Cody Brown interview

Sunday, July 16, 2023 – 10:50 a.m.

Cody Brown is Katy's younger brother.

Detectives Armstrong and Murphy interviewed him at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department. His mother gave the detectives permission to speak to him alone.

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Cody Brown

Detective Armstrong: Thank you for coming in this morning. Would you please state your name and address for the record?

Cody Brown: Yes, my name is Cody Brown, and I live at 202 Williams Avenue here in Oxford.

Detective Armstrong: How old are you, Cody?

Cody Brown: Sixteen.

Detective Murphy: Is there anything we can get you before we get started? Something to drink, maybe?

Cody Brown: Sure, I could use a cold Sunkist.

Detective Armstrong: Tell us about Katy.

Cody Brown: We were very close. She was my big sister. I adored her. She was perfect in every way. If you don't believe me, just ask anyone. Katy was great.

Detective Armstrong: You two never had any disagreements or anything?

Cody Brown: Just stupid stuff. Nothing big.

Detective Armstrong: Can you give us an example?

Cody Brown: You know, like her hogging the bathroom or me leaving a wet towel on the floor. Like I said, just stupid stuff.

Detective Armstrong: Do you know of anyone who might have done this to your sister?

Cody Brown: No, everyone loved her. Are you sure it wasn't an accident?

Detective Armstrong: We're sure.

Detective Murphy: So you're saying there's no one who might have an issue with Katy?

Cody Brown: Well, maybe… Jennifer or Sherry. Maybe.

Detective Murphy: Can you give us their full names?

Cody Brown: Yeah, sorry. Jennifer Adams and Sherry Guyton. Katy didn't like either one of them very much.

Detective Murphy: Really? Jennifer told us that she and Katy were best friends.

Cody Brown: Yeah, right. Jennifer probably wants pity. Did she break down and cry?

Detective Armstrong: Does it bother you that Jennifer said she was Katy's best friend?

Cody Brown: Yeah! Because she's lying. I was Katy's best friend. I knew her better than anybody. She couldn't even stand Jennifer.

Detective Armstrong: Why not?

Cody Brown: Because Jennifer's fake. She acts all nice and everything when adults are around, but when they're not? Well, she's not so nice anymore.

Detective Armstrong: Is that why Katy didn't like Sherry either? Because Sherry was fake too?

Cody Brown: No. When Sherry got hurt, she got bitchy. Sorry. It was her own fault she fell, but she blamed Katy.

Detective Murphy: You saw Sherry fall?

Cody Brown: No.

Detective Murphy: So how do you know it wasn't Katy's fault?

Cody Brown: Because Katy would never do anything that would hurt someone else! Sherry ruined her own life, and she just can't admit it.

Detective Murphy: How do you get along with Jennifer and Sherry?

Cody Brown: Okay, I guess. We don't really talk to each other.

Detective Murphy: Aren't you and Jennifer on the cheer squad together?

Cody Brown: Yeah, technically.

Detective Murphy: And wasn't Sherry on the squad, too, until she got hurt?

Cody Brown: Yeah.

Detective Murphy: But you don't talk to them?

Cody Brown: More like they don't talk to me.

Detective Murphy: Why not?

Cody Brown: They don't like me very much, I guess.

Detective Murphy: Why not?

Cody Brown: I don't know. I'm not cool enough for them, I guess.

Detective Murphy: Being the mascot isn't cool?

Cody Brown: I think it is, but not everyone thinks so. Do we have to talk about this?

Detective Armstrong: So why do you think these girls might've hurt Katy?

Cody Brown: Simple. Jealousy.

Detective Armstrong: Regarding what?

Cody Brown: Everything. Katy was everything they wanted to be and never would be. Maybe, if Katy wasn't around anymore, they might have a shot at the limelight. Maybe.

Detective Murphy: Did Katy have a boyfriend?

Cody Brown: Yeah, Tim Howorth.

Detective Murphy: Sounds like you're not a fan.

Cody Brown: He thinks he's so special.

Detective Armstrong: Did Katy think so too?

Cody Brown: Yeah. I don't know what she saw in him, but she loved him, so that was that.

Detective Armstrong: Did he love her?

Cody Brown: How could he not? I keep telling you. Everybody did.

Detective Armstrong: Even Jennifer and Sherry.

Cody Brown: Deep down, they did too. The feelings just got all mixed up because of their jealousy. It wasn't about Katy. It was about them.

Detective Murphy: Where were you yesterday morning?

Cody Brown: I was at home sleeping. Mom came in my room and woke me up to tell me that Katy had gotten hurt on the path. I thought Katy must've fallen or something.

Detective Armstrong: Did you see Katy at any time earlier that day?

Cody Brown: No.

Detective Murphy: All right, thank you, Cody. I know this wasn't easy to talk about. That's all we need for right now, but we might want to talk to you again later. Would that be okay with you?

Cody Brown: Yeah, I guess so.

Interview ended — 11:18 a.m.