Suspect #1 interrogation, part 3

Thursday, August 15, 2024

[KAREN WEST INTERVIEW RESUMED – 4:09 p.m.]

The detectives checked back in with Karen West to give her another chance to come clean about her relationship with Kenny and other questions.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Karen West

Detective Murphy: Here's that water, Mrs. West. Do you need a cup?

Karen West: No, the bottle is fine.

Detective Armstrong: So, Karen, when you … made contact with Kenny, did you tell him that you'd been getting your pills from someone else before you came to him?

Karen West: I might have. I really don't remember.

Detective Armstrong: Did you tell him you'd been getting them from Kelly?

Karen West: I don't— maybe.

Detective Armstrong: Because you were angry with her and wanted to get back at her?

Karen West: What? No! I wasn't angry. I was … frustrated.

Detective Armstrong: And you were hoping Kenny would do something to punish her?

Karen West: No, of course not. Why would he? He doesn't care about whatever petty squabble I might have had with a friend.

Detective Armstrong: If you didn't tell him, why was he stalking Kelly?

Karen West: Stalking? What are you talking about?

Detective Armstrong: His car was seen parked on her street multiple times. If he wasn't stalking Kelly, what was he doing there?

Karen West: How would I know? You should ask him.

Detective Murphy: This cell phone we talked about earlier, the one with your fingerprints on it? It's yours, isn't it? You used it to call Kelly, and later, after she cut you off, you used it to call Kenny, right?

Karen West: I don't know. I may have had a phone like that at one time, but I lost it.

Detective Armstrong: You lost it? When?

Karen West: I'm not sure. A few days before Kelly passed away.

Detective Armstrong: That's convenient. So you're saying you have no idea how this phone—your phone—ended up next to Kelly's dead body?

Karen West: What? Oh my god! No, I don't know how that happened. Someone must've planted it there.

Detective Armstrong: Who would do that?

Karen West: I don't know. Oh my god. What is happening? I didn't kill Kelly. I swear!

Detective Armstrong: So you weren't at Kelly's house the day she was killed?

Karen West: No!

Detective Armstrong: Then why did we find one of your hairs on her body?

Karen West: I don't know. She was at my house earlier that day. Maybe it got on her then?

Detective Murphy: For your sake, I hope that's true, Mrs. West.

Karen West: You're really scaring me. I want to go home. Can I go now?

Detective Murphy: We'd prefer it if you could bear with us a little longer. We'll be back in a few minutes to let you know what's going to happen next.

Karen West: What do you mean? What's going to happen next?

[KAREN WEST INTERVIEW SUSPENDED – 4:32 p.m.]