Gavin Price interview
Monday, August 22, 2022 – 10:00 a.m.
Gavin Price is in town on business and is staying in Room 119 at the Rebel Inn.
Detectives Murphy and Parker interviewed him at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.
Participants:
- Detective S. Murphy
- Detective E. Parker
- Gavin Price
Detective Murphy: Thank you for coming in to talk with us. Would you state your name and address for the record?
Gavin Price: Certainly. My name is Gavin Price, and my address is 3743 N. 11th Street, Phoenix, Arizona.
Detective Murphy: You're staying in town at the Rebel Inn on South Lamar Boulevard?
Gavin Price: Yes.
Detective Murphy: What brings you to Oxford, Mr. Price?
Gavin Price: I'm a traveling salesman. I've been to nearly every state plus Canada, the Cayman Islands, and Mexico. In fact, I stayed here in Oxford just last year.
Detective Murphy: What do you sell?
Gavin Price: Caskets.
Detective Parker: That's an unusual occupation, isn't it?
Gavin Price: Maybe to you. Not to me. I'll grant you it isn't the kind of thing a kid dreams of doing when he's growing up, but it's my calling. I actually majored in business and was an actuary before I got the calling.
Detective Murphy: You were an actuary, and now you sell caskets?
Gavin Price: Well, yes. It made sense to me. The simple fact is, there will always be people dying. It doesn't matter what the economy, weather, or any other factors are. People die, and caskets are purchased.
Detective Parker: It sounds a bit cold-blooded.
Gavin Price: Not true, but think what you like. I'm in Oxford to sell caskets to your funeral homes. I do my job and go home.
Detective Murphy: When did you arrive in Oxford?
Gavin Price: Saturday afternoon.
Detective Murphy: Did you see or hear anything unusual that night or anytime the next day?
Gavin Price: Yeah, I heard someone yelling kind of late Saturday night. He sounded mad, but it was muffled. And then I heard, well, banging on the walls. You know, like telling someone to quiet down? I heard it a couple of times.
Detective Murphy: Do you know what time that was?
Gavin Price: It was around 10:15, 10:30 p.m., maybe? I went to The Roadhouse for dinner and a few drinks that night, and it was right after I got back. Oh yeah, the guy who was in the room next to me was also there. At The Roadhouse, I mean.
Detective Parker: You know him?
Gavin Price: No, but I saw him in the hall at the motel.
Detective Parker: Is this the man you saw?
Gavin Price: That picture isn't very good, but yeah, that looks like him.
Detective Murphy: Did you talk to him when you saw him at The Roadhouse?
Gavin Price: No, he was sitting with a lady, and they looked quite friendly. I didn't want to intrude. It was just as well because later he got into an argument with someone and left there mad.
Detective Parker: What was the argument about?
Gavin Price: I haven't any idea. I wasn't close enough to hear. I do know the other guy was really mad, though, because of the look on his face.
Detective Murphy: Can you describe this other guy?
Gavin Price: He was a big guy. Dark hair. Looked kind of mean.
Detective Murphy: Would you recognize him if you saw him again?
Gavin Price: I don't know. Maybe.
Detective Murphy: Did you see this other guy again after you saw him at The Roadhouse?
Gavin Price: No.
Detective Parker: Did you see or hear anything else unusual Saturday night?
Gavin Price: No, I took a shower right after I heard the yelling and the banging, and then I went to bed.
Detective Murphy: What about on Sunday?
Gavin Price: I don't think so. Wait. You know what? Now that you mention it, I vaguely recall hearing doors slam two or three times sometime after midnight. I got up and went to the restroom, and then I put my earplugs in. Slept pretty well the rest of the night.
Detective Murphy: One door? More than one?
Gavin Price. I'm sorry. I'm not sure. I was half-asleep.
Detective Murphy: Okay. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Price. We'll be in touch if we have any more questions.
Gavin Price: You're welcome. Goodbye.
Interview ended – 10:31 a.m.
