Saturday, September 26, 2009 - 4:00 PM

The witness, Cassie Foster, discovered the finger in room 117 at the Days Inn. The interview was conducted by Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department and recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness’s knowledge and consent.

Detective Ted Armstrong
Detective Samantha Murphy
Cassie Foster

Detective Armstrong: Good afternoon, Cassie. Please have a seat and give us your name and address for the record. We have a few more questions we'd like to ask you.

Cassie Foster: My name is Cassie Foster and I live at 950 Cleveland in Oxford. I'm sorry Detective. I guess I'm still nervous over this whole thing. I was shocked to read in the paper that the finger and the body parts belonged to Mr. Knight. I read the body parts were found in a couple different places. That's so horrible.

Detective Murphy:  I know this is difficult but try to control yourself. We understand that finding that finger was a terrible shock and learning the finger and body parts belonged to Oscar Knight was even a worse shock.

Cassie Foster: It has been a terrible experience and knowing those body parts are Mr. Knight's.  Someone chopped him up. I didn't like him very much but no one deserves to die that way. It makes me shiver just thinking about it.

Detective Murphy: We know you ran out of the room when you found the finger and went back to the office to get Mr. Silky. What was his reaction when you told him about what you found?

Cassie Foster:  I'm not sure he believed me at first.  He kept asking me questions. Like where I found it and did I see anything else in the room.

Detective Armstrong:  What was Mr. Silky's reaction when he went into the room and saw the finger?

Cassie Foster:  He stood and looked at it for a few minutes and said he wanted to make sure it was real before he called the police. All I wanted to do was get out of there.

Detective Armstrong:  When he discovered the finger wasn't a fake, did he appear shocked?

Cassie Foster:  He seemed calm to me. He called 911 and motioned for me to leave the room. Then he locked the door behind him.  We both kept a close eye on the room till the police got there.

Detective Murphy:  Cassie, did you tell your boss you didn't want to clean Oscar Knight's room?

Cassie Foster:  Yes I did. I told Mr. Silky that Mr. Knight was rude and obnoxious and I didn't feel comfortable around him.  I asked Mr. Silky if someone else could clean his room, and he said no one else was available, so I went ahead and cleaned it.  Mr. Silky said he would have a talk with Mr. Knight but I doubt he ever did.

Detective Murphy:  Why would you think that?

Cassie Foster:  Mr. Silky doesn't like conflict. I know he didn't like Mr. Knight and he said he was very disrespectful. He called him a jerk but I don't think he would say anything to him.  He's the kind of person who wants to keep things calm.

Detective Armstrong: Cassie, do you think your boss is capable of hurting someone?

Cassie Foster: Mr. Silky? Of course not! Do you honestly think he could have killed Mr. Knight?

Detective Armstrong:  We’re not saying he did anything but we do have to look at all the possibilities.

Cassie Foster: I'm sorry detective, I didn't mean to shout. You just surprised me with that question.

Detective Murphy: It's ok Cassie. I have one more question, if you don't mind, and then you can leave. You said you cleaned Mr. Knight's room the day before you found the finger. Did you change the linens on the bed?

Cassie Foster: Yes, after I cleaned the bathroom and vacuumed. I wasn't going to change the bed completely, just make it. He asked me to change the sheets in case he brought someone back. Then he made the remark, "if you know what I mean." I ignored him, finished making the bed, and left. 

Detective Murphy: Thank you for taking the time to come and talk with us.  You're free to leave now. If you think of anything else don’t hesitate to call.

Cassie Foster: Thanks Detectives. Goodbye.

Interview ends:  4:41 PM