Caleb Hamilton interview

Friday, August 26, 2022 – 2:10 p.m.

Caleb Hamilton works for the City of Oxford Buildings & Grounds Department, maintaining Lamar Park.

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

Participants:

• Detective S. Murphy
• Detective E. Parker
• Caleb Hamilton

Detective Parker: Good afternoon, Mr. Hamilton.

Caleb Hamilton: What's going on? Are my kids in trouble?

Detective Parker: None of your kids are in trouble. We need to get your name and address before we begin.

Caleb Hamilton: I've lived here all my life. I live at 1124 South 16th Street, and my name is Caleb Hamilton. If me or the kids aren't in trouble, why am I here?

Detective Parker: We have questions about your work at Lamar Park.

Caleb Hamilton: The park? Oh, I bet I know. It's about those body parts y'all found there, isn't it?

Detective Parker: Were you there yesterday when the bag was found?

Caleb Hamilton: I got there about 7:00 a.m., right in the middle of all the excitement.

Detective Parker: Why didn't you come over and talk to us?

Caleb Hamilton: Well, I went over to see what was happening, but y'all looked like you had your hands full. I thought I'd best leave you to it.

Detective Murphy: Did you notice anyone in the park who was acting strange?

Caleb Hamilton: I see strange people all the time, but I didn't notice anyone acting any stranger than anyone else.

Detective Parker: Do you work around the lake area?

Caleb Hamilton: I work the whole park, and that includes the lake.

Detective Murphy: What kind of work do you do?

Caleb Hamilton: I take care of the landscaping, pick up any trash or junk people leave behind, just generally look after the place.

Detective Parker: Before the incident yesterday, when was the last time you worked around the lake?

Caleb Hamilton: I clean up around there every day. It's always the weekends that I have to pick up a lot. A lot more people go to the park on the weekends, so that's to be expected.

Detective Parker: You never saw any bags around the lake before?

Caleb Hamilton: I see bags all the time, but nothing like that. And I know that bag wasn't there the day before yesterday because I always clean up around the lake every morning. Always. Sometimes I find cans and candy wrappers, plastic bottles, plastic grocery bags, stuff like that. I never found any bags with body parts in them, and I hope I never do. Y'all don't think there'll be any more, do you?

Detective Parker: Let's hope not.

Detective Murphy: Do you know Shannon Bower?

Caleb Hamilton: Just to say hello to. I see her jogging at the park pretty regular.

Detective Parker: Is there anything else you can tell us that might help? No one that you saw who looked suspicious?

Caleb Hamilton: Well, I don't know about suspicious, but I guess I did see something kind of funny.

Detective Murphy: What was that?

Caleb Hamilton: I can't be too sure, but I could've sworn I saw Mr. Plum kind of half-running towards the parking lot.

Detective Parker: Mr. Plum?

Caleb Hamilton: Yeah, you know Albert Plum, don't you? Owns the hardware store? Anyways, I'm not sure it was him. I've never seen Mr. Plum half-run before, but I think it was him.

Detective Murphy: Do you know Mr. Plum very well?

Caleb Hamilton: No, not well, but we get all our tools and supplies from him, so I know him in that way.

Detective Parker: Do you have any idea why he was running?

Caleb Hamilton: Half-running.

Detective Parker: What does that mean? Like jogging?

Caleb Hamilton: More like half a step above walking fast, like he was in a hurry but didn't want to full-out run.

Detective Parker: Okay, so do you have any idea why he was half-running?

Caleb Hamilton: Nope.

Detective Murphy: All right. Thank you, Mr. Hamilton. You can go back to work, but if you think of anything else, please give us a call.

Caleb Hamilton: I sure will.

Interview ended – 2:35 p.m.