Miles Jackson interview

Saturday, April 16, 2022 – 2:20 p.m.

Miles Jackson is an equipment operator at the Kelly Green construction site and is the person who first discovered the body.

Detectives Armstrong and Murphy interviewed him at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Miles Jackson

Detective Murphy: For the record, sir, would you please state your name and address?

Miles Jackson: My name is Miles Jackson, Jr. I live at 508 South 18th Street, Oxford, MS.

Detective Murphy: You work as an equipment operator for The Mitchell Company?

Miles Jackson: Yes, ma'am.

Detective Murphy: Can you tell us what you were doing at the construction site today?

Miles Jackson: Yes, ma'am. I was working some O.T. I needed the money, and the big boss wants this project to come in on time, so I volunteered to put in some extra time.

Detective Murphy: What time did you arrive at the site?

Miles Jackson: Bright and early. 8:00 a.m.

Detective Murphy: We know you went through some of the details with the first officer on the scene, but we need you to go through it again. Are you up to it?

Miles Jackson: Yes, ma'am. Be happy to.

Detective Murphy: Okay, why don't you just tell us how you found the body. What were you doing at the time, approximately when was it, and so forth?

Miles Jackson: Well, like I said, I showed up bright and early and just got right to work. I mean, I need the money and all, but I didn't want to spend the whole day working. Anyway, I worked pretty much straight through 'til about quarter of 12:00. I figured it was time to get Earl Sullivan, the foreman, and go over what was done, have him sign off on it, and I was out of there.

Detective Armstrong: You were anxious to leave? Did you have some pressing plans?

Miles Jackson: No, sir. Well, I was going to try to catch the end of the Mönchengladbach vs. Cologne soccer game on TV. And I have plans for tonight, you know? But not in a hurry, except to start my weekend, if you know what I mean?

Detective Armstrong: Sure, I get it.

Detective Murphy: Okay, you were finished with your work, and you wanted to get the foreman to sign off on the work so you could leave. Did you find him right away?

Miles Jackson: Well, no. He wasn't up in the shack like usual. I figured he was out checking the site, so I walked around the site looking for him. While I'm looking for him, I see some fresh tire tracks, pretty deep, leading off toward the woods.

Detective Armstrong: Did you think there was something suspicious about them?

Miles Jackson: No, not really. A couple was down here a week or two ago, and their car got stuck. I thought maybe it was them, and I could give them a hand. I figured they had a dead battery again or something. Made me chuckle a little, y'know? So I follow the tracks, thinking I better go down there and help them out, maybe give them a jump if they need it.

Detective Armstrong: Okay, so you follow the tracks into the woods. Do you see a car? The infamous couple?

Miles Jackson: No. I see something else. At first, I thought it was some clothes, but then I realized it was a foot. I thought maybe it was the couple, but when I walked down there, I didn't hear any noise. I thought that was strange.

Detective Murphy: Did you continue your approach?

Miles Jackson: Yeah, I come closer, and I see her. I think maybe she's sleeping. So still, lying there behind the kudzu. I call out, "Hey, lady," and she doesn't say nothin', doesn't move. I call out again, "Hey, you okay?" Nothing.

Detective Murphy: Have you stopped, or are you still approaching?

Miles Jackson: I'm still approaching… real slow. I got this sinking feeling in my stomach, just a feeling something ain't right. When I get there, I see her. Layin' real still, not wearin' a shirt. Then I see the blood on her head.

Detective Armstrong: Did you touch the body? Try to see if she was alive? Try to revive her?

Miles Jackson: Hell no! I just ran out of there, screaming for the foreman. Running and screaming. You know, I've been in the army and all, but I never saw a dead body before. It scared the hell outta me!

Detective Armstrong: Did you find the foreman?

Miles Jackson: Yeah, he came out of nowhere, also didn't do nothing for my heart! I told him— tried to tell him what was going on. I don't know, probably wasn't making any sense. He went in there and took a look himself. In less than a minute, he come running out of there too. We went up to the shack and called y'all.

Detective Murphy: And what time was that, sir?

Miles Jackson: We called y'all about 12:15 p.m., I think. I don't know, wasn't really looking at the time.

Detective Murphy: This was you and Earl Sullivan?

Miles Jackson: Yes, ma'am. He can tell you everything I just told you. Just call the office. They'll get him on the phone for you.

Detective Murphy: Thanks. If we need to talk to him, we'll do that.

Detective Armstrong: Did you know the young woman you found?

Miles Jackson: No, sir. But she does look familiar to me. Maybe I've seen her around town or at Proud Larry's or something. But I never knew her.

Detective Armstrong: Do you happen to know how Mr. Michael Robbins got to the crime scene ahead of the police?

Miles Jackson: Earl called him. Damage control, I imagine. You know, he's trying to get this development done and wants to sell all the units right away.

Detective Murphy: So you think he might be worried about bad publicity?

Miles Jackson: Sure. Wouldn't you be?

Detective Murphy: I suppose I would. Did Mr. Robbins say anything about the young woman? Did he look at the body?

Miles Jackson: Yes, ma'am. He came down, and I guess he thought we were exaggerating or something. So he goes in, and just like Earl and me, like a shot right back out of there again. He didn't look so good when he came back.

Detective Armstrong: Did he say anything to you or anyone else about the girl?

Miles Jackson: Not to me and not that I heard. I think he told Earl to keep any press away. And he seemed relieved when the police showed up because they chased the press off. Other than that, no.

Detective Armstrong: Anything else you can tell us? Notice anything other than the tracks that seemed unusual?

Miles Jackson: No. Sorry, sir, there really isn't. The last thing I expected today was to find a poor young woman dead on my site. Just should have called in sick like I wanted.

Detective Armstrong: Are you sick?

Miles Jackson: No, sir. Just when I woke up this morning, didn't feel like working. Felt like sleeping in and having time off. Maybe I should have gone with my gut.

Detective Armstrong: If you had, it might have been a while before we found this poor woman. You did the right thing.

Miles Jackson: Thanks.

Detective Murphy: Thank you for coming in. If we have any more questions, we will get back in touch with you. If you remember anything else, you'll be sure to contact this office?

Miles Jackson: Yes, ma'am.

Interview ended – 2:48 p.m.