Kent Erdell interview

Sunday, February 4, 2024 – 9:00 p.m.

Kent Erdell was Blake Jenson's best friend and bandmate and is the person who called 911.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Kent Erdell

Detective Murphy: Thanks for talking to us. Would you state your name and address for the record?

Kent Erdell: Sure, no problem. My name is Kent Erdell, and I live at 500 Wedgewood Drive.

Detective Murphy: How long have you known Blake Jenson?

Kent Erdell: Wow, for as long as I can remember. I know we went to daycare together, and we've been best buds since we were like four years old.

Detective Murphy: Did the two of you ever have disagreements?

Kent Erdell: Sure, we have, but never anything serious.

Detective Armstrong: Humor us and give us an example if you don't mind.

Kent Erdell: Um, okay. Most of our disagreements, if that's what you want to call them, were over girls. Like, I liked Ginny, and Blake knew it, but he just had to ask her out before I worked up the courage to do it myself. So, yeah, I was pretty mad when he did that, but I got over it.

Detective Murphy: What is Ginny's last name?

Kent Erdell: Carr. Ginny Carr. They took her away in an ambulance. Is she okay?

Detective Murphy: She's being treated at the hospital. She's in good hands.

Detective Armstrong: Are Ginny and Blake still dating?

Kent Erdell: Gosh, no. He broke up with her a long time ago. He's pretty serious about Madison now. Madison Spires. She's the keyboard player and backup singer for our band. Did you know we have a band? We're really good. I don't know what will happen to it now.

Detective Murphy: Can you tell us what happened tonight?

Kent Erdell: Not really. He was alive, the lights went out, and then he was dead.

Detective Armstrong: Tell us what happened right before the lights went out, Kent.

Kent Erdell: We were in the kitchen getting our food, and then a bunch of us went back to the rec room. I was still eating, so I had my hot wings in one hand and my drink in the other. Blake is lactose intolerant, so he can't eat pizza. I think he just had a few breadsticks. He was acting like his breadstick was a microphone. It was hilarious. Anyway, he was getting ready to have a face-off with some dude named Stix, and that's when the lights went out.

Detective Murphy: Does this "dude" have a real name?

Kent Erdell: I'm sure he does, but I have no idea what it is. Tonight was the first time I've ever seen him. He had a chip on his shoulder, and he was there to steal Blake's Guitar Hero champion title, but that wasn't gonna happen. No way. Blake had that face-off sewed up.

Detective Armstrong: Blake is a Guitar Hero champion?

Kent Erdell: Well, not officially or anything, but he's really good at it. Maybe people don't really play it as much anymore, but he's been really into it lately because it's like his two favorite things in one — music and video games.

Detective Armstrong: And what exactly is a "face-off?"

Kent Erdell: It's when two players choose a song and play at the same time to see who hits the most correct notes. The one with the highest score wins. Stix wanted it bad.

Detective Murphy: Where was Stix when the lights came back on?

Kent Erdell: I think he was still in the same spot. He hadn't picked a guitar yet.

Detective Armstrong: How about everybody else? Where were they?

Kent Erdell: I don't know. It was so confusing. We were coming back into the room, and then the lights went out. And then they went back on, and Blake was on the floor. I only know where Stix was because he said something stupid, "Looks like I'm the man to beat now, boys and girls." Madison's screaming, and I don't know if Blake is trying to be funny or he slipped or what.

Detective Murphy: When did you call 911?

Kent Erdell: Blake wasn't moving, and he wasn't breathing. Madison yelled at me to call 911, and I just did. It was utter chaos.

Detective Armstrong: How often do these face-offs take place?

Kent Erdell: There's no schedule or anything. We just do it when we have time and we feel like it.

Detective Murphy: Before the lights went out, what was the mood like?

Kent Erdell: The mood? It was a party. Everyone was having a good time.

Detective Murphy: No disagreements or anything?

Kent Erdell: No. What are you trying to say?

Detective Murphy: We're just trying to get a picture of what was happening.

Kent Erdell: A party was happening. We were having a good time. We're all friends, except that Stix guy. No disagreements. Everything was fine.

Detective Armstrong: Okay, Kent. I know this is upsetting. We're just doing our job.

Kent Erdell: Yeah, well, your job sucks.

Detective Armstrong: It can seem that way sometimes.

Detective Murphy: I think we've got all the information we need from you for tonight, Kent. We may need to talk to you again later, but you can go now.

Kent Erdell: Thanks. Later.

Interview ended – 9:32 p.m.