Wednesday, December 5, 2007, 12:20 PM

Detective Armstrong and Detective Murphy of the Yoknapatawpha Sheriff’s Department interviewed the witness, who is the victim’s brother. 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
Raymond Maurice Jennings

Detective Armstrong: Please state for the record your name and address.

Raymond Jennings: Okay, but I do not understand why you "insisted" that I come down now, this is the busiest time of the day for my business. I have no new information for you.

Detective Armstrong: Name and address please.

Raymond Jennings: Raymond Jennings and I haven’t moved, I live just off County Road 313, # 122.

Detective Armstrong: I guess you now know that your brother's death was not an accident?

Raymond Jennings: No, I was not informed of that turn of events. Last I heard everyone thought it was an accident.

Detective Murphy: We never ruled out homicide Raymond. We were told it "might" have been an accident.

Raymond Jennings: Please call me Ray. So you're sure it wasn't suicide or an accident?

Detective Armstrong: We know there was someone else in the house that night, Raymond.

Raymond Jennings: Oh my god!  Can you tell me who it was?

Detective Murphy: No Ray, we can’t do that.

Raymond Jennings: Who could have done that to him? Victor was a fighter. I wonder what the other guy looks like; he must be near death himself.

Detective Armstrong: Raymond, were you in Victor's house the day he was killed?

Raymond Jennings: I already told you I talked to him on the telephone. I was NOT in his house.

Detective Armstrong: Where were you on October twenty-eighth?

Raymond Jennings: It was my birthday; I checked in at the diner early in the day and the employees sang to me and presented me with a cake. Then I drove over and visited my mother for a cup of coffee. I was there for maybe 25 minutes.

Detective Armstrong: You told us that your father called you that day, why didn’t he just talk to you while you were at his house?

Raymond Jennings: He was upstairs; I don’t think he even knew I was there. He doesn’t come out of his room very often. He’s dying you know.

Detective Murphy: Fair enough. How did you spend the rest of the day, Ray?

Raymond Jennings: I made a stop at the CVS and bought a pack of Swisher Sweets, and then I went home and watched some television until the kids got home.

Detective Murphy: Did you have any other reason to be mad at Victor?

Raymond Jennings: Other? Whatever do you mean?

Detective Murphy: We know he treated you terribly when you were young and that he stole your first love. Was there anything he had done recently to upset you?

Raymond Jennings: Gosh, Victor was always trying to get my goat. I don’t think he treated our mother properly. He broke her heart.

Detective Armstrong: How mad did that make you?

Raymond Jennings: Not enough to kill him if that is what you want me to say! I told you I am not a fighter. I did not kill my brother.

Detective Armstrong: Someone was mad enough to stick a knife in his chest all the way to the handle, Raymond

Raymond Jennings: You do realize Victor had numerous enemies? Any ONE of them could have done this. You should be interrogating them, not me!

Detective Murphy: We will but right now we are questioning you.

Raymond Jennings: You should talk to his neighbors. That Bolten man hated him. You should talk to Carl Asher also, he was Victor's employee and friend but they also had issues.

Detective Armstrong: We’ve already talked with them. Maybe we should talk to your wife?

Raymond Jennings: Why? My wife didn’t kill Victor anymore than I did.

Detective Armstrong: Maybe she will be able to tell us if you were home the day Victor was killed.

Raymond Jennings: Of course she will. She was home with me. Please keep in mind, it was my birthday. Birthdays are important in my house; we try to spend quality time together on birthdays, anniversaries and holidays.

Detective Murphy: So, you and your wife are happy together?

Raymond Jennings: I’m sorry,  but I don’t see how that has any relevance to your investigation. I will answer your question though. We are very happy; I have never regretted marrying her and thank God for her every single day.

Detective Armstrong: That’s great so you didn’t have any problem with her talking to Victor on the phone then?

Raymond Jennings: Wha? If Gayle talked to him on the phone she must have had a good reason… He probably bugged her like he did me. I guess she thought it best not to tell me.

Detective Murphy: I guess that’s possible but she called him also.

Detective Armstrong: What kind of car do you drive?

Raymond Jennings: I own a Buick Park Avenue and a Toyota Sequoia. I drive the Toyota.

Detective Murphy: What color are they?

Raymond Jennings: The Buick is black and the Toyota is white and gold.

Detective Armstrong: You don’t drive the Buick?

Raymond Jennings: It is Gayle’s car.

Detective Murphy: Thank you for coming in. We apologize for taking you away from your diner. We may need to speak with you again.

Raymond Jennings: You’re welcome; you know where to find me. Have a great day detectives.

Detective Murphy: You too Raymond.

Detective Armstrong: Thanks.

Interview ends: 1:05 PM