Darren Barksdale alibi check

Jeremy Stevens

Jeremy Stevens is a bartender at Taylor's Pub.

Participants:

• Detective S. Murphy
• Detective E. Parker
• Jeremy Stevens

Detective Murphy: Hello, Mr. Stevens. Would you mind answering a few questions?

Jeremy Stevens: Of course.

Detective Murphy: Please state your name, address, and occupation for the record.

Jeremy Stevens: Jeremy Stevens, 403 South 5th Street, Oxford, Mississippi, bartender.

Detective Murphy: How long have you been bartending at Taylor's Pub?

Jeremy Stevens: Since February of last year. Good place, good people, not too many drunks, as you can see.

Detective Murphy: Do you remember most of your customers?

Jeremy Stevens: I know a lot of the regulars, sure. It's part of my job.

Detective Parker: Does the name Darren Barksdale sound familiar?

Jeremy Stevens: The scotch on the rocks guy? What about him?

Detective Parker: Was he here on Saturday night?

Jeremy Stevens: Yeah, he dropped by around 10:00 p.m., when it got real busy. I only remember because he downed about eight drinks in one hour. Seemed kinda put out about something.

Detective Murphy: Did you talk to him at all?

Jeremy Stevens: When I asked, he said he got stood up by his girlfriend. It's happened before, so I didn't think too much of it.

Detective Parker: Do you know what time Mr. Barksdale left the pub that night?

Jeremy Stevens: He wanted to leave by 11:00 p.m., but I took his keys because he was in no shape to drive. Around 11:30 p.m., one of his friends at the pub took him home.

Detective Murphy: Do you know who that friend was?

Jeremy Stevens: Gin and tonic guy, last name Thomas. Eric Thomas, that's right.

Detective Murphy: All right, thank you for your help, Mr. Stevens. We really appreciate it.

Jeremy Stevens: No problem. Want a drink before you go?

Detective Murphy: Maybe next time.

Eric Thomas

Eric Thomas is a friend of Darren Barksdale.

Participants:

• Detective S. Murphy
• Detective E. Parker
• Eric Thomas

Detective Murphy: Hello, Mr. Thomas. Please state your name and address for the record.

Eric Thomas: Eric Thomas, 1531 Tyler Cove, Oxford, Mississippi.

Detective Murphy: Do you know Darren Barksdale?

Eric Thomas: Yeah, we went to Ole Miss together. We were both accounting majors and were in a lot of the same study groups.

Detective Parker: Have you kept in touch after college?

Eric Thomas: We go out for drinks occasionally, maybe once a month.

Detective Murphy: When was the last time you saw Mr. Barksdale?

Eric Thomas: Saturday night at Taylor's Pub.

Detective Parker: Did the two of you plan to meet that night?

Eric Thomas: No, I just happened to bump into him, literally. He was pretty far gone by the time I got there.

Detective Murphy: What time did you arrive at Taylor's Pub?

Eric Thomas: Almost 11:00 p.m. I went to the pep rally with a couple of guys from work, but we left before it was over. When I saw the state Darren was in, I checked out early to take him home.

Detective Murphy: And what kind of state was Mr. Barksdale in?

Eric Thomas: I haven't seen him that drunk since our college days. He was nearly passed out at the bar.

Detective Murphy: What time did the two of you leave?

Eric Thomas: 11:30 p.m., maybe a little bit later. We got back to Darren's at midnight, and I stuck around for another half hour to make sure he wasn't gonna throw up in his sleep and then went home.

Detective Parker: Did anyone else see the two of you arrive at Mr. Barksdale's home?

Eric Thomas: His roommate was gone, but we ran into Darren's neighbor. His apartment door was open. I think he was having a party.

Detective Parker: Would you happen to know the neighbor's name?

Eric Thomas: Nope.

Detective Murphy: All right, Mr. Thomas, thank you for your time.

Rick Dalton

Rick Dalton is a neighbor of Darren Barksdale.

Participants:

• Detective S. Murphy
• Detective E. Parker
• Rick Dalton

Detective Murphy: Hello, sir. Do you know Darren Barksdale?

Rick Dalton: That's right. We're neighbors.

Detective Murphy: Would you mind answering a few questions regarding Mr. Barksdale's whereabouts on Saturday night?

Rick Dalton: Sure, sure. I guess this is about the woman that was found dead last weekend? I saw her go over to Darren's a couple of times. Were they dating?

Detective Murphy: I believe so. Would you please state your name and address of the record?

Rick Dalton: Rick Dalton, 1711 Anderson Road, Apt. 242, Oxford, Mississippi. That's a shame. She was real pretty.

Detective Parker: Do you know if Mr. Barksdale was home on Saturday night?

Rick Dalton: From what I remember, his lights were on for most of the evening. He seemed to be there when I got home from work at 6:00 p.m. I was hosting a party that night, and when people started arriving at 9:30 p.m., I went over to Darren's to borrow a beer opener. I couldn't find mine for the life of me.

Detective Murphy: Did Mr. Barksdale answer the door?

Rick Dalton: Yeah, Darren was home. But he must've gone out later because a few hours later, his friend shows up, practically dragging him up the stairs to his apartment.

Detective Murphy: Do you know what time you saw him come home?

Rick Dalton: I'd say around midnight.

Detective Parker: Did Mr. Barksdale seem upset at all when you saw him earlier that night?

Rick Dalton: Not really. I asked him if he wanted to come to the party, but he said he was waiting for his girlfriend.

Detective Parker: Did you see Mr. Barksdale at all on Sunday?

Rick Dalton: Not that I remember. He was probably too hungover to venture out.

Detective Murphy: That'll be all, Mr. Dalton. Thank you for your time.