Sunday, December 4, 2011 - 2:05 PM

Sylvia Mason is a 28-year-old white female who was a close friend to Jackson Walker. The interview was conducted at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department and was recorded with the witness's knowledge and consent.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Sylvia Mason

Detective Murphy: Please state your name and address for the record before we begin.

Sylvia Mason: My name is Sylvia Ann Mason and I live at 342 Elm Street , here in Oxford.

Detective Murphy: Where are you employed?

Sylvia Mason: I went to college to be a teacher but can't find any schools needing new teachers, so I've been working at Walmart as a cashier until I can get a real job.

Detective Murphy: I think a lot of people would say all jobs are real, no matter how mundane they may seem to some.

Sylvia Mason: Oh, I meant no disrespect with my comment. It's just... well, you know. I have a degree.

Detective Murphy: Well, let's move on. How well did you know Jackson Walker?

Sylvia Mason: Very well. We have been friends since I was a freshman in college. I met him at McDonalds.

Detective Armstrong: Do you always become good friends with people you meet at fast food joints?

Sylvia Mason: No. It was really funny. He was behind me in line, and I ordered a double quarter pounder, large fries, and a large chocolate milk shake. He asked if I was going to need help eating all that and said he would be happy to volunteer.

Detective Murphy: Did you take him up on the offer?

Sylvia Mason: I did not. He sat down at the table right next to me and we starting talking, and before I knew it I was late for my Intro to Education class. We quickly agreed to meet there the following week for lunch, and then it just became something we did and we became friends.

Detective Armstrong: Were you romantically involved?

Sylvia Mason: Not really. We toyed with the idea a time or two, but it just never seemed to go anywhere.

Detective Armstrong: Did you want it to progress into something more than friendship?

Sylvia Mason: I didn't object. It would have been nice to see if we were compatible that way. I think we would have been. He just always put the brakes on when I felt like it was starting to happen.

Detective Murphy: He didn't feel the same way about you as you did about him?

Sylvia Mason: I wouldn't say that. He just didn't want to ruin a great friendship is all.

Detective Armstrong: Do you know anyone who would want to see Jackson dead?

Sylvia Mason Not really. I know he had a guy at his office who he bumped heads with a lot, and he didn't get along well with his brother. But I don't think either of them would resort to violence.

Detective Murphy :Would you mind giving us their names?

Sylvia Mason: Sure, Adam Cooper and Jason Walker.

Detective Armstrong: When did you last see Jackson?

Sylvia Mason: The night he died. We went to the 4:15 PM showing of Jack & Jill.

Detective Murphy: Which theater?

Sylvia Mason: The Cinema on West Jackson.

Detective Armstrong: What did you do after the movie?

Sylvia Mason: We stopped at Newk's, and we both had a heated pimento sandwich and some iced tea. Than I took him to his house, and I went on home.

Detective Murphy: What time did you drop him off and what time did you arrive home?

Sylvia Mason: Oh gosh, I think it was around 7:00 PM when I let him out. I stopped and bought some milk and doughnuts before I went home, so I probably got home by 7:30 at the latest.

Detective Armstrong: What did you do for the rest of the evening?

Sylvia Mason: I took a bubble bath, got comfy in my pajamas, made myself a cup of hot tea and settled into my bed to read a book. I fell asleep while reading and didn't wake until morning.

Detective Armstrong: You didn't see nor talk to Walker again after you dropped him off?

Sylvia Mason: Isn't that what I just said?

Detective Murphy: No need to get defensive, Sylvia. You were the last person to see Jackson alive, so we have to be absolutely positive of the timeline.

Sylvia Mason: I'm sorry. This is all so hard. My head is killing me, and I think I'm in shock. I feel like I'm in a fog or something. Can I please be excused now?

Detective Armstrong: Yes. Take care of yourself, and call us if you remember anything unusual that might help us to find his killer.

Interview ends: 2:25 PM