Alibi check – Lyle Nelson
On Thursday, November 5, 2020, Deputy Willits interviewed employees who were working at Lyle Nelson's store, the Happy Hunter, on October 29, and Deputy Watson interviewed employees at the Roadhouse, a popular local restaurant.
In his October 30 interview with Detective Murphy, Lyle Nelson said he was at his store until around 6:30 p.m. and then went to the Roadhouse on the evening of October 29 when Frederick Miller was killed.
The interviews summarized are some of the most typical or relevant to the investigation and are representative of all interviews conducted.
The Happy Hunter
Mitch Barry
Age: 19
Cashier
Mitch Barry said he worked his shift from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. that Thursday. He said Lyle Nelson was still there when he left.
Barry said he volunteered to stay later and help Nelson close, but Nelson declined, saying that he would take care of closing duties.
Blythe Jerrold
Age: 35
Assistant manager
Blythe Jerrold said she worked from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 29. When she left for the day just after 6:00 p.m., Nelson was still there, closing things down.
Jerrold said she offered to assist Nelson in completing the closing tasks, but Nelson said he didn’t need any help.
The Roadhouse
Arlene Fields
Age: 37
Waitress
Arlene Fields said she worked the evening shift from 6:00 p.m. until midnight on October 29. She confirmed that Lyle Nelson often dines there in the early evening around 6:30 and always orders a cheeseburger with fries and a coke.
Fields said she knows that Nelson was at the Roadhouse on either October 29 or 30, but she couldn’t remember which evening he may have come in. She remarked that Thursdays and Fridays are usually very busy at the Roadhouse, and both nights blended together in her memory.
Fields mentioned that Nelson sometimes pays with cash and sometimes with his credit card, so there may or may not be a record of his purchases around that time.
Will Sands
Age: 54
Bartender
Will Sands said he worked at the Roadhouse from 5:30 p.m. until closing the evening of October 29. He said he knows Lyle Nelson as a regular customer, and he remembered Nelson coming in around 6:15 or 6:30 on the 29th. He said the Roadhouse was busy that night, and he didn't notice when Nelson left.
Sands said he remembered that specific date because he doesn't usually work on Thursday evenings but was covering for another bartender who called in sick for that shift.
