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Witness Interview: Sandra Taylor

 

N = Detective Terry Nelson 

S = Sandra Taylor

 

N: Mrs. Taylor, I understand how difficult this is, let us know if you need to take a break. Some of these things we've gone over before, but I'd like to be sure we have it all down.

 

S: Thank you. I hope I can help, Detective Nelson.

 

N: Let's go back over the timing from Sunday night on the first to when you last saw Dale and Crystal on the morning of the second. You had a farewell dinner is that right? Tell me about that, who was there?

 

S: Well, let's see. Yes, we always have a special family dinner when Dale and Crystal are leaving for an extended period for training or competitions. I fix their favorite foods, seafood and Caesar salad. It's just family. Jim and I, Shane, Dale and Crystal. A time to spend together when the family is going to be apart for a bit.

 

N: How did everyone get along at dinner?

 

S: Pretty well. We laughed and talked. Shane was a little withdrawn and we all knew he was resenting the trip somewhat because it interfered with the plans for funding his music. He was pleasant enough though, it didn't get out of hand. I think he made one or two remarks but tried to keep it from ruining the meal and it didn't.

 

N: About what time did you start and end dinner?

 

S: Let's see, we sat down in the dining room about 5:30 p.m. and by about 7:00 p.m. we were clearing the table. Shane went out for a bit to practice with his band and Dale and Crystal packed their things. I put in a last load of laundry of odds and ends the kids needed.

 

N: Were there any phone calls that night, any visitors?

 

S: Dale talked to one of his friends right before dinner. I think Crystal called Maggie later on to say good-bye. I called my mother and Dale and Crystal talked to her for a few minutes. That's all. No visitors.

 

N: What time did everyone go to bed that night?

 

S: Dale and Crystal were in bed between 9:30 and 10:00 p.m. Shane got home a little before 11:30 p.m., it was just after the news and went to bed and Jim and I went to bed about the same time.

 

N: What time did you get up again?

 

S: Well, Jim and I walked back through everything like you asked us to do. I had the alarm set for 1:30 a.m. I got up and folded the laundry and made coffee. Jim was up shortly after I was, that must have been about 1:40 or so. He had a cup of coffee and went out to get gas in the car. He did find the gas receipt for you. I got Dale and Crystal up just a little after 2:00 a.m.

 

N: When did Jim get back home?

 

S: Jim came back in about that time, just after 2:00 a.m..

 

N: Then what happened?

 

S: I made a nice breakfast, waffles and blueberry syrup, eggs and bacon for us. I got Shane up about 3:00 a.m. and he and Jim put the kids things in the car. Shane left with Crystal and Dale between 3:10 and 3:15 a.m.

 

N: Then you went back to bed?

 

S: We rinsed the dishes and put them in the dishwasher and then Jim and I went back to bed, yes. We were in bed by 3:30 a.m.

 

N: Did either of you go out at all after Shane, Dale and Crystal left?

 

S: No.

 

N: All right, then you didn't hear Shane come back in, is that right?

 

S: No, I didn't. We were asleep and had the door closed.

 

N: So you don't know for certain what time he came home.

 

S: Yes, that's right.

 

N: What time did you get back up?

 

S: Jim and I got up at 7:30 a.m.

 

N: Was Shane at home at that time?

 

S: Yes he was. His car was outside and he was in bed.

 

N: When did you next talk to Shane?

 

S: He got up about noon and we had something to eat together.

 

N: What did he say about dropping Crystal and Dale off at the bus stop?

 

S: He said he dropped them off just fine and came home and went to bed.

 

N: He didn't tell you they'd argued?

 

S: No, he didn't tell me about that until later, after we found that they were missing. I think he didn't want to upset me at the time.

 

N: Mrs. Taylor, explain for me again why it was that Shane drove Crystal and Dale to the bus stop rather than you and Mr. Taylor?

 

S: Okay. Well, we usually did that when they were taking the bus. Have Shane drive, I mean. I, everyone thinks I get too emotional when Dale and Crystal, or anyone else in the family for that matter, are leaving for an extended period. So, I guess we just, just got into the habit of doing it that way, saying the good-byes at the house and having Shane drive them over there. If we were driving to Memphis, sometimes Jim and I or one of us would go.

 

N: Mrs. Taylor, did Crystal and Dale have other money with them than what was in their wallets?

 

S: Yes, they had $500 each in traveler's checks, American Express checks, I got them at the bank on Friday.

 

N: We didn't find those Mrs. Taylor, do you have any idea where they were?

 

S: Yes, there is an inside pocket on one of the bags, they were in there. You haven't found their luggage yet, have you?

 

N: No ma'am, not yet.

 

N: Mrs. Taylor, I know this is a difficult question. One of many I'm afraid. Did you notice any scratches or cuts on either Mr. Taylor or Shane in the day or so after Dale and Crystal left?

 

S: No, nothing like that.

 

N: Anyone using bandages, complaining of being sore, of headaches?

 

S: No, not that I can recall.

 

N: Have you remembered anything odd or unusual about the time period just before Dale and Crystal left the house to the present?

 

S: No, nothing. I've thought and thought about it. There's just nothing I can remember that seems out of place.

 

N: Okay, thank you. Now I understand that Dale talked with a friend of his and went out a few times, can you tell me about that?

 

S: Yes, that's Christian, Christian Chambers. He and Dale have been friends since they were little, since first grade.

 

N: Would you like to take a short break Mrs. Taylor?

 

S: No, no I'll be all right. Let's go on. Christian and Dale talked on the phone several times and they went to see the movie Titanic the Friday night before Dale was leaving for Colorado.

 

N: Did Dale go out anyplace else while he was home, talk with anyone else?

 

S: Other than family, I don't think he talked to anyone else in Oxford on the phone. He and Crystal both talked with Mike and John, that's Mike Morton and John Kennedy their coaches in Memphis. They talked with Allison Gallagher about some music tapes they wanted to take with them to Colorado. She sent them down by UPS for us. He and Crystal went shopping twice. He drove over to Magnolia transit and picked up the bus tickets. I'm sure he spoke with people he ran into while he was out, just about everyone in Oxford knows who he is. That's everything I can recall.

 

N: What about Crystal?

 

S: Let's see, she and her friend Maggie, that's Maggie Jenkins, you've talked to her I think, they talked on the phone a few times and went to see a few movies. If I remember right they saw Good Will Hunting on a Saturday night, that was the week before, that would be January 24th I think. She liked that movie. They saw another one a few days after that, but I can't recall the name of it. Crystal didn't really like the public attention, being recognized and signing autographs and things so she tended to stay at home. Everyone loved them so, you know, I, we, no one can understand this. Why this had to happen. It's so, such a terrible, I will miss them so much. I don't know how we are going to go on, get past this.

 

N: Mrs. Taylor would you like that break now?

 

S: Yes, maybe for a minute, thanks.

 

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N: Are you ready to continue now?

 

S: Yes, I, I think so. Let's go on.

 

N: How is Shane holding up, Mrs. Taylor?

 

S: Not very well. He blames himself. He keeps saying, keeps thinking, if only he hadn't just left them there, if he'd waited with them, this wouldn't have happened. I asked Dr. McGhee to see him and see if he can help him, if maybe some sedatives, but you know I worry about Shane and medications.

 

N: Yes, I understand, Mrs. Taylor. Has Shane been showing signs of using drugs again?

 

S: No, oh, I know he's slipped a few times since entering the program. But now, with his CD and everything--I think he's trying really hard.I think he's doing a lot better. Sometimes, I'm worried.

 

N: Worried he'll go back to drugs?

 

S: Yes, or get involved with that whole Ego Shovel crowd. I don't trust them The suicides, the drugs, I've lost two babies, I don't want to lose Shane, too.

 

N: You know that Shane has been hanging out at the Dickerson place?

 

S: Yes, I was shocked to learn that, I am so upset, that Woolworth. He's bad news. I don't, I can't let Shane get mixed up in all that again.

 

N: Mrs. Taylor, did you see any signs that Shane might have been high or drinking the night he drove Crystal and Dale to the bus?

 

S: No, oh no. I'm sure he wasn't. I'd know. I usually can tell. I would never, we, Jim and I wouldn't let him drive if we saw signs of that.

 

N: Let's talk about Shane's music for a bit. How much money was it that you and Mr. Taylor were going to give Shane for this CD project?

 

S: Oh. We'd agreed on $25,000.

 

N: And that was to be a gift or a loan?

 

S: A gift, not a loan. An investment really. An investment in Shane. We are proud of him, he doesn't see that much, he thinks we cared more about Crystal and Dale than about him, but it's not true. We have put a fortune into skating, not so much into Shane, but we've always been willing to.

 

N: Shane was very upset when he didn't get the money wasn't he?

 

S: Yes, he was. He was disappointed. He was angry. We didn't really mean not to give it to him, it would just be delayed a few weeks, but he felt he had to have it then. I think he understood, really, but, it was hard for him to accept it, he took it harder than we thought he would.

 

N: You had planned to give him the money later?

 

S: Yes. You can ask Jim about the details. But we had to liquidate more funds and that takes some time. We have a special account set up for things like this. Shane and the group had enough to press the CD, not enough for as many copies and distribution as they planned. That's what we were helping with.

 

N: Let's talk about skating for a bit. I understand that you maintained a small apartment in Memphis near the ice rink for extended training weeks up there. Who would go stay with Crystal and Dale, how did that work?

 

S: We had a two bedroom apartment a few blocks from the mall, where the rink is. When Dale and Crystal were still in school either Jim or I would go up and stay with the kids during the week when they had to be there everyday. We had a tutor for them. Sort of a combination of home schooling and public school here in Oxford.

 

N: That must have been hard on them. How did they do in school?

 

S: They were both good students. Crystal got better grades than Dale for the most part. Skating is hard work. Long hours on the ice and in the gym, then hours of studying and sleep. Not much else.

 

N: So Crystal and Dale didn't have any close relationships, any girlfriends or boyfriends?

 

S: No, not really. They dated a bit, went to the movies, to a concert, but nothing serious. There wasn't time for that.

 

N: Any odd incidents with neighbors or anything like that when you had the apartment?

 

S: No. We spent most of the time at the rink. It was a place to sleep, eat and study, not socialize. I think we only said hello to people there in the halls, didn't get to know anyone.

 

N: How did Crystal and Dale get along with each other, any rivalry or jealousy there?

 

S: They got along pretty well. They were brother and sister spending most of their time together, they fought. Usually about minor things, but sometimes they'd have disagreements about music or routines. Crystal was really a better skater than Dale and they both knew that. Dale would get into times when he didn't want to practice and Crystal would get very upset with him, feeling he wasn't trying hard enough. They had their disagreements, but they also had ambition and drive. They couldn't have come as far as they did in skating without that.

 

N: Tell me more about what happened after they were clearly out of the running for the Nagano Olympics? How did they each react to that?

 

S: Well, they were devastated, of course. We all were. What happened to Crystal at the Worlds last year was an awful accident. Sliding on an edge like that, falling, it was crushing. All the hours, weeks, months, years of training go right out the window. Dale was mad about it. He felt it was a stupid mistake, he was embarrassed. He blamed Crystal for quite a while after that. It wasn't her fault. Those things can happen and when they do, the consequences are big losses. They talked about leaving skating, I think Crystal was depressed enough and her confidence shaken enough that she couldn't see herself coming back from that. It takes some time to get that back. But they did.

 

N: So they decided to continue skating, they weren't forced into that?

 

S: No, not at all. Jim and I encouraged them to stick with it. To double the determination and win in the remaining championship series, to not lose faith. We knew they would regret it if they quit. They did apply themselves and did very well through the rest of the year. Not enough to recover and make the team though.

 

N: If Dale and Crystal would have quit skating, what would they have done, Mrs. Taylor?

 

S: Well, they were talking about going on to college now. Crystal was interested in sports medicine and Dale was interested in, well, he wasn't sure what he was going to do. He talked about a few things, finance like his Dad, or business, but he wasn't sure.

 

N: How did you and Mr. Taylor feel about missing out on this Olympics?

 

S: Very disappointed. I was disappointed for the kids. It was so hard on them. I wanted them to get the experience of the Olympics. Jim was maybe even more disappointed. He talked so many times about how we'd all go to Japan, seeing them on the stands, and then when it was obvious we weren't, he was upset about it. Crystal and Dale were good skaters. They had a chance at a medal in Nagano, most likely bronze, but really they'd only been skating on this level for a few years and we all were looking toward the next Olympics as their big chance at a gold medal. It would have helped them to get there if they had the experience in Nagano this year, but it wasn't the end of the world. That's why we didn't want them to give up, to quit, they had such a future. Everyone thought so. It's so sad, I, I can't imagine, now it's all gone. They are gone and they'll never know that feeling or have that chance.

 

N: Would you like to take another break, Mrs. Taylor?

 

S: No, not now. You know, we've had so many people, calls, cards, telegrams already just since yesterday, people we don't know, everyone loved them. It's such a helpless feeling. Such an outpouring of love, everyone, everywhere, Crystal and Dale touched so many lives. I wish they knew that, I hope they can see that. I know they are in God's hands, I hope they are together. I didn't, I couldn't, I, we don't, you know, it's just so hard. They touched so many people, people praying for us, grieving with us, I'm just so touched by it all.

 

N: Are you sure you are up to answering more questions, Mrs. Taylor?

 

S: Yes, yes of course. Let's get this over with. I, we have to know, find out, why, how this happened.

 

N: Fine, we'll continue then. Mrs. Taylor, you've listened to the voice on the tape from the caller that told us about the gravesite. Have you decided who that is?

 

S: No. I still don't recognize the voice. It sounds vaguely familiar, but then so many people sound familiar but they aren't really, are they? I don't know who it is.

 

N: Mrs. Taylor, do you have any guns in the house, other weapons?

 

S: Yes, yes we have a few. Shane was interested in hunting for a while when he was high school, but he didn't stick with that. He prefers fishing. He and Jim go out to Sardis and fish. I don't know where they are though, you'll have to ask Jim.

 

N: No one has had the guns out lately?

 

S: Oh no, I don't think they've been used in years.

 

N: Mrs. Taylor, we'll need to have some things from you today, the clothes you all were wearing on the second, and we'd like you to give us some lab samples, too. The lab technicians will be here a bit later. I know that's difficult, but it's necessary.

 

S: Yes, yes I see. All right.

 

N: Mrs. Taylor, you've had a chance to look at the list of people that were on that Magnolia Transit bus, did you recognize any names, anything stand out to you?

 

S: No, no one. I didn't see anyone I know.

 

N: You all had some life insurance policies for Dale and Crystal, is that right?

 

S: Yes, I can get them out for you.

 

N: That'd be fine Mrs. Taylor, we'd like to see them. What was the amount of the policy and who was the beneficiary?

 

S: They were both $100,000 policies with an option to automatically increase when they turned 21. Jim and I are the beneficiaries. You can ask Jim more about that, he arranged for them.

 

N: Thank you, we'll do that. Mrs. Taylor do you have any relatives buried at the St. Peter's cemetery?

 

S: No, we don't. We have a family plot at the First Baptist, that's our church.

 

N: Have you had any close friends or relatives buried here in Oxford in the last year?

 

S: No, no we haven't. Except, we will now, won't we? I, this is, I feel so helpless.

 

N: We are almost finished, Mrs. Taylor, you are doing just fine. Now, you've had a chance to look over the skating rosters again, have you found anything that might indicate to you that there was anyone in the sport that might be involved?

 

S: No, I still can't, I don't see anyone that would do something like this. Who would do this? I can't, there is no sense in this at all.

 

N: Mrs. Taylor, I have to ask you this question, did you have anything to do with the death of Crystal or Dale?

 

S: Oh my God, no. No. I didn't. I had nothing to do with it. I loved them, they were my babies.They should be ice skating , instead of in some morgue covered in mud. No. I had nothing to do with it. Detective, I've had enough. I've answered anough questions. I'm sorry I have to stop.

 

N: That's fine Mrs. Taylor, we can talk again later. I want you to know how very, very sorry we are for you and your family. We'll do everything we can.

 

S: Yes, thank you, Detective. Find out who did this. Find out what happened,.