Deirdre Littleton interview #2

Thursday, April 4, 2024 – 2:30 p.m.

Deirdre Littleton left the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit church after her marriage broke up.

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

Participants:

• Detective S. Murphy
• Detective E. Parker
• Deirdre Littleton

Detective Murphy: Thank you for coming in today, Ms. Littleton. For the record, would you please state your name and address?

Deirdre Littleton: Deirdre Littleton, 410 Thacker Loop.

Detective Murphy: Thank you. Ms. Littleton, was it you who initially went to Pastor Martinson for marriage counseling, or was it Mr. Sanford?

Deirdre Littleton: It was him. Emmett. I didn't know there was a problem with my marriage.

Detective Parker: Whose decision was it to discontinue the marriage counseling?

Deirdre Littleton: Mine.

Detective Murphy: Did you discuss your desire to quit with Pastor Martinson?

Deirdre Littleton: No. Why would I? It wasn't going to work. Pastor's advice was wrong. My husband's behavior was wrong. I wasn't inclined to sit in a room with the two of them and listen to the sordid details of Emmett's extramarital activities. It was devastating enough just knowing that it had happened at all.

Detective Parker: Did you know the person Emmett had the affair with?

Deirdre Littleton: I knew who she was, but we weren't friends or anything.

Detective Parker: Do you have a name?

Deirdre Littleton: For her? Yes, I have a name, but I'm trying to get back into a more Godly mindset, so I'm not calling her that name so much these days.

Detective Parker: Ms. Littleton, if you know the name of the woman your husband was having an affair with, please provide us with that information.

Deirdre Littleton: Justine Osborne.

Detective Parker: Would you know if Mr. Sanford continued to see her or began seeing her again after your separation?

Deirdre Littleton: No, I wouldn't know, and I won't answer any other questions regarding her or the relationship she had with Emmett.

Detective Parker: You still seem to be pretty emotional about it.

Deirdre Littleton: Yes, detective, I am still pretty emotional about it. After 15 years and a child, I'm pretty sure I'm not being irrational to still have feelings about the breakup of my marriage. I've only had about a year and four months to deal with it.

Detective Murphy: How angry were you when you spoke to Pastor Martinson on the telephone just days before his murder?

Deirdre Littleton: We went through this last time, didn't we? I believe I admitted I was accusatory, and he spent lots of time on the phone consoling me. I was not enraged. I was devastated. I missed my church family, and after speaking with him, I decided it was time to come back.

Detective Murphy: How did your son handle the separation and divorce?

Deirdre Littleton: Liam's a good kid. He was hurt and angry like I was, only he didn't take it personally.

Detective Parker: Personally how?

Deirdre Littleton: Like if he were a better kid, his dad wouldn't have had the affair. He never went there. And before you ask, no, Liam wasn't murderously angry with Pastor Martinson, Liam doesn't hold Pastor Martinson responsible for ruining his young life, and Liam didn't kill Pastor Martinson.

Detective Parker: Was Emmett murderously angry with Pastor Martinson?

Deirdre Littleton: I wouldn't know anything about Emmett's state of mind these days. All I know is he's not the man I thought I married, and he hasn't been for a long time.

Detective Parker: So you think he could have been angry enough to kill Pastor Martinson?

Deirdre Littleton: That's ridiculous. Emmett has a temper, but I've never known him or anyone for that matter who was murderously angry, detective. I'm sorry I made the remark.

Detective Murphy: Did Emmett's temper affect your marriage?

Deirdre Littleton: He was passionate. It affected our marriage in those ways that passionate adults express their intimacy.

Detective Parker: Oh. Good make-up sex?

Deirdre Littleton: Crass, but yes, detective. Are we through here, or are there more embarrassing details about my former marriage you'd like to discuss?

Detective Parker: No, I think that covers what we needed to know for now. We'll be in touch if we have any other questions.

Interview ended – 2:52 p.m.