Carolyn Knight interview

Friday, September 2, 2022 – 8:30 a.m.

Carolyn Knight is Oscar Knight's younger sister.

Detectives Murphy and Parker interviewed her at the Tupelo Police Department.

Participants:

• Detective S. Murphy
• Detective E. Parker
• Carolyn Knight

Detective Murphy: For the record, please state your name and address.

Carolyn Knight: My name is Carolyn Knight. My address is 210 North Madison Street, Tupelo, Mississippi.

Detective Murphy: Thank you for coming in to talk to us about your brother. We're sorry for your loss.

Carolyn Knight: Thank you.

Detective Murphy: When was the last time you talked with Oscar?

Carolyn Knight: We didn't really talk all that often. When there's a bond, you don't need to keep trying to create one.

Detective Murphy: So you were close to your brother?

Carolyn Knight: We had a bond.

Detective Parker: Not many people have said that about their relationships with Oscar.

Carolyn Knight: My brother is dead. Aren't I supposed to speak well of him?

Detective Parker: We'd rather you told us the truth.

Carolyn Knight: Most people don't want to hear the truth. They want to believe that families are happy and supportive.

Detective Murphy: We're not most people.

Carolyn Knight: Fine. Oscar was obnoxious, and my father is a brute. My mother didn't care what anybody did so long as her good china wasn't broken. The day after she died, I smashed the whole set into a fine powder.

Detective Murphy: That must've been cathartic.

Carolyn Knight: It was.

Detective Parker: What did your father say about you destroying all the china?

Carolyn Knight: As long as his food kept appearing as if by magic, it could have been served on newspaper for all he cared. Not that he's ever been thankful.

Detective Parker: We understand you take care of him now.

Carolyn Knight: Yeah, well, it's not like I have a choice. He can't take care of himself, and Oscar damn sure wasn't going to do it.

Detective Parker: But you kept in touch with Oscar to let him know how your father was doing?

Carolyn Knight: Yeah, right. Oscar could care less.

Detective Parker: So when was the last time you talked to Oscar?

Carolyn Knight: About two weeks ago. I wanted to go out of town for the weekend, so I needed him to look in on our father. I don't know what I was thinking. He said no, of course.

Detective Murphy: Did he say why?

Carolyn Knight: He said he was going to a reunion in Oxford to surprise some old friends. I don't know why. None of those people wanted to see him. He said I should just put out a bowl of water and some kibble and let Dad take care of himself.

Detective Murphy: That seems a little harsh for a sister to say about her late brother.

Carolyn Knight: I'm just repeating what he said. What can I tell you? Oscar was a bastard. Frankly, I'm not surprised someone killed him. The only thing I wonder is what took so long.

Detective Murphy: So, who was he going to see in Oxford?

Carolyn Knight: I can't imagine.

Detective Murphy: Do you know the Marshall family?

Carolyn Knight: Everybody knows them. There are what? Hundreds of them at this point?

Detective Murphy: Do you know if Oscar knew them?

Carolyn Knight: Yeah, there were tons of Marshalls around when we were growing up. Is that where he went? To the Marshall reunion? What an idiot.

Detective Murphy: What do you mean?

Carolyn Knight: I mean, Steve Marshall has hated him since they were in high school. Why would Oscar go to his reunion?

Detective Murphy: Why do you think?

Carolyn Knight: Because Oscar was never happier than when he was making someone else miserable? I haven't seen Steve in I don't know when, but I doubt he'd be glad to see Oscar.

Detective Parker: When was the last time you were in Oxford?

Carolyn Knight: When my mother died.

Detective Parker: You haven't been back since then?

Carolyn Knight: For what?

Detective Murphy: Did you find someone else to look in on your father so you could go out of town that weekend?

Carolyn Knight: Hell, no. Nobody wants to be around that miserable bastard.

Detective Murphy: So you were in Tupelo all weekend?

Carolyn Knight: Unfortunately.

Detective Murphy: Can anyone verify that?

Carolyn Knight: Should I have a lawyer present?

Detective Murphy: That's your right. It would just drag this whole thing out, but we have the time if you do.

Carolyn Knight: Fine. I had asked for the weekend off, but when I found out I had to stay in town, I took over a few shifts from some co-workers so at least someone could have a decent weekend.

Detective Parker: Can anyone corroborate where you were when you weren't at work?

Carolyn Knight: No. I was home with my father at night, but there's no way he could be what you'd call a reliable witness. He gets confused, and he lies or makes things up to cover for it.

Detective Parker: So if you slipped out at night and went over to Oxford, your father wouldn't have known?

Carolyn Knight: Why would I do that?

Detective Parker: To get rid of your brother.

Carolyn Knight: What would be the point? My father has nothing, so there's nothing to inherit. Oscar and I barely spoke, so there was no need to get him out of my life. He already was and had been for years. Why would I bother killing him?

Detective Murphy: So, how did your father get along with Oscar?

Carolyn Knight: Nobody got along with Oscar. Nobody gets along with my father either, not that it matters. But Oscar went out of his way to aggravate people like he wouldn't be happy until the whole world hated him.

Detective Murphy: Would you say he was successful in getting you to hate him?

Carolyn Knight: Since we're being honest, yes. I can't say I'm sorry that he's dead. If I have any regret at all, it would be that our father wasn't with him at the time.

Detective Parker: Is there anyone who didn't hate Oscar? Anyone we should talk to who could tell us more about him?

Carolyn Knight: I don't know who Oscar's friends were, if he had any. I met his neighbor Megan Ford through mutual acquaintances, and she always let me know if he did anything especially horrible to anyone. And there must be someone at that company he worked for who might be able to tell you something about him.

Detective Parker: What company is that?

Carolyn Knight: I don't know. Some engineering firm. Patterson something? I don't really know.

Detective Murphy: Did Oscar have any enemies that you know of?

Carolyn Knight: I wouldn't be surprised if he had several, but I wouldn't know.

Detective Parker: Okay, thanks for talking to us, Ms. Knight. We'll be in touch if we have any more questions.

Carolyn Knight: You both have a good day.

Interview ended – 8:57 a.m.