Christy Arnold interview #2

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 – 4:40 p.m.

The victim, Spenser Brooks, contacted Christy Arnold shortly before he was killed.

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

Participants:

• Detective J. Magee
• Detective S. Murphy
• Christy Arnold

Detective Murphy: Thanks for coming in again, Christy.

Christy Arnold: Is something wrong?

Detective Murphy: Hang on. Can you state your name and address again for the record?

Christy Arnold: Oh. Sorry. Christine Faye Arnold, 701 South 19th Street.

Detective Murphy: Thanks. We asked you here because we wanted to ask just a few more questions about your relationship with Spenser Brooks.

Christy Arnold: Okay. I've got a class in about an hour, so I need to get out of here in time for that, but whatever I can do to help.

Detective Murphy: Great. Last time we talked, you said you and he were friends around the office. Is that right?

Christy Arnold: Sure, friends.

Detective Murphy: You said sometimes you'd go to his office and talk about cases. Did you ever do anything else?

Christy Arnold: Oh, no. What do you mean? We were just friends. We just talked, like I said. I guess you could say I admired him, and he liked my work. I'm not careless like some of the others.

Detective Murphy: No, I'm sure you’re very careful.

Christy Arnold: What?

Detective Magee: Did you ever see him outside the office?

Christy Arnold: Outside … you mean socially? No. Not really. I never met his family, if that's what you mean. We really only ever talked about work. A couple times, I asked him for advice about my career. I'm getting a paralegal certificate.

Detective Magee: You never went out?

Christy Arnold: Oh, no. Nothing like that. He's married.

Detective Murphy: Christy, think back carefully. You and he never got together outside the office?

Christy Arnold: Wait. Why are you asking this? Did someone tell you— I mean, what did you hear?

Detective Magee: Tell us what?

Christy Arnold: Nothing.

Detective Murphy: Come on, Christy. You're smart. You've got to know this act isn't helping anyone. Why don't you just tell us that you and Spenser Brooks were having an affair?

Christy Arnold: No. Oh, no. That's not true. Maybe that's what those office gossips said, but it's a lie.

Detective Magee: Then why would they say it?

Christy Arnold: They're just jealous because he liked my work. They can't see I'm better at the job than they are, so they make up an explanation. You know? They teased me about it all the time, but it didn't mean anything. I mean, he's married.

Detective Murphy: Okay, so then why are your fingerprints in Spenser's car?

Christy Arnold: His car?

Detective Murphy: You heard me.

Christy Arnold: I don't know. I mean, I guess we went to lunch a couple of times. During work. On our lunch break.

Detective Murphy: You guess?

Christy Arnold: No, we did. We went to lunch two or three times. Just takeout, like from a deli. We would eat back at the office. It wasn't anything romantic.

Detective Murphy: Did he ever take any of the other clerks out to lunch like that?

Christy Arnold: No.

Detective Murphy: What about his other colleagues?

Christy Arnold: No, I don't think so, but honestly, I wouldn't know. I didn't really know him that well.

Detective Magee: You keep saying that.

Detective Murphy: You never ate lunch anywhere else together?

Christy Arnold: No. What do you mean?

Detective Murphy: You never went on a picnic?

Christy Arnold: No. Why would we— and, I mean, that's not the kind of thing we did together.

Detective Magee: Okay, Christy. Last time we talked, you said you'd been to Wall Doxey State Park where Spenser was killed.

Christy Arnold: Yeah, a few times.

Detective Murphy: When was the last time you were there?

Christy Arnold: Oh, I don't know. I can't remember. A while ago.

Detective Murphy: You weren't there Saturday morning?

Christy Arnold: No. Wait, this is crazy.

Detective Murphy: Is it?

Detective Magee: Have you ever been in Cabin Seven?

Christy Arnold: Cabin … why do you ask?

Detective Murphy: Yes or no, Christy.

Christy Arnold: I might have been.

Detective Murphy: Can't you remember?

Christy Arnold: I stayed there a couple times with friends. You know, party by the lake, that kind of thing. It was a cabin, but I don't know which one. It was a couple years ago.

Detective Murphy: You haven't been there in the past year?

Christy Arnold: No.

Detective Magee: Have you ever been out there to play poker?

Christy Arnold: Like, gambling poker? No.

Detective Magee: Tell the truth, Christy.

Christy Arnold: Why do you keep pressuring me?

Detective Magee: Because you're holding something back. Aren't you?

Christy Arnold: No. Wait. I want to stop. I mean, I think I want an attorney.

Detective Murphy: Okay, if that's the way you want to handle it, Christy. We thought we were just having a friendly conversation here.

Christy Arnold: No. No, we're not. You think— I can't even say it. It's so awful.

Detective Murphy: Well, then, set us straight.

Christy Arnold: No. I know my rights. I don’t want to say anything else without an attorney.

Detective Murphy: All right. We'll be in touch.

Interview ended – 5:07 p.m.