Bonnie Duncan interview

Tuesday, December 17, 2019 – 8:45 a.m.

Bonnie Duncan lives across the street from Caroline Jordan's residence. She provided a preliminary identification of the victim's body.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Bonnie Duncan

Detective Armstrong: Hello, Ms. Duncan. I'm Detective Armstrong, and this is Detective Murphy. We need to ask you some questions about your 911 call last night. Please come in and have a seat.

Bonnie Duncan: Thank you. I need to sit down. I'm a bit shaky.

Detective Murphy: Can you give us your full name and address for the record?

Bonnie Duncan: Of course, Detective. My name is Bonnie Duncan, and I live at 110 Pearidge Road. I'm sorry. I can't believe this happened. Why would anyone want to kill Carly? She was so sweet and always kind to everyone.

Detective Murphy: Take your time, Ms. Duncan. I take it Carly is Caroline Jordan?

Bonnie Duncan: Yes. She went by Carly.

Detective Murphy: Okay. Now, we know this has been a shock to you, but in order to find Carly's killer, we need all the information you can give us. Tell us what moved you to call 911.

Bonnie Duncan: I was up late grading some papers. I'm a professor at Ole Miss. Anyway, I got up and went to the kitchen for a snack, and I just happened to look out the window. I saw a person in a Santa suit running from Carly's house. It was a very odd sight, and I was curious as to why this person was in such a hurry.

Detective Murphy: Do you know why that person might have been at Carly's house?

Bonnie Duncan: She was having a party for her co-workers. She mentioned it to me a couple of days ago.

Detective Murphy: I see. What did you do when you saw the person?

Bonnie Duncan: I kept watching. I thought maybe they were mad about something and stormed out of the house. Oh, my God! This person could have been her killer. I hope he didn't see me watching. Do you think I'm in danger? Things like this don't happen in our neighborhood.

Detective Murphy: It's okay, Ms. Duncan. You're safe. We'll increase the frequency of patrols in the area, just to be sure. Please continue telling us about your 911 call.

Bonnie Duncan: As I said before, I looked out and saw a person in a Santa suit running from the house. He jumped into his car and was backing out of the driveway when he crashed into the mailbox. He didn't even stop to see what damage he'd done. He just sped off down the street.

Detective Armstrong: Did you recognize the car or the person driving?

Bonnie Duncan: The car was black, but it wasn't a car. It was an SUV, a Chevy Tahoe. As for the driver… I didn't recognize him in the Santa suit. I think it was a man, but I'm not completely sure of that. The wig and beard made it hard to say for sure.

Detective Armstrong: Are you sure it was a Tahoe?

Bonnie Duncan: Yes, I'm sure. My friend has a Tahoe, and I go places with her a lot.

Detective Armstrong: Can you remember anything else? Was he tall, short?

Bonnie Duncan: He looked to be about six feet tall and appeared to be thin even in the Santa suit. This is so terrible! That person I saw may have been Carly's killer.

Detective Armstrong: The information you're giving us is going to be a big help in trying to find out whether he had anything to do with Carly's death.

Bonnie Duncan: I just wish I could do more. I'm really going to miss her. She was so good to me. Why would someone want to kill her?

Detective Murphy: We're going to do our best to find out. Thank you, Ms. Duncan. You've been a big help. I know having to identify the body was a big shock to you. Is there anyone we can call to come stay with you?

Bonnie Duncan: No, that's okay. I've lived by myself since I was 18. I'll be fine.

Detective Murphy: I'm going to give you my card. It has my direct numbers on it. If you need to talk to someone, feel afraid, or think of anything else we should know, please call.

Interview ended – 9:11 a.m.