Zina Jacinto interview #2

Thursday, April 4, 2024 – 12:01 p.m.

Zina Jacinto is an active member of the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit church, who reportedly argued with Pastor Martinson from time to time.

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

Participants:

• Detective S. Murphy
• Detective E. Parker
• Zina Jacinto

Zina Jacinto: I guess you need my help yet again? Seems I'm the person to go to when you can't find the answers.

Detective Parker: Once again, for the record, state your full name and address.

Zina Jacinto: Goodness sakes alive. Zina Jacinto here, and I live at 423 Turnberry Circle.

Detective Murphy: Have you remembered anything that you feel you need to tell us before we get started?

Zina Jacinto: No, I said I'd let you know if I did.

Detective Murphy: Nothing at all? Are you sure?

Zina Jacinto: Yes, ma'am.

Detective Parker: We've been told that you and the late pastor were overheard arguing several times, Zina.

Zina Jacinto: I believe I told you myself that we didn't always see eye to eye.

Detective Murphy: You did. But you neglected to tell us about a recent concern Pastor Martinson had about the donations the church received.

Zina Jacinto: Oh Lord, not this again.

Detective Parker: What can you tell us about it, Zina?

Zina Jacinto: Not much, really. All I know is I gave large donations to the church, and when I received my tax papers, the numbers didn't match up.

Detective Murphy: How so?

Zina Jacinto: Well, I still am not sure what happened. Rest assured that I have been in prayer and supplication over this.

Detective Murphy: Over what, Zina?

Zina Jacinto: Well, I believe that someone is stealing from the church.

Detective Parker: What makes you think so?

Zina Jacinto: I'm not going to divulge the amounts, so don't even ask. I'll just say I give generously to the church. But when taxes came due this year, and my tax accountant called me in to go over the papers, I was astonished!

Detective Murphy: Why?

Zina Jacinto: Because the amount I donated to the church was not the same that the church claimed I donated. It was much, much less.

Detective Murphy: Did you discuss this with Pastor Martinson?

Zina Jacinto: You bet I did. I couldn't believe he would do that to me.

Detective Murphy: By he, do you mean the pastor?

Zina Jacinto: Of course. I confronted him, and we argued for a good 30–35 minutes. He denied having any knowledge of where my money had gone. I told him he wouldn't get another penny from me until he came clean.

Detective Parker: Did he come clean?

Zina Jacinto: Unfortunately, it seems that he has taken that information with him to the grave.

Detective Murphy: Why do you assume the pastor was involved in the missing funds?

Zina Jacinto: It was either him or the secretary. They both had access.

Detective Murphy: How would Fay Nutt have access to the money?

Zina Jacinto: She worked in that office every day. She could have easily stolen from the funds.

Detective Parker: Let's think logically here for a moment. If I were the person donating and my donations weren't being credited correctly, I think I would first suspect the treasurer.

Zina Jacinto: Yes, I can see why you would think that, but Joey is the treasurer, and I know it wasn't him. He helps me. He doesn't steal from me. I refuse to even discuss such an atrocious idea.

Detective Murphy: Did Pastor Martinson suggest it might be Joey taking the money?

Zina Jacinto: Yes, he did. That's another reason why we argued. Joey is no Judas. He would never betray me like that—never!

Detective Murphy: Okay, let's calm down. Sorry to upset you, but we have to ask these questions.

Detective Parker: Did you know that Joey and the pastor had met privately several times in the last couple of months?

Zina Jacinto: Yes, I knew. Joey said the pastor tried to get him to confess to changing the books. He said Pastor Martinson promised to forgive him if he just told the truth. Joey said Pastor Martinson was trying to make him feel guilty.

Detective Parker: To your knowledge, did the pastor ever give Joey a business card with a bible verse written on it?

Zina Jacinto: Why yes, I believe he did.

Detective Parker: Do you recall what verse it was?

Zina Jacinto: No. I don't.

Detective Murphy: How about what book of the Bible it was from?

Zina Jacinto: Proverbs, I think.

Detective Murphy: Was it "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy"?

Zina Jacinto: Umm, maybe. Why?

Detective Murphy: How did you find out about the card the pastor gave him?

Zina Jacinto: Joey told me about it. He was upset because he knew Pastor Martinson suspected he was a thief. He showed it to me, and he was very upset about it.

Detective Parker: Upset enough to kill the pastor?

Zina Jacinto: Goodness, no!

Detective Murphy: Did it upset you as well?

Zina Jacinto: Of course it did. I calmed Joey down and told him I would take care of it.

Detective Murphy: And did you take care of it?

Zina Jacinto: No! Not in the way you are suggesting.

Detective Murphy: I didn't suggest anything. Zina, are you right-handed?

Zina Jacinto: I'm left-handed. What does that have to do with anything? Both Joey and I have done nothing wrong. Go talk to that woman in the church office. You're barking up the wrong tree, detectives.

Detective Parker: We'll see. Thank you for your time. We're done here.

Zina Jacinto: You leave Joey alone, you hear me? He had nothing to do with this.

Detective Murphy: Zina, are you threatening us?

Zina Jacinto: No. I'm sorry. I'm going now.

Interview ended – 12:23 p.m.