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- Oxford Eagle, Monday, November 3, 1997
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- Exclusive Interview with Caroline
Blanchard
Allegations rock close
sheriff's race
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- Chase McFadden
STAFF WRITER
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- One voice that hasn't been heard lately in the
Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's election is that of
Caroline Blanchard, the estranged wife of incumbent
Chuck Lamar.
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- But on Sunday Nov. 2, Blanchard broke her silence
-- with allegations of adultery.
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- Blanchard and Lamar are involved in a bitter
divorce at this time, just as the sheriff faces his
strongest challenge yet for re-election, and his
daughter Macy is still missing.
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- Blanchard contacted this reporter Sunday and
requested that she be interviewed for an article for
immediate publication. What follows is the transcript
of the interview.
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- Q: What would you like to talk about, Mrs.
Blanchard?
- A: I'd like to talk about my husband, and the real
reason that he can't keep his mind on the sheriff's
race, why he's never seen in public, that sort of
thing.
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- Q: And what is the reason?
- A: He's having an affair -- that's the reason.
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- Q: An affair?
- A: Yes, an affair, with a young lady named Aimee
Harberson. She works at the assessor's office. She's
bad news all right.
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- Q: Mrs. Blanchard, do you have any substantiating
evidence of this affair? A tape recording? A
photograph? Anything?
- A: I know what's going on in my almost finished
marriage, young man. They're having an affair and
that's what's broken up my marriage. That's why I'm
having this divorce, because that little tramp --
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- Q: Mrs. Blanchard -- Mrs. Blanchard, please
remember that this is a family newspaper. Please
refrain from slandering people.
- A: It's still an affair, and it's also the reason
you don't see the sheriff on the streets nowadays --
he's shacked up with this girl in my house.
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- Q: Mrs. Blanchard -
- A: No, I'm going to talk! That's my house and
she's sleeping in my old bed, and it's ridiculous for
him to be acting like this while our daughter has been
missing for weeks!
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- Q: Mrs. Blanchard, you realize that Sheriff Lamar
has made quite an effort to find your daughter, don't
you?
- A: It hasn't been enough -- she's still missing,
isn't she? I think he should be working harder. And
frankly, I think he needs to take a hard look at her.
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- Q: Do you mean Lamar's mistress might be
responsible for the kidnapping?
- A: All I know is she's bad news. I wouldn't put it
past her.
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- Q: These are serious allegations, Mrs. Blanchard.
- A: She's my daughter. I feel I had to speak out.
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- Lamar refused to speak with this reporter in
person, but later released a statement confirming that
he is seeing Harberson. According to the statement,
the couple met in September of 1996, after the Office
of the County Assessor was burglarized and Lamar
oversaw installation of a new alarm system there.
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- In the statement, Lamar denies that he and
Harberson are living together, saying they have no
immediate plans to marry.
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- Lamar also commented on his wife's allegations,
saying, "I find it unfortunate that she feels it
necessary to drag personal issues into the
discussion."
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