Serious-looking young man in a dress shirt and tie

Marvin Lewis interview #2

Thursday, February 8, 2024 – 1:02 p.m.

Marvin Lewis is a friend of Blake Jenson.

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

Participants:

Detective Murphy: Good afternoon, Marvin. Please state your name and address for the record.

Marvin Lewis: Good afternoon. My name is Marvin Lewis, and I live at 532 North Lamar, Oxford.

Detective Murphy: Thank you. We need to ask you a few more questions about the day Blake died.

Marvin Lewis: Okay, detectives. I'll do my best to answer.

Detective Murphy: How well do you know Kane Victory?

Marvin Lewis: I see him on occasion because he plays bass for Blake's band. Wow. I guess it's not Blake's band anymore. It makes me so sad to think he's gone forever.

Detective Murphy: We're sorry about your loss.

Detective Armstrong: Can you tell us anything else about Kane?

Marvin Lewis: I think Blake and Kane liked each other, but they didn't get along sometimes. Kane was constantly hitting on Blake's girl, Madison.

Detective Armstrong: How did Blake react to that?

Marvin Lewis: He didn't like it, of course. They had a few scrapes over it, but they always seemed to work it out. I think it was because Blake knew Madison wouldn't ever go out with Kane.

Detective Armstrong: How did Madison handle the situation?

Marvin Lewis: Sometimes I think she flirted with Kane and other guys just to make Blake jealous because he did the same to her. But they cared for each other, and I know the flirting never led to anything.

Detective Murphy: Let's talk about Kent Erdell. The last time we spoke, you said he and Blake were best friends. Weren't you jealous?

Marvin Lewis: Of course not. Blake was my friend, too. I had no reason to be jealous. Besides, Erdell wasn't that good a friend to Blake.

Detective Armstrong:  Why's that?

Marvin Lewis:  Kent was the one who was jealous. Blake had his choice of women, and Kent took whomever Blake didn't choose.

Detective Armstrong: You said you went by Blake's house around 5:00 p.m. on Sunday and talked with Blake and Kent. Why didn't you stay for the competition?

Marvin Lewis: I'm not into partying. I went to see a movie.

Detective Murphy: This was a big night for your friend, and you went to see a movie?

Marvin Lewis: I rarely go to those parties, so it's not unusual. Like I told you before, I have to keep my grades up. I'm trying to get into medical school.

Detective Armstrong: But that's not the real reason, is it, Marvin? Isn't it true that Blake didn't ask you to stay? He wanted Kent there but not you.

Marvin Lewis: Trust me, detective, it is the real reason. I could've stayed if I'd wanted to. And to be clear? Kent and I weren't tween girls in a tug-o-war over Blake. No offense, Detective Murphy.

Detective Murphy: None taken.

Marvin Lewis: We were both friends with Blake. It wasn't a competition.

Detective Armstrong: Marvin, do you know anything about electricity?

Marvin Lewis: No, not really. Unless you're talking about electricity as it relates to the function of the heart.

Detective Murphy: Coincidentally, that is what we're talking about.

Detective Armstrong: Marvin, did you kill Blake Jenson?

Marvin Lewis: No, I didn't! Why would I? I loved Blake like a brother.

Detective Murphy: Calm down, Marvin.

Marvin Lewis: Why should I? Your accusation is ridiculous! We covered this before, remember? So, for the last time, I am not jealous of any of Blake's friends. That's just so dumb! I am a grown man.

Detective Armstrong: Yes, of course. Sorry. That's all we need for today, but we may want to talk to you again.

Marvin Lewis: I've got nothing else to say to you. I wasn't there, and I wasn't jealous that Blake had other friends besides me. It's just… just… ludicrous, detective. Truly.

Interview ended – 1:37 p.m.