Ray Jennings interview #2

Wednesday, March 13, 2019 – 12:20 p.m.

Raymond Jennings was the victim's younger brother.

Detectives Murphy and Parker re-interviewed him at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.

Participants:

• Detective S. Murphy
• Detective E. Parker
• Raymond Jennings

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

Raymond Jennings: Okay, but I don't understand why you insisted that I come down right now. We're right in the middle of the lunch rush, and I have no new information since the last time I talked to you.

Detective Parker: Name and address, please.

Raymond Jennings: Raymond Jennings, and I haven't moved. County Road 313, number 122.

Detective Parker: Thank you. So we haven't announced this publicly yet, but we wanted to let you know that the coroner has told us it looks like your brother's death was a homicide.

Raymond Jennings: What? Last I heard, everyone thought it was an accident.

Detective Murphy: We never ruled out homicide, Raymond.

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

Detective Parker: We know there was someone else in the house that night.

Raymond Jennings: Oh my god! Who was it?

Detective Murphy: We can't tell you 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 Parker: Ray, 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 Parker: Where were you on March 9th?

Raymond Jennings: I told you before. I was at home.

Detective Parker: All day long? You never left, not even for a few minutes?

Raymond Jennings: Okay, fine. I took the day off from the restaurant, but I can't stay away completely, even on my days off, so I checked in early in the day. Then I drove over and visited my mother for a cup of coffee. I was there for maybe 25 minutes. Then I went home and spent the rest of the day with my family.

Detective Parker: What time did you get back home?

Raymond Jennings: I don't know exactly. Around noon?

Detective Parker: You told us your father called you that day. Why didn't he just talk to you while you were there visiting your mother?

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 these days. He's dying, you know.

Detective Murphy: You didn't pop your head in just to say, "Hey, Dad. How you feeling today?"

Raymond Jennings: He's a very sick man, and he needs his rest. I didn't want to disturb him.

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

Raymond Jennings: Other? What do you mean?

Detective Murphy: We know he was pretty mean to you when you were kids and that he stole your first love. Did he do anything recently to upset you?

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

Detective Parker: How mad did that make you?

Raymond Jennings: Not enough to kill him, if that's what you're trying to get me to say. I told you before. I am not a fighter, and I did not kill my brother.

Detective Parker: Someone was mad enough to stick a knife in his chest all the way to the handle, Ray.

Raymond Jennings: You do realize Victor had more enemies than the three of us put together can count, right? Any of them could have done this. You should be interrogating them, not me.

Detective Murphy: That's a good suggestion, but right now we're talking to you.

Raymond Jennings: You should talk to his neighbors. That Bolton man hated him. So did that crazy woman across the street. You should talk to Carl Asher too. He and Victor were friends, but they also had issues.

Detective Parker: Thanks for the tips. Maybe we should talk to your wife too?

Raymond Jennings: Why? My wife didn't kill Victor any more than I did.

Detective Parker: Maybe she'll be able to tell us when you got home the day Victor was killed.

Raymond Jennings: Of course she will. We were spending time together as a family.

Detective Murphy: Would you say you and your wife are happy together?

Raymond Jennings: What does that have to do with anything?

Detective Parker: Why don't you want to answer the question?

Raymond Jennings: Fine. We're very happy. I've never regretted marrying her, and I thank God for her every single day.

Detective Murphy: That's great. So you didn't have any problem with her talking to Victor on the phone then?

Raymond Jennings: If Gayle talked to him, she must've had a good reason. He probably bugged her like he did me. I guess she thought it best not to tell me.

Detective Parker: What kind of car do you drive?

Raymond Jennings: We have 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 Parker: You don't drive the Buick?

Raymond Jennings: That's Gayle's car.

Detective Murphy: Thank you for coming in. We'll let you get back to your restaurant now, but 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, Ray.

Interview ended – 12:53 p.m.