Elena Harte interview

Thursday, September 2, 2021 – 12:30 p.m.

Elena Harte is married to Jeff Harte, who owns the Harte Agency where Annette Wyatt worked.

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

Participants:

• Detective S. Murphy
• Detective E. Parker
• Elena Harte

Detective Parker: Good afternoon, Mrs. Harte. Thank you for coming in.

Elena Harte: You're welcome.

Detective Parker: Do you mind stating your name and address for the record?

Elena Harte: 392 Country Club Road. It's in Oxford.

Detective Parker: Thank you. And how old are you, please?

Elena Harte: I'm 32.

Detective Parker: Tell me where you were born, where you grew up?

Elena Harte: I was born in Oxford, and I grew up here.

Detective Parker: You've never left?

Elena Harte: No.

Detective Parker: Where did you attend school?

Elena Harte: Yoknapatawpha High School and then Northwest Mississippi Community College.

Detective Parker: Did you graduate from college?

Elena Harte: Yes.

Detective Parker: What year? And what was your degree?

Elena Harte: In physical therapy. In 2009.

Detective Parker: And where do you work?

Elena Harte: At Baptist Memorial Hospital, in physical therapy.

Detective Parker: How long have you worked at Baptist?

Elena Harte: Since 2009.

Detective Parker: Martial status?

Elena Harte: I'm married.

Detective Parker: Please state your spouse's name.

Elena Harte: Jeff Harte.

Detective Parker: Thank you. How long have you been married?

Elena Harte: Eight years.

Detective Parker: Any children?

Elena Harte: We're expecting our first child in December. A girl. Katherine Elizabeth Harte.

Detective Parker: Congratulations.

Elena Harte: Thank you! We're so excited about it! Do you have any children, detective?

Detective Parker: Not yet.

Elena Harte: Jeff and I hope to have a big family someday.

Detective Murphy: Mrs. Harte, do you know why we asked you to speak with us today?

Elena Harte: Uh, I think so, yes. It's because of what happened to Annette Wyatt, is that right?

Detective Murphy: That's right. Can you tell us about your relationship with Annette Wyatt?

Elena Harte: We never had a relationship.

Detective Murphy: But you know who she is?

Elena Harte: Yes, I know who she is.

Detective Murphy: And why is that?

Elena Harte: Because she worked for my husband.

Detective Murphy: How long did Ms. Wyatt work for your husband?

Elena Harte: Since he opened the agency. She was his first employee.

Detective Murphy: Can you describe your husband's relationship with Ms. Wyatt?

Elena Harte: They worked together. That's all.

Detective Murphy: What kind of employee was she?

Elena Harte: I don't know. I never worked with her.

Detective Murphy: Did your husband ever tell you anything about her?

Elena Harte: Not really. I mean, I know he depended on her a lot.

Detective Murphy: How did he depend on her?

Elena Harte: Just for business stuff. She was there longer than any other employee, so she knew how the agency ran, and she knew how to get the big clients. She was like Jeff's right-hand man.

Detective Murphy: And how did you feel about her?

Elena Harte: I don't know what you mean.

Detective Murphy: Did you like her? Did you dislike her? What kind of emotions did you feel when you saw her or when her name came up in conversation?

Elena Harte: I felt nothing.

Detective Parker: I understand your husband once dated Annette Wyatt. Is that something you're aware of?

Elena Harte: That was a long time ago. He told me it was just a fling and that he never loved her.

Detective Parker: How long ago was it?

Elena Harte: Around the time he opened the agency, maybe a little after. It didn't last long.

Detective Parker: So you knew your husband and Annette Wyatt had been romantically linked?

Elena Harte: Yes. So what? People have lots of different partners before they find the person they want to spend their life with.

Detective Parker: Did you date other people before meeting your husband?

Elena Harte: No. I was too busy with my job and with making sure Mama was okay. She's got a lot of medical problems.

Detective Parker: I'm sorry to hear that.

Detective Murphy: Mrs. Harte, how did it make you feel that your husband used to date Annette Wyatt?

Elena Harte: I didn't like it, okay? I didn't think he should have kept her on staff after that, but he said he had no feelings for her, and she was too valuable to let go.

Detective Murphy: And you believed him?

Elena Harte: Of course, I believe him. He's my husband.

Detective Murphy: And did you trust him?

Elena Harte: Yes.

Detective Murphy: Did you trust Annette Wyatt?

Elena Harte: Honestly? No. But I knew that Jeff needed her professionally, and I trust him to do what's best for his company and for our family.

Detective Murphy: Did your husband ever mention Annette Wyatt wanting to become a partner at the agency?

Elena Harte: No. Did she?

Detective Murphy: Did she what?

Elena Harte: Did she ask to become a partner?

Detective Murphy: We're asking you.

Elena Harte: Well, I don't know. Jeff never mentioned it.

Detective Murphy: Mrs. Harte, did you ever wish that Annette Wyatt was out of the picture?

Elena Harte: What do you mean?

Detective Murphy: Whatever you take it to mean.

Elena Harte: Did I wish she was out of the picture? Well, yes, but I didn't kill her if that's what you're implying.

Detective Murphy: You didn't kill Annette Wyatt?

Elena Harte: No.

Detective Murphy: How do you feel about the fact that she's dead?

Elena Harte: I think it's awful. Look, I might not have liked her, but I didn't want her dead. I pray for her family, and I pray for her soul. I hope she's in a better place now.

Detective Parker: Mrs. Harte, when did you last see Annette Wyatt?

Elena Harte: Last week. On Friday. I stopped by the office to meet Jeff for lunch, and she was there.

Detective Parker: Did you speak to her?

Elena Harte: We said hello. That's it.

Detective Parker: Do you know why Annette Wyatt was in the office Saturday night?

Elena Harte: I assume she was working.

Detective Parker: Do you have keys to your husband's office, Mrs. Harte?

Elena Harte: No.

Detective Parker: Does your husband have keys?

Elena Harte: Of course.

Detective Parker: Do you have access to those keys?

Elena Harte: I guess so, but I've never used them.

Detective Parker: Who else has keys to the office?

Elena Harte: I don't know.

Detective Murphy: Mrs. Harte, where were you on Saturday night?

Elena Harte: I was at home with Jeff.

Detective Murphy: What did you do?

Elena Harte: I cooked dinner for us. He came home from work around 7:00 p.m. We ate, watched TV, and went to bed.

Detective Murphy: What time did you go to bed?

Elena Harte: Around 10:00 p.m. We were both tired.

Detective Murphy: What was your husband's mood like that night?

Elena Harte: He was in a good mood. Nothing unusual.

Detective Murphy: Did he say anything about what he was doing at the office earlier?

Elena Harte: No.

Detective Murphy: Did he mention seeing Annette Wyatt there?

Elena Harte: No.

Detective Murphy: Did Annette Wyatt have any enemies that you know of, Mrs. Harte?

Elena Harte: No. Everybody seemed to like her pretty well, I guess.

Detective Murphy: Did you like her?

Elena Harte: I didn't dislike her. I just didn't like her working with my husband.

Detective Parker: Mrs. Harte, who else do you think we should talk to during our investigation? Anyone that comes to mind, for whatever reason?

Elena Harte: No. Sorry.

Detective Parker: Thank you for your time, Mrs. Harte. We may need to ask you additional questions at a later date. Would that be all right with you?

Elena Harte: I guess so.

Detective Parker: Thank you.

Detective Murphy: Thank you.

Interview ended – 2:33 p.m.