The witness, was interviewed by Detectives Armstrong and Murphy of the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department. The interview was conducted at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department Headquarters and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness knowledge and consent.

Det. Samantha Murphy
Det. Ted Armstrong
John Raymond

Detective Murphy: Thank you for coming in today Mr. Raymond. We appreciate your time.

John Raymond: Not a problem. I was in town anyway, delivering some flowers to the College.

Detective Murphy: Mr. Raymond could you please state your name and address for the record please?

John Raymond: Sure thing. My name is John Raymond, and I live at 3251 South Terrace Street in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Detective Armstrong: Have you always lived in Baton Rouge, Mr. Raymond?

John Raymond: Yes, and please feel free to call me John.

Detective Armstrong: Thank you, John. You stated you were delivering flowers to the College. Do you have a relative there?

John Raymond: Oh no, I actually have a landscaping business. The College is one of my clients.

Detective Murphy: Have you had that business for very long?

John Raymond: It was given to me by my parents. My father started it back in 1920. At the time he was more of a gardener than anything else, but over the years I've built it up in to more.

Detective Murphy: When did you take over the business?

John Raymond: Well, I started working there when I was twelve. I officially took it over when I was 21. I'm sorry Detectives, but am I here for a history lesson on the Raymond Landscaping business?

Detective Armstrong: No, not at all John. We just like to get a little background on people we talk to. Gives us an idea of who you are. Are you married?

John Raymond: Oh no… I enjoy women too much to get married. Never found just one to settle down with. Not that I ever really looked. Although, Detective Murphy, you're very tempting. (laughing)

Detective Armstrong: Oh yeah, she is a beautiful woman isn’t she. You like beautiful women don't you John? I'd say age isn’t really a factor. I mean your what, about sixty-five?

John Armstrong: I’m sixty-seven. Body of a forty-year old though. At least that’s what the women tell me. (laughing)

Detective Murphy: You're quite the ladies man aren’t you? Have you always been that way?

John Armstrong: Yeah, I guess. I lost my virginity when I was twelve. My father took me to a brothel. Told me I was doing a man’s work, I should be a man. One of the best things he’s ever done for me.

Detective Murphy: John, do you know a Victor Jennings?

John Raymond: I kind of figured y'all would be getting around to that. Yeah I knew him, or knew of him I should say. He's that guy that got himself killed awhile back.

Detective Murphy: Did you ever meet him?

John Raymond: No. I met his dad one time though. I met his mother a couple times.

Detective Armstrong: How did you know his parents?

John Raymond: Well, I actually met his mother when I was fifteen. It was the first year we had the College as a client. It was in 1965, February I think. She was at the Library there. She was a pretty little thing.

Detective Murphy: You said you met her a couple times?

John Raymond: Sure, we started talking while my Dad was talking to the Dean. We hit it off and she invited me back to meet her. So I came back and we ended up at a hotel. Next couple of times I came up we just met at the hotel. She just wanted to get to business I guess. (laughing)

Detective Murphy: This was in 1965?

John Raymond: Yes it was. We saw each other about four times and then she stopped calling me and asking me to come up. I think her husband got wind of it.

Detective Armstrong: She was married at the time? You knew she was married?

John Raymond: Oh yeah, she wouldn't wear her ring, but I could see the tan line. Also, why else would we be meeting in a hotel room? Also it was pretty much confirmed about six months later when her husband came down to Baton Rouge and threatened me.

Detective Murphy: Brad Jennings came down to your home, and threatened you?

John Raymond: Sure did. He showed up on my front porch, and started yelling at me to stay away from his wife. Of course I didn’t know who he was, but when he said Margaret I knew who he was talking about. I told him I hadn't seen her in six months. I think he would have hit me but my Dad came out and told him to take off.

Detective Murphy: Did he say anything else? Or was he just telling you to stay away from Margaret?

John Raymond: Well, he was yelling pretty fast and most of what he said was just about staying away from Margaret. He said something about her having some bastard kid, but I think he was just trying to scare me.

Detective Armstrong: Why do you think that? Did you use protection with Margaret?

John Raymond: I was fifteen. Like I'm going to use protection. He was just trying to scare me because there was some kid in his car, that had be about six or seven. I knew he wasn’t mine. So he just had to be scaring me.

Detective Murphy: Did you ever have any more contact with any of the Jennings? Margaret, Brad, Victor, or Raymond?

John Raymond: Raymond? Never heard of that one. That was the last time I talked with any of them. Although I thought I saw Margaret in town here a couple times. She never approached me so maybe it wasn’t her.

Detective Murphy: Where were you on October 28th?

John Raymond: I was in Shreveport that week. Visiting a friend. A lady friend, if you know what I mean. (laughing)

Detective Armstrong: I’m assuming you could provide us with this lady friend's name?

John Raymond: Of course I can.

Detective Murphy: Thank you, Mr. Raymond for coming in today. We appreciate your time.

Interview ends: 10:43 AM