Felicia McGraw interview

Wednesday, January 11, 2023 – 2:33 p.m.

Felicia McGraw is a gastroenterologist with privileges at Baptist Memorial Hospital, like Dr. Veronica Smith.

Detective Armstrong interviewed Dr. McGraw in a consultation room at the hospital while Detective Murphy continued canvassing other employees.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Felicia McGraw

Detective Armstrong: State your name and address for the record, please.

Felicia McGraw: I'm Felicia McGraw, and I live at 429 Turnberry Court.

Detective Armstrong: In the hallway, you told me you thought a Ruthie Foreman might have been sending threatening text messages to Dr. Smith. Is that right?

Felicia McGraw: Yes, it is.

Detective Armstrong: Why do you suspect Ms. Foreman?

Felicia McGraw: It was readily apparent to everyone here that Ruthie did not care for Dr. Smith.

Detective Armstrong: Is that the only reason?

Felicia McGraw: No. Ruthie is the head surgical nurse, so she has access to all the doctors' contact information.

Detective Armstrong: So then, if a person wanted a doctor's personal number, they'd simply ask Ms. Foreman, and they could get that information?

Felicia McGraw: No, she isn't supposed to give the numbers out. If someone needed to contact any of the doctors, Ruthie is one of the few people who could make that call for them.

Detective Armstrong: Why did Dr. Smith think she and Foreman were friends?

Felicia McGraw: Oh no, I never said they were friends. I said Veronica thought they got along well. She seemed oblivious to the fact that Ruthie didn't like her. Ruthie was always professional and respectful when she spoke to Veronica, but everything else was another story altogether.

Detective Armstrong: Everything else, such as?

Felicia McGraw: Well, Ruthie is too much of a professional to say anything disparaging within earshot of patients or other doctors. She may confide in the nurses, but I don't know that for sure. It's more in her behavior, the expressions on her face, the way she carries herself.

Detective Armstrong: Meaning?

Felicia McGraw: Whenever Veronica was around, everything about Ruthie except her words just screamed disgust and dislike. Anyone could see it. Well, except Veronica. It probably never occurred to her to pay attention to Ruthie's body language. That just wasn't the way her mind worked.

Detective Armstrong: Did you know anything about Dr. Smith's car being vandalized?

Felicia McGraw: The tires?

Detective Armstrong: Yes.

Felicia McGraw: Yes, which is when I started thinking it was Ruthie.

Detective Armstrong: Correct me if I'm wrong. You started thinking the text messages could be from Ms. Foreman after Dr. Smith's tires were slashed?

Felicia McGraw: Yes.

Detective Armstrong: Why?

Felicia McGraw: It seems logical. I assumed that since the tires were slashed on hospital property, the person threatening Veronica must work here. Given that, Ruthie would, in my opinion, be the culprit.

Detective Armstrong: If you think she's capable of this type of vandalism, do you also think she could physically harm Dr. Smith?

Felicia McGraw: Oh, good lord, no!

Detective Armstrong: What makes you so sure?

Felicia McGraw: I'm an excellent judge of character. I don't believe Ruthie would physically hurt anyone. It's just not in her nature. I'm sorry. Is that all? I really need to get back to work now.

Detective Armstrong: I understand. Thank you, and if you hear anything else, please let us know.

Felicia McGraw: Will do.

Interview ended – 2:42 p.m.