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Witness Interview: Georgia Mavis, Server at Figgy's Restaurant
 

Friday, April 21, 2000 - 3:30 p.m.

Following the interview with Natasha Van Moore, Detective Sam Murphy went to Figgy's Restaurant on the Square to confirm whether Trudi Rose and Ms. Van Moore had, in fact, had lunch there on March 31, 2000 and to determine which employee served them. The staff were shown photographs of Mrs. Rose and Ms. Van Moore and one of the servers, Georgia Mavis, identified both women as her customers on that date.

SM = Det. Sam Murphy
GM = Georgia Mavis

SM: Please state your name and address for the record.

GM: Georgia Lynne Mavis, 1642 Garfield, Oxford.

SM: It's nice to see you again, Ms. Mavis.

GM: Nice to see you too, ma'am. Soon as I heard about poor Mrs. Rose, I had a feeling you might be coming by again.

SM: You knew her by name?

GM: Oh yes. She sent quite a few of her clients here on their first dates. She even came in a few times herself, not on first dates of course, but with her husband or with one of her friends. She was always real nice to the staff here. Polite, you know? Treated us with respect, not like some people do. We were all real sorry when we heard she'd passed away.

SM: I understand. Now, you have identified Mrs. Rose and Ms. Natasha Van Moore from photographs as two women you served lunch to on March 31, 2000. Is that correct?

GM: Yes ma'am.

SM: How can you be sure of the date?

GM: When I heard about what happened to Mrs. Rose on the news, I remembered I'd just waited on her the Friday before. You know how it is when someone you know passes away? You always think about the last time you saw them or spoke to them? And I also looked it up in the computer, the record of their order, to make sure I was right about the date.

SM: What made you do that, look up their order in the computer?

GM: I did that for you before, after Mr. Beauchamp was killed, and I guess I just wanted to check that I was remembering right, in case you came by asking questions again.

SM: Why did you think we might be investigating Mrs. Rose's death?

GM: Well, you know how it was, right after she passed away. They kept saying on the news that her death was suspicious, and some people were saying she was murdered. It just sounded to me like y'all would be trying to figure out what happened to her.

SM: Okay. You've told me you were acquainted with Mrs. Rose. Do you also know the woman who ate lunch with her that day?

GM: The blonde? She comes in often enough that I recognize her by sight.

SM: You didn't know her name though?

GM: I'm sure I've probably seen it before on her credit card. I just didn't memorize it. Me personally, I never really cared for her. She tips well, but I always get the feeling she does it just to show off for whoever she's eating with and not because she appreciates the service. She acts like she thinks she's better than we are because she has more money, if you know what I mean.

SM: And did she leave you a big tip that day to show off for Mrs. Rose?

GM: Oh no. Mrs. Rose paid and she left a very nice gratuity, but that other woman didn't have anything to do with that. That's just how Mrs. Rose was.

SM: Did Mrs. Rose and Ms. Van Moore arrive together for lunch that day?

GM: Hm... I don't... I don't think so. I don't remember for sure, but I think Mrs. Rose was seated first and the blonde woman came in a few minutes later.

SM: Did it seem like they were friends, do you remember?

GM: It's... it's kind of hard to say. Usually, when I saw Mrs. Rose, she was happy, cheerful, you know what I mean? But that day, she wasn't. She was... quieter than usual. Not exactly sad and not exactly mad, but maybe somewhere in between, if you know what I mean. But I don't know if she was acting that way because of the blonde woman or because she was just having a bad day. It didn't seem like a business lunch though, so I guess they must've been friends.

SM: What kind of mood was Ms. Van Moore in?

GM: Same as every time I've ever seen her. All smiles, but as cool as ice. If you ask me, she doesn't have a sincere bone in her body, but then, I already told you I don't really care for her.

SM: Did she seem upset or angry?

GM: Not that I could tell, but who knows with her? She can have the same expression on her face whether she's handing you a 25% tip or she's reading you the riot act because the kitchen gave her potatoes instead of rice.

SM: Could you tell how they were getting along with each other?

GM: No, not really. Anytime I walked up to the table, they'd stop talking and they wouldn't start up again until after I was far enough away from the table that I couldn't hear anything they said.

SM: Based on the previous times you'd waited on either of them, was it typical for them to stop talking when you or another server approached their table?

GM: No, ma'am. Mrs. Rose, she'd usually talk to you, try to include you in the conversation. And the other woman, Ms. Van Moore, right? Unless she wants something from you, she usually just keeps right on talking like you aren't even there.

SM: So you would characterize their behavior that day as unusual?

GM: I don't know. I guess so. It wasn't unusual for people in general, you see what I mean? But I guess it was unusual for them.

SM: Did you happen to notice if either of them gave the other one anything?

GM: Like what?

SM: Anything. Papers, an envelope, a file folder, a box, anything at all.

GM: No, I didn't see anything like that.

SM: Do you remember how the lunch ended? Did they leave together?

GM: No, the blonde woman left first. Mrs. Rose stayed a little longer. I remember I asked her if she wanted some dessert. She usually liked something sweet at the end of a meal, but that day she didn't want anything.

SM: How much longer did Mrs. Rose stay after Ms. Van Moore left?

GM: I don't know exactly. I had other tables and it's been a while, but it wasn't long. Around five or ten minutes?

SM: Was that the last time you saw Mrs. Rose?

GM: Yes, ma'am, it sure was.

SM: What about Ms. Van Moore? Have you seen her since that day?

GM: I think she's been in a couple of times since then, while I was working.

SM: Do you remember if she came in alone?

GM: I doubt it. She's never come in alone anytime I've noticed.

SM: Did you know the person or persons she came in with?

GM: I didn't pay any attention. She wasn't in my station, so I didn't have to wait on her, thank goodness.

SM: Okay. Well, thanks for your help, Ms. Mavis. If you remember anything else about Mrs. Rose's lunch with Ms. Van Moore, please don't hesitate to call my office.

GM: I'll be sure to do that. You have a nice day now, Detective.

SM: You too, Ms. Mavis.

 

End interview: 3:50 p.m.

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