Paul Evans interview #2

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 – 1:00 p.m.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Paul Evans

Detective Murphy: For the record, could you please state your name and address?

Paul Evans: My name is Paul Evans. I live at 620 Main Street in Abbeville.

Detective Murphy: Still at the Abbeville address?

Paul Evans: Yes, ma'am.

Detective Armstrong: Mr. Evans, thanks for coming on in. We really appreciate your time. You know, we've got a few follow-up questions for you. This shouldn't take too long.

Paul Evans: Okay. Go ahead. Shoot.

Detective Murphy: Where and when did you meet Miguel Ochoa?

Paul Evans: I met him when I was working in Tunica, probably about five years ago. We were both working for Hawthorne Development. And we both realized that we lived in Oxford, so we decided we were going to carpool, save on gas. We became pretty fast friends and stayed that way ever since.

Detective Murphy: Just one of those instant connections?

Paul Evans: Yes, ma'am. It just happens that way sometimes, you know?

Detective Murphy: Okay. Did you have any knowledge that either Becky or Cheryl might be pregnant?

Paul Evans: Becky? Pregnant? No, I'd have no idea about that.

Detective Murphy: Why not?

Paul Evans: Well, as far as I know, Becky wasn't seeing anybody, so that'd mean either she had some sort of a one-night stand, which really isn't her style, or she'd been seeing somebody on the sly, which also isn't her style. You know, Becky isn't really the type of person to keep secrets, if you know what I mean.

Detective Murphy: Some people seem to think that she was seeing you on the sly.

Paul Evans: That's just plain stupid. Now, look. I loved Kimberly. I would never go out on her, least of all with her little sister. You know, I'd like to know who's spreading these types of rumors.

Detective Murphy: Did you know that Kimberly thought she was pregnant?

Paul Evans: Now that's just bull. She didn't think she was pregnant. If she did, she would have told me. What, do you guys think I'm stupid or something? Look, she and nobody else thought that Kimberly was pregnant. You guys must really be trying to mess with my mind.

Detective Murphy: You sure about that?

Paul Evans: Look, I know you guys are just trying to figure out what happened to Kimberly, and I guess I can see why it would be easy to suspect me. And it would be convenient for you to blame the boyfriend, but I'm telling you. You're wrong. You're just plain wrong! I loved Kimberly, and she loved me. Why is that so hard for you to believe?

Detective Armstrong: Okay. Okay, Paul, simmer down. You're absolutely sure Kimberly wasn't pregnant?

Paul Evans: I'm absolutely sure that if she thought she was pregnant, she would have told me. She was a good girl. She didn't lie or sneak around. You guys can say what you want about me, but I will not let you sit here and badmouth her! She was— she was really a good girl and not some sneaky— sneaky snake-in-the-grass.

Detective Murphy: We aren't trying to defame Dr. Pace.

Paul Evans: Really? Well, that's what it sounds like to me. Look. I know that people talk. Why? Probably because they have nothing better to do with their time than do that. You know, just like when they were making up stories about how she was going out and sleeping with her students. I didn't believe that then, and I don't believe this now, man!

Detective Armstrong: Okay. All right. Got it. How about Cheryl? Was she pregnant?

Paul Evans: How the hell would I know if Cheryl was pregnant? She didn't talk to me about those sorts of things. You know, she was seeing somebody. She was seeing Tommy Quinn, I think. And so she could have been. But even if she was or thought she was, she would have told Becky or Kimberly, not me.

Detective Armstrong: So, Kimberly or Becky didn't mention anything like that to you?

Paul Evans: No. No, that's girl talk. And even if they did, I wouldn't expect— I really wouldn't have expected them to anyways.

Detective Armstrong: Okay, new topic. What was your relationship like with Lila Lawson?

Paul Evans: Well, she owns the studio where I put up my show, and she helped me get the whole thing together.

Detective Murphy: Did you ever bring her to Kimberly's house?

Paul Evans: Yes, once. She came over to pick out the items for the show, and I showed her around the shop.

Detective Murphy: When was this?

Paul Evans: Probably a couple months ago before I moved out of Kimberly's. It was on a Saturday, and she came over and picked out the items.

Detective Armstrong: Was Kimberly there at the time?

Paul Evans: Yeah. She even helped out a little bit. Afterwards, we all sat around, had some coffee and talked.

Detective Murphy: Did Ms. Lawson ever come by that house again after that?

Paul Evans: Not that I know of.

Detective Armstrong: So, you never met there for a romantic tryst?

Paul Evans: A romantic tryst? Are you serious? With Lila? Come on! Come on.

Detective Armstrong: Were you aware that Lila might have had a thing for you? Was romantically interested in you?

Paul Evans: If she was, she never mentioned anything like that to me. Now I'm a pretty simple guy, I tell you. I had my work and Kimberly, and that's all I cared about. If some other woman was looking at me in that way, I never took no mind to it.

Detective Armstrong: What about the rumors of Kimberly and her students? Were there any names mentioned about who she might have been sleeping with?

Paul Evans: I can't believe you keep bringing this up. Names? I'm telling you, I don't know any. You know—okay, Carter. I heard somebody mention the guy, that Carter fellow. Like, he wrote that damned article because she broke up with him or something like that.

Detective Armstrong: So there was speculation that Carter Nichols wrote the article about Kimberly because she rebuked his advances?

Paul Evans: Yes. Now, look. I know people make up stories, probably because they have nothing better to do with their time. You know, like it was just so hard to believe that Carter wrote that article because he was just a little son-of-a-bitch? You know, they have to make someone else responsible for it. Make someone else to blame for what he done when it was his fault.

Detective Murphy: Okay. Okay, Mr. Evans. We get it. When did you start moving your bowls and things to the gallery for the show?

Paul Evans: Thursday before the show, maybe on Friday too.

Detective Murphy: Was Kimberly there when you did it?

Paul Evans: No, she was at work.

Detective Murphy: Anybody help you move them?

Paul Evans: Yes, Miguel helped me move them. We used his car. Took several trips, maybe ten, to get everything over there.

Detective Armstrong: And Lila wasn't there at Kimberly's with you during this time? Helping or anything?

Paul Evans: No! Just Miguel.

Detective Armstrong: Okay.

Paul Evans: Okay? So that's it?

Detective Armstrong: Yep, unless you've got something you want to add that you think we should know.

Paul Evans: Okay. I just want to put on the record that Kimberly was a very good girl. She didn't lie or cheat, and I don't care what any of the folks you talk to say about her. She doesn't deserve to be badmouthed like this. Someone took her life away, and she didn't deserve that either. I want you guys to do your damn job.

Detective Armstrong: Okay, Paul. Thanks. If we have any more questions, we'll contact you.

Paul Evans: All right.

Interview ended – 1:14 p.m.