Wendy Kullman interview #2

Friday, May 7, 2021 – 9:04 a.m.

Wendy Kullman is an animal rights activist who spoke out against the pageant, accusing sponsor Lamar Cosmetics of testing their products on animals. She is suspected of vandalizing the pageant's headquarters the night Barbara Dubois was killed.

Detectives Armstrong and Murphy re-interviewed her at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Wendy Kullman

Detective Murphy: Before we begin, would you please state your name and address for the record?

Wendy Kullman: My name is Wendy Kullman, and my address is 103 Pinecrest Drive.

Detective Armstrong: Thanks for coming down.

Wendy Kullman: You said you needed my help to stop Lamar.

Detective Murphy: That's right. Before you defaced the Yoknapatawpha County Conference Center on the night of the pageant gala, did you go through the papers in the office?

Wendy Kullman: Wait a minute. Just what are you trying to pull?

Detective Armstrong: We all know you're responsible for the vandalism, Ms. Kullman. We need to determine if you're also responsible for the murder of Barbara Dubois.

Wendy Kullman: You told me you wanted to talk about Lamar. That's why I agreed to come.

Detective Murphy: We do. But first, we need to know if you went through the pageant records.

Wendy Kullman: I'm out of here. If you have any further questions, you can talk to my lawyer.

Detective Armstrong: You remember that private investigator who followed you the week of the pageant? The photographs they took rival the ones you got in the mail. Melissa sent those to you, right?

Wendy Kullman: Melissa? Let's talk.

Detective Armstrong: Thanks for deciding to stay.

Wendy Kullman: I'm not admitting anything.

Detective Murphy: We're not asking you to. We just need to know if you went through the pageant records.

Wendy Kullman: There wouldn't be anything of use to the cause in beauty pageant records. Besides, time is of the essence in an attack situation. Or so I've heard.

Detective Armstrong: Did you notice papers lying around?

Wendy Kullman: I refuse to answer that on the grounds that it may incriminate me.

Detective Armstrong: You're not on the stand. Besides, you're already incriminated.

Detective Murphy: Wendy, we're trying to help. Whatever else happens, you'll be charged for the damage to the convention center, if only for insurance reasons. We don't need your confession for that. The DA, however, wants to bump up the charges from vandalism to domestic terrorism. She's planning a run for governor one day.

Detective Armstrong: We can't promise anything, but if you assist in a murder investigation, you'll go a long way in convincing the DA to prosecute the lesser charge. Otherwise, she'd be damaging your testimony and thus her own case.

Detective Murphy: Just think about it for a minute. The DA is aware that this will be a very public murder trial.

Wendy Kullman: What do you want to know?

Detective Murphy: Did you go through the pageant records before you spray-painted the room?

Wendy Kullman: No.

Detective Murphy: Thank you.

Wendy Kullman: Why is it so important? Or were you just blowing smoke, trying to trick me into taking credit for the attack?

Detective Armstrong: The office was secured at 4:30 that afternoon. At that time, the records were filed away. When we arrived at the scene the next morning, the records were out and covered with spray paint.

Wendy Kullman: So someone went through the records before I arrived. What's the big deal?

Detective Murphy: The final decision of the judges was among the records.

Wendy Kullman: She told one of the other contestants who then killed Barbara Dubois.

Detective Armstrong: She?

Wendy Kullman: Allie Lamar. I saw her leaving the pageant office just before I went in. That's how I was able to gain access to the room. The door was still closing when she turned the corner.

Detective Armstrong: What time was this?

Wendy Kullman: 11:27 p.m.

Detective Armstrong: You have a good memory.

Wendy Kullman: I noticed the time. It's important to have your timing down on a raid—or so I've been told.

Detective Armstrong: We have it on good authority that Mrs. Lamar was in her room at that time.

Wendy Kullman: And I'm telling you she was leaving the pageant HQ with that golden calf in hand.

Detective Armstrong: Huh?

Wendy Kullman: The trophy, detective, the trophy. She was carrying the damn idol of a trophy.

Detective Murphy: Where did she go?

Wendy Kullman: Beats me. I had other plans.

Detective Murphy: Why do you think Allie Lamar would care who won?

Wendy Kullman: Obviously, one of the contestants paid her for the information. Lamar must have just about had a heart attack when Dubois turned up dead. Going to prison as an accessory to murder will put a real crimp in her animal torturing career.

Detective Armstrong: Will you be willing to testify to what you told us here today?

Wendy Kullman: And nail Allie Lamar? What should I wear to the trial?

Detective Armstrong: The prosecutor will handle those details.

Wendy Kullman: Maybe Lamar is the murderer herself. She kills animals, doesn't she?

Detective Murphy: As I asked before, why would Allie Lamar care who won?

Wendy Kullman: Right. I guess I'll have to settle for accessory.

Detective Murphy: Of course, you could have committed the murder yourself, couldn't you? Not a big step from breaking and entering—

Wendy Kullman: Hah! You mean schmoozing a half-soused idiot janitor. But go on.

Detective Armstrong: To taking out the shoo-in winner.

Wendy Kullman: Sorry, detectives. I was busy that evening.

Detective Murphy: Doing what?

Wendy Kullman: Oh, very clever. I give you an alibi, and I go down for vandalism. I shut up, and I go down for murder. Well, vandalism it is. Wanna cuff me now?

Detective Armstrong: There's no need. We know where to find you. But discuss this with anybody, and there's no deal. Run, and all bets are off.

Wendy Kullman: I'll be right here, pay my fine, and I wouldn't miss this trial for the world. My lips are sealed. Lamar will probably pass the reins to her son, Bill. I've talked with him, and he seems reasonable. I think he'll support dropping the animal testing.

Detective Murphy: We wouldn't know.

Wendy Kullman: You said Allie Lamar hired a private detective to follow me? I guess she was right to be worried.

Detective Armstrong: We'll be in touch.

Interview ended – 9:33 a.m.