Hector Daniels interview

Monday, January 25, 2021 – 2:30 p.m.

Hector Daniels's fingerprints were found in Cabin 7 at Wall Doxey Park.

Detectives Armstrong and Murphy spoke with him at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Hector Daniels

Detective Armstrong: Please state your name and current address for the record.

Hector Daniels: Well, hello to you too. I'm Hector Daniels, and I live here in Oxford. My address is 203 Vivian Street.

Detective Murphy: How long have you lived in Oxford?

Hector Daniels: My folks moved here from Abbeville when I was about 14 years old. I've been here ever since.

Detective Armstrong: Are you employed?

Hector Daniels: I realize that a whole lotta people are out of work right now, but I've been very lucky. I still work 12 hours a day, five days a week for the Mississippi Central Railroad Company, and have for 21 years.

Detective Murphy: You said five days a week. Are your weekends free then?

Hector Daniels: Not sure how free they are. I have two boys and a wife, and they keep me pretty busy when I'm home. But yes, for the most part, I'm off on weekends.

Detective Armstrong: Where were you on Saturday?

Hector Daniels: I was visiting my brother in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. We took the boys to the National Railroad Museum in the morning. We were probably there for about three hours. Then we went back to Henry's. Yesterday, we watched the Packers in the playoffs, and then we flew home. Did you see that game? What a heartbreaker!

Detective Murphy: I'm a Saints fan myself. Did you know the DA Spenser Brooks?

Hector Daniels: Knew of him. I wasn't impressed. Hey, didn't somebody kill him?

Detective Murphy: Yes, someone did. It just so happens that his prints and yours were found in a cabin near where his body was found.

Detective Armstrong: Care to tell us why you and Brooks were in a cabin together, and then he was murdered a few feet away?

Hector Daniels: Hold on! I have never been anywhere with Spenser Brooks.

Detective Armstrong: Fingerprints don't lie, Hector. We know you were there. We have your prints on file from your previous arrest.

Hector Daniels: Just like then, I am innocent!

Detective Armstrong: So you've never been to Wall Doxey state park?

Hector Daniels: I've been there plenty of times. So what?

Detective Armstrong: Oh, so you've never stayed in a cabin there? Is that what you're saying?

Hector Daniels: I have been to a cabin at Wall Doxey once in my life. I went there to play poker with some guys that I'd never met before, but none of them were him.

Detective Murphy: What were the names of these guys?

Hector Daniels: I don't know any of their last names, but I think they were Raymond, Bill, Chet… Oh, and the guy who won the whole pot was named Byron. Can't remember the others.

Detective Murphy: When was this poker game?

Hector Daniels: Back in December. Early December.

Detective Murphy: And you just happened to be in the cabin that's right next to where the DA was killed?

Hector Daniels: I play poker online, and a few of us were chatting when a lady named Debra set up an in-person game for us. That was the one and only time I ever did that.

Detective Armstrong: Do you know this lady's last name?

Hector Daniels: Yeah, it was Kane.

Detective Armstrong: Are you positive that was her name?

Hector Daniels: Debra Kane. Oh no! Wait… Lane, it was Lane. Positive. I'm always being complimented on my memory.

Detective Armstrong: How nice for you. Any chance that memory is holding a grudge against the DA for what happened to you back in 2009?

Hector Daniels: No, I've moved on from that. Besides, the dead guy wasn't even the DA back then, so why would I blame him for anything?

Detective Armstrong: You almost went to prison for something you didn't do, but you just … moved on?

Hector Daniels: What choice do I have?

Detective Armstrong: You never wanted to get some payback for all you went through?

Hector Daniels: There is no payback for that. Nothing anybody can do or say could ever make up for it. I just have to get on with my life. It's the only way I can have any peace of mind.

Detective Armstrong: All right, Hector, we'll check out your story.

Hector Daniels: It's not a story!

Detective Armstrong: We'll be in touch if we need anything else from you. Thanks for coming in.

Hector Daniels: You better not try to pin this on me. I'm not going through that again.

Interview ended – 2:51 p.m.