Richard Landrigan interview

Friday, September 13, 2024 – 1:25 p.m.

Richard Landrigan is the manager of the Yoknapatawpha Acres nursing home, where Jerry Shaw was employed.

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

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Richard D. Landrigan

Detective Armstrong: Would you please state your name and address for the record?

Richard Landrigan: Absolutely. My name is Richard Dean Landrigan, and I live at 262 Woodlawn Drive, Oxford, just down the road from the nursing home.

Detective Armstrong: Thank you for coming in. We realize you're a busy man.

Richard Landrigan: What is that supposed to mean? Do you think I'm not busy?

Detective Armstrong: You're the manager at Yoknapatawpha Acres, aren't you?

Richard Landrigan: You know I am. Can we cut the bull and get down to what you asked me here for?

Detective Murphy: Richard, Jerry Shaw was an employee of yours, and we want to talk to you about him. What kind of worker was he?

Richard Landrigan: That's more like it. I'd much rather talk to a pretty lady like yourself than be harassed by Detective Armstrong here. Jerry was kind of a slacker. He did his job. He just never did it well. He was satisfied to do as little as possible.

Detective Armstrong: Sounds like he had some things in common with his boss.

Richard Landrigan: What are you talking about?

Detective Armstrong: We know that you've been cited in the past for safety violations. There was garbage all around the dumpster where Shaw's body was found. Wouldn't it be your job to ensure things like that don't happen?

Richard Landrigan: Do you have any idea how hard it is to get things done when the employees have no respect for you? I tell them what to do. I've even printed up worksheets for the orderlies. It was actually Jerry's job to keep the area around the dumpster clean. Kind of ironic, isn't it?

Detective Armstrong: And if I told you the word on the street is that care at your nursing home is sub-standard, what would you say?

Richard Landrigan: I'd say whoever told you that is a liar. Our patients are very well cared for.

Detective Murphy: Tell us about the working conditions at the nursing home.

Richard Landrigan: They aren't perfect. Many of our patients—I mean, residents—are bedridden, and it can be hard to care for them in that state. They're like babies, except they weigh a whole lot more. It takes considerable strength to care for them. Many of them also have no control over their bladders or bowels.

Detective Armstrong: What's your point?

Richard Landrigan: My point is it takes a special kind of person to perform these duties. If anyone says it's an easy job, they're ignorant. It's not uncommon for employees to get burned out or unhappy sometimes. We do the best we can to keep morale up. And sure, the place is several decades old at this point, but we're renovating as we can. It can't all get done overnight.

Detective Murphy: Do you think it's the nursing home's fault that Jerry is dead?

Richard Landrigan: Absolutely not! I think he went out to clean up the area like he was supposed to. But he had let it go too long, and when he saw the mess he had to clean up, he fainted. It was his own fault. He shouldn't have let it get in that condition in the first place.

Detective Armstrong: Fainted? Was Shaw prone to fainting spells?

Richard Landrigan: No. It's just my thought.

Detective Armstrong: To your knowledge, had he ever fainted before on the job or anywhere else?

Richard Landrigan: Not that I'm aware of.

Detective Armstrong: Uh-huh.

Detective Murphy: How did you and Jerry Shaw get along?

Richard Landrigan: We weren't best buds, if that's what you mean. We didn't hang out after work or anything like that.

Detective Murphy: Forgive me, but you don't seem upset that he is dead.

Richard Landrigan: It's sad when someone passes on, of course, but as far as Jerry, in particular, I won't miss him in the workplace. Maybe now I can hire someone who will actually do their job.

Detective Armstrong: Do you know of anyone who would benefit from his death?

Richard Landrigan: No, I do not. Like I said, we weren't close.

Detective Murphy: Where were you when Jerry died?

Richard Landrigan: I'm not sure. I was in the dining room having a cup of coffee when Lynette found me and told me Jerry was dead. Before that, I was in my office working on billing statements.

Detective Armstrong: Okay, thanks again for your time. I'm sure we'll be talking again. Soon.

Richard Landrigan: Good day, Detective Murphy.

Interview ended – 1:53 p.m.