Sunday, February 13, 2011 - 8:30 am
Hector is a 38-year-old white male whose fingerprints were found in Cabin 11 at Wall Doxey Park. The interview was conducted at the Yoknapatawpha Sheriff's Department and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.
- Detective Ted Armstrong
- Detective Samantha Murphy
- Hector Daniels
Detective Armstrong: Please state your name and current address for the record.
Hector Daniels: Well hello to you too. I am Hector Daniels and I live here in Oxford. My address is 203 Vivian Street.
Detective Murphy: How long have you lived in Oxford?
Hector Daniels: My folks moved here when I was about 4 years old. I have been here ever since.
Detective Armstrong: Are you employed?
Hector Daniels: I realize that a whole lotta people are out of work right now but I have been very lucky. I still work 12 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Detective Armstrong: That's great. Are you self-employed?
Hector Daniels: I am an engineer. I work for Mississippi Central Railroad Company and have for 21 years.
Detective Murphy: You said 5 days a week. Are your weekends free then?
Hector Daniels: Not sure how free they are. I have two boys and a wife and they keep me pretty busy when I'm home. But yes, for the most part I am off on weekends.
Detective Armstrong: Where were you on January 30, 2011?
Hector Daniels: I was visiting my brother in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. We took the boys to the National Railroad Museum in the morning. We were probably there for about 3 hours. Then we went back to Henry's and caught the live press conference with head coach Mike McCarthy at Packers.com. Then the boys and I went back to our hotel. You can call them and see that I stayed there that weekend. It was the Ramada Plaza Hotel. How about them Packers?!
Detective Murphy: I'm a Steelers fan myself. Did you know the DA Spenser Brooks?
Hector Daniels: Knew of him. I wasn't impressed. Hey, wasn't he found dead?
Detective Murphy: Yes, he was. It just so happens that his prints as well as yours were found in a cabin near where his body was found.
Detective Armstrong: Care to tell us why you and Brooks were in a cabin together and then he was murdered a few feet away?
Hector Daniels: Hold on! I have never been anywhere with Spenser Brooks!
Detective Armstrong: Fingerprints don't lie, Hector. It was a perfect match. We have your prints on file from last time you were arrested.
Hector Daniels: Just like then, I am innocent! I have been to that cabin once in my life. I went there to play poker with some guys that I'd never met but none of them were him.
Detective Murphy: What were the names of these guys?
Hector Daniels: I don't know any of their last names but I think they were Raymond, Bill, Chet.... Oh, and the guy who won the whole pot was named Byron. Can't remember the others.
Detective Murphy: When was this poker game?
Hector Daniels: Back in December. Early December.
Detective Murphy: Wow did you all just happen to be in Cabin 11?
Hector Daniels: I play poker at pokerstarts.com, and a few of us were chatting when a lady named Debra set it up for us. That was the one and only time I ever did that.
Detective Armstrong: Do you know this lady's last name?
Hector Daniels: Yeah, it was Kane.
Detective Murphy: Are you positive that was her name?
Hector Daniels: Debra Kane. Oh no! Wait... Lane, it was Lane. Positive. I'm always being complimented on my memory.
Detective Armstrong: All right, Hector, I'll check your alibi. WE may have to get back with you. Thanks for coming in.
Hector Daniels: You're welcome. See ya later!
Interview ended: 9:11 am