Jimmy Carnes interview

Sunday, January 10, 2021 – 10:28 p.m.

Jimmy Carnes was working as a clerk at the Kangaroo Express convenience store when he and a customer found a young woman's body in a restroom.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Jimmy Carnes

Detective Armstrong: Take a seat right over there. Let's start off with your name and address.

Jimmy Carnes: My name is Jimmy Carnes, and my trailer is in Lot 66 at the Wheel Estates, on 913 South 18th St.

Detective Armstrong: What can you tell us about what you saw? Did you know the young woman in the restroom?

Jimmy Carnes: I wish I could tell you who committed this horrible act, but I can't think of anyone that depraved. And no, I didn't know her.

Detective Armstrong: Have you ever seen her before?

Jimmy Carnes: Sure. She's been by to use the restroom or buy a Coke or whatever. I never talked to her, though. She always just came in and did what she needed to do without saying much.

Detective Armstrong: So you saw her come in earlier tonight?

Jimmy Carnes: Yeah.

Detective Armstrong: About what time was that?

Jimmy Carnes: I don't know. A little while before we found her in the bathroom, I guess.

Detective Murphy: Did you notice anything unusual about her when she came in tonight?

Jimmy Carnes: She never had skates on before. I thought that was strange. Do you think whoever set up those candles in the bathroom also put the skates on her?

Detective Murphy: Was she wearing skates when she first came in?

Jimmy Carnes: I don't know.

Detective Murphy: Okay, then. What else did you see?

Jimmy Carnes: Nothing! I didn't know anything had happened until the lady came up and asked if I would let her in the ladies' room.

Detective Murphy: Is that how people usually access the restrooms? They have to ask you to let them in?

Jimmy Carnes: No.

Detective Murphy: So, what did you do?

Jimmy Carnes: Well, the lady said she saw the sign on the door but she really had to go, so she tried the door anyway, and it was locked, and could I please let her in. I didn't even know the door was locked or what sign she was talking about.

Detective Armstrong: So being a smart young man, you went to see what was going on, didn't you?

Jimmy Carnes: That's right. When I saw the Out of Order sign on the door, I was stumped because I hadn't put it there, and I was working alone.

Detective Murphy: And, what happened next?

Jimmy Carnes: I tried to open the door, but the lady was right. It was locked.

Detective Murphy: What did you do then?

Jimmy Carnes: Well, I had to go back to the office to get the key. The one we always use was missing, so I had to get the other key out of the desk drawer. Then I walked back and opened the door. I called out before I went in just in case someone was there, but no one answered so I went in. That's when I saw her.

Detective Murphy: Did the customer go with you when you went to the office?

Jimmy Carnes: No, she just waited by the bathroom, I guess.

Detective Murphy: Okay. So you opened the restroom door and saw her. Then what did you do?

Jimmy Carnes: I thought maybe she had fainted, so I walked towards her, and then I saw the blood. Lots of blood. It makes me sick just thinking about it all. It was awful.

Detective Murphy: Did you notice anything else?

Jimmy Carnes: Oh yeah. Candles. All lined up in the shape of a cross, and they were burning. It was eerie.

Detective Armstrong: Did you touch anything or pick up anything?

Jimmy Carnes: Gosh, no. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Once I saw her eyes were open, I knew she was dead. The lady that was behind me screamed and ran out the door. I got goosebumps then, and I ran out too.

Detective Armstrong: Think carefully now. Are you sure that's all?

Jimmy Carnes: I can't think of anything else. Oh yeah, I did see some paper on the floor. Maybe a gum wrapper or candy wrapper. That isn't important though, I'm sure.

Detective Armstrong: Everything is important, Jimmy. Who used the restroom last?

Jimmy Carnes: We have a lot of people using the restrooms. I don't remember who was there last.

Detective Armstrong: Is there anything else you think we should know?

Jimmy Carnes: I've been trying to think if there was anything I could have done, something maybe I missed that would have warned me. And then I remembered that I saw some guy walking out of the office earlier tonight.

Detective Murphy: Was there something about him that makes him stick out in your memory?

Jimmy Carnes: He acted like he was hiding something under his jacket, so I ran into the office to see if anything was stolen, but nothing was gone that I could see. After all this happened tonight, I was thinking maybe that was what he was doing. Taking the sign and the key.

Detective Murphy: What did he look like?

Jimmy Carnes: I only saw him for a few seconds, and I never saw his face. He went around the corner towards the restrooms, and I forgot about him after I realized nothing had been stolen.

Detective Armstrong: Picture him in your mind, Jimmy. Nothing that you can tell us?

Jimmy Carnes: His hair was dark, but I can't remember anything else about him.

Detective Murphy: What about the security cameras? Maybe he's on the video?

Jimmy Carnes: Um, well …

Detective Murphy: Well what, Jimmy?

Jimmy Carnes: They don't work.

Detective Murphy: The cameras don't work?

Jimmy Carnes: Yeah. The boss keeps saying he's going to get them fixed, but … you won't tell him I told you, will you? That's supposed to be a secret.

Detective Murphy: We understand. Thank you, Jimmy. And if you recall anything else‒

Jimmy Carnes: Wait! I did notice that he was whistling. Sounded a little like a song I used to sing in church when I was a little boy. Is that important?

Detective Murphy: Could be. You never know. Do you know what song it was?

Jimmy Carnes: No, I can't think of it. Listen, I really need to get back to work now. Can I go?

Detective Armstrong: The store is a crime scene. It's going to be closed for at least the rest of the night, but I don't think we have any other questions for right now. You can go. We'll be in touch if we need anything else from you.

Interview ended –: 10:46 p.m.