Steve Kirby interview #3

Thursday, March 8, 2001 – 1:00 p.m.

Steve Kirby was the victim's high school boyfriend.

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

The interview was recorded with the witness's knowledge and consent.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Steve Kirby

Detective Murphy: Thanks for coming down, Steve.

Steve Kirby: Sure.

Detective Murphy: Name and address?

Steve Kirby: Steve Kirby. 210 Sisk.

Detective Armstrong: So Steve, we understand you've taken to hanging out at Murff's. Is that right?

Steve Kirby: I go there sometimes.

Detective Armstrong: 'Bout once a week, right?

Steve Kirby: Yes, about that I guess.

Detective Armstrong: And you stay for a while, a couple hours. Right?

Steve Kirby: I guess so. Sometimes.

Detective Armstrong: Drink a fair amount while you're there?

Steve Kirby: A few beers, I guess.

Detective Murphy: How does your wife feel about that, you going out to a bar and drinking without her?

Steve Kirby: I don't know. She doesn't really like it.

Detective Murphy: So why do it then?

Steve Kirby: I don't need her permission for everything I want to do.

Detective Armstrong: Fair enough. Why'd you start going to Murff's?

Steve Kirby: I don't know. I like it.

Detective Armstrong: Why not just have a couple beers at home in front of the TV?

Steve Kirby: Sometimes I just need to get away, be by myself.

Detective Murphy: By yourself? At a bar?

Steve Kirby: You know what I mean. I wanted to be… not with anyone I know.

Detective Murphy: How did you happen to pick Murff's out of all the places you could have gone?

Steve Kirby: I don't know. I used to go there with my friends before I got married. We always had fun there. I guess I just felt comfortable there.

Detective Murphy: It wasn't because Missy's boyfriend, JP Wallace, hangs out there?

Steve Kirby: No.

Detective Armstrong: That's it. Just "no"?

Steve Kirby: Yeah.

Detective Armstrong: Did you know he hung out there?

Steve Kirby: I did when I saw him there.

Detective Murphy: You know him well enough to recognize him?

Steve Kirby: Yeah, sure. I knew who he was back in high school. He hasn't changed much.

Detective Murphy: How did you know him in high school?

Steve Kirby: I didn't know him. I knew who he was. He was one of those kids who was always getting in trouble. Everyone knew who he was.

Detective Armstrong: You ever talk to him at Murff's?

Steve Kirby: No.

Detective Armstrong: Why not?

Steve Kirby: Just didn't have anything to say to him, I guess.

Detective Murphy: Really? Nothing to say to him?

Steve Kirby: No.

Detective Murphy: He was involved with Missy. You were involved with Missy. But you had nothing to say to him?

Steve Kirby: Our relationships with Missy were completely different. I've already told you three times that I didn't talk to him. How many more times do you want me to say it?

Detective Murphy: So, let's be honest here. You were having an affair with Missy Hammond, weren't you?

Steve Kirby: No!

Detective Armstrong: Was that because she didn't want it?

Steve Kirby: No, that's not it. We were just friends.

Detective Murphy: Drop the charade, Steve. We've seen the pictures of you holding hands with Missy.

Steve Kirby: Well, still. There was nothing going on.

Detective Armstrong: Just like there was nothing special about those do-it-yourself divorce kits you were checking out at Pitner's?

Steve Kirby: OK, look. The truth is—

Detective Armstrong: Oh, so now we get the truth.

Steve Kirby: The truth is that Missy and I were talking. We were spending time together, and we were talking about getting back together. But it was never serious. It was just kind of "what if." And those divorce packages, that was just a lark. Just curiosity.

Detective Murphy: I bet Maureen didn't think you were just being curious.

Steve Kirby: Well, you're probably right. But that's the truth.

Detective Armstrong: Did Missy turn you down, Steve? Is that why you killed her?

Steve Kirby: I did not kill her!

Detective Armstrong: Maybe she told you she'd just been leading you on. About the two of you getting back together. Or about Liddie maybe being your kid. Or maybe she knew for a fact that Liddie is your kid, and she admitted she'd been lying to you all these years. We're gonna find out the truth about that soon enough, so you might as well 'fess up now. Is that why you killed her? Because of the situation with Liddie?

Steve Kirby: That's not true! Nothing you just said is true. I already told you, I did not kill Missy! How many times do I have to say it?

Detective Murphy: Then why all the cover up? Why haven't you been straight with us from the beginning?

Steve Kirby: I just didn't want it to get around, any of it. Maybe talking to Missy wasn't the right thing to do, but it's not murder.

Detective Armstrong: No. But it might have driven your wife to murder.

Steve Kirby: That's gotta be a joke.

Detective Murphy: I don't know, Steve. We've got a pretty good case against Maureen.

Detective Armstrong: Hell, you only have to talk to her for about five minutes to see how she'll do anything to keep her marriage intact.

Detective Murphy: She hears about you catting around with another woman, checking out divorce kits. Who knows what she might do?

Steve Kirby: Well…

Detective Murphy: You think your wife could get violent?

Steve Kirby: No. That's just silly. If you really knew Maureen, you wouldn't even say that.

Detective Armstrong: OK then. If you didn't kill Missy and your wife didn't, then who did?

Steve Kirby: I don't know. Isn't that your job?

Detective Armstrong: Oh, we'll find out. Don't worry about that.

Detective Murphy: Thanks for your time, Steve. We'll talk again soon.

End interview – 1:27 p.m.