Wesley Brooks interview

Sunday, January 24, 2021 – 1:37 p.m.

Wesley Brooks is the victim's son.

Detectives Armstrong and Beckwith interviewed him at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective P. Beckwith
• Wesley Brooks

Detective Beckwith: Good afternoon, Mr. Brooks. Please take a seat. We're sorry for your loss.

Wesley Brooks: Thank you, detective. It was a real shock to me and Mom.

Detective Beckwith: Before we get started, please state your name and address for the record.

Wesley Brooks: My name is Wesley Brooks, and I live at 439 Chandler Avenue in Oxford. Can you call me Wesley? Mr. Brooks sounds like my dad. 

Detective Beckwith: All right, Wesley. When was the last time you saw your father?

Wesley Brooks: Friday night, I guess, around 6:00 p.m. I went out with some friends and got home late, so I was asleep when he left the house yesterday.

Detective Armstrong: You don't live on campus?

Wesley Brooks: No, I do, but I needed to do laundry, and, well …

Detective Armstrong: You figured if you brought it home, your mom would do it for you?

Wesley Brooks: Something like that, I guess.

Detective Armstrong: What did you talk about when you saw him?

Wesley Brooks: The usual. How's school? Stuff like that. I was going out, and he was coming in, so it was quick.

Detective Armstrong: You were in a hurry?

Wesley Brooks: Kinda, but he was on his way to the shower. He always takes a shower when he gets home from work since he started working at the DA's office. He says he needs to wash off the dirt of the job before he spends time with his family. Ha!

Detective Armstrong: You sound angry. Can you tell us why?

Wesley Brooks: Sure, I'm plenty angry. He didn't spend hardly any time with me. He was always too busy with a case. His job came first, and me and mom came second. Now, I'll never get to spend time with him.

Detective Beckwith: Wesley, can we get you some water?

Wesley Brooks: No, I'm fine. Go ahead with your questions.

Detective Beckwith: Did you and your father ever have one of those father-and-son talks about things going on in his life? Maybe something he might not have mentioned to your mother because he didn't want to worry her?

Wesley Brooks: My father never said anything to me about things going on in his life. If something was worrying him, he never showed it, and he sure didn't share it with me. He was always too busy. Whenever we did talk, it was mostly about school.

Detective Armstrong: Did your mother ever mention anything that concerned her about your father's job?

Wesley Brooks: I'm sure she had a lot of concerns, but we never discussed them. Our family is pretty high speed. Dad had his work, Mom was deep into her theatre and volunteer work, and school really tied me down. But I did overhear Dad say something to her about Jill Ross. She works with him. He said Jill wanted his job, and he knew she would do anything to try and get it.

Detective Armstrong: Did your mother and father ever argue?

Wesley: I heard them argue a few times. When they did, it was usually because my dad was late for dinner. Mom did theatre at night, and if my dad was late, it made her late. I don't think I ever heard them argue over anything serious.

Detective Armstrong: Have you ever been to Wall Doxey Park?

Wesley Brooks: We went there a lot when I was a kid, but not lately.

Detective Armstrong: Did you ever stay in a cabin?

Wesley Brooks: No.

Detective Beckwith: Wesley, tell us about your uncle, Byron.

Wesley Brooks: He's a good guy, but the total opposite of my dad.

Detective Beckwith: Did that cause any problems?

Wesley Brooks: Yeah, kinda. They definitely argued over Grandmother Brooks.

Detective Beckwith: What about her?

Wesley Brooks: She and Uncle Byron live in Tennessee, so Dad couldn't see her very much. Mostly, Uncle Bryon said Dad wasn't doing his share with Grandmother. Dad said Uncle Byron just wants to get his hands on Grandmother's estate, and that's why he took her away from Oxford.

Detective Beckwith: They told you all of that?

Wesley Brooks: No, I overheard them arguing on the phone. I guess Dad didn't know I was there because he had it on speaker.

Detective Beckwith: When was this?

Wesley Brooks: I don't know. A couple weeks ago, maybe?

Detective Armstrong: When was the last time you saw your uncle?

Wesley Brooks: This morning.

Detective Armstrong: How about before that?

Wesley Brooks: He came by the house yesterday looking for Dad.

Detective Armstrong: Do you know why he wanted to see your father?

Wesley Brooks: He said he wanted to talk about Grandmother Brooks.

Detective Armstrong: Did he seem angry?

Wesley Brooks: No, more like … stressed.

Detective Armstrong: Do you think your uncle is capable of hurting your father?

Wesley Brooks: No! I know Uncle Byron and Dad had their disagreements, but they loved each other. They were brothers.

Detective Beckwith: So, Wesley, what did you do yesterday?

Wesley Brooks: Nothing exciting. I got up. I got something to eat. I did my laundry. I went back to campus.

Detective Beckwith: Your mom didn't do your laundry for you?

Wesley Brooks: She helped when she got back.

Detective Beckwith: Where had she been?

Wesley Brooks: I don't know. Errands, she said.

Detective Beckwith: What time did she get back?

Wesley Brooks: I'm not sure. Noon? 1:00 p.m.? Does it matter?

Detective Beckwith: Did you see or talk to anyone else while your mom was out?

Wesley Brooks: No.

Detective Beckwith: Okay. Thanks again for coming in, Wesley. If you think of anything else we should know, please give us a call. Once again, we're very sorry for your loss.

Wesley Brooks: Thank you.

Interview ended – 2:08 p.m.