Jillian Ross interview

Sunday, January 24, 2021 – 10:02 a.m.

Jill Ross is the Senior Assistant DA in the Yoknapatawpha County District Attorney's Office.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Jillian Ross

Detective Armstrong: Please state your name and current address for the record.

Jill Ross: Thank you. My name is Jillian Ross, but please call me Jill. My address is 390 Elm Street, Oxford.

Detective Murphy: How long have you lived in Oxford, Jill?

Jill Ross: Most of my life.

Detective Armstrong: Sounds like you aren't too happy to be here?

Jill Ross: Someday, I'd like to move on to bigger and better things, but for now, I have family to take care of here.

Detective Murphy: I understand that Mayor Windham has asked you to serve as Acting District Attorney until they can hold a special election. It must be daunting to try to fill Spenser's shoes in light of everything.

Jill Ross: Fill his shoes? I think not. I should've been the DA all along. Now that I am, I fully intend to use this opportunity to show what I can do.

Detective Armstrong: Sounds like the murder of DA has been a good thing for you, then?

Jill Ross: I wouldn't put it quite like that, but yes, you could say so.

Detective Murphy: How did you get along with Spenser?

Jill Ross: Neutral. We certainly were not each other's favorites, but we respected each other as colleagues.

Detective Murphy: What does that mean?

Jill Ross: Look, the fact of the matter is, I couldn't stand the man, but trust me on this. I was not the only one.

Detective Murphy: Surely he had friends in the office?

Jill Ross: I cannot name a single one.

Detective Murphy: Is that what other people in the office will tell us?

Jill Ross: Of course. Why wouldn't they?

Detective Murphy: How do you get along with your co-workers?

Jill Ross: Very well. We're a team.

Detective Murphy: A team that hates the captain?

Jill Ross: Hate is a strong word, detective.

Detective Murphy: Can you tell us what it was about Spenser Brooks that made you and your co-workers dislike him so much?

Jill Ross: You knew the man. I shouldn't have to explain that to you.

Detective Armstrong: Where were you yesterday?

Jill Ross: I was at home, alone.

Detective Armstrong: Did you see anyone? Talk to anyone?

Jill Ross: I have no one who can vouch for my whereabouts yesterday, but I assure you I was nowhere near Wall Doxey Park. I was working in my home office all day, drawing up indictments, actually. I do believe I can point you in the proper direction of who had a motive, though, if you're interested.

Detective Armstrong: Oh, we are definitely interested.

Jill Ross: We have been working diligently on the corruption probe of Alderman Collins. Any one of Collins' people or even Collins himself will benefit from Spenser's death.

Detective Armstrong: How so?

Jill Ross: Our investigation will be delayed, obviously. And no doubt the alderman's attorneys will use this murder as a red herring to try to undermine the probe.

Detective Armstrong: Uh-huh. Is there anyone else who had a motive to kill DA Brooks?

Jill Ross: I understand that a recently released prisoner told his fellow inmates that when he got out, he would get his revenge on the DA who sent him to jail. I know for a fact that that DA was our Spenser Brooks.

Detective Armstrong: Was Spenser aware of this threat?

Jill Ross: He was.

Detective Armstrong: Did he take any precautions when the prisoner was released?

Jill Ross: He refused. He said he wasn't going to let an ex-con intimidate him.

Detective Armstrong: I see. Do you happen to know the prisoner's name?

Jill Ross: Of course, I do. It's Kyle Ferguson.

Detective Armstrong: Oh yes, I remember that case. He said pretty much that same thing as they were leading him out of the courtroom the day he was convicted.

Jill Ross: Listen, I have a lot of work to do to prepare for tomorrow. It's going to be a brutal day. Are we about finished for now?

Detective Armstrong: Thanks for the information. Before you go, what kind of car do you drive?

Jill Ross: A Mercedes SUV.

Detective Armstrong: And where was that vehicle yesterday?

Jill Ross: It was sitting in my driveway all day. Good day to you both. You can reach me in the district attorney's office if you need anything else.

Detective Murphy: Thanks again. We'll be in touch.

Interview ended – 10:26 a.m.