Wednesday, August 12, 2009 - 2:01 PM

The witness, Gavin Price, is staying in room 115 at the Days Inn. 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
Gavin Price

Detective Murphy: Thank you for coming in to talk with us.  Could you state your name and address for the record?

Gavin Price: Certainly. My name is Gavin Price. P-R-I-C-E and my address is 3743 N 11th St , Phoenix, Arizona.

Detective Murphy: Were you staying at the Days Inn on Front View Road the night of August 7 of this year?

Gavin Price: Yes. I was.

Detective Murphy: Why were you staying here in Oxford, Mr. Price?

Gavin Price: I'm a traveling salesman. I have been to nearly every state, plus Canada, Cayman Islands, and Mexico. In fact I stayed here in Oxford just last year.

Detective Murphy: What do you sell Mr. Price?

Gavin Price: Coffins, caskets, whatever you want to call them.

Detective Armstrong: That's a rather unusual occupation isn't it?

Gavin Price: Maybe to you. Not to me. It is my calling. It's not something you want to be when you are growing up. I actually majored in business and was an actuary before I got the calling.

Detective Murphy: You were an actuary and now you sell caskets?

Gavin Price: Well, yes. It made sense to me. The simple fact is, there will always be people dying. It doesn’t matter what the economy, weather, or any other factor is. People die and caskets are purchased.

Detective Armstrong: It sounds a bit cold-blooded.

Gavin Price: Not true. But think what you must. I am in Oxford to sell caskets to your funeral homes. I do my job and go home.

Detective Murphy: Did you notice or hear anything unusual the night of the seventh or the morning of the eighth?

Gavin Price: Yeah, I heard someone yelling. He sounded mad but the sound was muffled and then I would hear, well, banging on the walls. You know like telling someone to quiet down? I heard it a couple of times.

Detective Murphy: Do you know what time that was?

Gavin Price: Yes I do. It was real close to 10. I know because I went to Murff's Bar and Grill for dinner and a few drinks and that was right after I got back. Oh yeah, the guy who was in the room next to me was also at the restaurant. I saw him there and he got into an argument with someone and left there mad.

Detective Murphy: Had you met Mr. Knight before?

Gavin Price: Well we weren't introduced, but I left Murff's about 3 minutes after he did and  this is kind of weird but when I pulled into the Inn and parked, I saw him going into the room right next to mine.

Detective Armstrong: What was the argument about?

Gavin Price: I haven't any idea.  I wasn't close enough to hear. I do know the other guy was really mad though, because of the look on his face when he followed him out.

Detective Armstrong: Was there any sign of the other guy there?

Gavin Price: I didn't see him. I took a shower right after I heard the yelling and the banging and then I went to bed.

Detective Murphy: Did you hear anything else the rest of the night?

Gavin Price: I don't think so.

Detective Armstrong: So, you slept like a baby in that hotel bed and never woke up once?

Gavin Price: I think so…. wait…wait… I vaguely recall hearing car doors slam sometime around midnight. I think I heard it two or three times right out my window. I got up and went to the restroom and then I put my earplugs in. Slept pretty well the rest of the night.

Detective Murphy: Thank you, Mr. Price, for your cooperation.

Gavin Price: You are welcome. Good-bye.

Interview ends: 2:41 PM