Thursday, August 16, 2009 - 2:02 PM

The witness, Latasha Harrison, is a woman Oscar Knight met at Murff's Bar & Grill. 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
Latasha Harrison

Detective Murphy: Good afternoon.

Latasha Harrison: Yeah. You can't fool me. I know you're not going to treat me right or be fair.

Detective Murphy: State your name and address for the record.

Latasha Harrison: Oh, come on, you already know that. Is this some kind of a trick?

Detective Armstrong: We need your name and address. Are you going to cooperate or not? Up to you.

Latasha Harrison: Ok. Ok. My name is Latasha Harrison. I live at 202 South 17th Street. Oxford.

Detective Armstrong: Better. Now why do you think we won't treat you right?

Latasha Harrison: This isn't my first time, detective. I know how you people are.

Detective Armstrong: I've never seen you before. How you'll be treated depends on you.

Where were you on the evening of August 7th?

Latasha Harrison: See? That’s what I mean. You want me to lie, so you can corner me into something. You know exactly where I was, don't you?

Detective Armstrong: We'd like to hear it from you. So where were you?

Latasha Harrison: I was at Murff's, as you well know. I wasn't doing nothing wrong. I was just having a good time.

Detective Murphy: Everyone loves a good time. Who were you having a good time with?

Latasha Harrison: Just some friends. The regulars.

Detective Armstrong: So, you count yourself as a regular, Latasha?

Latasha Harrison: I didn't tell you to call me Latasha. It's Mrs. Harrison to you, detective.

Detective Armstrong: That's Detective Armstrong to you.

Detective Murphy: Mrs. Harrison, tell us did anything unusual happen at Murff's on August 7th?

Latasha Harrison: No, same old, same old. Decent people just trying to enjoy the evening out, and old coots looking for a good time of a different sort.

Detective Armstrong: And what sort of good time would that be?

Latasha Harrison: Why don't you ask me who the old coot was? I know that's what you're digging for.

Detective Armstrong: Why don't you just answer the questions? Or do you want to spend the night?

Latasha Harrison: Strange. That's what the old coot wanted. Someone to spend the night with. He wanted me to go with him.

Detective Armstrong: What was his name?

Latasha Harrison:  Oscar. Oscar Knight. Said he had a room at the Days Inn and he didn't want to sleep alone.  How old is that line? I've heard it so many times I can tell when it's going to be said.

Detective Armstrong: And did you accommodate Oscar, Mrs. Harrison?

Latasha Harrison: No! I don't do stuff like that. I'm a married woman.

Detective Armstrong: Was your husband with you that evening?

Latasha Harrison: He came in later.

Detective Armstrong: And how did he like the conversation you were having with Mr. Knight?

Latasha Harrison: He wasn't too happy. He is always suspicious of any man who speaks to me, so when he walked in and saw Oscar with his arm around me, he jumped all over me. Like it was my fault.

Detective Armstrong: Did that happen often? I mean, your husband catching you with other men like that?

Latasha Harrison: It's happened a few times. Not my fault if men are attracted to me. I look good.

Detective Armstrong: You said earlier that this wasn't your first time. So, would those other times have anything to do with men being attracted to you?

Latasha Harrison: Yes, but I'm not involved with that kind of thing anymore. I'm a happily married woman now.

Detective Murphy: It doesn't sound like your husband is too sure of that. Did your husband say anything to Mr. Knight? And what is your husband’s name?

Latasha Harrison: My husband is a coward. He only tells me what he thinks, not the man hitting on me. His name is Ron.

Detective Armstrong: What happened next?

Latasha Harrison: Not much. Oscar just kept on cuddling up to me, trying to get me to leave with him. I was so mad at Ron that I thought it would serve him right if I did leave with the old man.

Detective Armstrong: Are you sure you didn't leave with Mr. Knight, Latasha? Did Oscar not make any offers of compensation for your company?

Latasha Harrison: No, I didn't. Yes, he did, but I wasn't interested. Look, I already know that Oscar is missing or something, so stop trying to be sneaky. I did not leave with him.

Detective Murphy: So Oscar left alone?

Latasha Harrison: So far as I know, he did. I never saw him anymore after that night.

Detective Armstrong: What about your husband? Did he leave when Oscar left?

Latasha Harrison: I don't k now when my husband left. I went to the ladies room and then went back to my friends. I didn't see Ron any more till I got home.

Detective Armstrong: Was he home when you got there?

Latasha Harrison: Yes, he was. But when I got there he wanted to fight. My marriage would be great if it wasn't for Ron's jealousy.

Detective Armstrong: It sounds like he has reasons for that. What time did you get home that night?

Latasha Harrison: It was late. Around one am.

Detective Armstrong: That leaves a lot of unaccounted for time, doesn’t it?

Latasha Harrison: I can prove where I was. You can talk to my husband if you have questions for him. But I can tell you, he had nothing to do with Oscar. Ron's a wimp. He only talks big. Like I said before, it's me that catches all the flak.

Detective Armstrong: I'm sure we will be talking to him. But be aware we may want to talk to you again.

Latasha Harrison: Oh, I know how this works, detective. I'm not worried.

Detective Murphy: Good day, Mrs. Harrison.

Interview ends: 2:47 PM