Davis Myers interview

Monday, August 22, 2022 – 2:01 p.m.

Davis Myers, from Evansville, Indiana, is staying in the room next door to the south of the room where the severed finger was found.

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

Participants:

• Detective S. Murphy
• Detective E. Parker
• Davis Myers

Detective Parker: Good afternoon. Please state your name and address for the record.

Davis Myers: What the heck do you need that for? I'm not from these parts. I can't help you. I don't know nothing.

Detective Parker: Just answer the questions, and we can get this over with faster.

Davis Myers: I don't like it, but okay. I live at 3064 South Boeke Road in Evansville, Indiana.

Detective Parker: What are you doing in Oxford?

Davis Myers: I was in Tupelo, checking out the King's ol' stomping grounds.

Detective Murphy: The King?

Davis Myers: The King! Only one king—Elvis.

Detective Parker: Elvis Costello?

Davis Myers: You're just messing with me, aren't you? You can't be that dumb. Not Costello. Presley, the one and only king. I ride the same kind of bike ol' Elvis rode: a Harley Davidson. Wouldn't ride anything else.

Detective Murphy: You've said why you were in Tupelo, Mr. Myers. Now, why are you here in Oxford?

Davis Myers: While I was at Elvis' birthplace—you been there? It's something else, nothing like Graceland. Elvis used to live like us regular folks. Gives a man hope for what could be.

Detective Murphy: That's true, but what does that have to do with why you decided to come to Oxford?

Davis Myers: When I was there at the birthplace, someone said there were some real nice places down here to look at, so here I am. I saw the college. Pretty place. I been to Rowan Oak. I ain't much for reading, but since I was already here, I figured I might as well get a look at Faulkner's stomping grounds.

Detective Murphy: Did someone direct you to the Rebel Inn too?

Davis Myers: Yes, ma'am, they did. Said it was a decent place for a good price, and they were right. That ol' boy next door wasn't too friendly, though.

Detective Parker: You met him?

Davis Myers: I never had the pleasure.

Detective Parker: Take a look at this photo. Is this him?

Davis Myers: No, that's the death salesman, selling funerals or caskets or some such. If I was him, I wouldn't be so free, telling people what I did for a living. It's creepy.

Detective Parker: What about this one?

Davis Myers: That looks like him.

Detective Murphy: You said he wasn't friendly. What do you mean?

Davis Myers: He didn't like my music, I guess. He kept pounding on the walls. Guess he wanted me to turn off my music. But I guess I was feeling kind of contrary that night because I turned it up a notch instead.

Detective Murphy: What night was that?

Davis Myers: Saturday night. Not even midnight! C'mon, that's way too early to be quiet on a weekend.

Detective Parker: Not a good way to make friends, is it?

Davis Myers: Maybe not, but some people just don't know good music when they hear it.

Detective Parker: I meant you. You turned the music up instead of down. That's not a good way to make friends.

Davis Myers: No one else was complaining, so I cranked it up.

Detective Parker: I didn't realize people from Indiana liked country music so much.

Davis Myers: Well, I live in Indiana now, but I was born in good ol' Kentucky, if that makes a difference to you.

Detective Murphy: Mr. Myers, did you and the man in the room next to you ever have words?

Davis Myers: No, he probably didn't want to mess with the likes of me. He just beat on the walls, and I beat back. He finally gave up.

Detective Parker: What time was that? Do you remember?

Davis Myers: Sometime between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m. Saturday night. That was a long day for me, and I was tired. I ended up falling asleep pretty early, I guess.

Detective Parker: Did you hear any noise coming from that room at any time during the night Saturday or Sunday morning?

Davis Myers: Nope. I didn't hear anything else till you all came around on Sunday. What did that ol' boy do anyways? Kill someone?

Detective Parker: What about the other guests at the hotel? Did you meet anyone else who was staying there?

Davis Myers: Nah, just the funeral guy. After that, I wasn't too interested in meeting anyone else. I just wanted a place to lay my head for a day or two while I saw the sights. I'm headed south as soon as I can.

Detective Parker: I hate to delay your trip, but we'd prefer that you didn't leave town right now. We might need to talk to you again.

Davis Myers: What? You can't do that. I got stuff to do. I'm going down to the coast.

Detective Parker: I understand, but we need you to stay close for now. We never know which way a case will go, and we may need to talk to you again.

Davis Myers: You cops like to stop a guy from having fun, don't you? What am I supposed to do till you're done with all this?

Detective Parker: We're not going to make you stay, Mr. Myers, but leaving might do you more harm than good. If you stay around for just a little while, we might be able to clear all this up, and you can go on to the coast with nothing to worry about.

Davis Myers: But what am I supposed to do here until then?

Detective Murphy: Well, Oxford is no Island, Kentucky. That's for sure. But maybe you can find one or two things to hold your interest for a few days.

Davis Myers: You gonna pay for my room?

Detective Parker: No, sorry. We don't do that, but maybe the Rebel Inn will make you a deal for a weekly rental. You might try that.

Davis Myers: I feel sorry for the poor folks living here in Oxford. Cooperating with you is expensive.

Detective Parker: Have a nice day, Mr. Myers. We'll be in touch.

Interview ended – 2:29 p.m.