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Thursday, December 6, 2007, 9:45 AM
The interview was conducted at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff’s Office by Detective’s Murphy and Armstrong. The interview was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness’ knowledge and consent
Detective Ted Armstrong
Detective Samantha Murphy
Gayle Victoria Jennings
Detective Murphy: Have a seat, and state your name and address.
Gayle Jennings: Well, that was short and to the point. Are you always like this?
Detective Murphy: I just want to get that out of the way. Name? Address?
Gayle Jennings: Okay, my name is Gayle Jennings and I reside off County Road 313, at number 122. Now what is it you want from me?
Detective Armstrong: What do you know about Victor's death?
Gayle Jennings: Nothing, really. I just saw in the paper that it was ruled a homicide and not an accidental death.
Detective Armstrong: That doesn’t help much, does it? When was the last time you saw Victor alive?
Gayle Jennings: I don’t recall, really. Several weeks before his death, I think.
Detective Murphy: So, if we heard that you were there at Victor's house on Sunday, the 28th of October, we heard wrong?
Gayle Jennings: Who told you that? I talked to him on the phone, I believe, but that’s all.
Detective Armstrong: This is probably a good time to warn you to be very careful in your answers, Mrs. Jennings. Think carefully, now. Do you drive a black car with the license plate number LAF-88x?
Gayle Jennings: Um, let me think. Oh, now I remember. I ‘did’ go over to Victor's. I forgot all about it.
Detective Armstrong: Right. Why did you visit Victor that day and what time was it?
Gayle Jennings: Let me think. Yes, it was in the morning, but I don’t remember the exact time. I just popped in for a few minutes.
Detective Armstrong: Popped in for a few minutes, huh? What did you do in those few minutes? You probably need to think again, don’t you?
Gayle Jennings: Don’t get smart with me, Detective. I don’t have to answer any of your questions. I’m just here to help, if I can.
Detective Armstrong: Sure, you are. Now, please answer the question.
Gayle Jennings: I wanted to go to the Cooter’s Halloween Party, and Raymond wouldn’t take me. He’s such a snob. I like to break out once in a while and do something wild. The Profane Existence magazine did an interview with the Cooter’s. It was good. I had to hide the magazine, though, because Ray would have died if he saw that in the house.
Detective Murphy: And what did Victor say?
Gayle Jennings: He laughed. He thought it was funny and he said, yes, he would escort me. I told him that we would have to keep our masks on and he said, okay.
Detective Murphy: He was under house arrest. How could he possibly take you to a Halloween party?
Gayle Jennings: He said he'd figure something out and the cops would never even know.
Detective Murphy: Ha! I would loved to have seen that little escapade. What is the reason you would have to keep on your masks? Didn’t want to be seen out with a man other than your husband?
Gayle Jennings: That’s correct, especially at a Cooter's party. Raymond wouldn’t approve and probably would have divorced me.
Detective Armstrong: Let’s cut through the pretense here and get to the truth, lady. Were you having an affair with Victor Jennings? Did you murder him to keep him quiet? Was he threatening to tell your husband?
Gayle Jennings: Why, you ... you ... rotten, disgusting creep! You can’t speak to me like that. I’m leaving.
Detective Armstrong: All right. We’ll talk to your husband and see if he knows you were at Victor's that morning, and also if he knew about the Halloween Party.
Gayle Jennings: You can’t do that! No, no, no, don’t do that. Raymond would kill me if he knew that. Even though, it meant nothing, he wouldn't understand.
Detective Murphy: You think you might stay and answer some more questions, then?
Gayle Jennings: Yes, well, I can stay a little longer, I guess.
Detective Armstrong: I thought so. Did you ever meet Carl Asher?
Gayle Jennings: Yes, but he gave me the creeps, so I told Victor to make sure he wasn't there when I visited.
Detective Armstrong: So, you visited Victor a lot? Would you call that an affair?
Gayle Jennings: It doesn’t make any sense to lie, since you already know, does it? You mustn’t say a word to Raymond. I am co-operating, after all. I loved Victor. He was strong and had a lot of grit and determination. Raymond is a wimp. He lets everyone walk on him. Victor made fun of him and we laughed about it, all the time. Ray even walked like a girl. I wanted Victor to marry me, but he wouldn’t go that far.
Detective Armstrong: So, did you murder him because he wouldn’t marry you?
Gayle Jennings: What do you not understand about, "I loved him," you idiot? I would never have harmed him. Yes, I was angry, but murder, no.
Detective Murphy: So, who do you think did it?
Gayle Jennings: If Raymond ever found out about my seeing Victor, he might, but I doubt it. Oh, I'd love that. With Ray in prison, I’d have everything. I hope he did it. There's Carl. He was low enough and mean enough to do it. Was any money missing from the house, or anything of value? Carl had sticky fingers. Oh, and there's Victor's secretary. She was terribly jealous of me, you know? She was always trying to get close to Vic, if you know what I mean. But he wasn’t interested. She lied to him several times about me and said I hadn't called or that I hadn’t left any messages. She wore those tight outfits that I didn't think Vic should allow her to wear. I thought Vic's clients would probably be insulted by that. He laughed when I said that and said his clients weren't above looking a woman over. Miss Merryweather had a very bad temper too, if she thought she was being used.
Detective Murphy: That's a lot of information, Mrs. Jennings. Anything else you'd like to add?
Gayle Jennings: No, I guess not. Please, you won’t tell Raymond will you? If he leaves me, I have nowhere to go, now.
Detective Armstrong: You should have thought of that before, shouldn't you?
Gayle Jennings: Oh, wait, I thought of someone else. That Hollywood guy ... what's his name ... oh yeah, Michael Hawke. He was really fired up over what he thought Vic was doing. Maybe he’s the one who sneaked over to Vic’s and murdered him. He was very jealous of his wife, too, and she also flirted with Vic. I don’t think they were the perfect couple they claimed to be.
Detective Murphy: We can't make any promises, and we might need to talk to you again.
Gayle Jennings: I'll do anything. I'll come back anytime. Just please don't tell Raymond.
Detective Armstrong: We'll think about it. Good by for now. I’m sure we'll be seeing you again.
Gayle Jennings: Bye.
Interview ends: 10:12 AM
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