Know if any of your co-workers are into the games and such?

TM: Don't really know. You'd have to ask them.

SM: Anything else you can remember about that day that you think we should know?

TM: No ma'am, but if I think of something, I'll let you know.

SM: Okay, thanks for coming in.

TM: Afternoon, Detectives.

End interview 4:27 p.m.