Carol Gibson interview

Tuesday, December 2 – 10:00 a.m.

Carol Gibson is Gary Gibson's mother and was a neighbor of Caroline Jordan.

Detectives Armstrong and Murphy spoke with her at her residence

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Carol Gibson

Detective Murphy: Thank you for seeing us this morning, Mrs. Gibson. Would you please state your name and address for the record?

Carol Gibson: Of course. My name is Carol Gibson. I live at 123 Pea Ridge Road. Is this about poor Carly?

Detective Murphy: Yes, ma'am. We understand she and your son Gary were friends.

Carol Gibson: Oh, yes. Practically all their lives. It's terrible what happened to her. Just terrible. And right here on our street, too!

Detective Murphy: Yes, ma'am. When was the last time you saw Carly?

Carol Gibson: Let me see. It must have been Thanksgiving Day. She stopped by to say hello to the family since all my sons were here that day. My older two came with their wives and my grandchildren, so we had a full house that day.

Detective Murphy: Did Carly join you for the Thanksgiving meal?

Carol Gibson: No, she said she had other plans. She just visited with us for a while and then went on her way.

Detective Armstrong: Did Gary go with her to whatever her plans were?

Carol Gibson: Oh, no. He stayed here with the family.

Detective Armstrong: Was that the last time he saw her? Do you know?

Carol Gibson: I doubt it. They worked together, so I'm sure he saw her there after that. But I expect the last time he saw her was at the party she had the night she … you know.

Detective Armstrong: Did you go to that party?

Carol Gibson: No, it was just for her work friends.

Detective Armstrong: I see. But Gary went?

Carol Gibson: Yes, he did.

Detective Armstrong: Do you know what time he got there?

Carol Gibson: Oh, whenever it started, but I don't know when that was.

Detective Armstrong: Do you know how long he stayed?

Carol Gibson: I know he was back here at 9:30 p.m. We like to read together before I go to sleep. It's kind of our little nighttime ritual.

Detective Murphy: Do you recall what time you went to sleep that night?

Carol Gibson: It's usually between 10:30 and 11:00 p.m., but I don't know for sure. It's so hard to know precisely what time you fall asleep, isn't it?

Detective Murphy: Yes, ma'am. Did Gary go out again after you went to sleep?

Carol Gibson: No.

Detective Murphy: How do you know?

Carol Gibson: How do I— well, I guess I don't know, if it comes to that, but he never does, and I have no reason to think he did that night. I'm sure my husband would've mentioned it if Gary had left that late at night.

Detective Murphy: Does your husband stay up later than you do?

Carol Gibson: He does sometimes, but he's a very light sleeper. If Gary had left, I know William would have heard him.

Detective Armstrong: Did Gary ever talk to you about the people who work with him at Santa's Toy Shoppe?

Carol Gibson: Well, yes.

Detective Armstrong: Did he ever talk about how they got along or didn't get along with Carly?

Carol Gibson: Gary's not one for gossip, so he doesn't usually talk about things like that. But he did say recently that he was worried for Carly because there was some tension at work about her recent promotion.

Detective Armstrong: Did he mention any names?

Carol Gibson: No, he just said he was praying for her and for them.

Detective Armstrong: That's kind of him.

Carol Gibson: That's my Gary. He has a good heart.

Detective Armstrong: How much do you know about the relationship between Gary and Carly?

Carol Gibson: They were very good friends. He's just devastated over this. We all are.

Detective Armstrong: Did they ever date?

Carol Gibson: No, not that I know of. When they were younger, I hoped they might get together, but then Gary was away in the military, and Carly lost her parents in that terrible tragedy, and they just never had a chance to come together. And now they never will.

Detective Armstrong: I didn't mean to upset you, ma'am.

Carol Gibson: It's all right. It's just that the whole situation is so … sad.

Detective Murphy: Well, we'll let you get back to your day now, Mrs. Gibson. Thank you for taking the time to talk with us.

Carol Gibson: I hope I was helpful. You will find out who did this to Carly, won't you?

Detective Murphy: We're doing our very best, ma'am.

Interview ended – 10:21 a.m.