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Interview: Follow-up with Myra Olander, Weldon Foyle's alibi witness

Friday, July 23, 2004 -- 4:00 PM

The witness, who was provided as an alibi by Weldon Foyle, was interviewed at her residence. The interview was conducted by Detectives Armstrong and Murphy and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness' knowledge and consent.

TA = Detective T. Armstrong
SM = Detective S. Murphy
MO = Myra Olander

SM: Thanks for letting us in. We appreciate your hospitality.

MO: Cops knock on your door, you don't really have a choice, do you?

SM: Well, we had some follow-up questions and thought it might be easier on you if we came to your house. We won't be long and didn't want to trouble you with a trip into town.

MO: Isn't that polite of you? You guys know how I feel about this. Let's try to make this as short as possible.

SM: Okay, would you please state your name and address?

MO: Myra Olander and I live at 3342 Delay Road.

SM: And what is your occupation?

MO: I'm a potter and I also work with ceramics.

SM: You're aware that we are continuing our investigation into the murder of Kristi Waterson, correct?

MO: Yes, of course. Your screw-up with that rich kid was all over the news.

TA: Ms. Olander, how do you feel about this investigation?

MO: What do you mean?

SM: You want us to close this case, right? You want us to find the killer?

MO: Of course.

SM: How do you feel about the victim?

MO: It's terrible. What happened to her... it's just tragic.

SM: But do you have any opinions about her as a person? About Kristi Waterson specifically?

MO: I heard she was a rich slut. Simple as that. Seems she didn't have a care in the world except when she was going to get laid next.

SM: But do you think she deserved to die?

MO: Of course not.

TA: Here's a picture of her. Take a look. She looks like a normal person. Just like you and me. She might be rich, but you can't tell it in this photo. Just hanging out in the Grove with a dog. That could be you. That could be some hard-working coed.

MO: So what's your point?

SM: We know what kind of person you are, Myra. We know you don't like the police and that's okay. But we also know that you have always fought on the side of the underdog -- on the side of people getting screwed over.

TA: You've got quite a history of participating in protest marches for women's rights, anti-war rallies, free speech causes. You want to help people.

MO: Obviously, I do. But what does this have to do--

SM: In fact, we've been told that women's rights is a particularly important cause for you. The organizers of the Take Back the Night marches on campus said you were their most dedicated volunteer.

MO: Yes, it's important to me and--

SM: Myra, who is more of an underdog? Who is more of a victim? Who is more in need of your help than a murder victim?

MO: What do you mean?

SM: Kristi Waterson might have been rich. And she might have been a snob. But she was still savagely murdered, ritually slaughtered in a sexually degrading way. Doesn't that bother you?

MO: Yes, it does! But I don't see why you're telling me all this.

TA: We think you can help us.

MO: But how?

SM: Tell you the truth, Myra. I think you should definitely help us. Between you and me, the DA is coming up for election. And he's looking to make a big stand. If there is someone out there who knows something about this murder and doesn't come forward, he's liable to charge them with being an accessory. There would be a trial, that person would have to hire an attorney--

TA: Spend a ton of money.

SM: And sit through a lengthy trial. So you should want to help us. For you own good.

MO: I don't know what you're getting at.

SM: Let's lay it on the table, Myra. Weldon Foyle wasn't at your house the night Kristi Waterson was murdered.

MO: Of course he was! I told you--

TA: You told us a load of crap!

SM: The DA's gonna be pissed, Myra. You should really think about helping us.

MO: I don't know--

TA: We showed you what Kristi looked like alive. You wanna see the autopsy photos? You wanna see how she looked after she was murdered?

SM: They're not pretty pictures, Myra.

MO: But--

TA: You aging hippies are all alike. You talk a lot but no follow-through. Take Back the Night, my ass. You don't care about some woman being slaughtered!

MO: Of course I do, I just--

SM: You better hope that some of your buddies are willing to fight for you. ‘Cause when you're sitting at the defendant's table, you're going to be the underdog. You!

MO: Okay! He wasn't there! Is that what you want me to say? Weldon wasn't at my house.

TA: Where was he?

MO: I don't know.

SM: Why did you lie for him?

MO: He said he needed help. He said that he had gotten mixed up in something and that some rich kids were going to make him be the scapegoat. He needed my help. But Weldon couldn't have murdered that woman! I know how this looks, and I'm sorry, but Weldon isn't the killer.

TA: Tell us exactly what he said.

MO: He said that it had been late at night. He was walking home and stumbled upon some drunken frat boys in the parking lot behind Neilson's. They called him over and started talking to him. Said they were glad that he had walked up right then. They kept telling him to stand in a specific spot. He was wondering what was going on when a boy came bursting out the back door at a full-run. All the drunks ran off and this spotlight came on and Weldon was standing there. A security guard came running out, yelling about video cameras and how they were on tape when Weldon finally ran away.

SM: What were the kids doing at Neilson's?

MO: Weldon didn't know. He didn't know if they were stealing stuff or if they were vandalizing the property or what. But it was clear that they wanted him standing in the view of the cameras and spotlight. It was clear they were setting him up to be the fall guy. He needed my help to cover for him. Weldon's a good, hard-working kid. He's gotten screwed over his entire life. I thought I should help him. Help him fight back against the people who get everything handed to him.

TA: You knew we were investigating a murder, not some petty crime at a clothing store.

MO: I know, I know. I hated doing this. But I thought I should stick to Weldon's story. And then, once it got rolling, it was too hard to go back and admit the truth.

SM: Do you have any reason to doubt Weldon's story about what happened that evening? About the incident at Neilson's?

MO: No. Weldon is very reserved and keeps to himself. You might even call him secretive, but I've never known him to lie.

SM: Are you certain in your belief that Weldon isn't involved in Kristi Waterson's murder?

MO: Absolutely.

SM: Okay, thanks for telling us the truth. We'll be back in touch. And please don't leave town without informing our office.

Interview ends -- 4:41 PM

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