Brenda Ledbetter interview #2

Wednesday, May 15, 2024 – 1:37 p.m.

Brenda Ledbetter is Jasmine Ledbetter's mother.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Brenda Ledbetter

Detective Murphy: Thank you for coming in to talk with us again, Ms. Ledbetter. Please state your name and address for the record.

Brenda Ledbetter: Okay, my name is Brenda Ledbetter, and I live at 17 Van Buren Avenue.

Detective Murphy: Thanks. We just have a few questions we need to ask for clarification.

Brenda Ledbetter: I'll tell you whatever I can.

Detective Murphy: First off, last time we talked to you, you said that you weren't sure about Jasmine calling you on that Saturday. Do you remember now if she did?

Brenda Ledbetter: Yes, I do. I'm sorry. I just couldn't think straight that day, you know…. Anyway, yes, she called and told me that Megan was going to pick her up from that interview and she was staying the night with her. I knew she'd told me, and I told you that. I just couldn't remember that it was the last thing she told me, the last time I talked to her. I apologize.

Detective Armstrong: Do you have any reason to think Jasmine might have just told you she was going to stay with Megan but was really planning to do something else?

Brenda Ledbetter: No, I believed her. She stayed with Megan quite often, and I knew she was safe. I might be overprotective sometimes, but I know that when she and Megan are together, Jasmine is perfectly fine.

Detective Murphy: Why didn't you push Jasmine for more answers about the interview she was going on with Scott Knapp?

Brenda Ledbetter: Well, I guess I tried, but Jasmine felt like she was an adult, and she wasn't too keen sometimes on me wanting to know everything about her and her life. I was going to ask more later. Not that I wanted to drop it. I wanted to know right then, but I didn't want her to get upset with me over it. She thought she was ready for the world. I almost feel like I'm being interrogated.

Detective Armstrong: These are just routine questions, ma'am. We need to know everything we can to help us get a lead in this investigation.

Brenda Ledbetter: Yes, I understand. This is all just so hard for me. I think I'm still in shock.

Detective Murphy: We just have a couple more questions. Did Jasmine mention any problems at work?

Brenda Ledbetter: No, not really. I know she was very proud to be an assistant manager, and she worked a lot of hours.

Detective Murphy: Did she ever mention that anyone at all was bothering her?

Brenda Ledbetter: Bothering her how? You think someone was harassing my daughter? Who? Who would do that?

Detective Murphy: I'm just asking if Jasmine ever said anything to you about something like that.

Brenda Ledbetter: No. Why would she keep something like that secret from me? Tell me who was harassing her.

Detective Murphy: It was just a question, Ms. Ledbetter.

Detective Armstrong: About what time did you leave to run errands on that Sunday?

Brenda Ledbetter: Well, I think it was around 6:00 p.m. Jasmine was waiting in the garage for her ride.

Detective Armstrong: What time did you return home that day?

Brenda Ledbetter: I think it was about 7:00, 7:30 p.m.

Detective Armstrong: Can anyone verify that, Ms. Ledbetter?

Brenda Ledbetter: Am I a suspect? You can't possibly think I had something to do with what happened to my daughter!

Detective Murphy: Ma'am, these are just routine questions we ask everyone.

Brenda Ledbetter: All right, well, I'm sure the checkout woman at the grocery store would remember me. She sees me quite often.

Detective Armstrong: Okay. I think that's all the questions we have for now. We might need to speak to you again. Is that going to be a problem?

Brenda Ledbetter: No, not at all. I want you to find who is responsible for killing my child. If it takes the rest of my life, I want to know.

Interview ended – 1:52 p.m.