August 30, 2008

Today’s date is August 30th, of 2008, time now is uh, 0955 hours. My name is Detective
Terry Jones, my Code Number is 6354. I’m with the Louisville Metro Police Department. This
interview pertains to File #08197, it is the death investigation of a PRP player Max Gilpin. Uh,
this interview is of Miss Rhonda Barnett. And, we are currently at uh, we’re currently at 5316
Tahia Drive, spelled T-A-H-I-A, Drive. Also, present is uh, Danny Herald, he’s with the uh,
security of Jefferson County Board of Education. And, this interview in is of Miss Barnett and
it’s being tape recorded.

Jones Miss Barnett are you aware, are you uh, aware
this interview is being taped?

Barnett Yes.

Jones Okay, can you identify your full na…, say your
full name?

Barnett Rhonda Barnett.

Jones Okay. And, your date of birth?

Barnett

Jones Okay. Uh, we talked before going on tape and

at this time, would you just kinda elaborate on
the (inaudible)…, of events that occurred while
attending the Waggener and PRP soccer game
on August 20th?
Page 2 of 13
Statement: Rhonda Barnett / Case #08197(b)
August 30, 2008

Barnett Okay. Uhm, I arrived between 5:25 and 5:30 to

watch the soccer game. The football practice
was going on, on the adjacent field. Uhm, it
was really crowded. I found a seat under the
shade tree, close to the bleachers. Behind
where those football players were practicing.
Uhm, 5 to 10 minutes after I arrived, I heard
one of the boys yell out to the coach. And,
asked if he could stop for a drink of water. Uh,
the coach replied, no that you don’t ask me for
a drink of water. I’ll tell you, if you need a
drink of water I’m the professional. Uhm, and
then said something about the fact that he was
still sweating. And, so that meant he wasn’t
dehydrated yet. Uhm, about 5 minutes after
that, my attention was drawn back over to the
football players. Because there were 2 boys
helping another boy. Uh, a, a tall black male
was walking over, having trouble breathing.
He was uhm, wheezing really loud. They
helped him over to the bench, several of us
were turned around watching. To make sure he
was okay. They sat him down, let him get a
drink of water. Uh, one of the moms of the,
she was sittin’ by the soccer field. But, she
yelled over to one of the football players. To
see if he could get an inhaler. I have an inhaler
if he needs it, and uh, the boy went over and
asked him. And, he came back and said no,
he’s okay, he’s catching his breath. Uh, not
long after that my mom arrived. We scooted
up closer to the soccer field. And, I was telling
her a little about, about what had been
happening. When I noticed that the boy that
had had trouble breathing, had went back out
on the field. The other end of the field and was
trying to f…, he’s joining back into the
practice. Well, we went on watching the soccer
Page 3 of 13
Statement: Rhonda Barnett / Case #08197(b)
August 30, 2008

game and 5 to 10 minutes after that was when

heard the boys yelling. You know on the field,
for the coach. And, we turned around and saw
3 boys helping uh, a tall white male. They were
trying to help him over to the coach, and he
just collapsed. When they were holding him
up, he just went down. They carried him over a
little closer to the shade. And, when I walked
over one of the coaches had him sitting up. He
was behind him, holding the ice on the back of
his neck. And, his head, his face down by the
boy’s face, was talking to him. The other
coach was sittin’ on his right side, right by his
leg. And, I walked over and asked if he was
awake. ‘Cause, they were talking to him. Says
is he awake and they said, yes. And, the coach
said he just got overheated. I said have you
poured water on him, he said yeah. He, he’ll
be fine you know, if we pour water on him, he
just told me he’s gonna be fine. So, I went back
and sat down. We watched for another minute
or two, they loaded him onto a trailer. Started
rolling him back towards the back of the field.
It seemed that they were taking him to wait for
an ambulance. Turned back and started
watching the soccer game again. Uhm, at
halftime, which is about 20 minutes later? My
mom noticed they had somebody over at the
water fountains. And, she said, is that the same
boy? I turned around and I said, yes we both
were like, oh my God. He’s still here, they
were hosing him down. He did not look
responsive to me at all. We were at a distance
but his head was laid off to the side. And, he
wasn’t moving while they were puttin’ the
water on him. There was a woman standing at
the side, I’d say was his mom. We’re
wondering why the ambulance isn’t there yet?
So, everybody’s watching at that point and
Page 4 of 13
Statement: Rhonda Barnett / Case #08197(b)
August 30, 2008

then just a couple of minutes later, the

ambulance pulled up. EMS got out and walked
over, they were there for a few minutes. I guess
assessin’ him, talking to the coach to see what
happened. And, then they lifted him off the
trailer, at least 3 of ‘em. Put him on the
stretcher, took the stretcher to the ambulance.
Uhm, by this time 2 boys had helped, the first
boy that had trouble breathing, to walk out to
the field. So, he’s sitting there and one of the
EMT’s came back from the ambulance to talk
to him. Of course uh, we’re not hearing
anything that’s being said. ‘Cause, it was so far
away. And, another few minutes went by, the
ambulance was there at least 10 minutes. And,
then first truck, the first ambulance, first EMS
guy, I guess he was the driver. Came walking
over kind of quickly and said something to the
other one. They got the boy up, they took him
straight to the ambulance. Mom came running
over and got in the front of the ambulance.
And, they finally left.

Jones Uh, now the time that you arrived you said it
was around 5:30, 25, 5:25?

Barnett 5:25 to 5:30.

Jones Okay. And, uh, you were attending a soccer

game uh, on behalf of your daughter?

Barnett Um-hum.

Jones Who plays for?

Barnett PRP.

Jones She’s a soccer player? And, uh, while there you

uhm, overheard a player ask for water. And, a
Page 5 of 13
Statement: Rhonda Barnett / Case #08197(b)
August 30, 2008

coach, you don’t know which coach?

Barnett I don’t know which coach.

Jones And, can you describe the coach?

Barnett Stocky uhm, he had on a, a gray tee-shirt, he

had on a ball cap.

Jones Facial hair or anything?

Barnett No, I don’t know, I really don’t?

Jones Okay, but.

Barnett It was very bright that day, the sun was really
bright.

Jones Was he wearing a whistle, you don’t know?

Barnett I don’t know, I didn’t hear him blow a whistle

but, I don’t know.

Jones Okay. But, he was, he was described as, as a to

you as a uh, a coach, but you’re not for sure
which coach.

Barnett I have no idea.

Jones He could bed an assistant, okay.

Barnett Yeah, ‘cause there were several of ‘em out

there.

Jones Okay. And, and a player uh, who had been

doing running exercises uh, had asked for
water, right?

Barnett Right.
Page 6 of 13
Statement: Rhonda Barnett / Case #08197(b)
August 30, 2008

Jones And, that’s this particular person, may have

been the coach told him.

Barnett Well, he, he called him coach.

Jones Okay.

Barnett He just yelled coach.

Jones Okay.

Barnett Can I get a drink of water?

Jones And, the coach’s response was?

Barnett Did I tell you you needed a drink of water?

You don’t tell me you need a drink of water.
We’re the professionals, we will let you know.
If you need water or breaks or anything else.

Jones Okay. And, did the kid continue to conduct

exercises?

Barnett He didn’t stop the whole time; he was still

running in place or whatever he was doing.

Jones Okay.

(Bells ringing)…

Barnett Uh, he was talking to the coach, yeah.

Jones Okay. And, uh, you said your mom uh, was
attending the game with you? And, your
mom’s name is?

Barnett Mary Frazier.

Page 7 of 13
Statement: Rhonda Barnett / Case #08197(b)
August 30, 2008

Jones Mary Frazier, that’s your mom? Okay.

(Bells ringing)…

Jones Uh, you stated that first uh; player you saw
was a tall black male who had been
experiencing some breathing problems?

Barnett They brought him over ‘cause he was having

trouble breathing.

Jones Okay. And, someone, you assumed it was his

mom, asked him did he need?

Barnett No, it wasn’t his mom it was another boy’s

mom.

Jones Okay.

Barnett She was sittin’ over by the soccer field and he

yelled to her son. And, said does he need an
inhaler.

Jones Okay.

Barnett I have one.

Jones Okay. And, uhm, how many players did you

see uh, actually were involved with these
particular, these particular exercises? Were
they broken up in groups, was it the whole
team?

Barnett There was different groups.

Jones Different groups?

Barnett Yeah, they were in different, they were all d…,

and looked like they were all doing different
Page 8 of 13
Statement: Rhonda Barnett / Case #08197(b)
August 30, 2008

things.

Jones Okay. And, how were they dressed?

Barnett By the time I got there when I saw ‘em, they

had on their football pants and no shirts. Uhm,
I didn’t see pads, there was a small group off to
the, the far side that were still run. They looked
like they were running plays. Now, they still
had pads and shirts on.

Jones They had full equipment?

Barnett That, yeah they were running plays uh, but

they were smaller. I think they might’ve been
junior.

Jones Okay.

Barnett Possibly ‘cause they were smaller kids.

Jones Okay. But, you’re saying that when they, the

group that you seen uh, they had no shirts on.
Are you describing no jerseys?

Barnett No shirts, no pads just the pants.

Jones They were bare…

Barnett They were bare chested.

Jones Bare chested.

Barnett Yeah.

Jones Okay. And, this was one of the kids who had
asked for water, who was bare chested?

Barnett He was, he was bare chested, yeah.

Page 9 of 13
Statement: Rhonda Barnett / Case #08197(b)
August 30, 2008

Jones Uh, your position uh, as it relates to the

players. Uh, they would’ve been behind you, to
the side of you, or how far away?

Barnett When I first got there, before my mom got

there, I was sittin’ under the shade tree. So, I
was the soccer fields over here. I’m sittin’ like
this, football players are here.

Jones To your right?

Barnett Yeah.

Jones As you, as?

Barnett ‘Cause, their right, just a little bit, they’re in

front of me but to the, to the right.

Jones Okay. And, uh, at the end here when the uh,
particular, the last player you described. Is he a
white male, large built white male? You
walked over to the uh, coaches uh, after this
kid had collapsed. And, was in your opinion,
needing some assistance? You asked coaches.

Barnett I walked over and asked if he was awake,

‘cause they were talking to him.

Jones Okay.

Barnett He was, I wanted to make sure he gained

consciousness. And, they said he was awake.

Jones Okay. And, you didn’t identify yourself as a

nurse, right?

Barnett I did not.

Page 10 of 13
Statement: Rhonda Barnett / Case #08197(b)
August 30, 2008

Jones Okay. Let me ask you this, you are a, what’s

your profession?

Barnett I’m a registered nurse.

Jones Okay. And, you walked over as, as a, a

concerned individual, not as a nurse?

Barnett Right. I walked o…, I’m, I’m sure lots of

parents walked to walk over. I just walked over
because, if he was still unconscious? Certainly
I would’ve wanted to feel a pulse. And, and
you know, offer assistance if I could.

Jones Okay.

Barnett They told me he was awake overheated, he

would be fine.

Jones Okay.

Barnett So, I assumed they knew what they were

doing, and I backed off.

Jones Okay. Danny, you have?

Herald (Inaudible)…

Jones Okay. Uhm, and the time frame you’re, you’re

talking about is at least 20 minutes before uh,
till the kid went down. Until the time that he
uh, was carted over to the water?

Barnett That’s when we noticed.

Jones Okay.

Barnett That he was still on the field under, and they

were hosing him down.
Page 11 of 13
Statement: Rhonda Barnett / Case #08197(b)
August 30, 2008

Jones Did you ever see anyone get any water breaks?

Barnett Before that, no. Only the boy that had trouble
breathing, they sat him down and gave him
water.

Jones Okay. And, uh, but you didn’t see a controlled

water break with the entire team, correct?

Barnett I did not. Now, and these water fountains that

they say are running continuously, that’s true.

Jones Um-hum.

Barnett They are, the football players are here, soccer

fields here. The water’s here.

Jones Okay. A distance away..

Barnett Very... Yes.

Jones Okay. So, at anytime did you see any players

attempt to get water and was uh, questioned by
the coach?

Barnett I did not see anybody, it’s just the one that
asked for water. I didn’t see anybody attempt.

Jones Um-hum.

Barnett To leave and was told, no.

Jones So, but it, it would be fair to say that your mom
may have some things that you did not
observe?

Barnett Yeah (sure)…

Page 12 of 13
Statement: Rhonda Barnett / Case #08197(b)
August 30, 2008

Jones And, just like you seen things that your mom
may not have or?

Barnett Yeah, I’m sure.

Jones Okay.

Barnett I mean I was there before her, so I saw

different things.

Jones And, again your attention was focusing on the

game, on your daughter.

Barnett Trying to, yeah.

Jones Trying.

Barnett Trying to watch the soccer game, but it was, it

was distracting.

Jones Okay.

Barnett (Inaudible)…

Jones And, uh, you as, as you later learned that a uh,
player had died. Did you uh, know if it was the
same player had. That had collapsed, the last
player that had collapsed?

Barnett My mom called me that Sunday morning and

uh, she said that boy uh, he died. And, we were
both just horrified that that had happened. At,
that time I didn’t see a picture or anything.
But, it said he had collapsed.

Jones Okay.

Barnett Wednesday on the field, we knew it had to be

him.
Page 13 of 13
Statement: Rhonda Barnett / Case #08197(b)
August 30, 2008

Jones Uhm, and after learning of the death of a player

uh, you called someone. Or, you made it
known that you had seen something that you
felt uncomfortable about, correct?

Barnett I did, two days later once I was reading the

articles in the paper. And, I kept thinking that
you know, they would say. Well, he was down,
you know, I don’t know, unconscious too long,
or maybe uhm. He didn’t drink enough water,
but they were saying everything was done
properly. They, and, and that’s what bothered
me. Because, I didn’t feel like it was.

Jones (Inaudible)…

Barnett Too much time went by.

Jones Yes. Uh, Danny you have any follow up?

Herald No.

Jones Okay. Uhm, Miss Barnett I thank you for your

time. I don’t think I have anything. Is there
something I didn’t ask or anything. Wanna add
anything else important that we need to cover?

Barnett No, I don’t think so..

Jones Okay. Uh, okay we will conclude the

interview with Miss Barnett. Again, this
interview was taped, and it will be made part of
the file. Uh, time now is 1009 hours.

END OF STATEMENT

File #08197bjones-dl