Monday, February 11, 2008, 9:37 AM

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 Ted Armstrong
Detective Samantha Murphy
Raymond M. Jennings

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

Raymond Jennings: I'm Raymond Jennings. My address is County Road 313 #122.

Detective Armstrong: Hello Raymond, how's the family?

Raymond Jennings: Hello. I guess things are getting back to normal. Brad finally changed his will. He's leaving everything to his grandchildren.

Detective Murphy: The twins?

Raymond Jennings: Yes, and Troy. They are each to receive one-third of everything Brad has. He never cared for me but he was good to the kids.

Detective Armstrong: Whatever became of the music box?

Raymond Jennings: Oh, that was lost or stolen. Brad can't find it anywhere.

Detective Murphy: How is Gayle?

Raymond Jennings: I don't know. We decided to separate for a while. I'm not even certain if we'll get back together.

Detective Murphy: I thought everything was good between the two of you?

Raymond Jennings: I used to think so, but ever since Vic's death, I caught her crying all the time and I just couldn't go on pretending that everything was fine. I've moved into the living area over the diner.

Detective Armstrong: We need to close the case on Victor. We just wanted to clear up a few questions first.

Raymond Jennings: I hope I can help.

Detective Armstrong: We think you can, Ray. We have an exact DNA match on the blood from the scene.

Raymond Jennings: DNA? I don't understand.

Detective Murphy: There were two blood types at the blood scene, Victor's and yours. What happened?

Raymond Jennings: You have no idea how hard this has been for me.

Detective Murphy: We're willing to listen Ray.

Detective Armstrong: Yes we are. After you moved out, Gayle found the music box. She called us to pick it up.

Raymond Jennings: All right. Victor called me around four and he said he was going to kill himself. He told me he had a daughter and he was leaving her half of everything AND my music box. He said he snuck it out of Dad's bedroom.

Detective Murphy: That's it?

Raymond Jennings: No. He claimed to have Gayle's heart. He said she professed her love to him and that they had many a laugh over me. He claimed that she wanted him to marry her and that he wouldn't because he didn't care about her. He just wanted to hurt me! He was going to convince her to leave me and he didn't even want her.

Detective Armstrong: So you planned how to kill him.

Raymond Jennings: Oh god, no. I didn't know what to do really. I was so afraid of losing everything. My family.

Detective Murphy: It's okay Ray, go ahead. Tell us what happened next.

Raymond Jennings: Well, Gayle had a headache so I gave her two of my Lortabs and convinced her to lay down for awhile. That was around five. She was out like a light, so I decided to go and try to talk Victor out of ruining my marriage. I still had hope that we could fix things. I loved her so much.

Detective Murphy: I believe you. So you went there just to talk then?

Raymond Jennings: Yes. Vic's lawyer was there so I drove around for a minute or two and went back. Oh, my truck was in the shop so I took Gayle's car. Eldon was gone so I pulled in the driveway. I knocked on the door and Vic yelled that it was open. I found him in the kitchen. I tried to talk to him but my voice wouldn't come, I was crying and he took full advantage of that. He pointed to a trash bag in the pantry and said the music box was in it. He said things about my wife that I just couldn't stand. I have never felt such hatred in my life.

Detective Armstrong: So..?

Raymond Jennings: I'm not sure what happened next. The next thing I remember my nose was bleeding and Victor was on the floor and blood was shooting out of his chest. Oh god, I knew I'd killed him.

Detective Armstrong: Why didn't you call 911?

Raymond Jennings: I'd just killed my brother! I didn't want to go to jail. I took the music box and went home and showered. Then just lay on the couch until Gayle got up. I went on with my life as though it didn't happen. I guess I need my lawyer.

Detective Armstrong: You'll get a call. But first, stand up and put your arms behind your back.

Interview ends: 10:15 AM