Dave Rivera interview

Thursday, August 31, 2023 – 4:25 p.m.

Dave Rivera was working at Landshark Delivery on the night Kristi Waterson died. Landshark Delivery personnel records show he was one of two drivers on duty on the evening of Saturday, August 26, 2023.

Detectives Armstrong and Murphy interviewed him at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Dave Rivera

Detective Murphy: Thanks for stopping by today.

Dave Rivera: Sure thing. What's up?

Detective Murphy: For the record, would you state your name and address?

Dave Rivera: Dave Rivera, 721 Martin Luther King Drive.

Detective Murphy: How old are you, Mr. Rivera?

Dave Rivera: 19. I'm a sophomore.

Detective Murphy: A student at the university?

Dave Rivera: Yeah. Is this about that professor being murdered?

Detective Murphy: And where do you work?

Dave Rivera: I'm a driver for Landshark Delivery.

Detective Murphy: What's that?

Dave Rivera: We pick up food from different restaurants and deliver it to people.

Detective Murphy: You enjoy the job?

Dave Rivera: It's decent money. So is this about that murder?

Detective Murphy: We're making inquiries about Ms. Waterson's death, yes.

Dave Rivera: Wow. Cool. I didn't have any classes with her, but I heard she was hot!

Detective Armstrong: What's your major, Mr. Rivera?

Dave Rivera: Journalism? And music. When I graduate, I'm going to write for Paste. Or Spin. Or maybe Rolling Stone.

Detective Armstrong: That's wonderful. Mr. Rivera, what can you tell us about the deliveries you made Saturday night?

Dave Rivera: I don't usually work Saturdays, but Aaron asked me to sub for him. I was gonna go see a band, but I needed the cash.

Detective Murphy: What do you remember about that night? Any particular deliveries?

Dave Rivera: It was a pretty typical night. I mean, it was totally slammed 'cause it was Saturday, but otherwise, just the usual routine.

Detective Murphy: What time did you start work?

Dave Rivera: 6:00 p.m. to midnight was my shift. I got home around 12:30 a.m.

Detective Armstrong: Mr. Rivera, we need you to try to remember details. How many deliveries did you make?

Dave Rivera: Wow. No idea. Maybe twenty? It was a lot.

Detective Murphy: Were there any deliveries in particular that stood out?

Dave Rivera: No. I mean—wait. There were a couple of good tippers—some rich guy on Elm Street. I've seen his SUV on campus. He's got one of those electric ones. It's awesome! Anyway, he gave me, like, a ten-dollar tip on a totally normal order. It was just a pizza—wait, I totally remember now! It was from Lost Pizza: half Islander, half Popeye. I was handing over the box and saying how I made sure to keep it level so that Alfredo sauce wouldn't get into the Islander half, which would totally suck.

Detective Murphy: What was his name?

Dave Rivera: I don't know him. He paid cash. It was 20 bucks and change, and he handed me a twenty and a ten and was all, "Keep the change."

Detective Murphy: Who was he with at the time?

Dave Rivera: I don't know. I didn't see anyone else. He was alone in the hall when he opened the door. Wait—there was someone else there. The TV was on in the living room, and I heard a chick asking if he needed money. He told her no. That's when he gave me the awesome tip.

Detective Murphy: Around what time was that, would you say?

Dave Rivera: It was around the middle of the shift. I guess around 9:00 p.m.?

Detective Murphy: How did he look? Did you notice anything about his appearance?

Dave Rivera: Nothing special. He looked like a prepster. You know—polo shirt and all that.

Detective Murphy: Is this him?

Dave Rivera: Yeah.

Detective Armstrong: What about the woman? Did you see her?

Dave Rivera: No. I heard her, though. She sounded like a snob. Or maybe that was the TV? I heard an English accent, you know?

Detective Murphy: Okay. What else can you tell us about that delivery?

Dave Rivera: I don't know. It was a regular delivery? I can't think of anything else except the dude looked rich.

Detective Armstrong: What about the second good tipper?

Dave Rivera: It wasn't as much. It was like five dollars, but it was a bigger order.

Detective Armstrong: Where was that?

Dave Rivera: Out on North Lamar, the big houses out there. Rich kids partying, I guess.

Detective Murphy: What else can you tell us about that evening?

Dave Rivera: I can't think of anything else.

Detective Armstrong: Did you make any deliveries to The Turn?

Dave Rivera: No. I know the apartment manager there, Dewey. He's awesome! I go there sometimes and hang out.

Detective Armstrong: Did you ever see Ms. Waterson there?

Dave Rivera: Who?

Detective Armstrong: The professor.

Dave Rivera: Oh. Wait, she lived there? Wow! No. I totally didn't know that.

Detective Armstrong: Okay. What about people out walking around? Did you see anything unusual?

Dave Rivera: No. I mean, there were lots of people hanging out at Ajax, but otherwise, no, not that I remember.

Detective Armstrong: All right. Just give us a call if you remember anything else.

Dave Rivera: Cool.

Interview ended – 4:52 p.m.