Wednesday, September 23, 2009 - 8:00 AM

The witness, Megan Ford, was Oscar Knight's neighbor. The interview was conducted at the Yoknapatawpha Sheriff's Department and recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.

Detective Samantha Murphy
Detective Ted Armstrong
Megan Ford

Megan Ford: Good morning. What do you need to know about Oscar? I was only his neighbor and I don't know a whole lot.

Detective Murphy: For the record, please state your name and address.

Megan Ford: Oh, I'm sorry.This is my first time in a police station and I don't know the procedure. I live at 1410 Bella Vista Street, Tupelo.

Detective Murphy: Most people don't know the procedure. Thank you for making the trip down here from Tupelo.

Megan Ford: Carolyn said you wanted to talk with me.

Detective Murphy:  By Carolyn, do you mean Mrs. Knight?

Megan Ford:  yes, that's right.  Carolyn Knight.

Detective Armstrong: Was Ms. Knight a frequent visitor of her brother?

Megan Ford: No, no. She couldn't stand her brother, but she would check up on him sometimes, and that was how we became friends. She knocked on my door one day, while Oscar was at work, introduced herself, and I invited her in. Oscar never knew that I knew Carolyn.

Detective Armstrong: What do you mean she would check up on him?

Megan Ford: Carolyn hated Oscar, but somewhere inside of her still lurked the family bond. So, she would just ask in a roundabout way if I had seen him.  You know how that is, detective. Even if we're separated from our family, the love never dies. Sometimes, I think it would be easier if it would. You know what I mean?

Detective Armstrong: Not really, no.  Did Oscar love his sister?

Megan Ford: He may have, but if he did he sure didn't show it in any way. When I would see him out in the yard, I would ask him about his family, but he would get mad every time and tell me to mind my own business. He was not an easy person to like. I think it was impossible to like him.

Detective Murphy: Did Oscar ever confide anything to you about his life?

Megan Ford: Once. Oscar liked his booze. I don't mean he was a drunk or anything, but once in a while he would get a little tipsy and then he would be a little more talkative.

Detective Murphy: What did he tell you?

Megan Ford: Not much, really. Just that he used to live in Oxford and went to school here as a kid. He said he had a lot of friends during his school years, but he had a few enemies here, too.

Detective Armstrong: Anything else?

Megan Ford: You know, it was strange, but like I told you before, Oscar a hateful and cranky man and he didn't associate with his neighbors the way most of us do. He lived in his own little world, and we weren't welcome. He ignored everyone. So, when he told me he was going to make a little trip to Oxford, I was shocked that he even spoke to me. I had seen him a little tipsy before but he never really said anything. He would just fool around in the yard or sit on his deck and rock. But that day, when he said he was going back to Oxford, he said he was going to have some fun and stir up trouble. He said he was going to see his old friend Steve. He mumbled something else, but I don't know what it was. He was laughing. It was an evil laugh and to be honest with you, I was a little scared. I started moving slowly to the door of my house to get away from him. He asked, "What’s the matter, missy, you afraid of me?"  I lied and told him no, and that I had a roast on the stove and I had to keep an eye on it.  He said, "You better run in and lock the door or the bad old wolf will get you." Then he was laughing that maniacal laugh again.

Detective Armstrong: Had you ever been afraid of him before that day?

Megan Ford: No. I was always a little leery of him because of his strangeness, but not actually afraid. I would see him peeping at me through his curtains, but I wasn't afraid. But I have to admit that I was curious.

Detective Armstrong: Did you see him the day he left for Oxford?

Megan Ford: No. I did see that he had all the blinds pulled down and his rocking chair was gone from the deck. So I knew he had gone.

Detective Armstrong: Did you contact Carolyn Knight?

Megan Ford: Yes, I did. She had asked me before to contact her if anything happened to Oscar. She said she didn't really care what happened to him, but since she was his next of kin, she would need to know so she could take care of things.

Detective Murphy: Is there anything else that you can think of that could be of interest to this case? For instance, did Mr. Knight have a girlfriend or any visitors?

Megan Ford: I never saw anyone visiting Oscar. No one. I wondered about whether he had a girlfriend somewhere, but I really have no idea.

Detective Murphy: I think we’re done for now, Mrs. Ford. Thank you for coming in.

Megan Ford: You're welcome, detective. I hope you find out who murdered Oscar. That was a horrible way to die, even for someone as evil as he was.

Interview ends: 8:42 AM