Cody Matthews interview

Thursday, October 20, 2022 – 4:00 p.m.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Cody Matthews

Detective Armstrong: Thank you for coming in to talk to us, Mr. Matthews. As you know, we're investigating the death of Dr. Kimberly Pace.

Cody Matthews: Yes, sir.

Detective Armstrong: Would you please state your name and address for the record?

Cody Matthews: Cody Matthews and I live in Kincannon Hall on campus.

Detective Armstrong: Would you mind if we call you Cody? Would that be okay with you?

Cody Matthews: Yes, sir.

Detective Armstrong: Did you know Dr. Pace?

Cody Matthews: Yes, sir.

Detective Armstrong: How long had you known her?

Cody Matthews: Well, she was my teacher for Freshman English class last semester, so I guess about a year.

Detective Murphy: How did you like her as a teacher, Cody?

Cody Matthews: Oh, she was great!

Detective Murphy: I take it that means you got a good grade?

Cody Matthews: Well, I did okay. I mean, better than I would've done if she wouldn't have helped me.

Detective Murphy: How did she help you?

Cody Matthews: Well, I wasn't doing too good at first. It's kinda tough coming from a small town like Philadelphia to a big school like this. There's— there's more people here than in my entire town. So anyways, rarely— I rarely spoke up in class or anything, and so she called me into her office to see if she could help me with anything. So I went into her office and worked on a couple assignments, and it really helped a lot. I really like her. She was a real nice lady. I sure hope you find the crumb that did this to her.

Detective Murphy: Cody, do you have any ideas about anyone who might've wanted to hurt her?

Cody Matthews: I don't really— I don't really know any of her friends.

Detective Armstrong: No, but you might have noticed someone who didn't like her as much as you did. What about the article in the University paper? Do you think he was talking about her?

Cody Matthews: I don't think Patrick— I don't think Patrick even wrote that letter. I've talked to him, and he said he didn't do it. Someone‒someone used his name, and I believe him. That was— that was a real dirty trick, whoever did that! And you could see Kim‒or Dr. Pace was real upset about it. She thought it was Carter Nichols.

Detective Armstrong: Oh? Did Dr. Pace talk to you about it?

Cody Matthews: Well, no, but I overheard an argument between her and that Nichols guy outside the Student Union one day before she… you know.

Detective Murphy: What about any of her other friends or colleagues? Do you know any one of them who might've wanted to hurt her?

Cody Matthews: Maybe that Evans guy. He was living with her.

Detective Murphy: Do you know him?

Cody Matthews: Not really. I mean— but he was there a lot.

Detective Armstrong: Were you ever at her house, Cody?

Cody Matthews: Well, yeah, She had this get-together for new students when I started my class last semester, and I went to it.

Detective Armstrong: Then you knew where she lived.

Cody Matthews: Well, me and a lot of other students. She was always having students over for something or other.

Detective Armstrong: Was the get-together for new students the only time you were at her house, Cody?

Cody Matthews: Yes, sir. I mean— I guess— I passed by a couple of times too. Several times, actually. The Rebel Bus passes down Jackson street, and I went by, you know, a few times on my bike too.

Detective Murphy: Did you ever stop there?

Cody Matthews: Yes, ma'am. Just to see if she was there.

Detective Armstrong: And was she?

Cody Matthews: No, sir. That Evans guy was there, and he told me to get lost. He's a real mean one, you know. Hey, you don't suppose he's the one that hurt her, right?

Detective Murphy: That's what we're trying to find out, Cody — who wanted to kill her. So did you ever see anyone else hanging around there when you rode past on your bike or on the bus?

Cody Matthews: Not that I remember.

Detective Murphy: And you never rode by and stopped there? Walked up to the house? Looked in the window? Or just hung out around there?

Cody Matthews: Well‒well, gosh, ma'am. What are you saying? Do you think I hurt her? I'd never hurt her. I really liked her.

Detective Armstrong: You didn't answer Detective Murphy's question, Cody. Did you ever go up to her house and look in the window or just hang around?

Cody Matthews: Well, sometimes I'd just watch her from a distance. I'd never bother her or anything. I just wanted to be able to see her.

Detective Murphy: Then you admit you did stalk her?

Cody Matthews: Stalk her? Oh, no, ma'am! I'd never stalk her. I just wanted to be able to see her because she's‒because she's so special.

Detective Murphy: Cody, we have witnesses that said a student was stalking her. Was that you?

Cody Matthews: Oh, no, ma'am. Oh, God! I'd never stalk her. I wanted to be able to see her. I'd‒I'd never stalk her. Oh my God!

Detective Armstrong: Calm down, Cody. We're just trying to get to the truth here. Now, can you tell us the last time you saw Dr. Pace?

Cody Matthews: That Saturday at the gallery. I was down in the Square, and I saw her when I passed by inside.

Detective Murphy: What gallery was that?

Cody Matthews: C'est Belle.

Detective Armstrong: Did you go in?

Cody Matthews: No, sir. I just saw her from the outside, and— oh God. You make me sound like I'm some kind of pervert or something. I wanted to be able to see her 'cause she's so special.

Detective Murphy: What time was it, do you know, when you saw her at the gallery?

Cody Matthews: I guess around 9:00 or 9:30. I stayed there until I saw her leave.

Detective Murphy: And then what did you do for the rest of the night and early Sunday morning?

Cody Matthews: I went back to my dorm, and I had a pizza, and I played a video game. And my roommate came in about midnight. And I slept in Sunday morning.

Detective Armstrong: So no one can confirm your whereabouts prior to midnight?

Cody Matthews: Oh my God! Am I a suspect? Do I need a lawyer? I don't think I want to talk to you guys anymore.

Detective Murphy: For the record, the interview was discontinued when the subject left.

Interview ended – 4:12 p.m.