Kenny Ross interview #2

Monday, August 5, 2024 – 9:51 a.m.

The detectives asked Kenny Ross to come in again to find out if he, as a person familiar with the drug trade, might have information about any persons of interest in this investigation.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Kenny Ross

Detective Murphy: Would you please state your name and address for the record?

Kenny Ross: Kenny Ross. 805 College Hill Road.

Detective Armstrong: We're wondering if you could help us with some information you may not want to admit having. It's lucky that you don't have to still be involved in the drug trade to be able to hear things as you're going about your regular, law-abiding business.

Kenny Ross: That's true. People always say I'm lucky.

Detective Murphy: We're still investigating the Kelly Moran murder.

Kenny Ross: Terrible thing.

Detective Armstrong: We're starting to hear that Kelly might have been distributing controlled substances. You ever hear anything like that? Maybe while you were in the grocery store or doing your laundry?

Kenny Ross: I'm so lucky I have someone who does my laundry for me, but that's not your question. Kelly Moran… yeah, I might have heard something about her having access to pharmaceuticals.

Detective Murphy: Might you know her supplier? Maybe it's a friend of a friend?

Kenny Ross: Can't say I do. But it's a really interesting question. I wouldn't mind knowing the answer myself.

Detective Armstrong: Do you think Karen West knows?

Kenny Ross: Karen West? Sorry, but the name doesn't ring a bell.

Detective Murphy: That's funny. She said otherwise when we talked with her.

Detective Armstrong: She told us you two were acquainted.

Kenny Ross: I've met a lot of people in this town. It's hard to keep track of names. For all we know, she could have been a customer I had when I was working in restaurants.

Detective Murphy: Karen said she talked to you about buying pills.

Kenny Ross: Look. You know as well as I do that I'm not going to incriminate myself.

Detective Murphy: We just need to know if you remember the conversation.

Kenny Ross: It sounds vaguely familiar.

Detective Armstrong: That's good. While I may be taxing your memory, I have to ask: why the sudden need?

Kenny Ross: If I remember correctly, her supplier cut her off.

Detective Murphy: Would that have been Kelly Moran?

Kenny Ross: That sounds about right.

Detective Armstrong: Did you talk to Kelly Moran about that?

Kenny Ross: Why would I? As I told you last time, I never spoke to the woman.

Detective Murphy: Did you break into her house?

Kenny Ross: What is this?

Detective Murphy: Just a question.

Kenny Ross: No, I did not break into her house. I did not kill her. You're not sticking that on me.

Detective Armstrong: According to Karen West—

Kenny Ross: She's lying, whatever she said. She's trying to save her own neck. Everybody always points at the ex-con. I'm an easy target, easy to blame.

Detective Armstrong: She didn't blame you for anything, Kenny. What I was about to say, Karen West said she was a member of a tight-knit group of friends who sometimes partied.

Kenny Ross: So?

Detective Armstrong: So Karen West happened to mention to you she was searching for prescription pills. Did anybody else make a similar inquiry around that same time?

Kenny Ross: Not that I recall.

Detective Murphy: A minute ago, you said Karen West was trying to save her own neck. Do you think she had something to do with the break-in at the Moran house?

Kenny Ross: I don't know. That's your job.

Detective Armstrong: Has she happened to run into you since that happened?

Kenny Ross: She might have.

Detective Armstrong: Did she happen to mention whether she was looking for pills?

Kenny Ross: People like her, they always are. Score some today. They want more tomorrow.

Detective Murphy: Seems like being a supplier could be a pretty profitable business.

Kenny Ross: It was. But as I said, I'm lucky. I got out.

Detective Armstrong: Thanks for coming down, Kenny. I hope you don't fall back into any old bad habits.

Interview ended – 10:14 a.m.