At approximately 5:45PM in the YCCC Yocona Room, where the Barksdale Literature Conference was holding a reception, Diane Coates collapsed in front of many witnesses. The following interview descriptions, provided in summary and not verbatim, are some of the most typical or relevant to the investigation and are representative of all interviews conducted.

Common observations

1. Several witnesses reported hearing an argument between Diane Coates and the Barksdale Literature Conference organizer, Sandra Moss.
2. Several witnesses reported seeing Ms. Coates get a drink from the bartender after the argument she had with Ms. Moss.

Individual Interview Summaries

• Karla Bledsoe, 1351 Harrison Ave, Butte, Montana
  Nicholas McCollum, 3743 N 11th Street, Phoenix, Arizona

Both witnesses said that Ms. Coates asked if a seat at their table was taken. Ms. Bledsoe said she saw Ms. Coates take at least one sip of her drink, which appeared to Ms. Bledsoe to be something containing orange juice. Nicholas McCollum said that Ms. Coates was possibly trying to play "footsies" with him ("possibly to get in with a writer"). Both Ms. Bledsoe and Mr. McCollum heard Ms. Coates muttering ("like George Costanza") and complaining about Ms. Moss.

• Leigh Bishop, 316 S Pear Orchard Road, Ridgeland, Mississippi

Ms. Bishop saw Ms. Coates holding a napkin to her mouth looking as is she were nauseated just before she collapsed, but she said it was too noisy to hear anything that Ms. Coates may have said.

• Bernadette Guthrie, 112 Longest Road, Oxford, Mississippi

Ms. Guthrie said she gave Ms. Coates a hug minutes before she collapsed. Ms. Guthrie was then advised by her attorney discontinue talking to investigators about the subject.

• Kate Sugarman, 161 Andrieux Street, Sonoma, CA
  Edgar Harper, 347 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs, Colorado

Ms. Sugarman said that she saw Derek Wyeth's leg possibly stretch to trip Ms. Coates, but that it could have also been Edgar Harper's leg pushing Mr. Wyeth's leg out. Mr. Wyeth denied being even close to Ms. Coates or Edgar Harper any time before her collapse. Paul Newell confirmed Mr. Wyeth's assertion, saying he was with Mr. Wyeth throughout the reception and they were on the opposite side of the room from the bar and where Ms. Coates collapsed.

Ms. Sugarman also noted that William Tappert gave Ms. Coates some peanuts, and that Sandra Moss relayed to Ms. Sugarman that Ms. Coates was allergic to peanuts. Whether Mr. Tappert knew this or not is unknown. Once Ms. Sugarman discovered that investigators were canvassing the witnesses, she said, "Oh, I'm not supposed to be talking about this."

• Clint Webber, 7845 Fairfield Ave, Las Vegas, Nevada

Mr. Webber said he didn't see the action directly because he was sitting near the windows at a table. "I looked away and when I turned back she was on the ground," he said. "I guess when they say 'name your poison' at the bar, they really mean it."

• Lila Heller, 411 Farrow Ave, Kansas City, Kansas

Ms. Heller said she was sitting at the concierge desk near the door talking to her sister, Lola, and facing the wall near the entrance to the main room. She didn't realize anything unusual was happening until the room became very quiet. She said she really didn't see or hear anything.

• Lola Heller, 1209 Rosehill Cir, Jackson, Mississippi

Ms. Heller said she and her sister were facing each other talking. She didn't know anything was wrong until she heard someone say, "Call an ambulance." She peeked around the corner that was blocking her view of the room. After the woman collapsed, Ms. Heller heard Sandra Moss say, "She's a bitch" and that Ms. Moss did not appear sorry or concerned that the woman had collapsed.

• Charlotte Leggett, 401 Bickerstaff, #14, Oxford, Mississippi

Ms. Leggett is a writer who also works for Sandra Moss. Ms. Leggett said she heard an argument between Sandra Moss and Diane Coates about the food at the reception. Ms. Coates complained that Ms. Moss was "pathetic" and Ms. Moss called Ms. Coates "incompetent." Then Ms. Coates went to the bar to get a drink, started to sit down, and collapsed on the floor.

• William Tappert, 8466 Oak Bough Cove, Memphis, Tennessee

Mr. Tappert said he didn't know who the woman that collapsed was, but said he heard her say she wasn't happy with the food being served at the reception.

• Milo Moss, 230 Forest Glen Drive, Oxford, Mississippi

Mr. Moss was standing at the bar chatting with Gavin, the bartender, when he heard raised voices. He turned to look and was surprised to see what appeared to be an antagonistic confrontation between his daughter, Sandra Moss, and a woman who worked for her, Diane Coates. Suddenly, all conversation in the room stopped; Ms. Coates turned and stalked to the bar where she ordered a drink. Mr. Moss said saw Ms. Coates take the drink from the bartender and carry it to a table, but didn't see her actually drink any of it. Mr. Moss said Ms. Coates turned and walked to a nearby table. He looked away for a moment, and when he turned back to her, Ms. Coates was collapsed on the floor, seemingly unconscious. Because he'd had CPR training, Mr. Moss checked and found Ms. Coates was breathing and had a weak and thready pulse.

• Gavin Crandall, the bartender, 120 Shiloh Drive, Oxford, Mississippi

Mr. Crandall was not aware of anything unusual happening until the woman came to the bar and ordered a cranberry and vodka. When she learned there was no cranberry available, she ordered a screwdriver, which he mixed and served to her. He said she seemed "pissed" when she walked up to the bar, but didn't raise her voice at him.

• Franklin Westwood, 3518 Morgan River Drive, Beaufort, South Carolina

Mr. Westwood said he was aware of an "adversarial altercation" between Sandra Moss and some woman he didn't know. He didn't hear what was said, but heard raised voices, and saw the woman who eventually collapsed go to the bar near where he was standing and heard her order "vodka."

• Peter Froberg, 301 4th Street Southeast, Minot, North Dakota

Mr. Froberg said he saw and heard nothing unusual until the woman went down and didn't get up again.

• Joel Benton, 8790 W Colfax Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado

Mr. Benton heard the person who collapsed tear into Sandra Moss and say Ms. Moss was "incompetent." Mr. Walker admitted that Ms. Moss seemed angry too, had raised her voice, and at some point called the woman "a bitch." He said he was certain that Ms. Moss had nothing to do with the woman's collapse because he knew Ms. Moss and she is a "sweet, kind lady."