Witness Interview: Kelley Wagner

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Witness Interview: Kelley Wagner
: Ms. Wagner was interviewed in person at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's office on November 21, 1997. Ms. Wagner gave a preliminary telephone interview on November 12 following the accident that killed Sheriff Charles Lamar. She is an instrumental witness in the alibi of Ms. Aimee Harberson. The following is the relevant excerpt from her interview on November 12.

N = Detective Terrence Nelson
W = Kelley Wagner
N: Ms. Wagner, thank you for coming in. For the record, please state your full name, date of birth and address.
W: Kelley Jane Wagner, February 3, 1970. I live at 1915 Anderson Road in the Cove complex.
N: That's a rental?
W: Yes.
N: Where are you employed, Ms. Wagner?
W: I work at the County Assessor's office as a records clerk.
N: How did you first meet Aimee Harberson?
W: I met her when she first came to Oxford in 1994. We were neighbors at the Dixie Creek apartments back then.
N: You both work in the Assessor's office, is that correct?
W: Yes. I've worked there full time since 1990 and Aimee started shortly after she moved here.
N: Would you say that you and Aimee Harberson are good friends?
W: Definitely. The best. I think Aimee's the best friend I've ever had.
N: Where were you on Saturday, November 8, Ms. Wagner?
W: I was in Jackson for most of the day with Aimee. We stayed with my parents at their house on Pine Grove Road, that's near Spring Lake.
N: How did you get to your parent's house on that day?
W: I drove. Aimee drove to my house and we went together from there.
N: What kind of car do you drive, Ms. Wagner?
W: I have a 1995 Honda Accord.
N: What color is your car?
W: Red.
N: How long have you owned it?
W: I bought it used last year. It was a good deal.
N: So, you both drove to Jackson together and Aimee left her car at your house?
W: Yes, that's right.
N: What kind of car does Aimee have?
W: She has a 1996 Saturn, it's green. Does that answer your question?
N: Yes, thank you. What time did you leave Oxford on November 8th?
W: Let me think, it was about 11:00 a.m. I think, maybe a little before.
N: How long is the trip to your parents?
W: It's just a bit over 110 miles and takes me about two hours and fifteen minutes to drive it with a stop.
N: Is that how long it took you on November 8th?
W: Yes, just about. We got to my parent's house about 1:30.
N: Please tell me what you and Aimee did after you arrived.
W: Well, we helped my mother plant some bulbs then we went shopping. We got back around 4:00 I think, and took showers. Then we all went out to dinner at Marcella's. My parent's went on in to Jackson to the theater and Aimee and I went back to the house. I think that was about 6:30. My friend, Marty Davis picked us up at 6:45 to go out for the night. We went bar hopping.
N: Ms. Wagner, in your telephone statement on November 12, you stated that you and Aimee drove to the Blue Turtle to meet Marty Davis. Which is it? He picked you up or you drove?
W: Oh. Um, let me think about it. No, he picked us up.
N: You are sure?
W: Yes. I went with Marty to the Blue Turtle.
N: You went with Marty.
W: Yes.
N: Ms. Wagner, we seem to have several problems here. We have a difference between your earlier statement on how you went to the Blue Turtle, and we also have a problem with exactly who went where. Would you like an opportunity to correct your statement? I might remind you that withholding information may carry legal consequences for you personally.
W: Well...I, let me think.

N: Take your time.
W: Okay, all right. Aimee's my friend, like I said probably the best friend I've ever had. But, I'm not willing to get myself into legal trouble here. I might have been wrong about a few things.

N: Which things, Ms. Wagner?
W: Um, Marty did pick me up at about 6:45 p.m. and we did go to the Blue Turtle, but Aimee didn't come along. She said she had something she had to do and she wanted to call Hal. I thought she was worried about something and she made me promise to keep it a secret. I did.

N: Hal is her brother?
W: Yes, he lives in Jackson and I know Aimee sort of watches out for him. I don't know why, but I thought maybe he was in trouble, or she was and that she needed to talk to with him.

N: You left your car and drove with Marty Davis, would Ms. Harberson have had access to your car?
W: Well, yes. She didn't ask to borrow it, and I don't think she did, but she could have.

N: When did you return home that evening, Ms. Wagner?
W: I got back about, let's see, it was about 2:15 a.m. I think. Yes, that's about right. I remember we stopped so Marty could get a Sunday paper and that was at 1:30, I checked the clock in the store. That's about right.

N: And who was at home when you got there Ms. Wagner?
W: Aimee was there asleep. My parents had not returned yet.
N: You are sure that Aimee was there?
W: Yes, absolutely. I went into the guest room to talk to her and she only woke up part way, we weren't able to talk until the next morning.
N: What did you talk about the next morning?
W: I told her about my night and asked her how she was, if she'd straightened everything out with Hal. She asked me again to keep her secret and told me that she had worked everything out. That was about it. We left around 10:30 to come back to Oxford.
N: Ms. Harberson didn't tell you anything more about the trouble with her brother?
W: No. I didn't press it, I figured she'd tell me if she wanted me to know.
N: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
W: No. Nothing I can think of.
N: You are sure that you are telling us the full truth of that visit?
W: Yes. I'm sorry I didn't right away, it just didn't seem relevant to me and Aimee is my friend. I hope she'll forgive me. I'm sure she'll understand how important this is.
N: We'll be in touch Ms. Wagner, thank you for your cooperation.
W: You're welcome.