Frederick "Stix" Wallace interview #2

Thursday, February 8, 2024 – 11:07 a.m.

Frederick Wallace was at the party hosted by Blake Jenson the night he died.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Frederick "Stix" Wallace

Detective Murphy: Hello again. For the record, please state your name and street address.

Fred Wallace: Frederick Caleb Wallace, 912 Stevens Street, Water Valley, Mississippi. Was that real enough for you?

Detective Murphy: Still have that chip on your shoulder, I see.

Fred Wallace: Nah, I just don't like cops. Can't trust a one of them.

Detective Armstrong: Well, Fred, it looks like you're the one who can't be trusted. You lied to us.

Fred Wallace: Fred? How cute. So, what did I lie about?

Detective Armstrong: The Johnson girl, you fabricated everything you told us.

Fred Wallace: Nope. I didn't. Everything I told you about Kade was true. I still have her number in my phone. Want me to call her right now? I can put her on speaker.

Detective Murphy: That won't be necessary. Have you spoken with her since the night of the party?

Fred Wallace: Yes, I have. She wants to meet up but thinks it would be best if we waited until they found Jenson's killer.

Detective Armstrong: Did she say why?

Fred Wallace: No, but I think she's a little afraid that it might have been me. Ha! Yet she's still attracted to me. You gotta love it.

Detective Armstrong: We've also learned that you were pretty upset with Blake that night. Is that true?

Fred Wallace: Of course I was. He told me 7:00 p.m.! I was there, I was ready, and he was singing to some chick? He got a real kick out of making me wait like that. I admit I was pretty mad.

Detective Armstrong: Did you kill Blake Jenson?

Fred Wallace: Hey, I heard he died of a heart attack. Wouldn't that be considered a natural death?

Detective Armstrong: Where'd you hear that?

Fred Wallace: I don't know. Around. People talk.

Detective Murphy: Don't believe everything you hear, Fred. Tell us how you did it.

Fred Wallace: Lady, you're off your nut!

Detective Armstrong: Sit down! Do we need to put you in cuffs?

Fred Wallace: You'd like that, wouldn't you?

Detective Murphy: You sure get worked up awfully quickly, Fred. Have you been drinking today?

Fred Wallace: I had a shot this morning when I got up. I'm not drunk if that's what you're thinking.

Detective Murphy: Last time, we asked if you noticed anything odd that night. Have you given that question any thought?

Fred Wallace: Yes, actually, I have. That chick from McDonald's, she went out of her way to get that breadstick Jenson was goofing around with. It was like she didn't want anyone else to have it or something.

Detective Armstrong: Did you see anyone else eat a breadstick?

Fred Wallace: No. Weird, huh? I also think it was weird that no one tried to revive him. It's like they were all afraid to touch him. You would at least think his best friend and his girlfriend would try … something.

Detective Murphy: Why didn't you try to revive him?

Fred Wallace: Do I look like a paramedic to you? Besides, I'm a germaphobe.

Detective Armstrong: And with Blake out of commission, you didn't have to put your Guitar Hero skills up against his after all. Lucky for you, isn't it?

Fred Wallace: Oh, please. I would have won. I would've rather beat him that night so there wouldn't be any question about which of us was the best, but hey, either way, I win.

Detective Murphy: Did you think it was odd that the lights went out?

Fred Wallace: Not at all, except the timing was strange. But I don't think it's possible that someone turned the lights off and killed him before the lights came back on. There just wasn't time.

Detective Murphy: What do you think happened?

Fred Wallace: Maybe he was afraid of the dark? So afraid that he had a heart attack and split the scene.

Detective Armstrong: Oh, boy. So glad you shared that theory with us. Do you have anything else to tell us, anything at all?

Fred Wallace: Nope. Bury the guy already. It's over. The shock of his death has passed. I really just wish you two would leave me alone.

Detective Armstrong: We'd like that too, but your name keeps coming up during investigations, so what can we do?

Detective Murphy: But we're finished with you for today, so you can be on your way.

Detective Armstrong: I have a feeling we'll be seeing you again, if not for this crime, for some other one.

Fred Wallace: I'm sure you'll eventually find something you can set me up for. You ain't smart enough to get anything legitimate on me.

Interview ended – 11:31 a.m.