Thursday, August 3, 2006, 1:15 p.m.

The witness was identified as the victim's professor at the University of Mississippi. He was interviewed at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department. The interview was recorded on a portable audio tape recorder with the witness' knowledge and consent.

SM= Det. Sam Murphy
TA= Det. Ted Armstrong
WS = Will Shepton

SM: Thank you for making time for us, Professor.

WS: That's OK. I'm glad to talk to you. Have you any idea how this terrible thing happened to Jamie? I'm still having trouble getting used to the idea

TA: That's why we need to talk to you, sir. First, would you give your name and address for the record?

WS: Oh, of course. I'm Will Shepton and I live at 310 North 16th.

SM: It has come to our attention that you heard from Mr. Washington, that spring he disappeared. We were wondering how you came to know him.

WS: I first met Jamie when he took an Economics I class from me in his sophomore year. He made an appointment to discuss employment options for someone with a major in economics. I guess he sort of reminded me of myself at his age. I know how daunting it can be to make a career choice. Anyway, we sort of hit it off. He was a good kid. I liked him.

TA: And did you see him later during his college career?

WS: Oh sure. He often came in during my office hours, if I didn't have another student here, and we'd talk about things that were bugging him. You know, it isn't always easy for some of these kids who've never been away from home before. They can use an older friendly face to talk to -- or really to listen while they talk through their problems.

SM: What kinds of problems did he have, Professor Shepton?

WS: Financial, mostly. But things all kids are concerned about like faculty, classes, and friends. The usual.

TA: He had financial problems?

WS: Oh sure. After Coach Tunney pulled his football scholarship, he had a hard time making ends meet. He worked in the library, but it was tough. He said his mother couldn't afford to send him money, and she wasn't too thrilled that he played football anyway.

SM: But he stayed on the team after his scholarship was pulled, didn't he?

WS: Yes. But he seemed to be much more focused on his schoolwork in his senior year. He seemed to realize how important his grades could be in applying for graduate school, if that was what he intended to do ? he mentioned it to me a couple of times, I think he was heading in that direction.

SM: Do you know what his relationship with Coach Tunney was?

WS: Yeah. Tunney really chewed him out about not "putting out" after his broken leg healed. Then he smacked Jamie once.

TA: What was Mr. Washington's reaction to that?

WS: He thought Tunney was an out-of control nut -- to put it bluntly.

TA: What was your opinion, Professor?

WS: What was my opinion or what did I tell Jamie?

SM: Both.

WS: My opinion was that I agreed with Jamie. What I said was Coach apparently blew easily and if Jamie was going to stay on the team he'd better stay out of Coach's way. It was strange, but there at the end I sensed he had something else on his mind. He once even said Coach was the least of his worries. But then when I asked him what he meant he clammed up.

SM: Do you think he was afraid of somebody?

WS: No, it wasn't that so much. He just seemed to have something on his mind.

TA: How did he get along with his teammates?

WS: I'd always thought pretty well. He seemed to get along with everyone pretty well. But the last week he was in class I noticed things seemed a little strained between Jamie and some of his friends.

SM: There were other members of the team in your class?

WS: Yes, a couple of guys I think.

TA: Do you remember who they were?

WS: I'd have to go back in my attendance records and check. I'm not sure if I'd remember after four years. Some students I remember well, but others just sort of all blend together. I remember Jamie and one or two others huddling in the hall before class a couple of times. They seemed in intense discussions. I even asked Jamie about them once, but he wouldn't tell me anything, he said it was just sports stuff, and I didn't think it was my place to pry. I have the attendance records disk at home, but I'll check and call you when I find the one for that last class Jamie had with me. I'll print out the whole class and you can see if any of the names mean anything to you. I'll have it for you in a day or two. Would that be OK?

SM: Thank you, Professor. That would be great.

TA: How was Mr. Washington as a student?

WS: He was an average student at first. Pulled C's in the first of my classes, but then he began to do very strong B and A work. I was pleased with the improvement I saw.

SM: Do you know how his work was in his other classes?

WS: Pretty much the same. I don't think he ever got below a C and by his sophomore year there was a marked improvement. He showed me his transcript and it looked very strong in his major subjects and each year it seemed to get better.

TA: Professor, when was the last time you saw Mr. Washington?

WS: In class the Friday before he left. I think it was near the end of April '98. In fact, it was just before the Double Decker Festival weekend because we had talked about the Festival. There was some band he was especially excited about hearing. Then, the next week, he wasn't in class and I didn't know what to make of that ? he didn't mention being gone. Toward the end of the semester I got a letter from him and his final paper, saying he'd gone home for a personal emergency. That seemed to explain it, except then a couple of weeks later his mother filed a missing persons report. I was really shocked.

SM: The letter and term paper you mentioned ? what did those say?

WS: I still have them if you'd like to see. At the time I thought it was a little odd ? especially the paper, which wasn't up to Jamie's standards at that point, but I also thought maybe if he'd been under a lot of stress it made sense.

TA: We'd definitely like to take a look. And was that the last contact you had with Mr. Washington?

WS: Yes.

SM: When he talked about his problems did he ever mention a girlfriend?

WS: A couple of times that last year, he talked about Yvonne somebody a lot. I don't know her last name. I saw them together on campus a couple of times, walking and holding hands. He seemed kind of down about the end of March, though. I think she broke up with him.

SM: Do you know the names of any of his other friends?

WS: He mentioned the name "Chris" a few times, but I can't remember any one else. I'm sorry.

TA: Well, I think that about wraps it up, Professor, if you'll get that paper and letter and the list of students to us as soon as you can.

WS: Sure will, detective. In fact I'll write myself a note so I won't forget.

SM: Thank you, Professor. Goodbye.

WS: Goodbye.

Interview ended 1:53 p.m.