Saturday, 03, 2009-9:30 AM
Jerry Tucker is a 58 year old male, butcher, present at the
reunion and
lives in Oxford. The interview was conducted at the Yoknapatawpha
Sheriff’s
Department and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the
witness’s
knowledge and consent.
Detective Ted Armstrong
Detective Samantha Murphy
Jerry Tucker
Detective Armstrong: Good afternoon Mr. Tucker, we appreciate
you taking the
time to come and talk with us today. Please state your name and address
for the
record.
Jerry Tucker: It was no problem taking off. I own the joint. I
left my
assistant in charge. I’m always happy to cooperate with the police. My
name is
Jerry Tucker and I live in Oxford at 1278
Buchanan
Avenue. I imagine this has to do with Oscar’s murder.
Detective Armstrong: How well did you know Oscar Knight?
Jerry Tucker: I knew Oscar when we were kids. He was about
five years older.
He and my cousin Steve Marshall are the same age.
Detective Murphy: Mr. Tucker when was the last time you saw
Oscar Knight?
Jerry Tucker: I ran into Oscar at the family reunion and
hardly recognized
him. It had been years since the last time I saw him. He was the same
old jerk
he always was.
Detective Murphy: Steven Marshall told us how you tried to be
Oscar’s friend
in school and how he repaid you for your efforts. Do you still hold a
grudge
against him?
Jerry Tucker: Nah, that was years ago when we were kids. Oscar
tied me to a
tree and my family didn’t find me until the next day. It was a scary
night
being all tied up like that. All night I kept seeing images of animals
attacking me. I was sore for a week from the ropes and hanging there
till the
morning. I’m not ashamed to tell you I had nightmares for a long time
after
that.
Detective Armstrong: Isn’t it true you swore to get revenge
against him?
Jerry Tucker: Yeah I did, and I got it. He thought some gum I
dropped was
Chiclets but I replaced it with Feenamint gum, which is a laxative. I
did it on
purpose because I knew he wouldn't let me have it back. He didn’t show
up to
school for two days and even then he still looked a little bit pale! I
never
tried to be his friend again. I finally realized what a mean and rotten
person
he was.
Detective Armstrong: When Oscar returned to school what was
his reaction to
what you did?
Jerry Tucker: He did his best to ignore me like I didn’t
exist. I
never spoke to him until the reunion.
Detective Murphy: What did Oscar have to say to you at the
reunion?
Jerry Tucker: At first I thought he might have changed. He
asked me how I
was doing and what I do for a living. I told him I still lived in
Oxford with
my two boys and I own a butcher shop. He laughed out loud and then he
became
his usual nasty self. He reeked of alcohol. He cackled and said
something
like, I couldn’t even hold on to a woman. He told me I was just like my
worthless cousin Steven. He said he always figured neither of us would
amount
to anything. I felt like punching him square in his face but I didn’t.
I looked
at him and asked him if he wanted a piece of gum and I walked off.
Detective Armstrong: Mr. Tucker, you said you run a butcher
shop so I’m sure
you know how to cut up meat and package it.
Jerry Tucker: Yeah that’s what I said. I’ve been working in
the butcher shop
since I was a kid. My old man was a butcher and his father before him.
You
could say it’s in my blood. Wait a minute! I see what you’re
getting at.
You think I chopped Oscar up just because I cut up meat. You’re barking
up the
wrong tree I had nothing to do with his death.
Detective Armstrong: When you saw Oscar at the reunion, didn’t
it bring back
all those old childhood memories of the nightmares from the night of
terror he
put you through? Maybe you followed him back to his hotel room that
night and
killed him?
Jerry Tucker: Of course not! I didn’t kill anyone!!Why would
you think such
a thing? You don’t even know me! It’s time for me to quit talking to
you people
and get a lawyer.
Detective Murphy: Okay Mr. Tucker. You have a right to speak
to an attorney
if that’s what you want. You’re free to go.
Interview ended: 10:00 AM |
