Monday, March 15, 2021 – 12:00 p.m.
Vincent Gayle is the guardian of Daniel Collier.
Detectives Beckwith and Magee asked him to come in for another conversation at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.
Participants:
- Detective P. Beckwith
- Detective J. Magee
- Vincent Gayle
Detective Magee: Hello, again, Mr. Gayle. Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with us.
Vincent Gayle: What's going on? Have you found Daniel yet? We haven't heard anything in a week.
Detective Beckwith: We haven't found him yet, but we're still looking. That's why you're here. Maybe you can give us more to go on.
Vincent Gayle: I can't imagine what I could give y'all that I haven't already said.
Detective Beckwith: Let's start with some of those things you've said before. Can I get your name and address?
Vincent Gayle: Vincent Gayle. I live at 3 County Road 169 in Alesville.
Detective Magee: I think we should go through your story of the night Daniel left.
Vincent Gayle: It's not a story. It's the truth. I told you Sharon and I went to Bible study, and he left before we got back. That's all I know.
Detective Magee: When did you leave for bible study on January 2nd?
Vincent Gayle: I don't know for sure, but we usually leave at 6:45. Bible study always starts at 7:00 p.m., and I don't like to be late.
Detective Beckwith: So 6:45 p.m.?
Vincent Gayle: I would say so.
Detective Magee: When did you return home?
Vincent Gayle: Uh, probably around 10:00 p.m.
Detective Beckwith: And you're sure that his car was not at your residence when you got back?
Vincent Gayle: It wasn't there.
Detective Magee: Not in the driveway or out in the street?
Vincent Gayle: No.
Detective Beckwith: If someone were to have seen Daniel's car out there, what would you say about that?
Vincent Gayle: They would be mistaken unless Daniel and Brandon or Rodney were messing with us.
Detective Magee: What do you mean?
Vincent Gayle: The last time we talked, I thought you were going to check to see if Daniel was still in Oxford, making us think he was in New York.
Detective Beckwith: Yeah?
Vincent Gayle: Well, have you checked?
Detective Beckwith: We're exploring any and all avenues.
Vincent Gayle: Okay, then, I think it's more than possible that Daniel's hiding out here, and so if someone saw his car, it wouldn't surprise me in the least.
Detective Magee: Let's switch gears. Do you use social media?
Vincent Gayle: You mean internet surfin'?
Detective Beckwith: More than surfing. Do you communicate with others on the computer?
Vincent Gayle: We use email at work. I think everyone does, but I never write any personal emails at work. It's against policy. I'm not that big of a computer fan as it is.
Detective Beckwith: What about using your personal computer at home, if you have one?
Vincent Gayle: Yeah, we got one. Daniel used it mostly for school work and then to help with art exhibits. He did that all on his own, though. Computers aren't my thing.
Detective Magee: How about Facebook or Snapchat?
Vincent Gayle: I've heard of Snapchat, but I don't know what it is.
Detective Magee: How about Facebook?
Vincent Gayle: Sure. I had Sharon put me on the Facebook after Daniel left, hoping he'd send us a message on it.
Detective Beckwith: Has he?
Vincent Gayle: He hasn't spoken directly to us. Sharon said he has talked on there, though.
Detective Magee: How often do you check Facebook?
Vincent Gayle: Personally?
Detective Magee: Yes.
Vincent Gayle: Never. Sharon probably checks daily. She would tell me if he put something in there.
Detective Magee: In Daniel's latest posts, who has he been talking to?
Vincent Gayle: I think just his friends. He was telling them about New York and how great it is.
Detective Beckwith: How did Daniel use the internet at your house?
Vincent Gayle: He used the computer. Or his phone.
Detective Beckwith: So you have a wireless network?
Vincent Gayle: What?
Detective Beckwith: Wi-Fi?
Vincent Gayle: Oh, yeah, so we can get our smart TV to work in the bedroom.
Detective Beckwith: So, did any of Daniel's friends know your Wi-Fi password?
Vincent Gayle: We don't have a password … I don't think.
Detective Magee: You mean that you have an open invitation to your neighborhood to use your internet?
Vincent Gayle: It works like that?
Detective Magee: Yes, people can use your internet like your house is a McDonald's.
Vincent Gayle: Oh. Anyhow, it's just Alesville. There's only a few of us that live out there. And Granny Mallette down the block doesn't even own a computer.
Detective Magee: Vincent, anyone jogging out in front of your house could access your internet.
Vincent Gayle: Or driving?
Detective Magee: Yes.
Vincent Gayle: Dang. I guess I'd better get that fixed.
Detective Beckwith: Do you own any GPS trackers?
Vincent Gayle: Like the ones you all have on the cop shows?
Detective Beckwith: Um, I'm not sure you understand me. I'm talking about mini battery-powered GPS trackers that you can stick in someone's vehicle and follow where it goes.
Vincent Gayle: Like in real-time?
Detective Beckwith: No, the cheaper ones where the unit records the travel and then you download the data later.
Vincent Gayle: Geez, I didn't even know those existed.
Detective Magee: So you don't have one then? Or any of the more expensive ones?
Vincent Gayle: No and no. Wait, was someone tracking Daniel's car? Is that why you're asking the question?
Detective Magee: We asked because it might have something to do with Dan's work, you know, the body shop.
Vincent Gayle: Oh, okay. Well, Dan never brought his work home, so if he had one of these trackers, I wouldn't know about it.
Detective Beckwith: So he never brought any car parts home from work?
Vincent Gayle: No, why would he?
Detective Beckwith: I don't know. Maybe he was looking to upgrade his car before taking it to New York?
Vincent Gayle: Well, I like to work on cars, so I have a bunch of parts laying around, but none of them are from Laughlin. By the way, will we ever get Daniel's car back?
Detective Magee: It's evidence right now, Vincent. When we're through with it, you'll have an opportunity to get it returned through proper channels.
Vincent Gayle: All right, that seems fine by me.
Detective Magee: Okay, Vincent, we appreciate you coming in. We'll probably have to ask you more questions, so it would be great if you could make yourself available in the future.
Vincent Gayle: If it means that we can find Daniel, I'm all for it.
Interview ended – 12:26 p.m.
