Case Solution

Saturday, February 15, 2014 - 2:15 p.m.

Terrance Kershaw is a resident student at the Bohemia Zen Center in Santa Rosa, California. Knowing that Ryan Rand had been in touch with Mr. Kershaw in the past and knowing that Rand had been in the area recently, Detectives Armstrong and Murphy interviewed Mr. Kershaw at the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. The interview was recorded with the witness's knowledge and consent.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Terrance Kershaw

Detective Armstrong: Mr. Kershaw, thank you for talking to us. Would you please state your name and address for the record?

Terrance Kershaw: My name is Terrance Kershaw. I live at 100 Mountain Meadow Road, Santa Rosa, California.

Detective Armstrong: We'd like to talk to you about Ryan Rand.

Terrance Kershaw: Yes.

Detective Armstrong: You know Ryan Rand?

Terrance Kershaw: I do.

Detective Armstrong: Do you know where he is right now?

Terrance Kershaw: Impermanence is the nature of things.

Detective Armstrong: What does that mean?

Terrance Kershaw: There is nothing that does not change. Therefore, everything is uncertainty.

Detective Armstrong: I– Murphy?

Detective Murphy: Terrance, I appreciate what you're saying on a philosophical level, but we need to talk about the physical level now. You understand?

Terrance Kershaw: Yes.

Detective Murphy: Good. Now, have you seen Ryan Rand in the last month?

Terrance Kershaw: I have. He came to me in a state of great disquiet.

Detective Murphy: Do you know what caused the disquiet?

Terrance Kershaw: He was struggling to achieve mindfulness in the face of the challenges of the world.

Detective Armstrong: What challenges specifically?

Terrance Kershaw: Reconciling life and death and emptiness.

Detective Armstrong: OK. Back to my original question. Do you know where we can find Ryan right now?

Terrance Kershaw: He is in guest resident practice at the Zen center.

Detective Armstrong: How long has he been there?

Terrance Kershaw: Since he first came to me seeking help in deepening his true nature.

Detective Armstrong: What?

Detective Murphy: We don't want to disturb the serenity of the Zen center, but we need to talk with him. Urgently. Can you persuade him to come to us?

Terrance Kershaw: I cannot persuade or dissuade, but if asked, he will come.

Detective Murphy: And will you ask him? Or do we need to come to the center to ask him?

Terrance Kershaw: He will come today.

Detective Armstrong: Good. We'll come with you back to the Zen center to… facilitate his journey.

Terrance Kershaw: As you wish.

Detective Armstrong: You're not at all curious why we want to talk to him?

Terrance Kershaw: You've come with right intention and right action, haven't you?

Detective Armstrong: I guess so?

Terrance Kershaw: That is all I need know.

Detective Armstrong: You already know why we want to talk to him, don't you?

Terrance Kershaw: One must view reality as it is, not only as it appears to be.

Detective Armstrong: Yeah. That's what I was going to say.

Detective Murphy: Terrance, did Ryan communicate at all with you before he arrived at the center? Or did he just show up one day?

Terrance Kershaw: We have corresponded for several years, but he did contact me just before he arrived and entered resident practice.

Detective Murphy: How did he contact you?

Terrance Kershaw: By email.

Detective Armstrong: You use email?

Terrance Kershaw: Of course.

Detective Murphy: Ted, stop. Terrance, would you be willing to share that email with us?

Terrance Kershaw: I will.

Detective Murphy: Thank you. Are you ready to go back to the center now to get Ryan?

Terrance Kershaw: I am.

Detective Armstrong: Great. Let's go.

Interview ends: 2:33 p.m.

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