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Monday, September 29, 1997 Guest: Michael Androux, Manager of the Heritage Inn Motel Opening Remarks: Elizabeth Jones: We have a few changes tonight. In light of the death of Anthony Phelps we have Mr. Michael Androux with us. Note that this is a change from our posted schedule of speaking with Peyton Higgins, Anthony Phelps' roommate. In light of Mr. Phelp's death this past weekend, we felt that Mr. Androux would be a more informative guest this evening. He is the manager of the Heritage Inn in Amite Louisiana where Mr. Phelps body was found. We are pleased to have you with us on short notice Mr. Michael Androux: Thank you, EJ. It's certainly a pleasure to meet you. It's not a problem really. My name is Michael Androux, I work for Heritage Inn and I was the one who found the body. I found Mr. Phelps's body in his room on the 27th of September. I went in to check up on why he hadn't checked out on time and that's when I found him sort of just lying there. I can't really say that I realized who he was at the time. I mean I didn't realize that the guy was wanted and all. I just wanted him out, so I could rent out the room. When I found him dead, I called the police. He wasn't even the one who rented out the room. A young lady rented out the room. The woman's name was Vicky Symons and I never saw the men really. There's a mini fridge in the rooms and I guess I never really saw them because she kept the fridge stocked, so they never had to leave the room. When I checked out the room, the fridge was still pretty full. Anyway, that's about it, do you have any questions for me? Question & Answer session with Mr. Androux: Q: Were any calls made from the room and if so, to whom? A: No, there weren't any calls made out of the room. Q: What body count did inn figure was staying in the room? A: Just one. Ms. Symons. She's the one who rented the place. Q: Is there a grocery store near you? Did you see a vehicle at any time? A: Yeah, there's a grocery store up the road about a half mile. No, I didn't see a vehicle. The space in front of the room was empty all week. Q: What type of items left in fridge? any film? A: No, not film, just food...milk, some cookies...that's about all. Q: Any message for the room left at the desk? What's the name of store near by? A: No, no messages. And it's a Kroger up the street. Q: Did you get ID on Vicky Symons when she checked in? A: Yes, I did, she said she was meeting a friend. I didn't ask questions, I was just renting out the room. Q: Could you see the room from the office? A: She paid cash and I saw her driver's license, and no, I can't see the room from the office...It's in the back. Q: How many beds in the room? One or two? A: One bed. Q: What did housekeeping say? A: Housekeeping didn't say anything because Ms. Symons requested not to have any housekeeping done. She said she didn't want to be disturbed...so she took extra towels and I respected her wishes. Q: If she was supposed to be stocking fridge, wonder why Tony was going to McDonalds every a.m.? A: I don't know. Maybe he didn't like what she brought him? Q: If the room was in the back, how do you know they stayed in the room? A: Well, I don't really know who stayed there. There wasn't any car in the parking spot. All I know is that I found a dead man's body in the bed, and the room had definitely been lived in. Q: Did you see signs of others having stayed in the room as well? A: Not from what I found. It only looked like one person had been staying there. Q: I thought you said they never ventured out? A: I never saw them go anywhere. But supposedly some guy saw him in McDonald's. I read that in the paper somewhere. Q: Were there any clothes in the room other than those on body? A: Yeah, there was, but I never saw any of it because the cops came and took it all. Q: Had Ms. Symons been a guest at your facility before? If so when? Alone? A: No, I'd never seen her, but we get lots of travelers stopping in on their way to New Orleans. Q: What trash was in the room or had been removed by Housekeeping? A: The room was full of trash, but I didn't get to see really what most of it was because the cops had taken over by then. Mostly I just saw some soda cans and stuff. The usual. Q: Did you ever have occasion to see Vicky again, or only at the time she rented the room, did she ever come back after the body was found? A: Nope, can't say that I did. I only saw her on Sunday when she rented the room. Q: Is this the type of place where you make a point of not noticing your guests? A: Well, yeah I guess. I pretty much leave the people who stay there alone. Q: Did you see any medications in the room, of any sort, any ice-packs bandages, first aid stuff? A: There were some bandages on the night stand, but other than that, no medications or anything. Q: Did anyone else check in at about the same time? And, at what time did she check in? A: She paid the week, that's why I went in when she didn't check out. There are lots of travelers, but I don't think anyone around that time, no. Q: Is there anyone who checked out the same night she checked in? or the following day, night? And, Who was in the rooms next door and behind? A: I'd really have to check on that. I don't really know offhand. There were people who checked in and out, but not at the same time. Q: Did she pay for one occupant or two? A: She only paid for one. I didn't know about the man until I found him. Q: She told you she was meeting a friend...only charged for one? A: Yes, I assumed she meant that she was meeting a friend from town. I didn't think she was having anyone staying with her. Q: Did the room next door have a connecting door? Was it unlocked? A: No, there weren't any connecting doors. Q: Were there any complaints received about the occupants in the room? A: No, it was pretty quiet all week. Q: Any agonizing sounds from him heard from any other occupants in the facility? A: No, like I said, it was a real quiet week. Q: Date and time she checked in, please? A: She checked in a 10:30 PM on Sunday, September 21. Q: Have you seen pictures of Ms. Lamar(in paper or other)? Was anyone matching her description seen at your establishment? A: No, I'm sorry I haven't. I don't know her. Q: Don't you get auto info? Did she walk up? A: Yeah, she walked up. I think, I wasn't really paying attention to be honest. Q: So, in brief, she checked in, paid cash, no one saw or heard anything until you found stiff? A: <nods> Yeah, that's right. Q: Was any jewelry, charms found on floor, in bed, etc.? A: No, nothing. Q: Anyone call for reservations...or call for vacancies prior to her checking in; do you need reservations at this place? A: No, there weren't any reservations at the place. We don't usually get any. Q: Are there any workers at the motel with past criminal records? A: We don't have any workers at our establishment that have criminal records. Question and Answer session with EJ: Q: What do you think was the cause of death (opinion)? A: That is clearly from the torn aorta. Q: Did Ms. Lamar have a criminal record? If so what for? A: No. Q: Was the room dusted for prints? A: Yes, we found both Anthony Phelps and Victoria Symons prints in the room. Q: Was anything else of Macy's found in the room? A: No. Just the library card. Q: Maybe the card was a plant. A: That's an interesting thought. Q: About the prosecuting attorney, Mazza, can we have more info on his background? A: What information are you looking for? There will be more information coming on campaign records, that I know. Q: The clothes that were stolen in Fluker, where is it in relation to Amite & Oxford? A: Fluker is about 6 miles north of Amite. Amite is about 20 miles south of the MS/LA border. Q: Did the sheriff do anything "improper" toward these boys? Any vendetta against the guys before any of this stuff took place? Any personal cause for Ed and Tony to go after the Sheriff's daughter, in particular? A: On the vendetta questions and the reason for Ed and Tony to go after Macy, the only thing that makes sense to me is if they recognized her as the Sheriff's daughter and wanted a hostage to ensure escape. No vendetta, but remember these two are charged with felony crimes, they are not nice guys to say the least. Q: To recognize her they would have had to see her in the mall, right? They would have had to be "in" the mall. Or am I missing something? I can't think of a reason for them to go "in" the mall - especially while injured. A: Macy was to have met her mother outside the entrance on the way to the parking area. She may have been outside, the purse was found outside. Q: Where was her purse found outside? A: In an outside trash container, about 50 feet from the exit in a side area. Q: Have there been any more stolen cars along the same route? Time Period? A: No other cars stolen that relate at all. Q: Phelps' father & stepfather were in LA, has anyone spoken to either of them, maybe Phelps called? A: Yes, both Phelps father and stepfather are in Baton Rouge. Phelps had not called either, though it is possible he was planning on heading there. Q: Is there an APB out on Victoria yet and has anyone heard from her yet? A: Yes, there is now an APB on Victoria, went out after confirmation that she is involved. Q: EJ - except for the library card, any other indication they have the girl? A: Nothing specific, no. That is why I have been very careful to say we don't know that. We are not 100% sure this is a kidnapping case, though indications point to it.

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