Jared Eason interview

Tuesday, December 2 – 3:15 p.m.

Jared Eason is Jessica Hamilton's boyfriend.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Jared Eason

Detective Murphy: Thank you for coming in, Mr. Eason. Would you please state your name and address for the record?

Jared Eason: My name is Jared Eason. Why do you need my address?

Detective Murphy: For our reports.

Jared Eason: Why are you writing reports about me?

Detective Murphy: We're not writing reports about you. We're writing reports about this investigation, which you happen to be a part of because we're talking to you right now.

Jared Eason: Am I a suspect?

Detective Murphy: Should you be a suspect?

Jared Eason: Of course not. You have no probable cause to suspect me.

Detective Murphy: Great. Then, how about you give us your address so we can get on with this?

Jared Eason: Fine. 101 Taylor Bend Road.

Detective Murphy: Thank you. Now, you are acquainted with Jessica Hamilton?

Jared Eason: Why do you want to know?

Detective Murphy: Mr. Eason …

Jared Eason: She's my girlfriend.

Detective Murphy: Are you aware that one of her co-workers at Santa's Toy Shoppe was killed on Sunday?

Jared Eason: Yes.

Detective Murphy: Did you see or speak to Jessica on Sunday?

Jared Eason: Yes.

Detective Armstrong: Did you see her or speak to her?

Jared Eason: Both.

Detective Armstrong: When?

Jared Eason: What window of time are you interested in?

Detective Murphy: Mr. Eason, we know you're in law school, and we can see that you're well aware of your rights. We're not trying to trap you or Jessica with these questions. We're just trying to put together a comprehensive case for the prosecutor. Can you help us do that?

Jared Eason: Fine, as long as you understand that you can't trick me into implicating myself or anyone else.

Detective Armstrong: Understood. Now, what time did you see or speak to Jessica on Sunday?

Jared Eason: Do you mind if I check my phone?

Detective Armstrong: Not at all.

Jared Eason: She texted me at 9:56 p.m. I invited her over to my place. She arrived maybe 10 or 15 minutes later.

Detective Armstrong: Thank you. Did she tell you where she was when she texted you?

Jared Eason: She was at a work party.

Detective Armstrong: She didn't invite you to go with her?

Jared Eason: I was studying.

Detective Armstrong: All evening?

Jared Eason: All day and all evening.

Detective Armstrong: What was her mood when she got to your apartment?

Jared Eason: Her mood?

Detective Armstrong: Yes, was she happy, tired, worried, excited?

Jared Eason: She was fine.

Detective Armstrong: Did she tell you anything about the party?

Jared Eason: She said it was kind of boring.

Detective Armstrong: Did she say if anything unusual had happened that night? Any arguments between co-workers?

Jared Eason: Didn't you ask her these questions?

Detective Armstrong: We're asking you.

Jared Eason: I'm not comfortable giving you hearsay information. You should ask people who were at the party about what happened there.

Detective Murphy: Did you know Carly Jordan?

Jared Eason: No.

Detective Murphy: Has Jessica ever talked about her, either before or after she was killed?

Jared Eason: I couldn't say.

Detective Murphy: Meaning you don't remember or you don't want to tell us?

Jared Eason: Yes.

Detective Armstrong: You haven't been admitted to the bar yet, right?

Jared Eason: Not yet.

Detective Armstrong: That puts us in a difficult position. We don't want to have to put in our report that you were evasive and uncooperative during a felony investigation. That could make for an awkward conversation down the road with the Mississippi Bar's Character and Fitness Committee. But you're kind of forcing our hand here.

Jared Eason: Are you threatening me?

Detective Armstrong: Not at all. I'm just trying to look out for your future.

Jared Eason: Uh-huh.

Detective Murphy: So, did Jessica ever talk to you about Carly?

Jared Eason: She said Carly was good at handling demanding customers, and she was trying to learn some of her techniques.

Detective Murphy: Was Carly also good at handling her co-workers?

Jared Eason: I don't know. Jessica never mentioned it that I recall.

Detective Murphy: Based on what you've heard from Jessica, do you have any theories about who might've killed Carly?

Jared Eason: I don't have anywhere near enough information to form a theory, so anything I said would be speculation at best. I never met Carly Jordan, and I know almost nothing about her, so I don't have any information to give you.

Detective Murphy: Okay, Mr. Eason. Thank you for coming in.

Jared Eason: Goodbye.

Interview ended – 3:42 p.m.