Jolene Wright interview #2

Tuesday, April 25, 2023 – 4:50 p.m.

Jolene Wright, a waitress at The Rebel Yell, has been identified as the woman seen with Charles Tatum at Mugshots on the night of April 12, 2023.

Detectives Armstrong and Murphy interviewed her at the Yoknapatawpha County Detention Center, where she is in custody on larceny charges.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Jolene Wright

Detective Murphy: Tell us your name and address.

Jolene Wright: Y'all done talked to me before. You should know it by now.

Detective Murphy: It's for the record. Official recording and all that.

Detective Armstrong: Don't waste our time, girl. Just answer the question.

Jolene Wright: Okay. I'm Jolene Wright, and I live at 805 College Hill.

Detective Murphy: We're here to discuss the murder of Charles Tatum.

Jolene Wright: I told you already that I don't know anything about that.

Detective Armstrong: And you were lying when you said that. So this time, tell us the truth.

Jolene Wright: I was not lying!

Detective Armstrong: Yes, you were! Now quit wasting our damn time and answer the—

Detective Murphy: Easy, Ted. Look, Jolene. I'm going to be very plain and very precise for you. You are in a world of trouble. You can keep pretending that you don't know anything about Detective Tatum's death, but the fact is that we have evidence that proves you used his credit card.

Detective Armstrong: Hell, we found the damn card in your apartment!

Detective Murphy: You've admitted to sleeping with Detective Tatum on the night of his death, although you claim he was still alive when you left. So then, did you just outright steal from him?

Jolene Wright: No, I didn't steal from him!

Detective Armstrong: Then how did you get the card?

Jolene Wright: I, uh, I just…

Detective Murphy: Enough! I'm as fed up with you as Detective Armstrong is. We've got video surveillance of you using a dead man's credit card. We found the dead man's credit card in your apartment. And wow, you just happened to be the last person who ever saw him alive. Isn't that convenient? Why on earth would we not arrest you for the murder of Charles Tatum?

Jolene Wright: No, it wasn't like that. I, uh, it just—

Detective Armstrong: Do you realize what happens to cop killers, Jolene? You will die in prison. And that's the best-case scenario. Life in prison. You're what, 24? 25? Think about spending the next 50 years in the penitentiary. Is that what you want?

Jolene Wright: No!

Detective Armstrong: Then you better come on with it!

Jolene Wright: I— no, I can't. I can't.

Detective Murphy: You can't what?

Jolene Wright: I can't. I don't want to talk to you anymore. I want to go back to my cell.

Detective Armstrong: We aren't finished with—

Detective Murphy: No, Ted, it's okay. If Jolene prefers to be in a cell, we should let her go there. She might as well start getting used to it now since it looks like she'll be spending the rest of her life in one. We can check in again with her next week. Come next Tuesday or Wednesday, after she's been in here a week or so, it may turn out she doesn't like it so much.

Jolene Wright: I'm not going to be in jail for the rest of my life. I'm not even going to be in jail for the rest of the week!

Detective Murphy: Oh, really?

Jolene Wright: He won't let— it's not going to happen.

Detective Armstrong: You think so? Well, tell me this, girl. You've been in here two days already. This knight in shining armor you think is coming to save you? How come he hasn't bailed you out yet? Why are you still sitting in jail if he's so all-fired to rescue you?

Jolene Wright: I— Shut up! You don't understand. I want to go back to my cell.

Detective Murphy: Good for you, Jolene. That's the spirit! Embrace your future. We'll see you next week.

Interview ended – 5:12 p.m.