Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Suspect Statement
MICHELE ANDERSON
DET:
SUS:
Yes; I am.
DET:
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
So you and JOE live in um, in a trailer down the hill from your parents place.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 1 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
98014.
DET:
Okay. And you told me their name is JUDY and WAYNE ANDERSON, and
they live alone, correct.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
All right. Um, you also told me that there should be two cars at your house, a
black Chevy S10, which you have parked at the end of the driveway here.
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
Yes.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
(unintelligible)
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
And theres a blue Datsun pickup truck thats there, but its not mine.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Okay. Um, now you also have a sister named MARY VICTORIA ANDERSON.
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
Is that correct?
SUS:
Yeah.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 2 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
She, she lives alone, um, or she has two kids, but she doesnt have a
boyfriend or a husband, correct?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET:
Okay. And she drives a gray Dodge pickup, a full-size pickup thats in the late
90s or 2000s, correct.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
And that they have two children, a boy, whos three, named NATHAN and a
daughter named OLIVIA, who is five or six.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Full size, okay. When, going back to Christmas Eve, todays the day after
Christmas.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 3 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
Okay.
DET:
SUS:
Okay.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay. And what are the circumstances in which you saw them?
SUS:
They were making a roast and wrapping presents for the kids.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
We drove up.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
And you told me that your dad was kind of a Christmas Eve guy.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Well, they celebrate Christmas Eve with the kids, and, and I just wanted to
come up and say hi cause we were gonna surprise everybody. Were getting
married finally because weve been dating for so long.
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 4 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay, but when you went up there, it was just your parents there.
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
All right. And how did they react to you guys getting married?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
All right. And then what were your plans for Christmas Eve?
SUS:
Well, I was just gonna, we were just gonna go out and get, start driving down
to Vegas.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
But I forgot my wallet, so we came back. I dont know what time that was.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Well, my um, we got a little lost, and then um, got back on track, and my, my
tire blew out during nighttime, so we came back up here.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 5 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
All right. What time do you think you left your house up here to go to Vegas?
SUS:
I have no idea.
DET:
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
We stopped at um, just off the side of the road a lot and at gas stations and
um, we were off on the side of the road too when the tire blew out and.
DET:
SUS:
We had a cat with us, and she just kept freaking out.
DET:
About what?
SUS:
DET:
Okay. Um, well, lets see, I want, I want you to think hard, okay. This is kind of,
it might not seem important to you, but its kind of important to me, everywhere
you went once you left this house on your trip to Vegas.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah, accidently.
DET:
SUS:
Well, I just didnt know which way was north and south.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 6 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
I was.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
After you um, found out you were in Monroe, then what happened?
SUS:
Turned around, and we went through, well, went through Snohomish then
through Everett and just were making the loop.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET:
SUS:
I dont remember.
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET:
Okay.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 7 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET:
Just tired.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET:
All right.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
I wanted some of the, some of the fruit wed left behind. We came back up
here and got that.
DET:
SUS:
You know, cause we have so much on the counter that we forgot to bring with
us.
DET:
In your trailer?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
All right.
SUS:
DET:
Okay. So you come back here and get apples and oranges.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 8 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah. I didnt talk to anybody. We just went in the house and got (unintelligible)
DET:
Okay. But MICHELE, I just want to get this straight. You leave your home
sometime in the morning. You drive through Monroe.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET:
After noon?
SUS:
After noon.
DET:
Okay, 2, 3, what?
SUS:
I think like 4 or 5.
DET:
4 of 5.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
And then you come back out on 90 to go to your house to pick up fruit.
SUS:
DET:
202.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 9 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
520, 202.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
(unintelligible)
DET:
Its okay. Did you stop anywhere along there, any gas stations or anything?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
All right.
SUS:
We stopped at the Issaquah gas station across from the police station.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 10 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
Sure.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
We got.
DET:
SUS:
I think its Chevron, but it might be Shell. I dont remember what its called.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
I think it was 18, down 18, I think. It was either I 90 or 18. I dont remember.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah, but I got lost cause I couldnt figure out how to get on to I 5 from 18, so I
was trying to figure out if I should just take I 90 and 405 or, or just try to go on
18 and figure it out, and I dont remember which way we went.
DET:
Okay, and.
SUS:
We made it on I 5, and we followed that all the way down, and my tire blew out
in Kelso (unintelligible)
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
We made a lot of stops on the side of the road because of the cat.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Im confused. Our car, the tire blew out, and I came back here, so is that
Christmas?
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 11 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
Oh.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
In Kelso.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Okay. Where are you between 5 oclock Christmas Eve and 4 a.m. last night?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Whys that?
SUS:
I just cant remember how long we were at home cause we got fruit, and we
went back out, but we were here for a couple hours; and that was Christmas
though.
DET:
On Christmas day.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Took a nap.
DET:
SUS:
In the trailer.
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 12 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
All right. Now I used to have a S10. Those arent real good on gas, so you
probably have to gas up a lot if youre gonna drive all that time, right.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Did you pay with gas with a credit, pay for the gas?
SUS:
Credit card.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
I have a Target visa, and he has a Providian visa, and were (unintelligible)
cash (unintelligible)
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah, but we called the um, service because I didnt know I had a car jack.
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 13 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
And, and the tow truck, I called the dispatcher, and they said the nearest
person was Bumble Bee Towing, and the guy came out, and he um, and he
was jacking the car, but the um, my full-size spare had an after-market chain
on it, and I didnt know that, like a padlock. So we had to wait, we had to wait
for another tow truck guy to come out with a bolt cutter.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
All right. Okay. If you had a spare, how come you didnt keep going back to
Vegas?
SUS:
Cause I thought that this was too much work, and we were just gonna fly. I
was scared.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
(unintelligible)
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 14 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
No.
DET2:
Hi, MICHELE.
SUS:
Hi.
DET:
SUS:
Im sorry.
DET:
Ah, Detective PETERS is joining us for this recorded conversation. Is that okay
with you, MICHELE?
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
Were just trying to work back through the um, the timeline here. Now youd
also mentioned to me that you came back at one point to collect a wallet.
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Okay. Where were you when you discovered you did not have your wallet?
SUS:
We were in Monroe.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
All right. And then you came back here to grab your wallet, yes.
SUS:
Yeah, yes.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 15 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET:
Okay. And then you came back to grab the fruit off the table.
SUS:
Yeah, but we, in-between getting the wallet and the fruit we took a nap here.
DET:
At the house.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Okay. So how many times, once you left to go to Vegas to get married, how
many times did you return to your trailer?
SUS:
I think twice.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Now.
SUS:
DET:
No. And Ill explain all this in a minute as to why this is important, but.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Um, where are the, wheres the fruit right now? Is it still in your SUV or your
S10?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
The blowout.
SUS:
Yeah.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 16 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
Um, anything else you can tell me? Did you see anybody you know while you
were on this trip?
SUS:
Uh um.
DET:
SUS:
I called G.M.
DET:
Oh, so you did use your cell phone for that. Whats your cell phone number?
SUS:
425-829-0831.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Whats that?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
T-Mobile.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Thank you.
SUS:
Im sorry.
DET:
Thats okay. Im sure this is all., um, did you make any phone calls while you
were on this trip?
SUS:
No.
DET:
Now, SUE, you might have missed this, but she said on Christmas Eve, right,
you see your parents Christmas Eve morning.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
And you notify them that you and JOE are gonna get married in, in Vegas.
SUS:
Um hum.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 17 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
And theyre happy because you guys have been dating a long time, correct?
SUS:
Um hum, yeah.
DET:
Um, theyre wrapping gifts, and then you and JOE leave to go to Vegas.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET:
No?
DET:
SUS:
DET:
From your?
SUS:
Like when I was out shopping with my mom on Saturday, and she just got me
the Simpsons movie.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
And thats all I wanted. I just, I told her it was a kids holiday; dont waste
money. Its a kids holiday.
DET:
SUS:
You know.
DET:
SUS:
I know the check engine light went on in the truck too, so we were debating
even going at all, you know. Thats one of the reasons why we came back.
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 18 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
Mine because I kept worrying about the truck, and the check engine light came
on; and then I thought well, maybe well just go back out and hit a dealership
on the way down and fix it.
DET:
Did you call and talk to your mom and dad at all ah, on Christmas day?
SUS:
No.
DET:
Is that unusual?
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
You know.
DET:
What about your sisters, did you call and wish them a merry Christmas?
SUS:
Well, I talked to her on Saturday. Well, I didnt; mom did for me cause we were
out shopping, and I told her to tell her Merry Christmas.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
We dont usually see them on Christmas Eve. I dont know why, but shes
never over for Christmas Eve, I think.
DET:
Whos that?
SUS:
My sister.
DET:
Ah, MARY?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Hut um.
DET:
Okay. Um, SUE, do you have any questions, some time frame questions?
DET2:
Well, I just curious; um, how long, how long have you been planning to get
married, or is that something just out of the blue?
SUS:
We just out of the blue decided wed finally just do it, you know. But weve
been thinking off and on for a while, you know.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 19 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Sure.
SUS:
DET:
Where were your, where were your, wheres your hotel ah, reservations down
in Vegas?
SUS:
We, we didnt make any yet. We just thought wed just go.
DET:
Just go?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Okay. Did you tell anybody about your plans to go down there, like a girlfriend
or anybody?
SUS:
(negative)
DET:
SUS:
Just went.
DET:
Okay.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Credit cards.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 20 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Several times. Um, whats your relationship like with your parents?
SUS:
Its fine, you know. They um, Im a little sad that my sister doesnt get to come
over very much, and ah, but they dont seem to hate her or anything. It just, my
dad doesnt really like her side of the, my moms side of the family.
DET:
Um hum.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
No, MARY.
DET:
MARY.
SUS:
MARYs my stepsister.
DET:
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Sister-in-law, I gotcha.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
I think some kind of a vanilla cologne thing. I told em dont worry about it,
you know.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 21 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
SUS:
I dont know. They just, they told me about it. I just was like, just give it to
SCOTT, you know.
DET:
Okay. This, this Iroc that you have at, at your house, um, where are the keys
for that?
SUS:
Its in my nightstand.
DET:
SUS:
Two.
DET:
And are both, do you, where, are both keys in the nightstand?
SUS:
DET:
Why would you keep your keys to your car in a plastic bag?
SUS:
Because I cant drive the Iroc. The, the trunk is broken, so I cant drive it
anywhere. It wont close, and nobody knows how to fix it, so I was just gonna
sell it. Its just sitting there (unintelligible) I want to sell it. I was gonna try to fix
it, but I dont know how.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay. And when, when you, when you left the house, where was the Iroc
parked?
SUS:
In the, theres a, a carport next to the garage, and its backed in there in front
of a generator.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
But it has a tarp over the trunk because the trunks broken.
DET:
Okay. Um, we had a question. Did, does JOE own any firearms?
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 22 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
He used to.
DET:
SUS:
Two handguns.
DET:
SUS:
I have one registered to me and one registered to him because when we were
living in Kent, there was, people tried to bash in my Firebird in the parking lot.
And we bought them to defend ourselves, and we never had to use em, and I
just felt sick from it, so I said lets just, never use them again and I havent seen
em since.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Where at?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
I think so.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Its a hand.
DET:
Handgun.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Do you know who made em, like a Glock or Smith and Wesson?
SUS:
Uh uh.
DET2:
Do you remember what size they were? Were they like a little, a little gun for a
lady, or was it like a, more like a bigger gun for a guy?
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 23 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
What color?
SUS:
Black.
DET:
SUS:
Just once, and it was really hard to hold on to it, cause its just weird.
DET:
Yeah. Do you still have some ammunition for those guns in your house, in your
trailer?
SUS:
No.
DET:
Okay. The time is 11:41. Were back on tape. Um, I guess Im kind of confused
still a little bit. Where did you guys spend last night?
SUS:
We were driving.
DET2:
SUS:
Uh uh; I took a nap during the day here a little bit you know.
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
DET2:
See snow?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
I guess my, my point being is that in six hours you can be out of state.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 24 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
I know.
DET:
So where were you guys from Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve basically
evening?
SUS:
We went out, came back, took a nap for a couple hours, and then went back
out and then came back up here, and I, and I hit the bank on the way up after
we got the tire fixed.
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
No. We just, were not formal or traditional or anything. Were just, I know
were kind of stupid.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
I have, I have a couple questions just for timeline purposes because I wasnt
here. You last saw your mom at what time roughly?
SUS:
DET2:
And what was she doing? You said something about wrapping presents.
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Do you remember what presents she was wrapping? Did she show you some
of the kids gifts?
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 25 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
I think so. It was just sitting there. I think they were gonna wrap it.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
A couple
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
I dont know. They didnt know either, but we left before they got here, so I
have no idea.
DET2:
Okay. Well, what time did you wake up in the morning, to help my timeline
here.
SUS:
DET2:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
7, I dont know.
DET2:
So then you went up. Did you walk up, or did you drive up?
SUS:
We drove up.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 26 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
SUS:
Um hum.
DET2:
In what car?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Both of my parents.
DET2:
SUS:
Yes. Yes.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Parents.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Both?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
And what time do you think that was that you told them?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay. And then what next after you said your goodbye?
SUS:
We went back down to the house and we pack up some things, and we
decided to go out (unintelligible) and um.
DET2:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 27 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Cell phone.
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
Um, I didnt take any. I have, I have one pair of pants, and theyre ripped, so I
just thought Id just buy some when we were out. Ive been wearing the same
pants all year.
DET:
Youve got more money for somebody thats unemployed than anybody I know.
I need to get one of those jobs.
SUS:
I know. Im just.
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
No; you dont, MICHELE. Were just trying to work out, this out. Im just joking
with you.
SUS:
DET2:
Thats not a big deal. Were just trying to see how many days you packed for;
how many days were you planning on being gone?
SUS:
Just two.
DET2:
Two days.
DET:
SUS:
I have two pairs of underwear, two pairs of socks, and I think an extra shirt.
DET:
SUS:
In a backpack.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 28 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah, but.
DET2:
SUS:
We have a computer.
DET2:
Anybody on it?
SUS:
DET2:
DET:
SUS:
Came back.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
DET2:
Was it dark?
SUS:
Yes.
DET2:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 29 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
Yeah. Well, we left a couple times. We came back. And I know we slept or we
played computer games, and I know we um, cause we werent, the check
engine light came on in the truck, and we werent sure. We werent sure if we
were going to even do it. We were gonna back out of it. And then we thought,
well, well just fix it. We went back out.
DET:
Did you make contact with your parents when you came back?
SUS:
DET2:
Okay. So Im, Im trying to get ah, any information. Did you go online to check
the weather, or do you have online?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
Do you have a?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Muscle.
SUS:
DET2:
And you sent the merry Christmas thing on your myspace on Christmas day.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
We left.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 30 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay, um.
SUS:
I sleep usually during the day, and we drive and stuff at night.
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
Um hum.
DET2:
SUS:
425-333-0046.
DET2:
SUS:
No. No.
DET:
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
What do you do? Well, actually, what, again, what was the purpose for coming
back that first time?
SUS:
Wall, we were kind of lost and the check, check engine light came on, and we
werent sure if we should just not drive or not. We figured, no; lets just, lets
just drive.
DET:
So you came back and assessed the situation then decided to go.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Okay.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 31 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
And then when the, when the tire blew out, we were just like just fly.
DET2:
SUS:
In Kelso.
DET:
She said they called Bumble Bee Towing out of Kelso, and she used her cell
phone to call G.M.
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
Is that what you said, because ah, she still has a warranty on the S10.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Okay.
DET2:
Sorry.
DET:
Thats okay. She wasnt here for some of that, so Im just filling her in.
DET2:
Was that in the morning, afternoon, or evening that the tire blew out?
SUS:
DET:
So but, but you left here when its dark out on Christmas day.
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
And then you just drove until 4 this morning when you had the blowout.
SUS:
DET:
For?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Its mine. She just showed up. She was homeless. I just took her in.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
She probably should have checked shelters, but she was so skinny I didnt
think anybody wanted her.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 32 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
All right.
DET2:
SUS:
I forgot my wallet when I left my house, and I came back for it.
DET:
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
And you came back to assess whether you should drive to Vegas or not.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Two.
DET:
Two.
SUS:
DET2:
Wallet, fruit
SUS:
But when we were out and we got, we got lost, and I didnt have my wallet, so
we came back. Or maybe it was three. I dont remember if it was two or three.
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Ive ridden with my mom before, but I didnt pay any attention.
DET:
SUS:
Within Washington.
DET:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 33 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET2:
Portland?
SUS:
Uh uh.
DET2:
SUS:
Uh uh. No. When I met him, he lived on the east coast and fly out.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Does he treat you pretty good? Any problems between you two?
SUS:
(unintelligible)
DET2:
Does he work?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
Which one?
SUS:
The one in Issaquah. Yeah. And um, they, they wanted him to be a lead.
DET:
A lead.
SUS:
Yeah, and then they decided that his training was taking too long, and they
wanted to bring somebody else in. And I just figured, you know, why dont you
just become electrician instead of, you know. At the time there was a lot of the
day, the day crew people were getting all the credit, and he was really working
really hard at night, and I just, I just thought, well, everybody thought he was
really great if they want to make him a lead, or they changed their mind on that
too, and I thought lets just have you quit, and you become an electrician.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 34 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
Sure.
SUS:
You know.
DET:
Um, I, I just want to clarify maybe for SUEs benefit. While you were on the
road heading to Vegas when youre getting lost on that, did you use your cell
phone to call anybody?
SUS:
Uh um.
DET:
And you never checked in with your parents for Christmas day or anything like
that or to tell em, hey, were gonna go; were, were, weve made it this far, or
nothing.
SUS:
Hut um.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
I understand.
SUS:
DET:
DET2:
What, what about JOE, his family, I dont know anything. Did you already cover
that?
SUS:
DET2:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
At all?
SUS:
Uh um.
DET:
Okay. Your parents live and you live in a pretty quiet setting out here, correct.
SUS:
Yeah.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 35 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
All right. When you came home, what did you see at your, at the easement
road to your property?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
I dont know.
DET:
Well, did you see a lot of police cars when you pulled in?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Well, this isnt our driveway. I thought they was here for the WILSONs.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Um, when you and I were talking, they brought in this big RV um, from the
Sheriffs Office. Didnt they?
SUS:
DET:
Remember that.
DET2:
Motor home.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 36 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Yeah. And they also had some helicopters in the air; didnt they?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Whats the one question you asked me when we first sat down?
SUS:
DET:
Right. Um, did the deputy at the road, I mean obviously they didnt let you
drive down here. What did they tell you?
SUS:
They, they didnt tell us anything. They said, park the car.
DET:
Okay. What do you think all these police cars are here for?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Theres, the last time I saw helicopters here was when the old house was on
fire.
DET:
SUS:
I think it was a chimney fire, and ADOLPH used to live down there.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 37 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET:
Why?
SUS:
DET:
I, I wouldnt of got mad. You can ask me anything you want. You ever seen this
many police cars in one place at one time?
SUS:
DET:
Was it that many police cars, or was it fire car, fire trucks here?
SUS:
DET:
Have you seen one fire truck since youve been here?
SUS:
No..
DET2:
SUS:
I dont know.
DET2:
Take a guess.
SUS:
I dont know.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
DET2:
SUS:
(unintelligible)
DET:
Why?
SUS:
Because all these cars, and I dont know what else it would be.
DET:
SUS:
No.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 38 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET2:
I think you might know a little bit more about why were here; and you have to
talk to SCOTT and I about that.
DET:
SUS:
Its my fault.
DET:
What happened?
SUS:
Im sorry.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
DET2:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
DET2:
Its okay.
SUS:
DET:
MICHELE, the only thing I know is what youve told me, so tell me what
happened.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
(unintelligible / crying)
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 39 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
And he refused to pay any back. He knows weve been struggling. Were,
were not making $20 an hour like he is, and I just wanted back the money he
took from me.
DET:
SUS:
And my parents werent even, they dont even care about it. I love my family so
much, and it hurt when he took that money and didnt give it back.
DET2:
What brother?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
Huh.
SUS:
DET:
Well, tell, tell us from the beginning. You go up there, and whos there?
SUS:
Its my fault!
DET:
No one, lets, were not gonna talk about fault or blame right now. We need to
find out what happened, okay.
SUS:
DET:
All right.
SUS:
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 40 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
All right.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
I did.
DET:
SUS:
And I got in an argument with them cause they said theyre not helping me get
my money back from..
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
They threatened to kick me out because they dont, because they dont believe
SCOTTs a bad person.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
And I have too much stuff around here that I gotta sell. Theres no way Id get
out in time.
DET:
Of course.
SUS:
And I panicked.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Sorry.
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 41 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
I didnt want to live out on the street, and I panicked. And as soon as I did that,
I regretted it.
DET:
SUS:
And thats not me cause I love them so much, but I was so mad.
DET:
I know.
SUS:
And then I tried to hide it. They were too heavy. And then I got in an argument
when SCOTT came over.
DET:
SUS:
And said I just want my money, and Ill go away. And its a lot of money.
DET:
SUS:
He told me I dont, he doesnt have to listen to this shit, and he came after me.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Ah huh.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
I know.
SUS:
I love him, but ever since he married ERICA, hes been, he hates me.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
And then he has my car over at his house, and he wont give it back. I keep
pleading with him give me my Firebird back, and he wont give it to me. I gave
him money to fix it, and he just spent it all on himself, and then complained to
me that he had to use his own money to finish working on it, and it never ran.
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 42 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
And he kept comingshot him like four times. I didnt want, I thought he would
just stop when I pointed the gun.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
Im sorry.
DET:
SUS:
(unintelligible) and I just wanted my car back, and I wanted, I wanted the
40,000 back that he owed me.
DET:
SUS:
I wanted it back.
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
His wife and kids. JOE was not part of it. It was just me.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 43 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET:
DET2:
Its better to talk about this cause youve got a lot built up inside of you.
SUS:
Im sorry. I just wanted my money back, and nobody cared; and I cant afford to
take people to court.
DET:
I, I understand that.
SUS:
(unintelligible) money and I just thought Id run. And then I was like, I cant do
this. I have to come back.
DET:
You did the right thing. That shows how much you loved your family and how
big of a mistake this is.
SUS:
I loved them so much, and I felt so bad, and I couldnt sleep or eat.
DET:
SUS:
I threw it away.
DET:
Where?
SUS:
I dont remember.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Am I a bad person?
DET:
DET2:
No.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
You said that after your mom and dad, that you tried to cover it up. What does
that mean?
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 44 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
I drug em in the backyard so when SCOTT came over, I could try to get my
money from him and just leave.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
And as soon as I shot the gun, I felt so bad like what the hell have I done? Im
a monster.
DET:
Its okay.
SUS:
I turned into a monster. I told JOE to lie to cover up what I did cause I told him
afterwards.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
Um, I wonder if we should go up in the RV and talk about this further. Think
so?
DET2:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
I didnt, MICHELE, I didnt realize it was $40,000. That is enough to make you
do something that you normally wouldnt do. Let me ask you this. Okay.
SUS:
I paid for his house and all of his cars cause he told me that he was working
construction and that the work was unstable and hed lose his house. I gave
him a down payment for it, everything. And then he went to my dad and got
75,000 out of him too. And then I told dad that my brothers an awful person;
you shouldnt do this. And he came after me saying that I needed to start
paying for my insurance, and I just went crazy.
DET:
Lets call.
SUS:
Im sorry.
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 45 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
I dont make as much as every body, I just wanted my money and go away.
And I know thats the stupidest thing. Its not even worth it. Now at this, none of
it matters to me now. Im so goddamn dumb.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay. Did you know SCOTT and ERICA were gonna come over?
SUS:
DET:
Okay. And your plan was just to confront him about it.
SUS:
All I wanted to do was talk about why theyre letting SCOTT hurt me and not
doing anything about it. Thats all I was gonna do. And I was gonna confront
SCOTT and say just pay me back. And I just got scared.
DET2:
MICHELE.
SUS:
Im stupid.
DET2:
MICHELE, where was your mom when you first shot her, what room?
SUS:
Kitchen.
DET2:
The what?
SUS:
The kitchen.
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
The rug.
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 46 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
DET2:
MICHELE, there was a couple of sets of footprints. Did, did JOE assist in at
least helping with the bodies, move em?
DET:
And were not saying he hurt em, but did he help you move em?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
I burnt them.
DET2:
You want?
SUS:
I burnt them.
DET2:
Where at?
SUS:
The fire pit in my yard. JOE didnt do anything. It was just me. Im a bad
person.
DET2:
SUS:
I just, I didnt want to shoot anybody. Im sorry. And I dont want to insult
anybody.
SUS:
Im in a lot of trouble now over some stupid money. It doesnt even matter.
DET2:
Well, were just trying to figure this all out, okay, and then we can, we can
move on.
SUS:
Im sorry.
DET2:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 47 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
Im so sorry.
DET2:
SUS:
Everybody was in the living room. Its my fault. I have nothing, and they were
taking from me.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Well, we can understand why you would burn those things. Did you throw the
gun in there as well?
DET2:
Why its real important is because we dont want that gun to get into the hands
of some small child. A lot of times they find guns, and they end up being shot.
SUS:
I threw both the handguns in one river, and I dont remember which one.
DET:
Do you think you could point it out to us if we were to take you out there?
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
Okay, um.
SUS:
Its not JOEs fault. I threatened him to help cover, like by not saying anything.
DET:
No. And thats fine. JOEs up there talking to the other, other detective.
SUS:
Yes. Im sorry.
DET:
Its okay.
SUS:
Im sorry.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 48 of 112
12-27-07 rh
Tape 2, Side A
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
But you said you have some problems with the neighbors.
SUS:
DET:
Okay. But if we were inside the RV, is that okay with you?
SUS:
DET:
Okay. Well, the time is 12:12 hours, and were gonna drive up there, and well
continue this conversation up there. Okay.
SUS:
Okay.
DET:
All right.
DET:
Okay. The time is 12:15 hours. Ah, this is Detective TOMPKINS and PETERS
with ah, MICHELE ANDERSON. Were back on tape. MICHELE, are you
aware this is being tape recorded?
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
SUS:
Yes. Yes.
DET:
And you saw that it has the Sheriffs writing on the side of the vehicle.
SUS:
Yes. Yes.
DET:
Okay. So because thats the case, ah, and this is kind of like a little police
station, I need to read you these, these following rights, okay.
SUS:
Okay.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 49 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
So tell me if you understand these. You have the right to remain silent.
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
You have the right at this time to an attorney of your own choosing.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Anything you say or sign can be used as evidence against you in a court of
law.
SUS:
I know.
DET:
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
You have the right to talk to an attorney before answering questions. Do you
understand that?
SUS:
Um hum.
DET:
Yes?
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
Okay. Ah, you have the right to have an attorney present while you are being
questioned. Do you understand that?
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
Okay. If you cannot afford an attorney, you can have one appointed to you
without cost to you if you desire. And you further understand you have the right
to exercise any of these rights at any time during our conversation. Is that
understood to you?
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
Okay. And with those in mind, youre willing to talk to us about it?
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
Okay. When we moved up here, ah, I told you that we would like to kind of
delve more into um, your relationship between you and SCOTT and the money
that was owed. Can you talk a little bit more about that?
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 50 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
Yeah. SCOTT is always somebody that had to have the best of everything.
And for a long time he was just working in, in construction, and he still was, but
different company. And he told me that the work was inconsistent and that he
could lose his apartment, lost his truck, lose his house as, as the timeline went
along cause.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
When he, and his cars would break down, and Id buy him new things, like new
engines and stuff. Hes got an engine in his garage that I bought, and I bought
one also for my Firebird, and he said that hed put it in. And I gave him enough
money for the, the all the parts it needed, the carburetor, and even labor. He
pocketed everything, and he took an old carburetor and shoved that in there.
And, and I broke down all the time, and he didnt care. He was so callous, and
Im so stupid.
DET:
How, how did you get this money to be able to loan to him in the first place?
SUS:
I worked two jobs, and I dont spend anything. I, I dont buy clothes or any of it.
DET:
So is it just kind of out of respect for your family, your sister and her
relationship that you loaned him this money or?
SUS:
I just, he makes you think that hes so wonderful, and Im just so gullible. And I
just believed it because we got along so well when we were kids. And when he
met ERICA, he started going the other way, and I thought it was my fault, so I
kept spending more so he wouldnt hate me.
DET2:
SUS:
And he kept taking advantage of that. And finally it became too much, and my
dad and my mom didnt even care; and I dont know why. And then I went, I
went to help my mom when her mom had hip surgery. So we drove all the way
down to Vegas. Well, she drove, and I just sat in the passengers seat, and
she was so mean to me, and I couldnt believe it. And I told everybody in the
family, and nobody cared.
DET2:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 51 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
SUS:
Snowballing.
DET2:
Yeah.
SUS:
DET2:
Ah huh.
SUS:
And I helped him with that. We went down and dealt with his brother, cause
they had to split property, and I was trying to be the mediator. And we really
bonded. And we came back, and he wouldnt, still wouldnt help me get money
back from my brother, and he took my brothers side. I felt betrayed. And then
my mom started slandering me, cause I worked at the post office for a while,
and she told all the customers I was making mistakes. I dont know why she
did this. And she slandered me in front of the neighbor. I know she did
because she started letting her dogs out to come after us when we get the pa..
right when were taking the trash out. She, shed tell anybody in town that I
was a bad person. My mom tried to kill me when I was in grade school, but I
thought she wasnt gonna be a mean person again cause Im like forgiving.
DET:
Sure.
SUS:
She didnt close the door all the way to the van when I was five, six, or seven,
and I fell out, and I was clinging on to, to the handle, and she kept driving. And
when I wasnt falling off, she drove onto the rocks on the, on the shoulder and
sped up, and I still didnt fall off. And I think if she could of reached me, she
would of pushed me out.
DET2:
How old.
SUS:
And I told my dad about this, and at the time he cared. He beat the crap out of
her because its abusive, broken home.
DET2:
SUS:
Im twenty-nine.
DET2:
Twenty-nine.
SUS:
And I should of just moved away, but the problem is, is they keep acting like
theyre sorry; and I fall for it every time.
DET2:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 52 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
But they conned me into going to a trailer park that was full of bad people in
Fall City, and I was stuck there.
DET2:
SUS:
One year.
DET2:
One year, and how long has JOE lived there with you?
SUS:
One year.
DET2:
All right.
DET:
SUS:
I think around 4.
DET:
On Christmas Eve?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
Okay. Now when you went up there that day, what was your purpose of going
up to visit your parents?
SUS:
Just wanted to say merry Christmas and was hoping we can, cause
everybody was there, just somehow get a payment plan going.
DET:
I see.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
And I, yeah, and I told em, look, Ill restore this thing so its not like youre, you
know, encumbered by me being there. And I was putting the floor in. If you
guys look.
DET:
Um hum.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 53 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET:
All right.
SUS:
Because the people who used to live there, it was a total scam, and my
parents didnt know about it, and I helped get em out, and the guy destroyed
the place, so the place was horrible. Were trying to piece it together and then
leave with it looking great. And I thought maybe Id get some credibility back,
and theyd help me get my money back.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
No. I mean.
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
And I thought if I talk to them first and then when SCOTT comes in, then we
can talk all together.
DET2:
SUS:
As a family.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
No; I understand.
SUS:
DET:
So you went.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 54 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
And it jammed.
DET:
MICHELE, you went from your parents house back down to your house to get
the gun and then back up. You didnt drive the truck up there?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
Sorry.
DET:
So, when, no, thats okay, when you went to get the gun, was your truck
parked outside your parents house?
DET2:
Or did you have to go home, is what hes asking, when you got upset.
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
Okay. Tell us when you went back to your house, where did you get the gun
from?
SUS:
My bedroom.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
I thought I could just pack up everything and just say, okay, I made a bad
mistake; lets just get out of here.
DET2:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 55 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
I, its my fault.
DET2:
SUS:
Its my fault.
DET:
I, I know, MICHELE, but just like shes saying, what you dont want here, is you
dont want to get caught up in lies.
DET2:
Yeah.
DET:
Okay, so if your story doesnt match JOEs story, then people are gonna think
youre lying about something.
DET2:
DET:
Okay. JOE is talking to the other detective, and hes telling a truthful statement.
DET2:
Yeah. I mean, cause everyone just wants, if JOE played a part, you know,
everything can be figured out, okay. Everything can be figured out.
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
I know.
SUS:
Its my family.
DET2:
But what, but what, MICHELE, what were asking is just tell us the truth the
first time around because right now hes telling the truth. And if he, if he shot
someone, hes gonna tell the detective that, okay. So you dont want to get
caught up in different stories, is what Im saying. Okay. All right. So who had
the gun?
SUS:
DET2:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 56 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
And he un-jammed that one, and I finished. I shot everybody, and he just shot
my dad.
DET2:
SUS:
Im sorry. Yeah.
DET2:
Okay. Now see, doesnt that feel better telling the truth?
SUS:
DET:
But listen.
SUS:
I should not have got him involved. Im so stupid. I should of just, I should of
just left.
DET2:
Well sometimes, sometimes couples, you know, they care about each other
dearly, and they want to cover for each other.
SUS:
DET2:
The, the truth originally eventually will come out once the scenes looked at
and everything.
SUS:
I know.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
I dont understand.
DET2:
Where did the gun, you said it jammed, the gun. You said it jammed, right?
Where was that? Was that at your trailer or up at your moms?
SUS:
DET2:
Okay. And was JOE with you when this all went down?
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 57 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
Okay. MICHELE, lets start from the beginning. And keep in mind that JOEs
talking to a detective too.
DET2:
Just be honest.
DET:
SUS:
We went up there, and I got upset, and I shot at them, and the 9 millimeter
jammed, and he un-jammed it for me; then he shot my dad.
DET2:
Okay, so.
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
My dad.
DET:
SUS:
The living room and the dining room area. Its all the same.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Oh, I see.
SUS:
But then it jammed on the second shot, and he shot him one more time.
DET2:
SUS:
I dont know.
DET2:
Were you.
SUS:
I know that two shots were with the 9, or I think one shot was with the 9 and
one with the other gun. I dont remember. Im not lying. I dont know.
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
What happened.
DET2:
Okay, so.
SUS:
Im sorry.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 58 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
You guy, you guys both go up there together to discuss things with your
parents. Is that correct?
SUS:
(unintelligible)
DET2:
Is that correct?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
Me.
DET:
MICHELE, that doesnt make any sense that youd have two guns with you.
DET2:
Tell, just tell the truth cause hes gonna tell the truth as well. Its okay.
SUS:
DET2:
Okay. Where did you keep your gun? Where was it?
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
In my sweatshirt.
DET2:
SUS:
Dark blue.
DET2:
SUS:
I dont know.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 59 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
And I dont want JOE to go to jail because I threatened him to help me.
DET2:
SUS:
Holster.
DET2:
And was it like a holster off to the side or under the armpit?
SUS:
Under armpit.
DET2:
SUS:
Nine.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
And youd earlier told us one gun was in your name; one was in his name.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
In my name.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 60 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
So were.
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
I was, I thought.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
I know.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
DET:
What did you tell JOE before you went up there, the, the, the need for the
gun?
SUS:
I said that I dont want anybody attacking us, because my brother is really
violent, and my dads really violent.
DET2:
SUS:
I was hoping I could just scare people. I didnt want to use em, but they came
after me; well, SCOTT did.
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
I did.
DET:
SUS:
Christmas Eve.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 61 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
And did JOE load his gun? Tell the truth. I can tell when youre thinking about
things. You gotta speak out loud for the tape.
SUS:
DET2:
Its all right. So then did, who drove the truck up there?
SUS:
DET2:
Well, youre on the private property, so who drove from your place to your
moms?
SUS:
I always drive.
DET2:
SUS:
Hes in the, hes in the truck with me. Hes just with me the whole time. Im
sorry.
DET2:
Okay, so.
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
I made him. Thats why Im trying to tell you guys this, (unintelligible) go to jail.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
MICHELE, MICHELE, did you know you were gonna shoot your family?
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 62 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
I didnt want to hurt anyone, but I freaked out. I didnt want to go to jail. And
then after I shot people, I realized I deserved it, so I came back because I cant
live with myself. Its wrong.
DET2:
Tell us what happened once you entered the house. Where were you and
JOE?
SUS:
I was in the kitchen, and I told everybody to sit on the couch cause I got in an
argument with SCOTT.
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay. By the time SCOTT got there, your parents were dead.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Okay. Lets, lets walk through this from the beginning. You and JOE arrive,
and its just your parents at the house. Is that correct?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
What happens?
SUS:
We got in an argument.
DET2:
SUS:
I just wanted SCOTT to give me my money back. And they, they had this
building, you know, to be like, hey, what are you doing? And I dont do it, and
they got angry.
DET2:
Okay. And where were they when they got angry, what room?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
I shot at them both, and the 9 jammed, and he, JOE helped me only because.
DET2:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 63 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
It jammed.
DET2:
SUS:
He shot my dad.
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
I shot at my dad, and he, I shot my dad, and JOE shot him.
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
And then who shot your mom, both of you or just you?
SUS:
DET:
Both of us or what?
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
I dont remember.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 64 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
We tried to hide em in the shed so when SCOTT came home, I could just try
to confront him.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
When?
DET2:
SUS:
My mom
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
One to two, okay. And how many times was dad shot?
SUS:
DET:
DET2:
DET:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
Im sorry.
DET2:
Now who went out to the backyard first? Who, which body?
SUS:
My mom.
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 65 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
I did. I drug my mom out, but JOE helped me drag my dad out.
DET2:
SUS:
Im sorry.
DET:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
The shed.
DET2:
Now is this a locking shed, or is it unlocked? Explain that to us. Weve never
been there.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
We noticed your dad was wearing tee shirts and underwear. Why is that?
SUS:
DET:
Oh, did he. The officers up at the scene didnt, didnt see that. They might have
been mistaken.
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 66 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
When we were dragging him, his pants started to fall off a little bit, but they
were still there.
DET2:
They might be. We, we just havent been up there yet. And both of you guys
drug your dad.
SUS:
DET2:
And did you go out the front door, or did you drag him out the back door?
SUS:
DET2:
Okay. Where did you see your parents bleeding from? Start with your mom.
Where did you see her?
SUS:
DET2:
And did you try to clean up the scene before SCOTT got there?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
DET:
So what did, Im sorry, did, you told me previously that it took about an hour
before SCOTT got there. Thats still the truth?
SUS:
DET:
Okay, and.
SUS:
DET:
And then during that hour or so you guys are cleaning up the scene.
SUS:
Yeah.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 67 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
All right. What, what are you saying to JOE? Whats JOE saying to you during
this time?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET:
SUS:
Both of us.
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
Let me ask one quick question. Did you ever, when you were cleaning up, did
you ever make a trip back down to your place and then back up?
SUS:
Yes.
DET2:
SUS:
Well, not, when we made a trip back down, it was after SCOTT got there. We
didnt have enough time.
DET2:
Okay. So when youre cleaning up, then SCOTT arrives. Is that correct?
SUS:
Yes.
DET2:
Lets talk about that. Why dont you go ahead and tell us about that. Whos
driving, what kind of car? Whos with SCOTT?
SUS:
SCOTT showed up in his white truck that him and ERICA own, and they sat
down at the couch, and I, I confronted em about the money and my car; and
he came after me. And thats not lying, he did. He jumped up from the couch
and ran after me.
DET:
And when youre confronting him, did you have the guns out?
SUS:
No.
DET:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 68 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
I said, I want my money back, and I want my car back. You know that I dont
make near as much you do, and you conned me out of that money, and I just
want back what was owed to me, and Ill, Ill go away. I dont know why
everybody hated me so much. I was trying to buy everybodys love.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah, and I shot him, and he kept coming, and I freaked out.
DET:
I understand, MICHELE; but when you say he comes at you, where did you
have your gun?
SUS:
(unintelligible)
DET:
SUS:
DET:
I know. I understand, but before that, where did, did you have it in a shoulder
holster, under your pants?
SUS:
DET2:
So.
DET:
So you were holding it like over a sweater draped over your hand.
SUS:
Yeah. I was wearing a tee shirt, and I had a sweatshirt around my arm and
the
DET2:
So its one of those that have where you put your hands in a sweatshirt?
SUS:
No. No.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Yeah.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 69 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
DET:
Do you think SCOTT maybe thought that you had a weapon or a gun?
SUS:
DET:
What was.
SUS:
He says, I dont have to put up with this shit. This is over. And he came right at
me.
DET2:
(unintelligible)
SUS:
DET:
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
I told him I wanted to confront my family and was afraid theyd attack me
because theyre abusive, and I didnt want, I wanted him to protect me, and I
guilt tripped him into it.
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
ERICA.
DET2:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 70 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET2:
Oh.
DET:
What, what was the timeframe between shooting SCOTT and shooting the
other three people?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
She lunged over the couch even though she, she had been shot twice. I dont
know how she did that.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
His, obviously youre pretty smart. You know that we look at, we match bullets
and all that, right, so.
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
The stupid money, I shouldnt have done any of this. Im just trying to be
honest.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 71 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
Okay. MICHELE, where was SCOTT when you shot him, what room?
SUS:
Everybody was in, all that group of people were in the living room.
DET2:
SUS:
He came after me, and I was in-between the wall where the window was.
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
And he was trying to rip the gun out of my hand while I was shooting him.
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
And I got him in the throat, and thats what got him off me. And he fell like that.
DET2:
Okay.
DET:
MICHELE, keep talking to SUE. Im gonna step out for a minute, okay.
SUS:
Im sorry.
DET:
DET2:
DET:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay. And who fired the other shots in, into SCOTT?
SUS:
I shot four shots into SCOTT with the revolver and two into ERICA. I ran out of
bullets. Thats why he shot the kids, because I ran out of bullets. He got it
unstuck by then. If it was unstuck before, he wouldnt of shot anything. I would
of used the 9 on everybody if it had never jammed, and he would never had to
fire anything, because I didnt want him to do any of it. It all backfired when,
when the thing jammed on the second shot. And he finally got it fixed, but it
was that time, it was that split second when were trying, when I ran out of
bullets, and hes trying to un-jam the gun that she called the cops.
DET2:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 72 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
And the cops were dispatched, but the gate was closed, so they didnt come
up.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
That leads up to the gravel, because I just fled because I was freaking out, and
then I, I came back, and I waited for them to come back, and they didnt and.
DET2:
SUS:
I was scared. And then we left again, and then I felt bad again.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay. Lets talk about why did the kids get shot? Why did JOE shoot the kids?
How old are they?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Im a bad person.
DET2:
Well, I, I want to know the ages of those kids that were shot.
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
NATHAN.
DET2:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 73 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
OLIVIA.
DET2:
OLIVIA.
SUS:
Sorry.
DET2:
SUS:
I did.
DET2:
Are you sure? You said, JOE, shoot the kids? That doesnt make any sense.
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
They see this, and then they live like this the rest of their lives. Theyre scarred
forever.
DET2:
SUS:
In the head.
DET2:
SUS:
Nine.
DET2:
And thats the gun now that JOE had. Is that correct?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
What happened was I started out with the 9 with my parents. It jammed; so he
finished them off with the revolver. So he put more wea.. bullets in the revolver,
and I shot four of those revolver shots into my brother and two into ERICA. I
ran out of bullets. He got the 9 un-jammed and finished off ERICA and the
kids.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
I just thought if they saw their parents dead, that theyd be scarred for life.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 74 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
So you, you, at one point you didnt want to get caught. Is that correct?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
We didnt, we didnt.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay. But at, you did not want to get caught at one point. Is that correct?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay. But after everyone is shot, is anything changed in the living room?
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 75 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
No. We ran.
DET2:
SUS:
We ran out the door and got, and jumped in the truck.
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
Tell me exactly what you did once you got to the house.
SUS:
I grabbed my cell phone and my backpack that has my wallet in it, and we
went and headed for Monroe.
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
No.
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
We just ran, we just panicked. And I said, no; we gotta come back.
DET2:
You missed a part. She saw the police out on the paved road.
DET:
For the call from ERICA. Did you guys lock the gate?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
There, theres only one lock. The other ones on there, we dont have, they just
sit on there.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 76 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Got a map.
DET2:
SUS:
I bought a map.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
What store?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
No.
DET2:
Okay. What did you do next now that you had the map?
SUS:
DET:
Why?
SUS:
Just to run, and then we changed our mind and came back. And then we
freaked out again and burnt the towels. And then we came back again.
DET2:
Okay. Slow down and tell me about burning the, what did you burn, and how
did you get the towels from there to the burn pile?
SUS:
We put em in plastic garbage bags and loaded in the back of the truck and
brought em down to the burn pile in my yard and burnt them.
DET2:
SUS:
I dont know.
DET2:
Roughly.
SUS:
I dont know.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 77 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
SUS:
At least ten.
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Two rugs.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
What colors?
SUS:
Tan.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 78 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
Okay. But theres, theres the bodies are there. Why does it matter if the bloody
towels and stuff are there?
SUS:
I dont know.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
What else?
SUS:
I didnt want to get caught, and then I wanted to and you know, back and forth
and.
DET2:
Where did you get the plastic bags to load up all this stuff?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
White.
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
The pantry.
DET2:
And how many trips did you make back and forth?
SUS:
DET2:
Okay. And what else did you burn? We got rugs. We got towels. What about
clothes?
SUS:
No.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 79 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
Shoes?
DET:
SUS:
Slippers, huh.
DET:
SUS:
My dad was wearing slippers. We burnt those too. I just, I dont know why. I
just threw em in.
DET:
Where are the clothes that JOE was wearing that day?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
I dont remember what outfit he was wearing. He washed them, and they were
at our house.
DET:
In the trailer.
SUS:
Yeah. And then we dried them, and I dont remember if hes wearing them.
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay. Well, lets, lets talk about this first. What shoes were you wearing?
SUS:
I was wearing this outfit but a different shirt. I washed that, and then I put this,
this, everything else back on and then put a new shirt on.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 80 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
From what?
SUS:
DET2:
When you were fighting over the gun. You have to answer out loud.
SUS:
Yeah. He was fighting me and trying to rip the gun out of my hands while I was
shooting.
DET2:
Okay. So what else went in the burn pile? Um, the dad was missing pants.
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
DET:
They, they might have, might have made a mistake. They just thought
(unintelligible)
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Theyre there.
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
Unless the dog drug it off. I, I swear to God we didnt take those off. Im not a
perv-o.
DET2:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 81 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
Okay. But those are still, are these the shoes that you wore?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
Okay. And he, as far as you know, is wearing the shoes that he wore.
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah; and my mom and dad have some too, so I dont remember whose
house they were., we got them from.
DET:
SUS:
Boots, steel-toe.
DET:
SUS:
I dont know.
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
I dont know if theyre there or if he took em. I didnt even, I didnt even talk to
him about it. We just dumped the firearms and whatever bullets we didnt use.
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
You know.
DET2:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 82 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
In my truck.
DET2:
In your truck.
SUS:
Yes.
DET2:
SUS:
It was in boxes.
DET2:
SUS:
We threw em away.
DET:
Where?
SUS:
I dont remember where, but it was off the side of the highway.
DET:
SUS:
I dont remember where we dumped them, but I can tell you what highway. It
was I 5.
DET2:
Well, lets talk about what evidence was dumped. What did you get rid of,
cause you said you could take us back to the guns. Is the ammo in a different
spot?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
JOE.
DET2:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 83 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
Both of em?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
No. The thing is you don't want some kids finding it, then getting it working.
SUS:
DET:
We appreciate that.
SUS:
I know nobodys gonna find it at the bottom of a river. Im just telling you what
happened.
DET2:
Well, things float; things float. Youd be surprised what washes up on land.
DET:
DET2:
Yeah.
DET:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
Up by Monroe?
SUS:
Past Monroe.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 84 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
I dont remember what; it started with an S. Its an Indian name. And both of
the guns are wrapped in a shirt and thrown in. The highway went right over,
and we just dropped em in the middle.
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
Or a different time?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
What color?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Its mine.
DET2:
SUS:
We both did.
DET2:
Together?
SUS:
Well.
DET2:
SUS:
Well, I set it out, and he put them in, and he tied em.
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
Thats both.
DET2:
SUS:
Im sorry.
DET2:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 85 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
I, I drive everywhere.
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
And did you park along the road and get out or?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
It was nighttime. I should of just, I should of just called, and I shouldnt of done
any of this.
DET2:
So tell me about any other evidence that was gotten rid of.
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
They were dumped out of the boxed and just (unintelligible) some ditch off of
the highway, and then the boxes were dumped right next to em; and I dont
remember where.
DET2:
(unintelligible)
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
No.
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 86 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Yeah, but what were faced with is we have six bodies up there at your parents
house, and two are small children.
DET:
You, you told me earlier that you had ah, graduated school, is that correct,
high school? Where did you graduate?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
Face painting?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
Okay.
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET:
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
SUS:
I should have.
DET:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 87 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Trying to remember his name. I dont remember his name, but he, he worked
in Issaquah.
DET:
SUS:
My family said that Im depressed all the time and that, but they went
overboard with it. They said that everything I feel is not valid.
DET:
SUS:
No. No.
DET:
Or bipolar?
SUS:
No. I took tests to make sure that I wasnt any of those. I just have depression.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
No. No.
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 88 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
Yes.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
No.
DET2:
Alcohol?
SUS:
DET2:
Drugs?
SUS:
I dont do drugs.
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
No alcohol?
DET:
Youre sure?
SUS:
DET:
Have you ever um, heard voices or thought that people were commanding you
to do things?
SUS:
No. No.
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
Dad used to put holes in the walls with our heads, and Im not making that up.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 89 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
He was really abusive. And one time my, my dog was trying to get a mole and
dug under the house, and he beat it for 45 minutes straight right in front of me,
and I was five. He used to skin animals in front of us and make fun of em.
DET:
Was he a hunter?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Because he, he always beat up my mom, and he beat us up, and he beat up
my sister. He would smash her head into the toilet.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Five.
SUS:
DET:
Now that was your experience. Do you think your ah, sister and brother have
the same viewpoint of your parents?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
What?
DET2:
Do they have any ah, other family thats looking for them?
SUS:
PAM and TONY live in Snohomish, and they celebrate Christmas with them.
DET2:
And who.
SUS:
DET2:
PAM.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 90 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
ERICAs parents.
DET2:
SUS:
Snohomish.
DET2:
SUS:
MANTLE, I think.
DET2:
MANTLE.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
M-A-N-T-E-L?
SUS:
Yeah, T-L-E.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
So you said that while you guys were um, kind of on the run here, you, part of
you wanted to come back and confess. Part of you wanted to.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 91 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET:
Okay. Listen to my question. You want, part of you wanted to confess, part of
you wanted to head to Canada or whatever, okay; what did you guys talk
about as far as what your alibi was gonna be during the point when you
wanted to run?
SUS:
We said we, we just wanted to go to Canada and just not come back.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
Then we thought, well, maybe well just get married in Vegas and then come
back and confess; just let it all, cause I was scared.
DET:
Okay. But when you came and you and I met in the driveway.
SUS:
DET:
Just, listen to my question. When you and I met in the driveway, you told me
you guys were gonna run off to Vegas to get married, correct.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
I know, but did you guys talk about, as youre walking down the driveway, that
was the story you were gonna tell the police, that you were going to Vegas?
SUS:
DET:
Okay. What do you suppose JOE is saying to the police right now?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
We both wanted to do that, and we were both gonna be honest about that.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 92 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
Why, if you were just gonna go up there and threaten em and scare em, why
did you each have a gun?
SUS:
They were going to attacked me, and I thought if I fired my gun, it would jam or
something.
DET2:
SUS:
That week.
DET2:
SUS:
It was just
DET2:
A couple days prior or a month prior? How long have you been thinking about
killing SCOTT or your family?
SUS:
I dont know.
DET2:
Give me a guess.
DET:
SUS:
Two weeks.
DET2:
Two weeks. Okay. And is that why you went up there with?
SUS:
They kept talking about kicking me out. They kept talking about
DET2:
Are they mad because youre not paying the rent or what? Whats the deal?
SUS:
Im not paying anything because were trying to get on our feet and then
reimburse them.
DET2:
But is that why theyre mad? Are they mad at you guys, kicking you out,
because youre not paying? What makes them angry at you?
SUS:
Theyre angry that I want my money back from SCOTT, cause I kept telling
him.
DET2:
Okay. But thats not a reason why theyd be kicking you out. Why are they
kicking you out of the trailer?
SUS:
I told him, we had an agreement that I would live for a year, a little over a year,
and then Id reimburse them; and he just didnt want to stick with it.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 93 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Okay. And you havent been paying rent. Is that why theyre upset with you?
SUS:
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
You dont have to pay rent, but Im gonna evict you. That doesnt make any
sense.
SUS:
DET2:
Okay. So theres been some talk about you not, you and your um, boyfriend
not paying.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
Okay. So is that upsetting to your dad that you havent been paying?
SUS:
Yeah, because I keep, he gives me this timeline, and then he short, shortened
it.
DET2:
Okay. So youve been under pressure. You guys gotta get a job and stuff, pay
rent.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
I just want to get my money back from SCOTT so I could just throw that at
them and then just leave.
DET2:
Okay. So for about two weeks youve been thinking of killing how many
people?
SUS:
My brother.
DET2:
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 94 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
So why did you shoot your mom and dad? Why didnt you just shoot your
brother?
SUS:
Because I freaked out. I freaked out because I thought they were all against
me.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
I thought that they were all after me. I got paranoid. I thought they were all
after me, because why would they take SCOTTs side? They must all be out to
get me, and I got paranoid. I went crazy.
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Im a bad person.
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
Pawn shop.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 95 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET:
Pawn shop. Um, I think were gonna take a break for a little bit. Um, what Id
like to do is Id like to photograph your injuries to your hands and then maybe
have you go point out the bridge to us. Is that okay?
SUS:
(unintelligible)
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET:
Okay. And is this statement provided of your own free will and without the
threat of, or any threats or promises?
SUS:
Im saying this because I feel guilty. You guys arent doing anything to me.
DET:
End of Tape 2
Tape 3, Side A
DET:
Ah, were back on tape. And MICHELE, are you aware this is being tape
recorded?
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
Death of your family, okay. Have you thought of anything new since we last left
you?
SUS:
I just know that we had a set time before I had to pay, my parents had a set
time before I had to start paying them rent, and they went back on that when I
got upset with my brother.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 96 of 112
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
SUS:
They just said that I had to start paying them immediately or get out.
DET:
I should have mentioned this earlier. The date is ah, still 12-26-2007. The time
we sat down is 13:55.
SUS:
We, we were having that discussion on Christmas Eve. Im sorry. Thats when
we were saying that.
DET:
SUS:
Before.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah. Yeah.
DET:
Okay. Um, as you know, ah, JOEs been talking to some detectives down on
the roadway there. Okay. Is there any reason why he would have a different
version of events than you? What is that reason?
SUS:
DET:
Covering what?
SUS:
We, okay, we went back and forth on whether or not we were gonna confess
or cover it up, and he was covering it up if hes not saying the same thing as
me.
DET:
Well, I, I asked you before about if you guys had an alibi in place; what was
the alibi?
SUS:
DET:
Well, did you have a discussion about what you were gonna tell the police?
SUS:
Said we were just gonna say that and just not say anything else, and I wasnt
really with it. I mean, we were for a while, but we went back and forth. But I
cant live with myself.
DET:
No.
SUS:
DET:
That goes to show, that goes to show what kind of person you are, um.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 97 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
I guilt tripped him into covering everything up and the lying, and then I felt bad
about it and decided that, no; I need to just come clean. It is my fault that he is
covering it up.
DET:
I understand.
SUS:
DET:
Well.
SUS:
It was me.
DET:
I understand.
SUS:
DET:
And I appreciate that. One of the different, differences in your stories is that
hes saying you two went up there with the intent of killing your parents. Did
you guys discuss that at all? Where would he be coming, getting that
information?
SUS:
I said that I was upset with my parents and my brother and that if the problems
dont get resolved, I, my intent was definitely to kill them.
DET:
SUS:
Everybody.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
It was my fault.
DET:
SUS:
DET2:
He said what?
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 98 of 112
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
I was upset because theyd been abusing me since I was five, and now they
took all this money, and I was fed up with being victimized.
DET2:
What, what bank did you have the 40,000 in that you loaned him?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
JOE thought it might been closer to 3,000. Do you think it could have been?
SUS:
No. The engines really bothered me. Thats what the 3,000 came from.
DET2:
Was the engine that you took over to his house or (unintelligible)
SUS:
I bought two brand-new engines for my father, and he never paid me back for
that. I, I bought him a Mustang. I bought him that blue S10, but it always
stayed in moms name.
DET2:
SUS:
83, but its got an aftermarket grill, well, not aftermarket, but a 93 grill on it.
DET2:
But when did you buy all this stuff, what year?
SUS:
This is over time from high school all the way up 'til now, everything added up.
DET2:
So.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
I dont know.
DET:
SUS:
He was supposed to, we had an agreement where, some of this stuff was an
agreement where, you know, we, we bought, I would buy the muscle cars, and
Detective Tompkins/Peters
Page 99 of 112
12-27-07 rh
he would do the labor. But he, but he didnt, and I spent three years taking a
bus. And I, and its like, I, I gave him the money to put the engines, and he
squandered the money and then blamed me for not having enough money to
put into the car even though I gave him the money for all the parts and the
labor.
DET:
SUS:
And I gave him a down payment on his house, and I gave him mortgage
payments and food for his kids.
DET:
Do you.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
He lied about.
DET:
If, if hes in that kind of position where he owns a company, has a good, good
car, wife and kids, why does he need you to backfill him?
SUS:
I didnt know what he was making at the time, and he guilt tripped me into
making payments, I mean giving him money. When he got more obviously
successful, I stopped giving him money, but this was gradual from high school.
He wasnt always up there. This all led up to it.
DET2:
SUS:
He lost his job working for TONY, and he was unemployed for a while, and I
helped out with that too. When he started at the bottom there, he said that,
Detective Tompkins/Peters
12-27-07 rh
well, I only work so many days a year, and its inconsistent. I dont want to lose
my house. And I gave him another, like 3, 5,000, you know, to get him through.
DET2:
Whens the last time you gave him actually money? How long ago?
SUS:
(unintelligible)
DET2:
What?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
I understand.
SUS:
DET:
Going back to when you and JOE are going up to your parents house and you
tell him what again? That if this doesnt go my way, how, how did you phrase
that?
SUS:
Oh, I told him that I just, I wanted my money back, and I didnt want to be out
in the street.
DET:
Okay.
DET2:
(unintelligible)
SUS:
And I thought that if I just shot them, theyd stop attacking me, because they
continued to verbally and physically attack me.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah, and my, no, just throughout the whole time. My parents when I was
growing up verbally and physically attacked me. But as an adult they verbally
attacked me.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
12-27-07 rh
DET:
Towards you?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Yeah, and I.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Its my fault.
DET:
Okay. I just want to make sure Im clear in my own mind because JOEs giving
a different account.
SUS:
I went up there, and if they didnt give me back my money and stop attacking
me and slandering me across town, because she was, she slandered me
across town, that I would shoot em all (unintelligible)
DET2:
So tell me again. Were your mom and dad separated in rooms, or were they
together? Be honest with that.
SUS:
DET2:
No.
SUS:
DET2:
No.
DET:
DET2:
When you went up there, because were getting some different versions. Did
you guys separate them, or were they together?
SUS:
Well, my dad was in the living room, dining room area, and my mom was
coming down the hall toward the kitchen; and she got shot in the kitchen, and
my dad fell in the dining room.
DET:
JOE said that he might have been a little diversion when you walked in. Do
you know what that would have been?
Detective Tompkins/Peters
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
I dont understand.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
I just know that, oh, okay, I know what hes talking about. Mom was wrapping
presents, and she was coming down the hallway, but he was there, so I could
shoot my dad.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Oh, really.
SUS:
You know.
DET:
SUS:
I mean, we were talking normal, and then the argument was quicker.
DET2:
Okay. Tell me what the argument was about. Was it about rent?
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
And SCOTT not paying me back and they changed change that. And she
walked off, and I just, I just got mad.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
Well, MICHELE, you said that you were with your father and that JOE held up
your mother or at least kept her away.
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
SUS:
Hes like within sight of me. Hes within sight of me, and Im just pulling it out,
and he sees that.
DET:
So he sees that.
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
I just told him that, look, Im going get my dad and then shoot my mom.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
(unintelligible)
DET:
So you had told him that previous, before entering the house?
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
And what did your dad, how, what was your dads reaction?
SUS:
DET2:
Where did you have the conversation with JOE to say that?
SUS:
The kitchen.
DET:
So that.
SUS:
DET:
I know, but thats where the plan was hatched, and then he went and stood by
your mom.
JK:
What did JOE say when you told him that you wanted to shoot your dad?
SUS:
JK:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
I dont remember.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Did you say its time, or Im gonna go shoot him, or what, what were your exact
words to him?
SUS:
DET:
DET2:
SUS:
I just know that it, look, I know what youre asking me. Yes; it was
premeditated; and yes, I was fed up with everything.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
Because they, they abused me for so long, and I should have just walked
away from it.
DET:
Well, well cover that in a second. JOE told the other detectives that he had
apologized before shooting. Do you recall that?
SUS:
Um hum, yes.
DET:
SUS:
Because I just wanted them to stop hurting us. I didnt want to have to do this,
and we were sorry for it; and we felt really bad.
DET2:
What did you say? Did you say any comments to anybody?
SUS:
DET:
So, ..
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Because this is excessive. I should of just walked away from it all. Its not
worth it.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
SUS:
I said, this is not fair that I did so much for the family and everybody abused
me and attacked me so much. And all I want is my money back so I can just
leave.
DET:
SUS:
I said, look, Im sorry, and I walked in the kitchen and I unwrapped it and came
back and shot em.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Right.
SUS:
And the gun was strapped, not strapped, but tucked into it, and I was just
holding it.
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
And then.
SUS:
And I took it out of that, and then I just shot em because I was fed up. And its
wrong. I take full responsibility.
DET:
I, I know.
DET2:
SUS:
And it was the stupidest thing ever. Nothing was worth this. I, I should of just
listened to JOE cause he tried to talk me out of it the entire time. It was my
idea, not his.
DET2:
Did you say any words to anybody else? Did you apologize to anyone else?
SUS:
I apologized to everybody because I didnt want it to turn out like that, but I
knew it would. Do you understand? I mean, I went up there knowing Id
probably shoot these people, but I didnt want to.
DET:
Well, what did you say or do to show these people you were sorry?
Detective Tompkins/Peters
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
I just said sorry before shooting em. Its horrible. Im a bad person.
DET:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET:
SUS:
He said Im sorry.
DET2:
To?
DET:
SUS:
He just stared.
DET2:
SUS:
ERICA and the kids. We both shot ERICA. He shot the kids, not me.
DET:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Like, like he knew that, that he was gonna die and was accepting it. It was
weird.
DET:
DET2:
Is..
SUS:
Awful.
DET:
SUS:
No.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
No. But did you have a discussion with him after the fact about what NATHAN
looked like or what he?
Detective Tompkins/Peters
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
We felt horrible.
DET2:
SUS:
Yes. But this was all my idea. I pushed him into it. We both felt really bad. I
should of walked away from it. I take 100 percent responsibility for it.
DET2:
SUS:
What?
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah. Thats what Im saying is that we could of walked away from this.
DET2:
Okay.
SUS:
Im sorry.
DET2:
SUS:
Yes.
DET2:
SUS:
None of us where.
DET2:
SUS:
Yeah.
DET2:
SUS:
Yes.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
We burned it.
Detective Tompkins/Peters
12-27-07 rh
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
DET:
Let me ask you this. You said that the whole motive was to, you know, confront
your brother and get this money back.
SUS:
And my parents for the abuse and supporting him and not helping me.
DET:
Exactly, and youve also said that you knew this may come to a shooting.
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
Okay. Was there ever any talk about what to do with these kids? I mean, you
knew.
SUS:
No. We never.
DET:
But you know your, your sister-in-law is gonna show up with the kids.
SUS:
We never talked about that. I just, well, when we did this, I didnt want
anybody; it was like a culmination of not wanting them, they have to live with
these memories, and not wanting witnesses. Its horrible.
DET:
Yeah.
SUS:
Im a monster. Im sorry.
DET:
Have, since the shooting has occurred, have you told anyone else what youve
done?
SUS:
DET:
Youre sure?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
Is she married?
SUS:
DET2:
Is she married?
SUS:
No.
DET2:
SUS:
ANDERSON.
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
What?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET2:
I know youre sorry. Were just trying to get some more details. What do you
remember about ah, the casings that came out of the gun?
SUS:
DET2:
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
DET:
And (unintelligible)
Detective Tompkins/Peters
12-27-07 rh
SUS:
DET2:
MICHELE.
SUS:
We went back and forth between trying to cover it up and admitting it.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
And when we drove up, we came here. Im like, I just knew it, and then I
freaked out in the car, and I was telling you half of the truth. None of that was a
lie. I was just leaving out stuff, and I did not feel good. I just didnt think I could
do it.
DET:
Yeah.
SUS:
And also I was scared. But I deserve to come clean, so Im just telling you
everything I can remember.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET2:
No.
DET:
(unintelligible)
SUS:
Ill show you where the bullets and where the guns are if I can see it on the
road.
DET:
You, you.
SUS:
I dont remember exactly where the bullets are, but I can narrow it down on
south I 5. I can find it.
DET:
Okay.
SUS:
DET:
SUS:
Yes.
DET:
All right. The time is now 14:12 hours. Is this statement true and correct to the
best of your knowledge?
SUS:
Detective Tompkins/Peters
12-27-07 rh
DET:
SUS:
Im sorry.
DET:
All right.
End of Statement
rh
Detective Tompkins/Peters
12-27-07 rh