Deborah Eaton interview #2

Thursday, August 31, 2023 – 10:40 a.m.

Deborah Eaton is a student at the University of Mississippi and is dating Hunter Nelson.

Detectives Armstrong and Murphy re-interviewed her at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Deborah Eaton

Detective Armstrong: Good morning, Ms. Eaton. How are you today?

Deborah Eaton: Okay, I guess. Just why am I here again? You've harassed Hunter. Now you're starting on me.

Detective Murphy: We aren't harassing anyone, Ms. Eaton. We're just following the evidence, but first, please state your name and address for the record.

Deborah Eaton: You know perfectly well who I am and where I live!

Detective Armstrong: Take it easy, Miss Eaton. The sooner you cooperate, the sooner you can get out of here.

Deborah Eaton: Deborah Eaton, Hefley Hall on campus.

Detective Murphy: Thank you, Ms. Eaton — may I call you Debby?

Deborah Eaton: Sure, everybody else does. Why not you?

Detective Murphy: Now, as you know, Debby, our investigation is ongoing. However, we haven't been able to eliminate you as a suspect. Tell me why it couldn't have been you who killed Kristi Waterson.

Deborah Eaton: Because it wasn't me! You can't have anything that shows it could have been me.

Detective Armstrong: Tell us again where you were the night Kristi Waterson was killed.

Deborah Eaton: Hunter and I were at his place all evening—and night—the night Kristi was killed. Why do I have to keep telling you that?

Detective Armstrong: You're lying, Debby. We know it, and you know it.

Deborah Eaton: I am not! How can you—

Detective Murphy: Debby, we've discovered some things that show Hunter was not there all evening, as you said.

Deborah Eaton: That's not true!

Detective Armstrong: Murphy, let's just arrest her and be done with this.

Deborah Eaton: You can't arrest me. I haven't done anything!

Detective Murphy: Debby, we know Hunter wasn't there, okay? What we want to know is how much you were involved, if maybe Hunter forced you to do or say something you didn't want to do or say.

Deborah Eaton: Like what?

Detective Armstrong: Like help him with what he did to Kristi Waterson

Deborah Eaton: You're full of it. You can't prove something that isn't true. I had nothing to do with Kristi's death. I was at Hunter's all evening. I never left that apartment from 5:00 p.m. until the next morning.

Detective Armstrong: But Hunter did leave, didn't he?

Deborah Eaton: How many times do I have to tell you he was with me at his apartment the whole evening and night?

Detective Armstrong: Let's just book her.

Detective Murphy: I'm afraid we have witnesses who saw him out that evening, Debby. You'd better tell us what really happened. If you had nothing to do with the murder, then you have nothing to fear by telling the truth.

Deborah Eaton: I am—

Detective Armstrong: Do you know what being an accessory to murder can get you, Ms. Eaton?

Deborah Eaton: Hunter had nothing to do with it. I know Hunter. He never could have done that.

Detective Murphy: But you know he wasn't with you all evening. Wouldn't you rather tell us what really happened than be charged as an accessory to murder?

Deborah Eaton: Accessory to— but I had nothing to do with a murder. I really was at his place all evening. I never went out.

Detective Murphy: But Hunter went out, didn't he? We already know he did, so your answer won't tell us anything about him that we don't already know. It will tell us something about you, though.

Deborah Eaton: I don't want to get into trouble—

Detective Armstrong: You're in trouble already.

Detective Murphy: Talk to us, and we may be able to help you out of it.

Deborah Eaton: Yes, he went out to get some pot for us, but he wasn't gone very long. I was afraid to tell you 'cause I didn't want to get in trouble about the marijuana, but I don't know anything about the murder. You have to believe me!

Detective Murphy: Where did Hunter say he went to buy the marijuana, Debby?

Deborah Eaton: I don't know! Honestly. I didn't ask, and he didn't tell me.

Detective Armstrong: What did he say when he left?

Deborah Eaton: That he was going to go score something for both of us.

Detective Murphy: And how did he seem when he left? What was his mood?

Deborah Eaton: Seem? He was okay. There wasn't anything wrong with him.

Detective Armstrong: Did you go with him?

Deborah Eaton: No, I waited at the apartment. He said there was no need for us both to go. I figured he didn't want me to know who he was doing business with.

Detective Murphy: What time did he leave, Debby?

Deborah Eaton: I don't know exactly. It was sometime after we had finished the movie.

Detective Armstrong: How long was he gone?

Deborah Eaton: Not very long at all. Not even an hour.

Detective Armstrong: What did he have on?

Deborah Eaton: Like I told you before, a blue shirt and khakis. And his silly ball cap. And his tennis shoes.

Detective Murphy: What else did he take with him?

Deborah Eaton: His wallet, I guess. He must have.

Detective Armstrong: And what color was the bag?

Deborah Eaton: What bag?

Detective Murphy: Did Hunter take his gym bag or duffel bag with him?

Deborah Eaton: No. At least, I didn't see him take it.

Detective Armstrong: But you saw him go out the door?

Deborah Eaton: Yes.

Detective Murphy: Did he have the bag then?

Deborah Eaton: No. He didn't carry a bag out.

Detective Armstrong: You said he picked you up that night, correct?

Deborah Eaton: Yes, just before 5:00 p.m.

Detective Murphy: And did he have a bag then?

Deborah Eaton: I didn't see any bag in his car.

Detective Murphy: How did he act when he returned? Did he say or do anything out of the ordinary?

Deborah Eaton: Just like he always did: calm, cool, and collected.

Detective Armstrong: So he got back and took the pot out of his bag, and then what?

Deborah Eaton: No, he got back and took the baggie of pot out of his pocket. Then we got high. Then we got the munchies, and after we ate, we went to bed. I just know he couldn't have been mixed up in this in any way!

Detective Murphy: Has Hunter purchased drugs from this source before?

Deborah Eaton: I don't know. He doesn't tell me where he gets it.

Detective Murphy: But you two have gotten high together before?

Deborah Eaton: Yes.

Detective Armstrong: Did you and Hunter ever have sex in the front seat of his car?

Deborah Eaton: What? Not that it's any of your business, but no.

Detective Murphy: Okay, Debby, that's all we need from you for today. But we may be talking to you again.

Deborah Eaton: I can go?

Detective Armstrong: For now.

Interview ended – 11:13 a.m.