Pauline Jones interview
Wednesday, August 31, 2022 – 9:03 a.m.
Multiple witnesses have reported that Pauline Jones slapped Oscar Knight at the Marshall family reunion.
Detectives Murphy and Parker interviewed her at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.
Participants:
- Detective S. Murphy
- Detective E. Parker
- Pauline Jones
Detective Murphy: Good morning, Mrs. Jones. Please state your name and address for the record.
Pauline Jones: Hello, detectives. My name is Pauline Jones, and I live at 1368 Jefferson Avenue. Please call me Pauline. Does this have anything to do with Oscar Knight? I've been reading in the paper about that finger found in Oscar's room and the body parts at the park. Do you think he's responsible for that?
Detective Parker: Pauline, how do you know Oscar Knight?
Pauline Jones: I don't. The reunion was the first time I ever laid eyes on him. I heard Liz and Steve talking about him. Liz said she wouldn't have recognized him if Steve hadn't told her who he was. Later, I guess you could say I met him myself.
Detective Parker: Is this the first reunion you've attended?
Pauline Jones: No, I go every year. It's always a lot of fun.
Detective Murphy: So you know the Marshall family?
Pauline Jones: Oh, yes. Steve Marshall and Liz have known each other since high school, so he always invites us to the reunion. Liz— Elizabeth Barton is my best friend in the world. We met twenty years ago after we both lost our husbands.
Detective Murphy: We understand that Elizabeth Barton argued with Oscar Knight at the reunion. Can you tell us anything about that?
Pauline Jones: I know they argued. Liz said Oscar was drinking and being rude. She wouldn't tell me what he said to her, but she was very upset. So upset that she left early, around 3:00 p.m., long before the reunion was over, and Liz never does that. I tried to get her to stay, but she wouldn't.
Detective Parker: Is that why you and Oscar argued?
Pauline Jones: When I saw Oscar, he reeked of alcohol. He was being such a jerk. He made me so angry, I slapped him across the face as hard as I could. He just laughed at me and told me to be sure and tell Lizzie what he said. As if I would do that.
Detective Parker: You didn't tell her?
Pauline Jones: Of course not. She was upset enough already. And frankly, I didn't quite understand what he meant anyway.
Detective Murphy: What did he say?
Pauline Jones: I'd really rather not talk about it.
Detective Murphy: I understand, but we do need to know.
Pauline Jones: Okay, if I have to. First off, he was saying crude stuff like he, Liz, and I should have a threesome. Then he told me to tell Lizzie she was a hot little number back in school. Can you believe that? "A hot little number?" Who says that? And then he said to tell her he'd like a piece of that again. He wouldn't shut up about it. I was fuming, so I slapped him. I wish I had thought to punch him in the nose.
Detective Parker: Why do you think he said that about Liz?
Pauline Jones: I have no idea. He seems to think he's the best thing since sliced bread. I think he gets his kicks out of insulting women. Liz told me they were friends for a while back in high school, which I can't believe. I guess he was different back then.
Detective Murphy: Did she say why they stopped being friends?
Pauline Jones: No. She doesn't want to talk about Oscar, and I can't blame her. He was such a jerk to her.
Detective Parker: Did you see Oscar leave the reunion?
Pauline Jones: No. After I slapped him, I didn't have anything else to say to him. I met up with some friends and didn't see Oscar again, thank goodness. He said earlier that he was meeting someone later that night, so he must've done that.
Detective Parker: Did he say who he was meeting?
Pauline Jones: No, he wouldn't say. He acted like it was a big secret as if anyone cared. I think people were mostly just happy he left.
Detective Murphy: Pauline, thank you for coming in today. We'll be in touch if we need anything else.
Pauline Jones: You're welcome, and I hope you find Oscar soon.
Interview ended – 9:18 a.m.
