Angela Kramer interview

Saturday, January 14, 2023 – 10:00 a.m.

Angela Kramer is married to Dwight Kramer, an assistant administrator at Baptist Memorial Hospital.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong.
• Detective S. Murphy
• Angela Kramer

Detective Murphy: Good morning, Mrs. Kramer.

Angela Kramer: Good morning.

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

Angela Kramer: I'm Angela Kramer, and I live at 237 Sivley Street.

Detective Murphy: We just need to ask a couple of questions, Mrs. Kramer.

Angela Kramer: What is this about?

Detective Armstrong: Do you remember where your husband was on the evening of Friday, January 6th?

Angela Kramer: I kind of thought this was about the death of Dr. Smith. Yes, I do know where he was. Dwight came home from work after the kids and I had eaten. He came in, got the plate I'd left him, and went out to his workshop. He does that a lot, and we're used to it. He makes stained glass lamps.

Detective Armstrong: Was he working on his lamps that night?

Angela Kramer: Yes. He does that a lot of evenings. It gets his mind off of work and relaxes him.

Detective Murphy: Did you actually see him in the shop?

Angela Kramer: No, I didn't.

Detective Murphy: Did you or your kids go out to the shop to talk to him?

Angela Kramer: No, of course not. His job is very stressful, and he works very hard. He goes out there to be alone and recover from his day. But like I said, he does that quite often, and he always does what he says. He isn't a liar.

Detective Armstrong: So the truth is that you don't really know if he left the premises that evening. Right?

Angela Kramer: I didn't see him go anywhere, and he would never leave without telling me. So if you're thinking about blaming Dr. Smith's death on Dwight, forget it. He's a good man, and he would never do such a thing.

Detective Armstrong: What time did Mr. Kramer come in the house from his workshop?

Angela Kramer: I had made sure the kids were in bed and was just crawling under the covers when he came in, so it was close to 11:00 p.m.

Detective Armstrong: It doesn't sound like he spends much time with his children.

Angela Kramer: Oh yes, he does. It's usually on the weekends that he spends the most time with them. He's actually teaching them about making stained glass. The kids love it.

Detective Murphy: Mrs. Kramer, did your husband ever mention Veronica Smith or talk about her?

Angela Kramer: He has mentioned her a few times, yes.

Detective Murphy: What did he say?

Angela Kramer: Truthfully, he didn't care for her. That doesn't mean he would harm her. That idea is simply ridiculous. I didn't care for her either. Do you want to ask me if I killed her?

Detective Armstrong: Did you?

Angela Kramer: Now you're making me mad. I didn't have to come here. I thought I'd be as helpful as I could, but this is so wrong. I'm beginning to think it was a big mistake on my part.

Detective Murphy: Please understand that we have to question everyone, and sometimes people take offense, but it's essential that we gather all the information we can get.

Angela Kramer: Yes, I do understand. I'll tell you what I can, but I just don't know anything except that Dwight wouldn't do anything to anyone. He complains, but that's as far as it goes.

Detective Murphy: All right. Tell us what he said about Dr. Smith. We need to know all we can about her. What did he complain about?

Angela Kramer: Dwight said Dr. Smith manipulated people and always acted kind of snooty. You know, like she thought she was above everyone. He thought she pushed those below her around and acted superior to anyone who wasn't a doctor.

Detective Armstrong: Did you have an opinion of Dr. Smith?

Angela Kramer: I saw her a few times, and she looked right through me. I don't know if she was preoccupied with something or if she just didn't care to give me the time of day. I wasn't impressed.

Detective Murphy: Thank you, Mrs. Kramer. If you recall anything that might be helpful to our investigation, please let us know. You may go now.

Angela Kramer: I will. Goodbye.

Interview ended – 10:14 a.m.