| Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 7:40 p.m.
The witness was identified as the owner of the McDonald's where the victim was employed. The interview took place at his office in the restaurant and was conducted by Detectives Murphy and Armstrong. The interview was recorded on a portable audio tape recorder with the witness’s knowledge and consent.
TA= Detective T. Armstrong
SM= Detective S. Murphy
HP=Houng Phoung
TA: Thank you for seeing us, Mr. Phoung.
HP: You are welcome, but it is I who appreciate you coming to my place of business. It has been a scramble in the last month to fill Amy’s shoes.
SM: Mr. Phoung, will you please state your name and address for the record?
HP: Of course. I am Mr. Houng Phoung and my home is at 1307 Harrison Ave. here in Oxford. Tell me, how may I help you? Have you found who killed that poor girl?
SM: Not quite yet, Mr. Phoung, but we are getting closer. We just need to clear up a few things and we believe you may be able to help us.
HP: I am glad to do anything I can.
TA: Tell me, Mr. Phoung, did you notice anything different or unusual going on between Amy and her co-workers, or with any customers in the weeks before her death?
HP: No. I was not aware of any trouble between Amy and her workers. She was a good manager. Of course, her position required that she do some routine but unpleasant tasks.
SM: What tasks are you referring to?
HP: Things like reprimanding workers for being excessively late or missing their shifts without notifying us. It was necessary for her to speak to them and warn of the consequences. She was responsible for the work schedule of her shifts and to ensure they were adequately manned. Occasionally she had to fire someone. But I am unaware of any of those circumstances occurring in the weeks before her death.
TA: Was there any jealousy of Amy by her employees?
HP: Oh I suppose. There is always someone who thinks a manager was unfairly promoted over them. But actually I screen my potential managers very thoroughly before promotions and I felt Amy was the most qualified and suited for the job.
SM: Is it possible there was animosity that you were not aware of?
HP: Of course that is always a possibility, but I keep a pretty close watch on my business.
SM: Were you aware of anyone watching Amy when she was working? Someone hanging around who seemed out of place or not really a customer?
HP: After her death Susan Orchard mentioned to me that she had seen an older man looking for Amy a couple of times. Susan referred to him as… I think the term was “weirdo,“ and I recognized him from the newspaper. It was a Private Detective, if I remember correctly. I had seen his picture because he recently solved a big case or something similar to that.
SM: What was Amy’s schedule like the week she was killed?
HP: I would have to look at my records, but she usually worked days on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Then she worked Friday night from noon to closing and was off on Monday and Wednesday. I certainly wish she were still here. She was an excellent employee. I miss her.
TA: Did you ever meet her mother or father?
HP: I met her mother, of course, as she came in to the business on occasion. I was not here 24 hours a day though, so I can’t say how often she was here. She seemed to keep close tabs on Amy. One could not be oblivious of her concern for her daughter. I don’t believe I ever had the pleasure to meet her father.
SM: Ms. Bledsoe was concerned. Any reason Ms. Bledsoe should be concerned that you know of?
HP: Not at all. She just seemed a bit overly concerned for a young lady Miss Amy’s age, I thought. Amy seemed a bit annoyed when her mother did show up here “just to see how Amy was doing” in her words. But it seemed to be out of her control. I guess that is the word I’m searching for—control. Ms. Bledsoe seemed to want control of Amy.
TA: Do you have any idea who could have committed this crime?
HP: Oh my no! I do hope I’ve never met someone who could murder a young woman! It is disconcerting, to say the least, that I might know anyone who could do such an awful thing.
SM: Thank you very much, Mr. Phoung. You have been most helpful. We appreciate your time.
HP: My pleasure, Detective. I am glad to be of service in any way I can. Good Day.
End Interview 8:11 p.m. |
