YOKNAPATAWPHA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
- Investigating Officer(s): Det. S. Murphy. Det. T. Armstrong
- Incident No.: 000133-14A-2002
- Case Description: Andrea Stover Homicide
As recorded in the Inventory
of Items Taken into Evidence from the Victim's Residence, the Yoknapatawpha
County Sheriff's Department collected as evidence five hundred forty-eight
(548) letters addressed to Andrea Stover at the Yoknapatawpha County Adult
Local Detention Facility. Included in that number were thirteen (13) letters
from Dale King (Evidence #s 000133-21-289 through 000133-21-301) Yoknapatawpha
County Sheriff's Department representatives have examined those letters
and assembled the following excerpts from the King letters. These excerpts
were determined to be potentially relevant to the Andrea Stover Homicide
investigation and are typical of the content of all letters from Dale
King
Letter Dates
| June 15, 2000 | August
24, 2000 | September 30, 2000 | January
12, 2001 | April 25, 2001 | June
7,2001 | July 23, 2001 | October
27, 2001
June 15, 2000
I suppose you already know Owen asked me to step into your shoes as
director of Oxtales . The direction will be a bit different from when
you were here. But that’s what we artists do—put our own spin
on things. Right? That’s what makes it “our own work.”
After the Snopes debacle I thought it best to cool it for a while and
tone down the controversy. Quite frankly, I don’t think Oxford was
ready for that much controversy. But I’m sure you knew how I felt
after our many discussions and arguments. No hard feelings?
COP is still whooping it up, but they’ve apparently found someone
else to harass and have left us alone –at least for the time being.
Hang in there. We’re all pulling for you. Sorry you didn’t
plead out.
End excerpt
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August 24, 2000
Ethan and I have been spending a lot of time in the Genealogy room of
the library researching old newspapers, cemetery records, diaries, census
records, and local history accounts in journals and books. We’re
looking for local historically significant stories that would make a good
drama. We’ve found some great material, and Ethan is enthusiastic
about writing them. I suppose this will seem much too tame for your taste,
but hopefully it can redeem the credibility of Oxtales in the eyes of
the community if Ethan comes up with something.
End excerpt
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September 30, 2000
Hope it isn’t too rough on you there. It’s too bad you decided
not to plead out, but that was your decision. I’m doing my community
service and managed to pay my fine with help from my family. I’ll
be paying them back for the rest of my life, probably. I wish I’d
had an “angel” like yours. But thems the breaks. You’re
in jail, and I’m poor.
End excerpt
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January 12, 2001
We’re well into rehearsal for our new play Black Boy in a Closet.
Ethan really outdid himself on this script. It’s the story of the
first black student at Ole Miss. No, it wasn’t James Meredith, but
a poor young black student discovered by a new art instructor on his way
from the North to teach at the University in l953. He invites the kid
to go to school but discovers blacks are not welcome. So the teacher gets
him a job as a janitor in the art room and the kid attends classes from
the closet—for four years!
It’s a great story and Henry is superb as the art instructor. We
got this kid, Xavier, right out of Ole Miss to play the student and he’s
been a breath of fresh air. I’m really excited about this play and
hope it will do well enough at the box office to bring some bucks (and
good PR) to Oxtales. Keep you fingers crossed for us.
End excerpt
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April 25, 2001
Hallelujah! A hit. Black Boy in a Closet was “critically acclaimed”
as the saying goes. We got terrific local reviews and even a write up
in the Memphis papers. Every show was a sell out. We’re riding high,
but are really tired. I think when we close I’ll give the troop a
few weeks off. Ethan and I have some more researching to do. We’re
thinking of doing some short-- like under five minute—radio dramas.
I have an appointment with WOXX 95.5 FM in a couple of weeks to explore
the concept.
End excerpt
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June 7, 2001
We aired our first short drama this week and it was favorably received,
according to the radio station. I had to work my tail off to get advertising
for us. We pay $50.00 then get advertisers for the beginning and end,
charge them $300 and make a $250 profit. Well, of course we have expenses,
so I guess we really don’t make a profit, but the station considers
them a community service because they are local history so that’s
like money in the bank. Ethan did a great job of working them up and Frank
has performed magic with the sound effects. He managed to get a wind machine,
horse hoof device, marching soldiers device, and he can simulate gunfire,
door openings and closings, and foot steps. I guess he begged and borrowed
–whatever worked.
Speaking of Frank have you heard from him? He and Sheila seem pretty
tight since you left. She always did have a thing for him even when you
and he were an item. She didn’t waste any time getting her hooks
into him and they’ve been thick as thieves. Hope you don’t have
any deep feelings for him. But then maybe he’s just marking time
until you return.
End excerpt
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July 23, 2001
How you doing? Hope you are OK.
I thought you might be interested to know I’m experimenting in
my garden with some things not usually grown in Oxford. I’ve planted
an artichoke plant, some rhubarb rhizomes and some asparagus. They all
take some time to produce, so maybe when you get home I’ll have some
new recipes of my new produce to try out on you. You always appreciated
my cooking. I’ve had to be creative to make up for my reduced income.
The community service has cut into the hours I used to work for the catering
service thus cutting into my income.
Hang in there. Only a few more months to go. Everyone says hello and
send their best.
End excerpt
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October 27, 2001
Guess you’ll be coming home in a couple of months. Any idea what
you’re going to do when you get home? Or have you decided not to
come back to Oxford but to move on to greener pastures? Anyway, if you
do come back, be sure to come see us. Everyone in the company will be
glad to see you—except maybe Sheila .Ha Ha.
End excerpt
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