Marti Scarr interview

Wednesday, March 15, 2023 – 10:08 a.m.

Marti Scarr is a registered nurse and Shannon Bower's live-in partner. 

Detectives Armstrong and Murphy talked to her at her residence, which she co-owns with Shannon Bower, while other investigators were executing a search warrant there.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Marti Scarr

Detective Armstrong: Good morning, Ms. Scarr. Thank you for talking to us.

Marti Scarr: Well, you're here, and I'm off today, so I guess it's no problem.

Detective Murphy: Ms. Scarr, before we begin, will you please state your name and address for the record?

Marti Scarr: Marti Scarr. I live at 12 Bonnie Blue Drive.

Detective Armstrong: You share a home with Shannon Bower?

Marti Scarr: Yes, detective. We're life partners.

Detective Murphy: I see. Then you're probably familiar with her schedule and movements.

Marti Scarr: Well, we aren't joined at the hip, but we treat each other with consideration as far as knowing each other's schedules.

Detective Armstrong: We're interested in Ms. Bower's schedule on March 5th. For example, what time did she leave home to go to the HOA meeting?

Marti Scarr: Well, she likes to get there a few minutes early, and the meetings start at 5:00 p.m., so she must have left around 4:45 p.m. I didn't notice exactly.

Detective Murphy: Are you guessing, or is that the correct time?

Marti Scarr: I have to admit, I'm guessing. We'd been working in our yard, and she stopped to clean up. Then she just called out to me when she was leaving. I really didn't notice the exact time.

Detective Armstrong: And what time did she return home?

Marti Scarr: It was almost exactly 7:30 p.m. That I did notice because I had started the coals in the grill at 7:00 p.m. so the fire would be ready for the steaks at 7:30 p.m. I was actually watching the time.

Detective Armstrong: Did Ms. Bower go out again that evening?

Marti Scarr: No, we had a glass of wine, enjoyed our dinner, and stayed home all evening.

Detective Murphy: Did Ms. Bower seem upset?

Marti Scarr: Yes, she told me about Ambrose and the website. It really ticked her off. She said she was thinking of stopping him legally.

Detective Armstrong: Ms. Scarr, are you a physical therapist too?

Marti Scarr: No. Unlike Shannon, I like working with seriously ill patients. I'm a registered nurse in the ICU at the hospital.

Detective Murphy: Oh, then you must be familiar with the effects of someone ingesting isopropyl alcohol.

Marti Scarr: I know it's not good, but a person can survive if they get treatment.

Detective Armstrong: And if they don't?

Marti Scarr: Well, like any toxin, it can be fatal if they're exposed to enough of it. Isopropanol can be toxic even from topical application. That's why we don't give alcohol sponge baths for fever anymore. It's just safer to use other methods.

Detective Armstrong: But you keep rubbing alcohol in your home?

Marti Scarr: Well, sure. It's useful in first aid as an antiseptic or to help stop bleeding from minor injuries, things like that. Detective, can I say something?

Detective Murphy: Of course. What is it?

Marti Scarr: Shannon is a mouthy one, and sometimes it gets her in trouble. But I know she would never hurt another human being, She was mad at Ambrose because it seemed like he was always going out of his way to hassle us, but she did all her fighting with words. She would never actually harm anyone. She is caring and compassionate and … well, I guess that's all.

Detective Armstrong: Thank you for talking to us, Ms. Scarr. We can assure you if Ms. Bower had nothing to do with Ambrose Garrett's death, she has nothing to worry about.

Interview ended – 10:17 a.m.