Interview: Follow-up with Andy Brandt

Wednesday, April 18, 2012 - 3:45 p.m.

Andy Brandt is Ronny Brandt's older brother. Detectives Armstrong and Murphy interviewed him at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department. The interview was recorded with the witness' knowledge and consent.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Andy Brandt

Detective Armstrong: For the record, you could please state you name and address?

Andy Brandt: Andy Brandt. I'm back staying with my brother on Brittany Drive for a little while.

Detective Armstrong: You like staying with them?

Andy Brandt: Gives me somewhere to hang my boots.

Detective Murphy: Let me be honest, Mr. Brandt. We've been unable to determine where RJ found that skull.

Andy Brandt: He dug it up in the backyard.

Detective Murphy: If so, how did it get there?

Andy Brandt: Maybe somebody planted a tooth.

Detective Armstrong: You stay with your brother sometimes. Maybe you planted the tooth.

Andy Brandt: Do I look like a gardener?

Detective Armstrong: What you look like is a suspect.

Detective Murphy: Mr. Brandt, why didn't your brother get you a job where he works?

Andy Brandt: Ron and I don't always get along so well.

Detective Murphy: He opens his home to you.

Andy Brandt: When he needs money. I pay them rent when I stay with them.

Detective Murphy: Not because he enjoys your company?

Andy Brandt: Ron's got a short temper. He gets these crazy ideas and he just loses his head.

Detective Murphy: Can you give us an example?

Andy Brandt: Heather's a good-looking woman.

Detective Murphy: Go on.

Andy Brandt: That's it. Ron puts one and one together, gets three, and blows his top.

Detective Armstrong: Are you sleeping with her?

Andy Brandt: I don't see what this has to do with some skull RJ brought to school.

Detective Armstrong: Maybe nothing, but our job is to ask questions. Dot the I's and cross the T's. Otherwise, our boss‒

Andy Brandt: All your boss needs to know is that Ron thought we had. That's all that matters.

Detective Armstrong: We'll accept that answer. For now. This skull, though, is there any chance it belongs to someone you know?

Andy Brandt: Not unless she worked at the grocery store.

Detective Murphy: She might have been a customer.

Andy Brandt: I don't really deal much with customers.

Detective Armstrong: Did you give RJ the skull?

Andy Brandt: I told you I didn't even know he had it.

Detective Armstrong: Maybe that's because you thought you buried it deep enough.

Andy Brandt: You're not hanging this on me. I had nothing to do with it.

Detective Murphy: Do you know someone named Gordon Snyder?

Andy Brandt: From Biloxi? He's friends with my brother, but we never really hung out or anything.

Detective Murphy: He and Ronny are good friends?

Andy Brandt: I guess so. Why does it matter?

Detective Armstrong: His name came up in your brother's phone records. We're just wondering what you can tell us about him.

Andy Brandt: You're looking at their phone records?

Detective Armstrong: Of course we are. We need to find out that little girl's story.

Andy Brandt: What little girl?

Detective Armstrong: The one whose skull RJ brought to school.

Andy Brandt: It's probably just some old skull. Why can't you leave us alone?

Detective Murphy: You know why. We need answers. Is there something you want to tell us that could explain everything?

Andy Brandt: No. I want to get out of here.

Detective Murphy: All right, then. We'll be in touch.

Andy Brandt: Just let it go. Can't you just let it go?

Detective Murphy: You know we can't do that.

Andy Brandt: Fine. If that's how it's going to be, you want to talk to me again? I want my lawyer with me. This has got to stop.

Detective Murphy: OK. Just leave your attorney's contact information with us so we know who to call for your next interview.

Interview ends: 4:01 PM