Mitch Freedman interview

Thursday, November 12, 2020 – 10:45 a.m.

Mitch Freedman is the third person who Claire Rivas said was in the woods with her and saw the same thing she did.

Detectives Armstrong and Murphy interviewed him at Yoknapatawpha High School.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Mitch Freedman

Detective Murphy: Sorry for pulling you out of class. We just have a few questions for you. Before we get started, can you state your name and address for the record?

Mitch Freedman: My name's Mitch Freedman, and my address is 1817 E. Jackson Avenue, Oxford, Mississippi.

Detective Murphy: Thank you. So we spoke with your friend Claire Rivas yesterday. Did she tell you what we talked about?

Mitch Freedman: Yeah, she told us she was planning on coming to talk to you guys. I was expecting that you might want to talk to me too, which is cool.

Detective Armstrong: It's cool?

Mitch Freedman: Well, I've never been interviewed by real live police detectives before. I just mean it's kind of cool.

Detective Murphy: Why don't you tell us in your own words about anything you've seen that may be of interest to us.

Mitch Freedman: Okay, so, the weekend before Mr. Miller died, we saw Mrs. Bragg in the woods shooting a bow and arrow.

Detective Armstrong: What woods?

Mitch Freedman: Just, like, a forest area over by Claire's house.

Detective Armstrong: Okay. So you saw Ms. Bragg shooting a bow and arrow. What else happened?

Mitch Freedman: Well, she didn't know we were watching her, and it was kind of hilarious because whenever she messed up, she threw a little tantrum. And then when she got a good shot, she would laugh maniacally. It was like something out of a movie.

Detective Armstrong: How do you know that she didn't know you were watching?

Mitch Freedman: We were kind of elevated and hiding behind some shrubbery. Plus, the way she was acting, if she did see us, she would have yelled at us, probably.

Detective Murphy: How did you know who it was?

Mitch Freedman: Well, Mrs. Bragg works at our school, so we recognized her.

Detective Armstrong: Do you kids get along with her?

Mitch Freedman: She's kind of a b****. Sorry. I think she especially doesn't like us because of how we dress. She'd probably die of embarrassment if her perfect little Jimmy went out in public looking like this.

Detective Armstrong: What makes you think that?

Mitch Freedman: Just her attitude, like she looks down on us. And she's always checking on Jimmy, making sure his hair isn't messed up or anything.

Detective Murphy: Okay. So do you remember what Mrs. Bragg was wearing that day when you saw her in the woods?

Mitch Freedman: Oh yeah, that was another thing that made it weird. She was wearing a letter jacket, like the ones that jocks wear at our school. I've never seen a parent wearing one before.

Detective Armstrong: Did you notice anything else?

Mitch Freedman: Um, no. I think that was just about it. We watched her for like half an hour and then left.

Detective Murphy: Where'd you go?

Mitch Freedman: We just went to a different area where she wouldn't be able to hear us.

Detective Murphy: What were you kids doing out in the woods?

Mitch Freedman: We hang out there sometimes. Just to get away from all the clones.

Detective Armstrong: Clones?

Mitch Freedman: All the normal people going about their normal routines, living their normal lives. It's so boring.

Detective Armstrong: I see. So do you hang out in the woods often?

Mitch Freedman: Yeah, pretty often. It's one of our regular spots.

Detective Murphy: And you've never seen anyone else out there before?

Mitch Freedman: No, not any parents, at least. Sometimes some other kids come hang out with us.

Detective Armstrong: Were you drinking or doing any drugs?

Mitch Freedman: Why is that relevant? What I do to my own body shouldn't be anyone else's business.

Detective Armstrong: It's relevant because we need to know if your account of what happened can be trusted. If you were under the influence, then we need to take that into consideration.

Mitch Freedman: Oh, that makes sense. No, we weren't drinking or doing drugs. We sometimes smoke out there, but don't worry. We're careful not to start any fires.

Detective Armstrong: Good to know. But you know, smoking is bad for you. You're shaving years off your life.

Mitch Freedman: Yeah, well, any of us could die at any moment. I bet Mr. Miller never smoked a cigarette, and look where that got him.

Detective Armstrong: Wow, that's dark, kid.

Detective Murphy: So why didn't you come forward with this information sooner?

Mitch Freedman: I don't know. I hadn't really even thought about that day until Claire said she was going to go tell you guys about it.

Detective Armstrong: What did you talk about with Claire before she came to see us?

Mitch Freedman: She just said she was going to tell you about how we saw Mrs. Bragg in the woods. I think I said something like, "Oh yeah, she was shooting a bow and arrow, and that's how Mr. Miller died, huh?" I hadn't even connected the two things. But looking back, it does seem like something that might be important.

Detective Murphy: Okay. Is there anything else you can tell us that might help us out?

Mitch Freedman: No, I don't think so.

Detective Murphy: All right. Well, if you do think of anything else, give us a call.

Mitch Freedman: I will.

Interview ended – 11:03 a.m.