Megan Ford interview

Friday, September 2, 2022 – 10:00 a.m.

Megan Ford was Oscar Knight's neighbor.

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

Participants:

• Detective S. Murphy
• Detective E. Parker
• Megan Ford

Megan Ford: Good morning. What do you need to know about Oscar? I'm only his neighbor, so I don't know a whole lot.

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

Megan Ford: Oh, I'm sorry. This is my first time in a police station, and I don't know the procedure. I'm Megan Ford. I live at 1410 Bella Vista Street, Tupelo.

Detective Murphy: Thank you for giving up part of your morning to meet with us. Most of your neighbors didn't want to talk about Oscar.

Megan Ford: They probably didn't want to get on Oscar's bad side.

Detective Murphy: You're not worried about that?

Megan Ford: No. What's he going to do? Yell at me? That's nothing new.

Detective Murphy: He's yelled at you before?

Megan Ford: Oh, sure. Whenever I see him out in the yard or sitting in his rocking chair on his deck, I ask him about his family or his work or something in his yard. Basic small talk, but he always gets mad and tells me to mind my own business.

Detective Parker: So why keep asking him then?

Megan Ford: Oh, it was a way of checking up on him, making sure he was okay. If he hadn't yelled at me, I'd know something was wrong. Besides, I have to admit, it was fun to needle him.

Detective Parker: Why were you checking up on him?

Megan Ford: I know his sister, Carolyn, slightly, and she asked me to. I think she just wants to make sure someone will notice if something happens to him.

Detective Parker: Did she visit Oscar often?

Megan Ford: No, never that I know of. I don't think she likes him very much, but she still feels responsible somehow. She said since she's his next of kin, she would need to know if something happened to him so she could take care of things.

Detective Parker: Was she expecting something to happen to him?

Megan Ford: Not that I know of.

Detective Murphy: Did Oscar know you were keeping tabs on him for his sister?

Megan Ford: No. I wouldn't call it keeping tabs on him exactly, but no, he didn't know.

Detective Murphy: Did Oscar ever talk to you about anything? Or did he just yell at you to mind your own business?

Megan Ford: Once in a while, he would get a little tipsy, and then he'd be a little more chatty. I don't mean he was a drunk or anything, but he enjoys his adult beverages.

Detective Murphy: What did he tell you when he was chatty?

Megan Ford: Not much, really. Last time, he told me he was planning a trip to Oxford. He said he used to live there as a kid, and he was going back to have some fun, stir up some trouble, and visit some old friends. He said he'd found out a secret, and he couldn't wait to tell everyone.

Detective Murphy: What secret?

Megan Ford: He didn't say. He just laughed and said people were going to be surprised that he knew.

Detective Murphy: Did he say when he was planning to go to Oxford?

Megan Ford: Must be a couple weeks ago now.

Detective Parker: Did you see him the day he left for Oxford?

Megan Ford: No. I noticed that he had all the blinds pulled down, and his rocking chair was gone from the deck, so I knew he had gone.

Detective Parker: Did you let Carolyn Knight know he was going?

Megan Ford: Not then, but when he didn't come back after the weekend, I did.

Detective Parker: What did she say?

Megan Ford: She thanked me for telling her.

Detective Parker: That's it?

Megan Ford: That's it.

Detective Murphy: Did Oscar have a girlfriend or any regular visitors?

Megan Ford: I never saw anyone visit Oscar—no one. I wondered whether he had a girlfriend somewhere, but I really have no idea.

Detective Murphy: Is there anything else you can think of that might be helpful for us to know?

Megan Ford: I don't think so. So Oscar's still missing? Do you have any leads?

Detective Murphy: I'm afraid we can't talk about that right now, but I think you'll get answers to those questions soon.

Megan Ford: That sounds ominous. Should I be worried?

Detective Murphy: I think that's all we need from you right now, Ms. Ford. Thanks for coming in.

Megan Ford: You're welcome. Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help.

Interview ended – 10:22 a.m.