Patrick Tyler interview #2

Friday, March 10, 2023 – 4:10 p.m.

Whitehall resident Patrick Tyler works at Baptist Memorial Hospital with Delilah Garrett but in a different department.

Detectives Armstrong and Murphy spoke to him again at his residence.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Patrick Tyler

Patrick Tyler: Here we are again.

Detective Murphy: Here we are.

Patrick Tyler: These are the notes. I typed them up on the computer. My handwriting is a mess.

Detective Murphy: Thanks. Would you state your full name and address again for official purposes?

Patrick Tyler: Sure. Patrick James Tyler, 121 Scarlet Drive.

Detective Murphy: Great.

Detective Armstrong: Wow, you're right. These notes are great.

Patrick Tyler: Thank you. I do like to keep track.

Detective Armstrong: You say here Shannon Bower left the meeting in a total fuss. What was the cause again?

Patrick Tyler: Oh, gosh. It was about that silly website idea Ambrose had. He was such a bully when it came to enforcing the rules. Going around snooping on people, writing tickets and fines like there's no tomorrow.

Detective Armstrong: Would you say Ms. Bower was aggressive toward Mr. Garrett?

Patrick Tyler: Aggressive? I guess so. It was an ugly scene. But yelling was probably the only way to get through to that lughead, so I don't blame her.

Detective Murphy: You don't seem to remember Mr. Garrett fondly.

Patrick Tyler: No. I know it sounds disrespectful, but no, not really. He was a horrible man, in my opinion. The way he ran the HOA, it was shameful. Getting off on power and ordering people around, and that David McMahan sneaking around in the background.

Detective Murphy: Sneaking around?

Patrick Tyler: Well, he has the purse strings. God knows what was really going on there.

Detective Armstrong: Your notes don't mention anything out of line with the finances.

Patrick Tyler: I'm just saying it was a dangerous situation, having both of them in power. And Ambrose needed to be stopped. I mean— I don't mean that the way it sounds. I just think he went too far.

Detective Armstrong: Too far with the association or how he treated his wife?

Patrick Tyler: Delilah?

Detective Armstrong: Yes.

Patrick Tyler: I'm not sure what you mean.

Detective Armstrong: Well, you and she are friends, right?

Patrick Tyler: We went over that before. I guess you could say we were friends, and that's all—really more acquaintances.

Detective Murphy: Why would Mrs. Garrett's supervisor say you're the one she confides in?

Patrick Tyler: She said that?

Detective Murphy: Yeah.

Patrick Tyler: Well, she doesn't know what she's talking about. I guess I'm the only person she's seen Delilah cut loose with. That must be the reason.

Detective Murphy: Cut loose?

Patrick Tyler: You know, laugh. Have a little fun. On breaks, we get together and kid around. It's a way to relieve stress, you know? We both have stressful jobs—so much responsibility. And if you're tired, it's easy to get a little punchy. But that doesn't mean Delilah pours her heart out to me or anything.

Detective Murphy: But you knew about Mr. Garrett's drinking.

Patrick Tyler: Who didn't? Honestly.

Detective Murphy: What did you joke about exactly?

Patrick Tyler: Oh, you know, silly things.

Detective Murphy: Such as?

Patrick Tyler: Well, such as I can't think of anything right now. You can never remember a joke when you're forced to. I don't know. Whatever we saw on TV last night, vacations, that kind of thing.

Detective Murphy: What did she tell you about Mr. Garrett?

Patrick Tyler: Nothing. I swear. To be honest, I didn't want to know. I can just imagine the yelling and bullying. Such a brute. She deserves better.

Detective Murphy: Is that what she thinks?

Patrick Tyler: I wouldn't know.

Detective Murphy: Where did she talk about vacationing?

Patrick Tyler: They went to Mexico a couple of years back—a cruise. Other than that, just little things. Down to Biloxi or New Orleans, you know.

Detective Murphy: She ever mention getting away on her own?

Patrick Tyler: No. No running away, no girls' nights out unless you count the bowling team. Delilah is perfectly tame.

Detective Murphy: If they took vacations, they must have been doing okay money-wise.

Patrick Tyler: I'm sure I don't know. She never complained about that kind of thing. I'm telling you, she's not the complaining type. Neither am I. I just want to help people.

Detective Murphy: What did Mrs. Garrett say about the homeowners association?

Patrick Tyler: Nothing. Just how busy Ambrose was, working away all the time.

Detective Murphy: But she had to know you ran for association office too.

Patrick Tyler: Oh, sure, but it's not something we talk about that way. She's too nice to rub it in. We talk about improvement projects and the like, but never politics. Just, did you see so-and-so finally fixed their deck, how should we decorate the community center for the party, that kind of thing. It was nothing.

Detective Murphy: What did you say when she mentioned Mr. Garrett in connection with the association?

Patrick Tyler: Nothing.

Detective Murphy: You never told her to leave him?

Patrick Tyler: Please. Offering advice unasked is completely rude. No. I kept my thoughts to myself, and I'm assuming you'll do the same.

Detective Armstrong: But she was considering it.

Patrick Tyler: Was she?

Detective Armstrong: Was she?

Patrick Tyler: I'm not sure what you're talking about. No, I don't think so. She wouldn't do such a thing—too kind-hearted. Too sweet for her own good. That's her problem. Just like me. Too many people take advantage of people like us. I'm sure she was in it for life.

Detective Murphy: Was she abused?

Patrick Tyler: I wouldn't know. Physically, I never saw anything, but I'm sure he browbeat her all the time. She's such a sweetheart, and well… you know what I feel about him.

Detective Murphy: She told you this?

Patrick Tyler: No. I can just tell.

Detective Armstrong: What would you say if we had evidence that you and Mrs. Garrett were having an affair?

Patrick Tyler: I'd say somebody's pulling your leg because that's completely ridiculous. I swear I've never even entertained the thought.

Detective Murphy: Let's go back to the day Mr. Garrett died. You worked that day?

Patrick Tyler: No.

Detective Murphy: So you're saying you didn't see Mrs. Garrett at all that day?

Patrick Tyler: No, I didn't.

Detective Murphy: Did she give you anything to give to her husband at the meeting?

Patrick Tyler: No. Like what?

Detective Murphy: When did she arrive at the meeting?

Patrick Tyler: She wasn't there. You're trying to trick me, and it's insulting.

Detective Murphy: What about after the meeting? Did you see her then?

Patrick Tyler: Of course not. I went to Jamie's party and then took myself home.

Detective Murphy: When did you hear about Mr. Garrett's death?

Patrick Tyler: The next morning, like everyone else.

Detective Murphy: Who told you?

Patrick Tyler: Cyrus. My friend, Cyrus Wheatley.

Detective Murphy: When did you talk with Mrs. Garrett about it?

Patrick Tyler: I didn't, not that day. I went over on Monday and gave my condolences, brought her some flowers, but that was it. There were other ladies from work there at the time. We all just kept it short and sweet.

Detective Armstrong: Mr. Tyler, we're analyzing evidence from the scene. What would you say if that evidence proved Mrs. Garrett was responsible for her husband's death?

Patrick Tyler: I'd say you're completely wrong. She would never hurt anyone, no matter how much he deserved it.

Detective Armstrong: What if the evidence proved you did it?

Patrick Tyler: Ridiculous.

Detective Armstrong: Why? It sounds like you had a lot of problems with Mr. Garrett and the way he ran the homeowners association, not to mention the way he treated his wife.

Patrick Tyler: With the association, I'm sure I'm not alone in that sentiment. Ask anyone. And as for Delilah, I had my opinions, but it wasn't my place. Everyone makes choices in life, and Delilah made hers. I'm not about to second-guess her.

Detective Murphy: Mr. Tyler, did you kill Ambrose Garrett?

Patrick Tyler: No. I've told you before, and you can ask anyone at Jamie's party if you need proof.

Detective Murphy: Who could have killed him?

Patrick Tyler: I have no idea. I'll be the first to admit I'm not sorry he's gone, but this whole line of questioning has been ridiculous. I'm going to have to ask you to leave now.

Detective Murphy: Okay, if that's what you want to do. We'll be in touch if we have any more questions.

Detective Armstrong: Oh, hey, Patrick? Just between us, you wouldn't happen to know where a guy could get his hands on some moonshine, would you?

Patrick Tyler: What? No.

Detective Armstrong: Okay, well, if you hear of anybody who might know, would you give me a call?

Patrick Tyler: Uh, yeah, I guess.

Detective Armstrong: Thanks, I appreciate it.

Interview ended – 4:23 p.m.