Tuesday, December 17, 2019 – 6:32 p.m.

Matt Dixon worked at Santa's Toy Shoppe with Caroline Jordan.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Matt Dixon

Matt Dixon: Hey, Teddy. Hey, Sam.

Detective Murphy: Matt.

Detective Armstrong: Hey, Matt. How are you today?

Matt Dixon: Doing pretty good. What do you need?

Detective Armstrong: I need your name and address for the record.

Matt Dixon: Okay. I live at 1204 Beanland Drive.

Detective Armstrong: Do you know why you're here, Matt?

Matt Dixon: Yeah, pretty sure. You've been talking to everyone who was at Carly's party, and you know that I was there. Right?

Detective Armstrong: Right. We also know that you worked with Carly at Morgan Pierce's shop.

Matt Dixon: Yep, that's right. It's hard to believe that she was murdered that same night. Do you have any suspects?

Detective Armstrong: Everyone at the party, Matt.

Matt Dixon: You can't seriously suspect me of that? Nevermind. I know you know me better than that. I've been trying to think who could have wanted her dead. Do you think it could've been some kind of accident?

Detective Armstrong: No chance. Did anyone at work or at the party appear to have any kind of vendetta against Miss Jordan?

Matt Dixon: The only thing I can think of is that sometimes when someone gets a promotion, the other employees are jealous. Work is hard to come by, and everyone is trying to find a better job or more pay. The pay isn't all that great at the shop, so everyone wants a raise, including me.

Detective Armstrong: Did you apply for the full-time elf job?

Matt Dixon: No way. That job has too much customer contact for me if you know what I'm saying.

Detective Armstrong: Don't you also tend bar? Isn't that a lot of customer contact?

Matt Dixon: That's a whole different thing, Teddy. A whole different thing.

Detective Murphy: What about Morgan Pierce? Did he have any reason to kill Carly?

Matt Dixon: I can't see that. Morgan was dying to go out with Carly. I could give him some advice on that, you know. I like the ladies, and the ladies like me. They just seem to be drawn to me. Of course, I know how to treat them. Getting rid of them when I'm bored is a problem sometimes. I try telling them nicely I'm ready to move on, but sometimes I have to resort to just telling them to get lost.

Detective Murphy: Did you maybe have that problem with Caroline? You wanted to get rid of her, and she wouldn't let go?

Matt Dixon: Sammy, you know I wouldn't hurt anyone. Then again, I've never had a "Fatal Attraction" episode. But I couldn't ask Carly out no matter what.

Detective Murphy: Why is that?

Matt Dixon: I couldn't risk making Morgan angry and then having him fire me. Besides, Morgan and I get along great. He told me he was really attracted to Carly and wouldn't give up until she went out with him. Everyone at work knew Morgan was completely into that girl.

Detective Murphy: Did Carly know it?

Matt Dixon: I never heard her say anything, but it would be hard not to notice. The way he looked at her was enough to give him away.

Detective Armstrong: Did you see the knife that she got as a Christmas gift?

Matt Dixon: Oh, yeah. She was so tickled about that knife. She passed it around while she explained what it was and that it was a gift. It was supposed to look like a horrible murder weapon with fake blood and everything. It didn't seem like an appropriate Christmas gift to me, but she loved it. Wait a minute. Are you saying someone used that knife to kill Carly?

Detective Armstrong: When did you leave the party?

Matt Dixon: I was getting plastered and knew I had to leave before it got worse. There was a lot of drinking. You know how it is when there's free booze, especially for a bunch of guys that aren't making a lot of money. Anyway, I left around 9:45, I think.

Detective Armstrong: Who was there when you left?

Matt Dixon: Let's see. Morgan was still there. He shouted at me as I left that I'd better show up at work today. "No excuses," he said.

Detective Armstrong: Did that worry you?

Matt Dixon: Naw, he laughed when he said it. He was drinking pretty heavily and made a lot of trips to the bathroom. But come to think of it, everyone seemed to be using the bathroom a lot. Beer.

Detective Armstrong: Was anyone else still there?

Matt Dixon: I know there were a few more. Nancy was one. I can't remember who else.

Detective Murphy: Thanks for coming in, Matt. You've been very helpful. We may need to talk again.

Matt Dixon: Sure thing.

Interview ended – 6:58 p.m.