Michelle Prescott interview #2

Tuesday, August 29, 2023 – 2:10 p.m.

Michelle Prescott was Kristi Waterson's cousin and roommate.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Michelle Prescott

Detective Murphy: Thank you for speaking with us again this afternoon.

Michelle Prescott: Of course.

Detective Murphy: Would you state your name and address once more for the record?

Michelle Prescott: Michelle Prescott, 588 Hathorn Road, Apartment 232.

Detective Murphy: Thank you.

Michelle Prescott: What can I tell you? I feel like we discussed everything last time.

Detective Murphy: Well, to start, we want to find out more about Kristi's relationships with men.

Michelle Prescott: I see. It's as I said before. That's one area where she and I disagreed. I preferred to know as little as possible, to be honest. Whenever she started talking about it—and she wanted to talk a lot—I would ask her to consider therapy, and then the conversation would pretty much end.

Detective Murphy: We get it, but you lived with her. You had to know who she was dating.

Michelle Prescott: I tried not to. We had an agreement, you see. I asked her not to bring her dates home. They would go out or to his place, but they didn't come to the apartment. I did the same. I preferred to keep my private life separate from hers. Of course, when I was away, she could do what she wanted.

Detective Murphy: Sounds like your relationship was pretty strained over this.

Michelle Prescott: No. I loved Kristi. I still do. I was just— well, it's the same as with relatives of people with serious addictions, drinking or drugs. After a certain point, all you can do is keep offering to help, offering to get them help, and there's nothing more you can do. I certainly wasn't going to enable what I saw as a serious problem.

Detective Armstrong: A problem for you or for her?

Michelle Prescott: What do you mean? I was concerned about her health.

Detective Murphy: We checked out Rob LaRouche, and his family's pretty big in certain religious circles. I don't suppose your boyfriend's parents would be too pleased to know about Kristi's habits.

Michelle Prescott: I don't see what that has to do with anything. As I said, I distanced myself from Kristi's activities entirely. Rob's parents barely even met her, much less knew anything about her. It's really none of their concern.

Detective Armstrong: Still, weren't you worried that being Kristi's roommate and all might hurt you? You did say something about that last time. The quality of people you associate with is important, isn't it?

Michelle Prescott: You're taking my words out of context. It's true, I believe it's important to choose friends wisely. You can't get where you want in life without them. But Kristi was family, and that's the strongest bond. To imply somehow because I disapproved of her actions— well, I can't imagine what it is you're thinking.

Detective Murphy: What was Kristi's relationship with Rob?

Michelle Prescott: I already said there was no relationship. He says there was nothing between them. He was her student for one semester. That's all. I believe him. By that, I mean he's a man of morals, as you must know if you talked with him. Like me, he was concerned for Kristi. He saw her behavior as a cry for help.

Detective Murphy: What about Hunter Nelson? Is that what he saw too?

Michelle Prescott: I wouldn't know what he thought. I met him once or twice. That's all.

Detective Murphy: When was that?

Michelle Prescott: He came to pick her up for dates here a couple of times. I couldn't tell you exactly when, but the first time was in the winter. The last time must have been back in March, maybe. Whenever he came by, I would say hello and how are you, but nothing more. It wasn't my place to lecture him, but I certainly wasn't going to become anything more than an acquaintance.

Detective Murphy: Why's that?

Michelle Prescott: That wouldn't have been right for Kristi. I didn't want her to think I was interested in him. I understand he's a very nice young man. He's from a good family. I can understand why Kristi might have scared him off.

Detective Murphy: What makes you say she scared him off?

Michelle Prescott: Well, I don't know the details of their relationship, but I got the impression he was the one to break it off with her. By that, I mean she told me he had moved on. That's all. I can only assume he didn't share her predilections.

Detective Murphy: And what about after they broke up? You said you saw him here after that?

Michelle Prescott: Yes. He was acquainted with Dewey, the apartment manager. I saw him a couple of times, or rather, saw his car. Kristi pointed it out to me once. He has a nice Lexus. Good taste. The last time I saw it must have been the weekend before Kristi died. I'm sorry, but I don't have anything new to contribute. I really don't know Hunter at all.

Detective Murphy: What about Weldon?

Michelle Prescott: Pardon?

Detective Armstrong: A person named Weldon. You ever hear of him?

Michelle Prescott: No. Like I said before, I think she was dating someone new, but she never told me who it was. And she didn't tell me anything about her work. I met her supervisor, John Brewer, once when we happened to cross paths on campus, and he seemed perfectly nice, but that's really all I know of her professional life.

Detective Murphy: Who were her other boyfriends, other students she was dating?

Michelle Prescott: I'm sorry, I don't know. Hunter was the only one I met. Well, she once mentioned a Chris and a Nate, but I don't know who they are or even whether they're still here, whether they were just friends or students. I'm sorry.

Detective Murphy: What other names do you remember?

Michelle Prescott: I'm sorry. I can't think of any.

Detective Murphy: Let's talk some more about the evening Kristi died.

Michelle Prescott: I told you already I wasn't there.

Detective Armstrong: That's what we're trying to get straight. We asked Rob, and he thought you didn't come over until late.

Michelle Prescott: No. That's wrong.

Detective Armstrong: In fact, you said yourself you came back from your drive around 7:30 p.m., but you also said 8:30 p.m., and Rob said it was around 9:00 p.m. Now, as you point out, he's a man of morals, so that would mean you got to his place later than you said.

Michelle Prescott: Well, neither of us were exactly watching the time. It was Saturday night. We didn't have any obligations to be anywhere. There's no reason to be exact. I resent the implication that somehow I would intentionally lie.

Detective Armstrong: All right then, set us straight.

Michelle Prescott: It's as I said before. I went over there around 7:00 p.m., and we went out for a drive. We got back around 8:30 p.m. or so. We ordered food and watched a movie. I got back home just before 9:00 the next morning. Surely you don't think I had something to do with what happened?

Detective Armstrong: Well, Michelle, we're a little at a loss. No one except Rob saw you much, and you seem to have had your reasons to disagree with Kristi.

Michelle Prescott: Disagree, yes, but surely decent people can disagree or be concerned without violence? It's insulting to think I would do such a thing.

Detective Armstrong: It doesn't sound like Kristi was responding to your decency.

Michelle Prescott: No. I won't argue with you or pretend otherwise, but to imply that because of it, I would try to hurt her? It's outrageous. I'm sorry, but I have to leave. I'm not going to continue this conversation.

Detective Armstrong: Fine, but we'll need to talk to you again.

Michelle Prescott: I plan to have an attorney present.

Detective Armstrong: See you soon.

Interview ended – 2:39 p.m.