Betty Wood
Betty Wood and her husband, James, attend the same church as Rita Pearce.
Participants:
• Detective E. Parker
• Betty Wood
Detective Murphy: Have a seat and please state your name and address.
Betty Wood: My name is Betty Wood, and my address is 600 McElroy Drive, Oxford.
Detective Murphy: Where do you attend church?
Betty Wood: Saint Andrews United Methodist.Did something happen at the church?
Detective Murphy: Oh, sorry. No, the church is fine.
Betty Wood: Thank God.
Detective Murphy: Did you attend the 9:00 a.m. service on September 15th?
Betty Wood: My husband and I both did. We hardly ever miss.
Detective Murphy: Was Rita Pearce at that 9:00 a.m. service?
Betty Wood: Yes, she sat next to me during the entire service.
Detective Murphy: Did she arrive on time?
Betty Wood: I believe she got there before my husband and me. She was already in her seat when we walked up.
Detective Murphy: How did she seem to you that day?
Betty Wood: She was fine. Upbeat, cheerful like usual.
Detective Murphy: Thank you.
Daniel Hayes
Daniel Hayes lives next door to Rita Pearce.
Participants:
• Detective E. Parker
• Daniel Hayes
Detective Parker: Please state your full name and address for the record.
Daniel Hayes: Daniel Ray Hayes and I live at 617 Tyler Avenue here in Oxford.
Detective Parker: Where do you work?
Daniel Hayes: I am self-employed.
Detective Parker: What type of business?
Daniel Hayes: I’m a clown. I can be hired for parties and also for singing telegrams.
Detective Parker: Interesting. Were you home on the 15th of this month?
Daniel Hayes: Hold on let me check my book. No, I had two birthday parties that day and three singing telegrams.
Detective Parker: Were these during the day or the evening?
Daniel Hayes: My last telegram was at 5:30 p.m.
Detective Parker: Was it here in Oxford?
Daniel Hayes: Yes, it was.
Detective Parker: Did you go home after you were finished?
Daniel Hayes: Yes I did. The little woman had supper waiting.
Detective Parker: Did you notice if Rita Pearce was home that evening, on the 15th?
Daniel Hayes: I saw her watering her flowers as I drove by.
Detective Parker: Did you happen to notice the time?
Daniel Hayes: Pretty darn close to 6:00
Detective Parker: Did you stay in for the rest of the evening?
Daniel Hayes: I mowed the front lawn, and then my sweetie and I watched a movie we rented.
Detective Parker: Did you see or hear Rita come and go at any time that evening?
Daniel Hayes: No. Her car was in the driveway while I mowed.
Detective Parker: Did you see her any more that night?
Daniel Hayes: No, but her car was still there when I put the cat out for the night.
Detective Parker: What time was that?
Daniel Hayes: A little after 11:00.
Detective Parker: Thanks for your time.
Daniel Hayes: No problem. Here’s my card in case you ever need a clown.
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