Matt Hooper interview #2

Thursday, September 19, 2024 - 12:30 p.m.

Matt Hooper delivers oxygen to the Yoknapatawpha Acres nursing home.

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

Participants:

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

Detective Murphy: Good afternoon, Matt. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us again. Please state your name and address for the record.

Matt Hooper: No problem. I'm always willing to help the police. My name is Matt Hooper, and I live at 1988 Wolfe Street, Oxford, Mississippi.

Detective Murphy: Do you know Richard Landrigan?

Matt Hooper: The Yoknapatawpha Acres manager? Yeah.

Detective Murphy: You good friends?

Matt Hooper: What? No. He's just the boss at a place I deliver to.

Detective Murphy: Y'all ever hang out outside of work?

Matt Hooper: No.

Detective Murphy: Ever gamble together? Play poker? Bet on football games?

Matt Hooper: Does he gamble?

Detective Murphy: I don't know. Does he?

Matt Hooper: I don't know, but I hope so.

Detective Murphy: Why?

Matt Hooper: Because he seems like one of those guys who's full of himself, thinks he's smarter than everyone else. And he damn sure makes more money than I do. I bet I could make some nice coin off him. Um, you know, if I still did that kind of thing, which, of course, I don't because that would be illegal.

Detective Murphy: Uh-huh.

Detective Armstrong: Matt, you said you left the nursing home around 3:30 p.m. after you argued with Jerry Shaw. Did anyone see you leave the building that day?

Matt Hooper: Yeah, Lillie saw me when I signed out.

Detective Armstrong: You're sure?

Matt Hooper: Yeah, I'm sure.

Detective Armstrong: According to the visitors' log, you signed out at 3:30 p.m.

Matt Hooper: Yeah.

Detective Armstrong: And you told us when we talked before that you saw Jerry at 3:13 p.m. You were very specific about the time.

Matt Hooper: Yeah. And?

Detective Armstrong: Where were you between 3:13 and 3:30 p.m.?

Matt Hooper: Doing my job, delivering the tanks.

Detective Armstrong: You told us yourself that you and Jerry argued that day in the hall. Someone else told us you two almost came to blows. They said you threatened to kill Jerry if he didn't come up with the money he owed you.

Matt Hooper: Look, I didn't kill Jerry. He was standing in the hall when I walked off.

Detective Armstrong: You weren't angry that he owed you all that money and wouldn't pay you?

Matt Hooper: Of course, I was angry, but killing him wouldn't get me any of that money, would it? You think I'm happy I'm never going to see that ten grand now?

Detective Armstrong: You said last time that Jerry kept telling you he'd have the money soon. Did you believe him? Was he about to get the money, or was he just blowing smoke?

Matt Hooper: At first, I thought he was for real. He said somebody owed him, and as soon as they paid him, he'd pay me. But he kept stalling, saying the guy hadn't paid him yet. I don't know. He probably made it up to get me off his back.

Detective Murphy: Who was the guy?

Matt Hooper: What guy? Oh, the one who supposedly owed him? No clue.

Detective Murphy: Who did Jerry know that might have that kind of money?

Matt Hooper: Apparently, no one.

Detective Armstrong: Did you ever go out behind the nursing home to the delivery area on the day Jerry was killed?

Matt Hooper: Why would I go out back? My van was parked in the front.

Detective Armstrong: Maybe you followed Jerry out there to confront him again.

Matt Hooper: No, I didn't.

Detective Armstrong: Maybe you pushed him, and his death was an accident.

Matt Hooper: No! Like I told you before, I had nothing to do with his death.

Detective Armstrong: Sit down, Matt.

Matt Hooper: I'm sorry.

Detective Murphy: Compose yourself. Then we'll continue.

Matt Hooper: Why would you think I killed Jerry?

Detective Murphy: Ten grand is a lot of money. People have killed for less.

Matt Hooper: I didn't kill Jerry! How many times do I have to tell you? Why would I do that? It makes no sense. With him dead, I get nothing.

Detective Armstrong: Except maybe the satisfaction of getting even with him.

Matt Hooper: I have nothing else to say to you. I want a lawyer.

Detective Murphy: Okay, Matt, you're free to go. We'd appreciate it if you stayed in town in case we need to contact you again.

Matt Hooper: If you want to speak to me, call my lawyer.

Interview ended – 12:58 p.m.