Billy Colby interview

Tuesday, December 17, 2019 – 5:27 p.m.

Billy Colby works at Santa's Toy Shoppe and attends the University of Mississippi.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Billy Colby

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

Billy Colby: Sure. I'm Billy Colby, and my address is 207 Stone Road, here in Oxford.

Detective Murphy: How long have you been employed at Santa’s Toy Shoppe, Billy?

Billy Colby: Three years, My hire date was August 12, 2016. It's getting me through college.

Detective Armstrong: What are you going to be when you grow up, Billy?

Billy Colby: People ask me that all the time. Heart surgeon.

Detective Murphy: You were at Caroline's party last night. Did you notice anything unusual?

Billy Colby: Not really, except that everyone was getting drunk.

Detective Armstrong: Everyone, yourself included?

Billy Colby: All right, maybe not everyone. I only had a couple of drinks, and I don't think Carly was drinking. She didn't act any differently than usual, anyway.

Detective Murphy: How did you get along with Caroline?

Billy Colby: Okay. She really liked me. She always flirted with me and talked real sweet-like to me.

Detective Murphy: Did you return the feeling?

Billy Colby: I thought she was an attractive young lady, but I have a serious relationship. My folks taught me to be faithful.

Detective Armstrong: Can you give us an example of how Caroline flirted with you?

Billy Colby: Sure. For instance, one time, she told me I could do better than Alyssa. She told me to be sure that I wanted to be with her before I messed up my whole life. She put her arm around me, and she said, "There are other gals who would be better for you." And then she winked at me.

Detective Armstrong: Interesting. Did Alyssa know about this conversation?

Billy Colby: Of course. I don't keep anything from her.

Detective Murphy: Did you bring Alyssa to the party?

Billy Colby: No, it was an employee party. No one brought a guest.

Detective Murphy: Did all the employees like Caroline?

Billy Colby: Do you think one of us killed her? Wow, that makes no sense at all.

Detective Armstrong: It's possible, Billy. Did you kill her?

Billy Colby: Absolutely not! I want to save lives, not take them.

Detective Murphy: What about your co-workers? Did they all like Caroline?

Billy Colby: Pretty much. Matt was always hitting on her, but she wasn't interested in him. Eli didn't like her much, but he didn't hate her and certainly didn't want her dead.

Detective Murphy: What about the female employees? Did they like Carly?

Billy Colby: Yes, they were all friends. Of course, both Jess and Nan wanted to be the full-time elf, but they were buds as far as I could tell.

Detective Armstrong: What time did you leave the party?

Billy Colby: Uh… I'm not sure.

Detective Murphy: Was anyone else still there when you left?

Billy Colby: I thought there were a few, but when I got in my car to leave, the only other vehicle I saw was Morgan's.

Detective Armstrong: Are you positive about that?

Billy Colby: Yes, I was the first to arrive, so I was parked up by the garage door. Morgan parked right behind me, and he almost blocked me in. I managed to get out, but there were no other cars. I'm sure of that.

Detective Armstrong: Morgan told us he wanted to ask Caroline out. Did you know about that?

Billy Colby: Yeah, everyone knew he had a thing for Carly. Everyone talked about it.

Detective Murphy: Doesn't Morgan already have a girlfriend?

Billy Colby: He recently broke off their relationship. I know for a fact he was going to ask Carly out the night of the party. He told me so.

Detective Armstrong: Do you know if he followed through?

Billy Colby: He didn't say, but if he did, she must've turned him down.

Detective Armstrong: Why do you say that?

Billy Colby: She wasn't acting like a girl who just got asked out and was happy about it.

Detective Armstrong: Meaning?

Billy Colby: You know how women are. She would've been all giddy, whispering and giggling with her girlfriends, making goo-goo eyes at Morgan. She wasn't doing any of that.

Detective Murphy: Uh-huh. Thanks for coming in today, Billy. You've been very helpful. Call us if you think of anything else.

Billy Colby: Okay. See you around.

Interview ended – 6:07 p.m.