Dewey Devoe interview #2

Wednesday, August 30, 2023 – 9:20 a.m.

Donald "Dewey" Devoe is the manager of the apartment complex where Kristi Waterson lived.

Detectives Armstrong and Murphy visited him at his residence to ask some follow-up questions.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Donald "Dewey" Devoe

Detective Armstrong: Good morning, Mr. Devoe. Thanks for answering the door.

Dewey Devoe: It's way too early. Do you want coffee or something?

Detective Murphy: No, thanks. Would you state your name and address again for the record?

Dewey Devoe: Donald Wayne Devoe, 588 Hathorn, Apartment 22. What's going on? Do you have the 411 on that murder or something?

Detective Murphy: We're hoping you might help with that.

Dewey Devoe: I already told you everything I know.

Detective Armstrong: Is that so? Well then, why don't you tell us again about that incident with Kristi Waterson's mother?

Dewey Devoe: Dude, chill. It wasn't an incident. It was an accident. I already told you. There was water from the fridge. Some kind of, what do you call it, coolant didn't work, so stuff was melting.

Detective Armstrong: Sounds urgent.

Dewey Devoe: Okay, look. Maybe I should have fixed it earlier, but that's no excuse for Kristi to come barging in on me the way she did.

Detective Murphy: When did they report the problem?

Dewey Devoe: I don't know. Like, a few weeks ago. They called me like six times, and I told them to chill. They could live without cold champagne or whatever. But they were totally uptight. I had already called the repair guy when the accident happened. He just couldn't make it out right away.

Detective Murphy: What about the day of the accident? Were you here when it happened?

Dewey Devoe: Yeah. In fact, I helped out big time. That's why I didn't get it when Kristi went off the deep end.

Detective Murphy: Helped out how?

Dewey Devoe: They called an ambulance, and when it came, I went out to see what was wrong. I followed the paramedics to the apartment. Everyone was totally freaking out—a really bad scene. I tried to get them calmed down, and Michelle asked me to take care of everything, which turned out to mean locking up behind them, turning out the lights, and stuff like that. Later Michelle called from the hospital and asked me to get some take-out for them so it would be waiting for them. I did that, no sweat. Chinese food, hot and sour soup. I heard it has healing properties.

Detective Murphy: Did you pay for it?

Dewey Devoe: They were home by that time, so it was delivered right to them. No prob. And then the next thing I know, Kristi's threatening me.

Detective Armstrong: Why don't you tell us about what happened between you and Ms. Waterson?

Dewey Devoe: Like I said. She was yapping at me about suing, yelling her head off. And that was it.

Detective Murphy: When was this?

Dewey Devoe: In the morning. The Tuesday before.

Detective Armstrong: A minute ago, you said she barged in on you. What's that about?

Dewey Devoe: Nothing. Look, it's just she came in here totally unexpected. The door was open. She just walked right in. I was in the middle of something and told her to come back, and that's when it all started.

Detective Armstrong: What were you doing? With a girl or something?

Dewey Devoe: No. I was just busy. She went off on how I was a criminal—you know, for letting the fridge slide like that. How I was so lazy, and she was going to tell my boss and stuff like that. She threatened to have me kicked out. It was a total overreaction.

Detective Armstrong: Sounds like she wanted to put you out of business. If she followed through, you'd lose a pretty decent job.

Dewey Devoe: Look, it's stupid to think I wanted to hurt her. I'm used to crap like that. Other tenants are uptight, just like she was. It's just part of the job. I always try to work it out and move on.

Detective Armstrong: I still don't get why you waited so long to fix the refrigerator.

Dewey Devoe: It wasn't on purpose. Dude, look. The way it works is half the time, problems go away on their own. If I ran over every time one of the tenants called me, I'd spend all my time changing light bulbs. This way, they take care of the stuff they should take care of on their own, and I just deal with the major problems. You know, plumbing and stuff like that. The gnarly stuff.

Detective Armstrong: You say she came in here? To this room?

Dewey Devoe: Yeah. I mean, that's what bothered me. She came through the door, in here, and then when I wasn't here, she actually came in back—total invasion of privacy.

Detective Armstrong: In back where?

Dewey Devoe: Um, the bedroom, I think. Look, it was a couple of weeks ago now. I don't remember exactly, except that I was totally shocked. It wasn't like I was standing right here and said, "How do you do? Please have a seat on the couch." I don't care how rich you are, you know? You can still use the doorbell and chill out.

Detective Murphy: How did the discussion end?

Dewey Devoe: We came back in here, and I was trying to calm her down. I told her, "Look, the repairman is coming," and I said she could wipe up her own mess.

Detective Armstrong: Did it get physical?

Dewey Devoe: No. Nothing like that. In the end, she walked out, still making threats about suing me, turning me in to the cops, firing me, what have you—way over the top.

Detective Armstrong: Turning you in to the cops? For what?

Dewey Devoe: I don't know. That's what I mean. She was totally out of line.

Detective Armstrong: I'm going to put two and two together and guess this has something to do with your sideline business.

Dewey Devoe: What business?

Detective Armstrong: Like, say, Ms. Waterson happened to see some of your drug paraphernalia and threatened to tell the cops. If that happened, you'd lose your job and might actually have to work for a living.

Dewey Devoe: No way. You guys are totally off base. All I can tell you is she was totally overreacting, and nothing ever happened. My boss never asked about it, nothing.

Detective Armstrong: Very convenient for you.

Dewey Devoe: No. Like I said, you guys are crazy if you think I had something to do with what happened to Kristi. It blows my mind. I'm not a violent person.

Detective Murphy: Tell us again about the night Ms. Waterson died.

Dewey Devoe: Nothing happened. I didn't go out. I didn't party. I just hung out.

Detective Murphy: Who did you see?

Dewey Devoe: No one.

Detective Murphy: What about Hunter Nelson?

Dewey Devoe: Like I said, I didn't hang with anyone. Just watched the tube. I'm trying to save cash.

Detective Murphy: He didn't come by to see Ms. Waterson?

Dewey Devoe: No. Look. I said earlier I don't spy on the tenants, and I was telling the truth. How the hell should I know who visited their place? I don't even know if they were around.

Detective Murphy: What about the other tenants? Any complaints that night?

Dewey Devoe: No. All quiet. No parties for people to get upset about, no loud music, nothing. It was a completely normal night.

Detective Murphy: What else do you remember about that night?

Dewey Devoe: Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was totally not memorable. I watched reruns on TV. That says it all.

Detective Murphy: When did you hear about Ms. Waterson's death?

Dewey Devoe: The next morning, just like everyone. The police cars woke me up.

Detective Murphy: Mr. Devoe, please try to help us out. Who else was friends with Ms. Waterson?

Dewey Devoe: I told you. Just that guy Hunter. That's all I know about.

Detective Armstrong: What about Weldon?

Dewey Devoe: Who?

Detective Armstrong: Weldon's the name.

Dewey Devoe: Never heard of him.

Detective Armstrong: Hunter Nelson never mentioned him?

Dewey Devoe: No. How many times do I have to say it? I didn't know any of Kristi and Michelle's stupid friends. Everyone here has friends and relatives. They can come and go. I don't recognize half the people I see here. I don't go around raiding apartments and spying on people. It's not like I get off on their lives. I've got my own business. It's a free country.

Detective Armstrong: Okay, Mr. Devoe. No need to get riled up.

Dewey Devoe: You're the one being uptight.

Detective Armstrong: You were here on the night of the murder, and it sounds like you had reason to wish Ms. Waterson harm.

Dewey Devoe: You're wrong. I would never hurt someone like that. Whoever did that is one messed-up person. I can't imagine it. It totally blows my mind.

Detective Armstrong: Mr. Devoe, I suggest you think hard about that Saturday night and whether anyone can back you up about your harmless activities.

Dewey Devoe: Wait. Are you threatening me?

Detective Armstrong: I'm just saying it'd be a lot easier for you—and we could be a lot less uptight—if someone else could verify your whereabouts.

Dewey Devoe: Well, like I said, I was at home. I wasn't exactly planning to be interrogated like this. This is like police brutality or something.

Detective Murphy: Really?

Detective Armstrong: Why don't you calm down, and we'll talk again real soon.

Dewey Devoe: Whatever, dude.

Interview ended – 10:02 a.m.