George Raymond interview

Monday, February 5, 2024 – 11:45 a.m.

George Raymond and his wife live next door to the Jensons.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• George Raymond

Detective Murphy: Good morning, Mr. Raymond. Could you tell us your name and address for the record?

George Raymond: My name is George Raymond, and my address is 1197 Mimosa Drive, Oxford.

Detective Armstrong: Thank you for coming in today.

George Raymond: My boss said I could take an early lunch. Of course, then I had to cut out even earlier to be here for Anna.

Detective Armstrong: Where is it you work?

George Raymond: Delta Electronics.

Detective Armstrong: Good job?

George Raymond: I enjoy the work. Look, detectives, I do have things that need to get done today.

Detective Murphy: Let's get to it then. Tell us about your neighbor, Blake Jenson.

George Raymond: He's a leech, taking advantage of our good friends, Luther and Agnes. He doesn't just get free rent. They pay him to live there. He's, quote-unquote, housesitting. Maybe Anna buys that, but I don't.

Detective Murphy: Your wife was very complimentary of Blake.

George Raymond: That's my wife. She's sweet. Me, I didn't grow up around here. Where I'm from, we call a spade a spade. Blake was a leech who thought of nobody but himself.

Detective Armstrong: You called the police about Blake, didn't you, Mr. Raymond?

George Raymond: That's right. How many times do I have to tell him to turn down his noise? Look, I know I'm not supposed to speak ill of the dead, but he was what he was. Him being dead doesn't change that. Luther and Agnes, they're upset, and I'm sorry about their loss. But Blake, I don't doubt he had it coming.

Detective Murphy: What makes you say that?

George Raymond: Selfish people stir up trouble because they don't think their actions have any consequences. Blake was the type, if he wanted to play music loudly, he was going to play music loudly. If he wanted to fool around with other women, he was going to fool around with other women.

Detective Murphy: Are you saying he wasn't faithful to his girlfriend?

George Raymond: It's not like I have pictures or anything, but there were always girls around the guesthouse. If you play with fire, you're going to get burned.

Detective Murphy: Is there any one particular girl that was around a lot?

George Raymond: Blake wasn't stupid. He probably had his friends thinking he was stepping out with the girls of his other friends. Like, Blake's flirting with Joe's girlfriend and Bob's girlfriend, but not mine.

Detective Armstrong: Was Blake involved in drugs?

George Raymond: Not that I ever saw. Back when I'd go over to ask him to turn down the noise, I'd see alcohol but nothing else. But, you know, they're kids who fancy themselves musicians.

Detective Armstrong: How did Blake respond to you calling the police?

George Raymond: He wasn't happy, of course. I was raining on his parade. Where I grew up, you fought your own fights. I wasn't worried about some punk.

Detective Armstrong: Did you ever have any trouble with any of Blake's friends?

George Raymond: Nothing to speak of.

Detective Armstrong: That sounds like there was something.

George Raymond: They were kids. The mailbox disappeared a few times. A tire got a nail in it. Nothing I could prove.

Detective Murphy: That must have been frustrating. There's this punk ignoring you, harassing you, taking advantage of your friends. I'm not sure how I'd respond.

George Raymond: How I responded was putting on headphones and watching television. Pretend like he was gone.

Detective Murphy: And now he is.

George Raymond: That's right. Now he is. So why, exactly, am I down here? I thought Blake died of a heart attack.

Detective Murphy: Why would you think that?

George Raymond: On account of his heart condition. Why? Are you saying it wasn't a heart attack?

Detective Murphy: What can you tell us about Blake's heart condition?

George Raymond: Nothing. I know Luther and Agnes have mentioned it, but if they told us the details, I don't remember anymore. You should ask them.

Detective Murphy: But you think it could've caused his death?

George Raymond: Don't you?

Detective Armstrong: The cause of death is still under investigation.

George Raymond: Well, you're barking up the wrong tree if you think one of Blake's pals flew down to the Amazon rainforest and bought the spit of some tree frog that mimics a heart attack to kill him. These kids, they're good at video games, maybe, but it's a wonder they can tie their own shoes. Blake died of stupidity.

Detective Murphy: Blake's stupidity was lethal? How so?

George Raymond: He wasn't supposed to be doing certain things, but he did them anyway. When he wasn't lying around drinking beer, he was either jumping around holding that ridiculous plastic video game guitar or jumping around pretending to be a rock star. He was an idiot.

Detective Murphy: He really got under your skin, didn't he?

George Raymond: That's right. Anyway, I wouldn't waste my time with the likes of Blake. I mean, if he caused my Anna any grief, that would be one thing, but he was always on his best behavior around her.

Detective Armstrong: Thanks for your assistance, Mr. Raymond. If we have any further questions, we'll be in touch.

Interview ended – 12:08 p.m.