Status report
YOKNAPATAWPHA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
Investigating Officer(s): Det. P. Beckwith, Det. J. Magee
Incident No.: 005299-18J-2023
Case Description: Hoyt Biffle homicide investigation
Investigators attempted to verify witnesses' whereabouts between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on October 18, 2023.
INVESTIGATION STATUS REPORT SUMMARY
All detailed reports on file.
Laughlin
Subject: Chas Laughlin
Stated Alibi: At his auto shop all day until 7:00 p.m.
Officer Richards spoke with three employees at Laughlin Automotive and Body Shop, all of whom confirmed that Mr. Laughlin was on-site "the whole time until 7:00."
Investigative Action
None needed.
Puckett, A.
Subject: Alden Puckett
Stated Alibi: Working at Ole Miss but left early, afraid he was going to be murdered. He did not specify the time of his early departure.
Officer Richards spoke with the Dean of Computer Science, Richard Oakden, who confirmed that he saw Mr. Puckett on campus just after lunch at 1:00 p.m. but could not say for certain whether Mr. Puckett conducted his 3:30 p.m. Computer Organization and Assembly Language class. Mr. Puckett's TA was unavailable at the time of Officer Richards's visit.
Investigative Action
Continue efforts to uncover witnesses or other information that will confirm or refute the alibi of Alden Puckett by revisiting the Ole Miss Computer Sciences department and speaking with Mr. Puckett's TA.
Puckett, J.
Subject: June Puckett
Stated Alibi: Left her house at 3:30 p.m. to meet friends at Chancellor's, where she stayed one hour past closing, leaving at 5:00 p.m.
Officer Vittel spoke to the manager at Chancellor's, who verified that Mrs. Puckett was in the restaurant with friends and provided the receipt from her credit card time-stamped 4:54 p.m. on October 18, 2023. The manager described Mrs. Puckett as a regular and valued customer and said it is not unusual for her to meet friends and stay past closing.
Officer Richards spoke with Ms. Puckett's friend, Claire Johnson, who confirmed that she was at Chancellor's with Ms. Puckett from "3:30-ish" until "a little after 5:00" and that Ms. Puckett was "happy, content, and the perfect hostess, as usual."
Investigative Action
None needed.
Tarver
Subject: Birdie Tarver
Stated Alibi: Initially said she was at the home of her boyfriend, Don Walker, until 6:00 p.m.
Detectives spoke with Mr. Walker and his employee, Sophia Summerset, both of whom refuted Ms. Tarver's alibi. When told her alibi did not hold up, Ms. Tarver then claimed to have been at "goat yoga" and said she had lied because she was embarrassed.
Investigative Action
Contact goat yoga instructor known as "Cherish Peace."
Report filed 10/24/2023, 5:15 p.m. by Det. P. Beckwith, 641, and Det. J. Magee, 654
