Gage Laughlin interview #2

Tuesday, March 23, 2021 – 1:45 p.m.

Gage Laughlin is Chas and JoAnna Laughlin's son and an employee of Laughlin Automotive & Body Shop.

Detectives Beckwith and Magee talked to him again at the Yoknaaptawpha County Sheriff's Department.

Participants

• Detective P. Beckwith
• Detective J. Magee
• Gage Laughlin

Detective Magee: Glad you could finally join us, Gage.

Gage Laughlin: You called. I came. What more do you want?

Detective Magee: You were supposed to be here nearly three hours ago.

Gage Laughlin: I'm here now. What do you want?

Detective Magee: First, your name and address for the record.

Gage Laughlin: Gage Laughlin. 310 North 16th Street, Oxford.

Detective Beckwith: You spend much time in Alesville, Gage?

Gage Laughlin: No.

Detective Beckwith: When was the last time you were out that way?

Gage Laughlin: Couldn't tell ya.

Detective Beckwith: I understand you sometimes run errands for your father.

Gage Laughlin: Yeah. So? Part of the job.

Detective Magee: It's not a very important job, though, is it?

Gage Laughlin: You don't know what you're talking about.

Detective Magee: It's almost like your dad is sending you out on busywork to get you out of the way while everyone else does the important jobs.

Gage Laughlin: Where are you getting this?

Detective Magee: Everyone knows your dad doesn't think much of your work ethic or your business acumen. If you weren't his son, you probably wouldn't even be able to get a job there.

Gage Laughlin: You can't talk to me like that, you b****! Who do you think you are? I'm gonna run that place someday.

Detective Magee: If you say so.

Gage Laughlin: You people had Jordan in here today. Is that where you're getting this crap from?

Detective Magee: Why would we be talking to him about you of all people?

Gage Laughlin: You have to be getting this from somewhere. You didn't just pull it out of your a**. Or did you?

Detective Beckwith: You're gonna want to take a breath there, Gage, before you say something you can't take back.

Gage Laughlin: I ain't worried.

Detective Magee: And that right there is why your daddy doesn't trust you with anything important. You can't control your temper.

Gage Laughlin: Oh yeah? You wanna see my temper in action, lady?

Detective Beckwith: Gage, are you looking to end up in cuffs today? Because if you are, keep going. Otherwise, knock it off.

Gage Laughlin: Whatever. Are we done?

Detective Beckwith: No. When was the last time you went to Daniel Collier's house?

Gage Laughlin: Why would I go to his house?

Detective Beckwith: You tell us.

Gage Laughlin: I wouldn't.

Detective Magee: Not even if your daddy sent you?

Gage Laughlin: Why would he do that?

Detective Magee: We hear your dad liked Daniel. He told us Dan made a helluva name for himself with his custom paintwork.

Gage Laughlin: So?

Detective Magee: Has he ever said anything like that about you?

Gage Laughlin: I don't do paintwork.

Detective Magee: In fact, you don't do much of anything, do you?

Gage Laughlin: You don't know what you're talking about. Dad only liked that wuss because he didn't know what he was up to.

Detective Beckwith: Oh? What was that?

Gage Laughlin: Somethin' shady.

Detective Beckwith: Can you be any more specific?

Gage Laughlin: I don't know. He was always sneakin' around, disappearin' when you were looking for him and then showing up again when you didn't expect him.

Detective Beckwith: And you thought that was suspicious?

Gage Laughlin: I know it was. I just hadn't figured out what he was up to yet, but I was about to. That's why he up and quit when he did. He knew I was about to bust him, and then everyone would know he wasn't what they thought.

Detective Magee: Everyone? Or your dad?

Gage Laughlin: Everyone.

Detective Magee: Were you jealous of Daniel, Gage? Of how much your dad liked Daniel when he doesn't seem to have much use for you?

Gage Laughlin: You don't know what you're talking about.

Detective Magee: So when your dad sent you to Alesville to pick up Daniel so he could talk to him, you jumped at the chance to prove yourself, didn't you?

Gage Laughlin: None of that happened.

Detective Magee: And if we have witnesses who say they saw you at Daniel's house?

Gage Laughlin: They're lyin'.

Detective Magee: And if we found your prints inside Daniel's house?

Gage Laughlin: Then y'all done messed up because I ain't never been there.

Detective Magee: Okay, if that's the story you want to go with.

Gage Laughlin: It's not a story. It's the truth.

Detective Beckwith: Gage, did you have anything to do with the death of Daniel Collier?

Gage Laughlin: Nope.

Detective Beckwith: Maybe it was an accident. Maybe you were just going to talk to him, and things got out of hand.

Gage Laughlin: Nope.

Detective Magee: It wasn't an accident?

Gage Laughlin: I don't know if it was an accident or not. I had nothin' to do with it.

Detective Magee: Yeah, if your dad sent you to talk to him, and you went too far, you wouldn't want to admit that. Forget about getting arrested. Your dad would be none too pleased that you messed up.

Gage Laughlin: You don't know what you're talking about.

Detective Magee: You're right. Your dad would never trust you with a job like that. He'd give it to someone he could count on.

Gage Laughlin: I don't have to take this. Are you arresting me?

Detective Beckwith: Not right now.

Gage Laughlin: Then I'm leaving. If you want to talk to me again, my lawyer's gonna be here.

Detective Magee: You have a lawyer?

Gage Laughlin: Yeah.

Detective Magee: You mean your dad has a lawyer, don't you?

Gage Laughlin: I'm out of here.

Interview ended – 2:13 p.m.