Wednesday, May 25, 1983 - 8:24 p.m.

The witness was identified as the custodian at the YCHS and the person who reported the incident and requested an ambulance. He was interviewed by Detectives Lamar and Anderson at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff’s Department and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness’s knowledge and consent.

Detective Charles Lamar

Detective David Anderson

Euell Biggers

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

Euell Biggers: Euell Biggers. 304 Philip Road.

Detective Lamar: How long you been a custodian at the school?

Euell Biggers: Ever since I graduated.

Detective Lamar: You have any problems with David Morgan during that time?

Euell Biggers: No. We get along fine.

Detective Lamar: How about Pamela Kite? Do you find her attractive?

Euell Biggers: I'm not sure I'm following this line of questioning.

Detective Anderson: So tell us about your afternoon. What happened after, say, the kids left?

Euell Biggers: I did a quick sweep of the hallways and checked the classrooms. Rearranged furniture if that was needed. Swept, if needed. Visited each of the bathrooms and made sure they were okay and fully supplied. I focus on a hall at a time so I'm sure I don't miss anything.

Detective Anderson: That's good. And then what happened?

Euell Biggers: I heard someone scream. I followed the sounds into the band room.

Detective Anderson: And what did you find there?

Euell Biggers: I saw Miss Kite kneeling over Mr. Morgan. She was panicked and covered with blood. I just stood there until she noticed me and screamed for an ambulance. Then I ran for the nearest phone and called you guys.

Detective Lamar: Did you check David Morgan to see if he was still alive?

Euell Biggers: No, I just ran for the nearest phone.

Detective Lamar: So he might still have been alive at that point?

Euell Biggers: I suppose so, yes.

Detective Lamar: Did you see his wound?

Euell Biggers: No, I-- Miss Kite was covered with blood. Screaming. I was rattled.

Detective Lamar: So you didn't even know that Morgan had been hurt. He could have been sleeping there on the floor. Miss Kite could have been covered in her own blood.

Euell Biggers: I suppose.

Detective Lamar: Miss Kite teaches art. How did you know she wasn't covered in paint?

Euell Biggers: She was screaming her head off.

Detective Anderson: So you called the Sheriff's Department. Is that right?

Euell Biggers: I told them there'd been an accident and to send an ambulance, quick.

Detective Anderson: Did you give them your name?

Euell Biggers: I think so, yes. I've called before. Students have gone into seizure. People have been hurt in the wood shop. Accidents happen.

Detective Anderson: Did you think this was an accident?

Euell Biggers: No.

Detective Lamar: And why not?

Euell Biggers: Because it was the band room. I didn't see any equipment lying around that could have caused that much bleeding. Miss Kite was soaked.

Detective Lamar: Did you know that they had a relationship?

Euell Biggers: Sure. I see things, especially once school is out and the teachers relax a bit.

Detective Lamar: Was it a good relationship?

Euell Biggers: I didn't see enough to make that kind of decision.

Detective Lamar: Did you ever hear them fight?

Euell Biggers: Yesterday, in fact.

Detective Lamar: What were they fighting about?

Euell Biggers: I didn't listen.

Detective Lamar: What did you do after you called the police?

Euell Biggers: I went to the front door to show them in.

Detective Lamar: You just left Miss Kite alone with Mr. Morgan?

Euell Biggers: All I could think about was getting help as quickly as possible.

Detective Anderson: You're not married, Mr. Biggers, are you?

Euell Biggers: No, I am not.

Detective Anderson: Do you have a special someone?

Euell Biggers: Not at the moment.

Detective Lamar: Ever consider asking Miss Kite out for a drink?

Euell Biggers: I'd never date a co-worker.

Detective Lamar: But you've thought about it.

Euell Biggers: No, she's not my type.

Detective Anderson: Do you normally check the band room after the students go home?

Euell Biggers: I check them all, yes.

Detective Anderson: Do you usually do it first, last, somewhere in between?

Euell Biggers: The band room is in the last hall that I do.

Detective Anderson: So you hadn't been there yet when you heard Miss Kite scream.

Euell Biggers: That's right. Normally, I would have reached the band room in probably another ten, fifteen minutes.

Detective Lamar: Did you kill David Morgan?

Euell Biggers: No. Of course not.

Detective Lamar: Did you help Miss Kite kill David Morgan?

Euell Biggers: I did nothing of the sort. Listen, I don't know what you two are thinking, but I was just doing my job. I didn't know anything unusual happened until I heard the scream.

Detective Anderson: Did you see anybody else in the halls while you were checking the rooms?

Euell Biggers: Teachers. A few students. There's always people in the building until I lock up. Teachers are preparing classes and grading exams. Students are staying late for help or serving detention. It's Grand Central sometimes, especially when something special is coming up like a concert or a play, some school activity.

Detective Anderson: Was it Grand Central today?

Euell Biggers: Not particularly.

Detective Anderson: We'd like you to come up with a list of everybody you saw.

Euell Biggers: I can do that. I'm sure I'll miss names though.

Detective Anderson: Anything you can remember will help. Why don't you work on that tonight, and we'll pick it up from you tomorrow. Sleep on it. See if you remember anybody else.

Interview ends - 9:01 p.m.