YOKNAPATAWPHA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

Investigating Officer(s): Det. S. Murphy, Det. E. Parker
Incident No.: 004048-28H-2021
Case Description: Annette Wyatt homicide investigation

Investigators spoke to several people at Taylor's Pub as well as Darren Barksdale's friends and neighbors to try to corroborate Mr. Barksdale's alibi for the time Annette Wyatt was killed.

These interviews are representative of all interviews conducted.


Jeremy Stevens

Jeremy Stevens is a bartender at Taylor's Pub.

Participants:

  • Detective S. Murphy
  • Detective E. Parker
  • Jeremy Stevens

Detective Murphy: Hello, Mr. Stevens. Would you mind answering a few questions?

Jeremy Stevens: Of course.

Detective Murphy: Please state your name, address, and occupation for the record.

Jeremy Stevens: Jeremy Stevens, 403 South 5th Street, Oxford, Mississippi, bartender.

Detective Murphy: How long have you been bartending at Taylor's Pub?

Jeremy Stevens: Since February of last year. Good place, good people, not too many drunks, as you can see.

Detective Murphy: Do you remember most of your customers?

Jeremy Stevens: I know a lot of the regulars, sure. It's part of my job.

Detective Parker: Does the name Darren Barksdale sound familiar?

Jeremy Stevens: The scotch on the rocks guy? What about him?

Detective Parker: Was he here on Saturday night?

Jeremy Stevens: Yeah, he dropped by around 10:00 p.m., when it got real busy. I only remember because he downed about eight drinks in one hour. Seemed kinda put out about something.

Detective Murphy: Did you talk to him at all?

Jeremy Stevens: When I asked, he said he got stood up by his girlfriend. It's happened before, so I didn't think too much of it.

Detective Parker: Do you know what time Mr. Barksdale left the pub that night?

Jeremy Stevens: He wanted to leave by 11:00 p.m., but I took his keys because he was in no shape to drive. Around 11:30 p.m., one of his friends at the pub took him home.

Detective Murphy: Do you know who that friend was?

Jeremy Stevens: Gin and tonic guy, last name Thomas. Eric Thomas, that's right.

Detective Murphy: All right, thank you for your help, Mr. Stevens. We really appreciate it.

Jeremy Stevens: No problem. Want a drink before you go?

Detective Murphy: Maybe next time.

Eric Thomas

Eric Thomas is a friend of Darren Barksdale.

Participants:

  • Detective S. Murphy
  • Detective E. Parker
  • Eric Thomas

Detective Murphy: Hello, Mr. Thomas. Please state your name and address for the record.

Eric Thomas: Eric Thomas, 1531 Tyler Cove, Oxford, Mississippi.

Detective Murphy: Do you know Darren Barksdale?

Eric Thomas: Yeah, we went to Ole Miss together. We were both accounting majors and were in a lot of the same study groups.

Detective Parker: Have you kept in touch after college?

Eric Thomas: We go out for drinks occasionally, maybe once a month.

Detective Murphy: When was the last time you saw Mr. Barksdale?

Eric Thomas: Saturday night at Taylor's Pub.

Detective Parker: Did the two of you plan to meet that night?

Eric Thomas: No, I just happened to bump into him, literally. He was pretty far gone by the time I got there.

Detective Murphy: What time did you arrive at Taylor's Pub?

Eric Thomas: Almost 11:00 p.m. I went to the pep rally with a couple of guys from work, but we left before it was over. When I saw the state Darren was in, I checked out early to take him home.

Detective Murphy: And what kind of state was Mr. Barksdale in?

Eric Thomas: I haven't seen him that drunk since our college days. He was nearly passed out at the bar.

Detective Murphy: What time did the two of you leave?

Eric Thomas: 11:30 p.m., maybe a little bit later. We got back to Darren's at midnight, and I stuck around for another half hour to make sure he wasn't gonna throw up in his sleep and then went home.

Detective Parker: Did anyone else see the two of you arrive at Mr. Barksdale's home?

Eric Thomas: His roommate was gone, but we ran into Darren's neighbor. His apartment door was open. I think he was having a party.

Detective Parker: Would you happen to know the neighbor's name?

Eric Thomas: Nope.

Detective Murphy: All right, Mr. Thomas, thank you for your time.

Rick Dalton

Rick Dalton is a neighbor of Darren Barksdale.

Participants:

  • Detective S. Murphy
  • Detective E. Parker
  • Rick Dalton

Detective Murphy: Hello, sir. Do you know Darren Barksdale?

Rick Dalton: That's right. We're neighbors.

Detective Murphy: Would you mind answering a few questions regarding Mr. Barksdale's whereabouts on Saturday night?

Rick Dalton: Sure, sure. I guess this is about the woman that was found dead last weekend? I saw her go over to Darren's a couple of times. Were they dating?

Detective Murphy: I believe so. Would you please state your name and address of the record?

Rick Dalton: Rick Dalton, 1711 Anderson Road, Apt. 242, Oxford, Mississippi. That's a shame. She was real pretty.

Detective Parker: Do you know if Mr. Barksdale was home on Saturday night?

Rick Dalton: From what I remember, his lights were on for most of the evening. He seemed to be there when I got home from work at 6:00 p.m. I was hosting a party that night, and when people started arriving at 9:30 p.m., I went over to Darren's to borrow a beer opener. I couldn't find mine for the life of me.

Detective Murphy: Did Mr. Barksdale answer the door?

Rick Dalton: Yeah, Darren was home. But he must've gone out later because a few hours later, his friend shows up, practically dragging him up the stairs to his apartment.

Detective Murphy: Do you know what time you saw him come home?

Rick Dalton: I'd say around midnight.

Detective Parker: Did Mr. Barksdale seem upset at all when you saw him earlier that night?

Rick Dalton: Not really. I asked him if he wanted to come to the party, but he said he was waiting for his girlfriend.

Detective Parker: Did you see Mr. Barksdale at all on Sunday?

Rick Dalton: Not that I remember. He was probably too hungover to venture out.

Detective Murphy: That'll be all, Mr. Dalton. Thank you for your time.

 

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