In December 2012, Generro Sanchez was murdered by another student at East Central University, Jerrod Murray. Although Sanchez lived down the hall from Murray, they only knew one another through a mutual friend. Murray asked Sanchez for a ride to a nearby Wal-Mart. Upon their arrival, Murray pulled a gun out and demanded to be driven to a town North of Ada. On a small road in the country, Murray shot Sanchez in the head as he drove. In the interrogation Murray shows no remorse and was later found not guilty by reason of insanity. The case summary can be found here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-AZhv5Gpwk]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkRbdb7gE10]
Jerrod Murray Interrogation Transcript
[Door opens]
Investigator: Ready? Okay Jerrod. Now, my name is Sherriff [inaudible] Palmer. And me and you met on the side of State Highway 177 and [inaudible] road at about 3:12 this morning, didn’t we?
Jerrod Murray: Yes sir.
Investigator: Okay. And at that time, you made a couple of statements to me when I put you down on the ground and then after we got up, I read your rights to you, correct?
Jerrod Murray: Ah, you read my rights before I got up, sir.
Investigator: Okay. Before you got up off the ground.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: But you did make a couple of statements…
Jerrod Murray: Yes sir, I made some statements, sir.
Investigator: Before I read you your rights without me asking you anything.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Um, you just, you told me you were the guy I was trying to find.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay, and then I read your rights to you.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And those rights were – you have the right to remain silent…
Jerrod Murray: The Miranda Rights, sir.
Investigator: Okay. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: You have the right to talk to an attorney and have them present while being questioned.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And if you do not afford to hire one, one will be appointed to represent you.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And I asked you then if you wanted to talk to me.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And you agreed to talk.
Jerrod Murray: Ah, at the time I said no but, didn’t I?
Investigator: No. I read your rights to you…
Jerrod Murray: But when you asked if I wished to talk to you about it…
Investigator: You said you didn’t know, and then…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, that’s right.
Investigator: And then you said “yes, I already told you so…
Jerrod Murray: Yes.
Investigator: I might as well. Is that correct?
Jerrod Murray: Yes.
Investigator: Okay. After that, during that drop do you remember what you told me after I read your Miranda warning to you?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, not word for word but the effect, yes.
Investigator: Okay. What do you remember telling me?
Jerrod Murray: uh, in summation that I’m guilty, yes.
Investigator: Of what?
Jerrod Murray: Of murder.
Investigator: And who did you murder?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, Generro.
Investigator: Okay, and how did you murder him?
Jerrod Murray: With a gun. I shot him in the head, twice. Three shots were fired. One missed.
Investigator: And where did you shoot, where was this, where did this happen at?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, around five miles north of Asher, Oklahoma, on a side road.
Investigator: Do you know what that side road is called?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Do you know what’s on the corner of that side road?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, power, uh station, sir.
Investigator: Like a substation…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir. [cross talk]
Investigator: Okay, and does that road go all the way through?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir. It turns, uh, left.
Investigator: Okay and you have knowledge of this?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Are you from that area?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And your mom and dad’s house isn’t too far from there?
Jerrod Murray: Um, maybe a half a mile to three quarters of a mile, sir.
Investigator: Okay and can you get to your mom and dad’s house by going down that road?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay, um, and you [inaudiable] shot this guy while he was driving his pickup down the road.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay. Okay. And that’s basically what you told me on the side of the road.
Jerrod Murray: In summation, yes, sir.
Investigator: And in fact, we did find, we had already found the pickup and there was a body next to it in a ditch.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay. And that’s what we’re going to talk about now. Is that…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Are you okay with that?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So you’re agreeing to talk to me again?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay. Give me your full name.
Jerrod Murray: Jerrod Landreth Wayne Murray.
Investigator: And what’s your date of birth?
Jerrod Murray: July the twentieth, 1994.
Investigator: Okay, and do you live and dad?
Jerrod Murray: Hm?
Investigator: Do you stay with your mom and dad?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, no. I lived in the dormitories in college. Before then I lived with my grandparents in town.
Investigator: In town of Asher?
Jerrod Murray: Yes.
Investigator: Okay, um, what do you use for an address?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, the, my parents house, yes.
Investigator: And what is that?
Jerrod Murray: Four hundred, four-zero-zero-five-five Ingram Drive. Ah, Asher, Oklahoma 78426.
Investigator: Ingram?
Jerrod Murray: Yes. I-N-G-R-A-M
Investigator: I-M-G
Jerrod Murray: I-N-G-R-A-M
Investigator: Okay, um, and so you go to school at East Central?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And is this your first year of college?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So, you’re a freshman at East Central.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And you said you stay at some dorms?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And what’s the name of your dorm?
Jerrod Murray: Pesagi Dormitory, sir.
Investigator: Can you spell that for me?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, P-E-S-A-G-I, I believe, sir.
Investigator: T-E-S-A-G-I?
Jerrod Murray: P-E-S…
Investigator: P-E-S…
Jerrod Murray: uh, A-G-I.
Investigator: Okay, and that’s in Ada.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And the young man, that you said to me you shot twice in the head…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And his name, do you know his whole name?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, no, sir. I only know his first name.
Investigator: And his first name is what?
Jerrod Murray: Generro. I do not know how to spell that but it is with a “G”.
Investigator: Okay. And do you go to school with him?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And do you stay in the same dorm?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, the same building, sir.
Investigator: Same building. And what’s your dorm number?
Jerrod Murray: 463D.
Investigator: 463B?
Jerrod Murray: D.
Investigator: D?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Do you know his?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, no. But I know it’s in “E” section.
Investigator: E section. And how do you know him?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, towards the beginning of the year we met in a mutual friend’s room, uh, playing video games, sir.
Investigator: Okay. And do you take any classes with him?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: So, you know him through a mutual friend and you guys dormed in the same dorm.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Different sections.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir, but it’s literally right down the hall.
Investigator: Okay. So, you spend quite a bit of time together?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, no, sir.
Investigator: Okay. Okay. Um, the pickup that was, he was in tonight and you was in. Was that his pickup or your pickup?
Jerrod Murray: I’m fairly sure it was his, sir.
Investigator: Okay. And you remember what kind of pickup that was?
Jerrod Murray: Um, black. [laughs] I’m sorry. I don’t…
Investigator: Okay, you don’t…
Jerrod Murray: I don’t know much about cars.
Investigator: Okay. But single cab…
Jerrod Murray: Single cab, black, uh, dent on the passenger side.
Investigator: Okay and can you go back and tell me how you guys hooked up tonight? Or [cross talk] this is actually, we’re talking right now at, we’re at almost 6 o’clock in the morning so can you go back and tell me when you guys would have gotten together?
Jerrod Murray: Maybe around [clears throat], maybe around 9 o’ clock yesterday evening.
Investigator: So, on the fifth.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, uh, maybe it was closer to ten.
Investigator: Okay. Nine to ten. And how did you guys hook up?
Jerrod Murray: I went down to his dorm room and asked if I could be given a ride to Wal-Mart in exchange for $20 gas money.
Investigator: Okay. Did he agree to that?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay. And did he, in fact, take you to Wal-Mart?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir. We got in his pickup truck and he drove me to Wal-Mart.
Investigator: So, you’re talking about the Wal-Mart in Ada?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay, and that’s a couple miles from the school?
Jerrod Murray: Uh. 2.2, ah, no, 1.7 miles, sir.
Investigator: 1.7 miles?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay. Um, so he took you to Wal-Mart…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Did you both go in?
Jerrod Murray: No, we did not go in, sir.
Investigator: And why not?
Jerrod Murray: We pulled into the parking lot and then I pulled the, um, weapon on him and demanded that he take me to Asher, Oklahoma, sir.
Investigator: Okay. And why, all of the sudden, did you decide that you needed to go to Asher?
Jerrod Murray: Because I was planning to take him out to the country and kill him.
Investigator: Okay. So, when you got him at the dorm, was your intention never to go to Wal-Mart?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: You was, in fact, was you at that point, already in your mind, was going to take him and kill him?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Um, had he done something to you that…
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Okay. So you just, can you kind of tell me, when you made this decision that you were going to take him and kill him? Why?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I made the decision three days prior to the incident. Uh, attempted to do it two days prior to the incident but he was not in his room and then did so today, as he was in his room.
Investigator: Okay, so, you been, you been, planning to do this for two days.
Jerrod Murray: Uh, two weeks, yes.
Investigator: Two weeks?
Jerrod Murray: But not with a selected individual, no.
Investigator: Okay. And when did you get to the point when you knew it was going to be him?
Jerrod Murray: That was three days prior to the incident.
Investigator: And why him?
Jerrod Murray: Uh.
Investigator: There’s other kids in college, why, why him?
Jerrod Murray: I believed he would have had the least impact, sir.
Investigator: Impact of, of what?
Jerrod Murray: I believed he didn’t have many friends or many close friends, I should rephrase. And as his [clears throat] he is going missing; his absence would be less notable.
Investigator: Okay. So, what if… tomorrow at school nobody would think anything of it.
Jerrod Murray: That was the plan, sir, yes.
Investigator: Okay, and so why did you choose to take him to Asher to kill him?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, my plan was for my killing him I was going to head north towards Canada and Asher was further north than Ada. So…
Investigator: Okay.
Jerrod Murray: And I knew the surrounding terrain and I knew a good spot. I didn’t have that spot planned in particular. If I had planned that far ahead, I would have had a grave dug, but I knew the general area.
Investigator: Okay, so you brought him to that area because you knew that area because you were raised there.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And that’s the road you would travel going back and forth to your mom and dad’s house?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, no, sir. I would travel the road further to the south of it. Just the road one south to it. That’s the road I would travel to my mother’s house from the school on my bus route, sir.
Investigator: Okay, but what I’m saying to you, you were familiar with that road…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And where it would go to…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Um, not much traffic on that road at this time…
Jerrod Murray: Yes sir. The only people that go on that road are people who live on that road, sir.
Investigator: Okay. You knew that.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So, when you pulled the gun on him at Wal-Mart, in the parking lot…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Um, what did you tell him?
Jerrod Murray: I told him to take me to Asher.
Investigator: Asher. And did he say anything?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, he panicked. Uh, he went to pull out his phone. I yanked the phone out of his hand and then he panicked some more. Kept telling me not to kill him. To make him feel more comfortable I unloaded the clip, unloaded the bullet from the chamber and then handed them over to him. And that eased his nerves a little. Then I pulled a second clip out of my pocket and set it on my lap.
Investigator: Okay. And you drove, so he drove you.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And did you have any conversation between Ada and Asher?
Jerrod Murray: The entire time was conversation, sir.
Investigator: And was it basically, could you tell me what that conversation was?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, about from Ada to halfway to Asher it was my trying to reaffirm him that I wasn’t going to kill him to calm his nerves. And then from that point on we was us talking about our upbringings, our past, our family histories, things of [inaudible] nature, etcetera etcetera.
Investigator: And, so, did he say anything when you had him pull off of the main highway onto this dirt road?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir. Ah, before this time I had pulled out his phone and uh, pulled up his GPS and showed him where I [inaudible] to make him feel more comfortable, sir.
Investigator: Okay, and so when you turned west off of 177, and there’s, we already talked about this, there’s a substation there…
Jerrod Murray: Um, we didn’t pull onto that road, sir. We pulled onto the road south of it, drove past Turkey Hill Road, turned left, went to around where the [inaudible] live to make another left. Past [inaudible] Estates, went straight and then went down that road from the other direction.
Investigator: So, you came in from the west side of where the pickup is at?
Jerrod Murray: West then east, yes.
Investigator: Okay, and, so you’re headed east on what is known as Substation Road which is the road where the pickup…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Is at now.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So, you’re headed east and he’s driving.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: You’re on the passenger side. He’s got some bullets that you gave him.
Jerrod Murray: Yeah, the clip and one round, yes.
Investigator: Okay. And where was that at?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, in his left hand, sir.
Investigator: Okay. Then you had the gun…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And… What kind of gun?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, Springfield Armory XD40 Smith and Wesson 40 Caliber.
Investigator: Okay. And you had the gun and another magazine, but you didn’t have the magazine in the gun.
Jerrod Murray: I did not have the magazine in the gun. Every five to ten minutes he had me, uh, put my finger in where the clip goes to uh, show that the round, it wasn’t chambered.
Investigator: Okay. So, you’re driving East, and I guess at some point, did you decide now was the time?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay, and what happened?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I loaded the gun, quickly, chambered the round, quickly. Shot once, missed. Shot a second time, hit. Jumped out of the car. Went around, he was driving 10-15 miles an hour, so it was rather slow, uh, ran around the front of the car. And of course, it was slower, he wasn’t purposefully driving. Uh, tried to pull him out, couldn’t get him out till he had already hit the tree. Pulled him out there, dumped him into, no. Uh, before I dumped him into the ditch, I heard him like gurgling. I’m not sure if that’s a physiological or physical process after death but uh, I had thought that he may have still lived through that somehow because he was gurgling so I shot him again and then shoved him down to the ditch. I then grabbed his phone….
Investigator: Hang up, let’s back up just a second.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: You, um, fired the first round…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And you missed.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Do you know where that round hit?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I believe it hit the top of the door, but it might have hit the window.
Investigator: Did the window bust?
Jerrod Murray: The window did bust, sir, but I don’t remember if that was the first or second round.
Investigator: Okay. So, you fired once, missed.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Then you fired the second round…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And did you hit him then?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And you hit him in the head.
Jerrod Murray: In the side of the head, yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay, so, it would have been his right…
Jerrod Murray: It would have been right here, sir.
Investigator: The right-hand side of his head…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Somewhere by the ear.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And he was, started veering off the road.
Jerrod Murray: To the left, sir.
Investigator: Okay, and that’s when you got out and ran around…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And you opened the door?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And you tried to pull him out…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And, so when you shot, and he was still gurgling.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So, was he sitting up when you shot him again?
Jerrod Murray: No. He was lying down on the ground.
Investigator: So you pulled him out of the truck…
Jerrod Murray: And just through him on the ground and then I heard him gurgling so I shot him a second time.
Investigator: And where did hit him the second time.
Jerrod Murray: I’m not certain but I believe the head as well.
Investigator: In the front, back, side?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I believe it was the same side as…
Investigator: Same side as before?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So, you think you hit him twice, or you know, you know you hit him in a fact once in the head. Then the second round is probably in the head area too.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And then you rolled him down the ditch?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And then what did you do then?
Jerrod Murray: I, uh, grabbed his phone from inside the vehicle. I was going to put it on the ground and shoot it as well, but I have a bit of night-blindness and didn’t see the steepness of the hill where it started to veer down. So, I threw it down and it slid down the hill, uh, it landed screen side down so I wasn’t able to find it’s location.
Investigator: Okay, so his phone is somewhere around his body?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, yes, it should be. It might be underneath his body.
Investigator: Okay. And did you do something with his body after that?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, yes sir. I repositioned it and then I tried to cover it, uh, admittedly not well, with leaves, dirts and a stick.
Investigator: Okay, a stick?
Jerrod Murray: Yes. There was a stick on the side of the hill. I just grabbed everything on the side of the hill and uh, pushed it on top of him.
Investigator: Okay, now, when you say a stick, I, I was at the scene, I went down there and you know that…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: uh, actually brought you back down there and you sat in the car down there, correct?
Jerrod Murray: Mm-Hm.
Investigator: And there is a stick, about three-foot-long, about inch, inch and a half in diameter…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Found it by the body but there’s a whole bunch of blood on it. Is there any particular reason that stick…
Jerrod Murray: It had blood on it? Uh, it could be because I rolled his body on top of it. Because if it was on the side of the hill his body would have crossed over it. I couldn’t think of any reason in particular though.
Investigator: Okay. So, you didn’t hit him with the stick or do anything with him with the stick?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Okay, so that stick just ended up on top of him?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So, it’s possible he, you rolled him over on it, and then when you were covering him up that stick just ended up on top of him?
Jerrod Murray: It ended up on top of him because the way I covered him up.
Investigator: And so, after you got the body covered up, what did you do then?
Jerrod Murray: I, um, headed back to the truck and tried to get it unstuck.
Investigator: So, you put it in reverse then tried to, uh…
Jerrod Murray: And then tried and tried to but it wasn’t going. So, uh, after that I…
Investigator: When you say it wasn’t going it was because it was stuck?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I believe one of the wheels was off the ground and it wasn’t making traction.
Investigator: Okay, so you couldn’t get the truck out so what did you do then?
Jerrod Murray: I uh, looked to the left and from the headlights I saw that I could see his orange shirt, so I covered him up better. And uh, as I was finishing that I saw the headlights of a car pulling over the hill, so I went out…
Investigator: Which way was it coming from?
Jerrod Murray: It was heading East, uh, West from the East side, so the highway. And uh, he was slowing down already so I came out as quickly as I could from behind the truck and flagged him down by waving my hands and uh, he asked what was going on. I told him that I had drowsed, dozed off, and veered off the road and couldn’t get my truck unstuck. And then he was uh, I think he, I don’t think he knew exactly what happened, but I think he knew I did something. Maybe stealing, I don’t know. Because like you said, no one travels down that road.
Investigator: Um, did you know him?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir, I did not know him. But since he travels down that road he most likely lived in that area. He knew that I didn’t.
Investigator: Okay.
Jerrod Murray: So, most likely he, uh, was suspicious based on that fact alone because I had no business being on that road. But, uh, he agreed to give me a ride to Asher non the less. Uh, more specifically he didn’t agree to that until his phone didn’t work. We pulled up to about the highway then he dialed a number for me. Uh, I gave him a fake number so that it wouldn’t answer and if it did answer I could just make something up. Whatever number didn’t answer, it was a number that was out of service. Uh, he agreed to give me a ride to Asher so I could get my cellular phone. I don’t own a cellular phone. To uh, call someone that I knew to come get me out.
Investigator: Okay. Where did he take to in Asher?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, my grandparent’s house.
Investigator: Okay. And what is your grandparent’s name?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, Ethel, ah, I don’t know if it’s [inaudible] or Rodrick now.
Investigator: Okay. And [inaudible] and what? And what, do you know their address in Asher?
Jerrod Murray: 306 East Salter Street.
Investigator: Okay, and that’s where he took you to.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay, and you got out.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay, and what did you do then?
Jerrod Murray: I went into the house; I had a Coca Cola. I called a roommate from college that I had an accident and wondered if he could, uh, either get me out of the ditch or knew anyone that could get me out of the ditch.
Investigator: What’s your roommate’s name?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, Shane Schroth.
Investigator: Okay.
Jerrod Murray: Then, uh…
Investigator: Does he have a cell phone?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Do you know his number?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, not off the top of my head, sir. But if I had a phone, I could tell you. It’s like, uh, one…
Investigator: Hang on.
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I can tell you it now. 1-405-694-0359.
Investigator: 6-9-4..
Jerrod Murray: 0-3-5-9.
Investigator: And what’s his name again?
Jerrod Murray: Shane Schroth.
Investigator: Okay, and he goes to school there?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, and he also graduated from Asher.
[inaudible cross talk]
Jerrod Murray: The class.
Investigator: What’s the year, we talked before and you didn’t actually graduate from Asher.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: But you would have graduated with him.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And what’s his last name?
Jerrod Murray: Schroth. S-C-H-R-O-T-H.
Investigator: Okay, and he knew you from Asher?
Jerrod Murray: Yes.
Investigator: Okay.
Jerrod Murray: And we were roommates in college because we were fairly good friends.
Investigator: So, you guys lived in the same dorm, the same room?
Jerrod Murray: Yes.
Investigator: And, so you told him you were stuck.
Jerrod Murray: Yes. I told him I ran my car off a ditch and asked if he knew anyone that could get me out.
Investigator: Do you own a car?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Did he not know this?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, he didn’t ask, sir.
Investigator: Okay, and what did he tell you?
Jerrod Murray: He, uh, he said he’d try to call his mother to see if his father could do it for me. And uh, they were asleep so there was no answer. So uh, at that point I decided I should go off on my own. I got that can of WD-40 and was going…
Investigator: Wait, wait, wait. Where did you get this can of WD-40?
Jerrod Murray: I, uh, stole it from his parents.
Investigator: Okay, lets back up just a second.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Because you said you were at your grandparents.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay. How did you get to his parent’s house?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, he lives on the other side of Asher. I walked.
Investigator: Okay, when you say the other side of Asher, help me out. East of Asher, West Asher, North?
Jerrod Murray: South Asher.
Investigator: South of the [inaudible] shops?
Jerrod Murray: No, it’s in the town just on the South side.
Investigator: Okay, you don’t know their address?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: So, you walked after, I’m just trying to make, understand this, okay?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So, you call him from your grandparent’s house.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Then he tries to call his parents?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And no answer.
Jerrod Murray: No answer, sir.
Investigator: So, you walk from your grandparent’s house….
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And you walk to his mom and dad’s house.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And about how far is that from your grandparent’s house?
Jerrod Murray: Not far at all. It’s, ah, maybe eight to nine blocks. I don’t know mileage for that.
Investigator: And you walk to their house.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Did you knock on the door?
Jerrod Murray: I just got the can of WD-40 and…
Investigator: And where was that at?
Jerrod Murray: Outside, sir.
Investigator: On the porch or…
Jerrod Murray: They live in a trailer house, sir. It was to the right of their entry way.
Investigator: Just sitting on the ground or…
Jerrod Murray: Sitting on top of a milk crate.
Investigator: Okay, but it was in the yard.
Jerrod Murray: Yes.
Investigator: Not a vehicle or nothing.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And why did you get the WD-40?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, WD-40 is a solvent. It would help degrade the, uh, oils from my fingers and uh, get rid of my fingerprints, sir.
Investigator: Okay. So, you were going to get the can of WD-40 and go back to the crime scene and use WD-40 on the pickup…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: To try to get rid of your fingerprints?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And did you do that?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, no, sir. When I was on my way back, as opposed to going directly back to it I cut through a forest area there by an abandoned trailer house. And uh, as I was entering uh, the uh, general area about the crime scene I heard uh, I believe it was an elderly gentleman cough. I’m not sure who, I’m not sure what. I just left because well, around that area the man who gave me a ride into town was an elderly gentleman. I concluded that he might have went back and the headlights and brake lights were still on. I thought he might have went back to turn them off, uh, so my battery wouldn’t die. And then he saw the, uh, at least the blood. Probably the body, it wasn’t well hidden at all.
Investigator: Okay.
Jerrod Murray: That’s the conclusion I reached anyways.
Investigator: Uh, so you was in the woods?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So, you don’t really know who it was?
Jerrod Murray: I just heard an elderly gentleman cough.
Investigator: Did you see the pickup?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: So, you didn’t, so you couldn’t see the pickup…
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: And, so you were on the south side of the road in the woods?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So, but you never could see the pickup again or know who was there?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Okay, so what did you do then?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I headed back East instead of South; took a different route to get out of the wooded area. Uh, ran into a barbed wire fence, jumped the barbed wire fence, headed South along another barbed wire fence I found next to the highway. Well, you couldn’t see the highway, but you could easily hear it and I could see the substation from there pretty clearly. I, uh, headed South along that, came across another barbed wire fence, jumped it, then headed to where I started out at, at that abandoned trailer house there, then walked away and headed North.
Investigator: The abandoned trailer house, is it South of the substation?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, it’s South of the substation.
Investigator: By how far?
Jerrod Murray: Maybe a hundred yards.
Investigator: And you know what side of the road it’s on?
Jerrod Murray: Um. West side.
Investigator: West side.
Jerrod Murray: It’s up the ways a little. It’s in a, you know how trailer houses out in the country will have driveways leading to them. So, um, I’m not sure if you can see it from the highway or not.
Investigator: Okay.
Jerrod Murray: And the driveway is run down. I happened to know no one lives there so I figured that was a perfect vantage point to get to the crime scene again.
Investigator: Okay. So, did you get back on the highway?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And which way did you go?
Jerrod Murray: North, sir.
Investigator: What were your intentions?
Jerrod Murray: Ah.
Investigator: Walking North.
Jerrod Murray: Canada, sir.
Investigator: You were just going to Canada.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay.
Jerrod Murray: I hoped that uh, by determining I was heading South you, went to Asher, you already know my Grandparent’s house and I was hoping that my name would probably show up somewhere over the course of this little thing, I wasn’t expecting it to be found so quickly…
Investigator: Why didn’t you expect it to be found so quickly?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I didn’t think someone would drive down that road. In my original plan, I gave myself maybe six to eight hours to get out of the area. But since it was found so quickly, at least I believed so at the time, I didn’t want to revise the plan because I had headed South originally going into town.
Investigator: Okay.
Jerrod Murray: And uh, I hoped you guys would think that I was headed towards Mexico as it’s much closer and probably easier to get past the border.
Investigator: Okay, and so you was walking North on 177.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And what side of the road were you on?
Jerrod Murray: I was on the left right of the road, sir.
Investigator: Okay so if you’re going…
Jerrod Murray: East side.
Investigator: East side and you were walking.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And what happened then?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I had tried hitch hiking part of, most of the way because the only way this was going to work factoring in, uh, my belief that you all found the crime scene is if someone were to give me a ride there with them. Uh, however, that didn’t happen. Most people were truckers, so they didn’t, they just kept driving, they had a place to go. And then whenever your patrol car pulled up behind me, I didn’t know it was a patrol car and I stuck my thumb out and you was there for the rest.
Investigator: And that’s when I, that’s when me and you first came in contact, correct?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And you were advised then to get on the ground, correct?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay, and that’s when I had you put your hands behind your back…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And then when I approached you, I asked you for my safety and for your safety if you had a gun.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And you said “no”.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Do you remember what else you said?
Jerrod Murray: Ah. I might have mentioned the ammunition in my left pocket, sir.
Investigator: That’s right, and what else?
Jerrod Murray: Ah…. “I am the one you’re looking for”.
Investigator: And at that point I told you to be quiet…
Jerrod Murray: Uh….
Investigator: Until I got you and read your rights to you.
Jerrod Murray: Oh ah…
Investigator: Is that correct?
Jerrod Murray: I’m not sure but if you’re saying its correct…
Investigator: Well, no, do you remember that conversation when you said…?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: I said, “hang on just a second”.
Jerrod Murray: Ah, yes, sir. You did say that, yes, sir.
Investigator: So I could read your rights to you and I read your rights to you at that point.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir. I wasn’t aware you were telling me to be quiet, I thought you was just saying “I need to read your rights”.
Investigator: But I told you, you do remember me saying “be quiet for a second”.
Jerrod Murray: Yeah, “hold on a second”.
Investigator: Hold on a second.
Jerrod Murray: Yeah, something to that affect.
Investigator: Okay, uh [inaudible] where, uh we talked about this when you told me the gun, you left the gun in the pickup.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay, and when we talked and I told you that, you know, you already told us about the homicide, and you told us about shooting him. The gun’s not in the truck.
Jerrod Murray: It was in the truck, sir.
Investigator: And, so, I need to know where that gun at.
Jerrod Murray: When I left the scene, it was still in the truck, sir.
Investigator: Was still in the truck.
Jerrod Murray: It was still in the truck, sir.
Investigator: Where was it at in the truck?
Jerrod Murray: It was, uh, I believe it was on the center console but it’s possible that it could have been between the driver seat and the center console.
Investigator: Okay, because the center console is pushed up, not down.
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I don’t remember that.
Investigator: Well, you’re saying it’s on the center console. To be on the center console, the center console would have to be in the down position, correct?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: The center console is up. So, was it up or down when you was there?
Jerrod Murray: I think it was down, sir.
Investigator: Okay. So, but your intentions, can I ask you why you’d leave the gun there if you just killed somebody and you just wanted to get to Canada.
Jerrod Murray: Uh, because the man pulled up too quickly, sir.
Investigator: Okay and was that you’re gun?
Jerrod Murray: Ah, no, sir.
Investigator: And where did you get that gun from?
Jerrod Murray: I stole it two weeks ago from a man named Daniel Davis. Uh, 217 North Division Street.
Investigator: And where is Division Street?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, it’s the uh, if you’re going down 018 and…
Investigator: What, what town is it in?
Jerrod Murray: Asher [inaudible].
Investigator: And his name is David Davis?
Jerrod Murray: Yes.
Investigator: And how did you steal it from his house?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I went into his house, uh, his family and my family are on good terms. I just walked in the door and went back to his mother’s room and told her that I had a video game to return to Daniel. Then I went into Daniel’s room, put a video game that I brought with me as a way to get into the door and got the gun.
Investigator: Okay, and so you, was it in a box or was…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir. It was in a uh, case.
Investigator: And where’s the case at?
Jerrod Murray: Still at his house, sir.
Investigator: So, you took the gun out of the case…
Jerrod Murray: I took the gun and two clips, sir.
Investigator: Okay.
Jerrod Murray: I took all the clips.
Investigator: So, where’s those at? so there’s just two?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And where’s, is there ammunition in them?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir. There were twelve rounds in each clip, uh, since I fired three rounds from that one clip that means there’s nine rounds in it- should be. And the uh, other clip had eleven rounds in it because one was chambered and the other round was, I unchambered it and handed it to him.
Investigator: Okay, and now when I brought you in here, we was uncuffing you, we was checking the pockets of your jackets, make sure you didn’t have any weapons in your pockets, correct?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And I pull this can of WD-40 out of your um, right coat pocket…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And then in your left coat pocket there was a purple crown royal bag…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And I took that out of your pocket.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And can you tell me what’s in here?
Jerrod Murray: Ah, some Smith and Wesson 40 Caliber rounds, sir.
Investigator: And was them part of the rounds you stole with the gun?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, no sir. I bought those two or three days later off of friend of mine, sir.
Investigator: So, that many rounds?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, that plus what was in the clip, sir. So, there was twelve and twelve twenty-four plus four that’s in there.
Investigator: Okay but you said there was already, the magazines already had bullets in them.
Jerrod Murray: No, sir. I loaded them with the ammunition I bought, sir.
Investigator: Okay, so when you stole the gun and the magazines there was no bullets with it?
Jerrod Murray: No bullets were in it, sir.
Investigator: Okay so you, what was in the two magazines…
Jerrod Murray: Nothing, sir. Oh, as for the ammunition, yes sir.
Investigator: And what’s in here, you bought off of a friend.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And do you know his name?
Jerrod Murray: Ah… Not off the top of my head, sir.
Investigator: Does he go to college?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir. I call him a friend but he’s just a guy.
Investigator: Okay, and where is he from?
Jerrod Murray: Ada, sir.
Investigator: And do you know how to get ahold of him?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir. It’s a guy I know through a guy minus, I got the word out that I was looking for some ammunition and then…
Investigator: Okay.
Jerrod Murray: A “friend of mine” sold it to me, so…
Investigator: Do you know how many rounds are in here?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, no, sir. I believe there was anywhere between three and six though.
Investigator: So [inaudible] if I pull them out and there will be three to six rounds of 40 caliber rounds in there, correct?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Your intentions with the gun, when you got out into Asher after you shot this young man, that the gun was still in the truck…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: With the magazine.
Jerrod Murray: One magazine as he was holding one of, the other magazine. I believe it fell out of the truck when I was pushing him out. He, I didn’t see it on the floorboard before I left because I was trying to gather it all up. But uh, I think he might still have it in his left hand. [cross talk] At the crime scene.
Investigator: There should have been the gun…
Jerrod Murray: Yes.
Investigator: The magazine that was in the gun…
Jerrod Murray: Yes.
Investigator: The one round that you handed him…
Jerrod Murray: Yes.
Investigator: And then the full magazine.
Jerrod Murray: Yes.
Investigator: So, we’re talking about a total of how many rounds? You said both of them had twelve in it.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So, we should have, you fired three rounds, correct?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So, there should be twenty-one rounds and two magazines there and a gun.
Jerrod Murray: Uh, Yes, sir. Plus, well, there, yes, sir. Twenty-one rounds, two magazines, and a gun.
Investigator: Okay. Also, in your pocket there was a debit card, master card, has the name Jerrod Murray. And that’s you, correct?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: This is yours?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Jerrod, I’m going to ask you to sit here for just a second and I’ll be right back, okay?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
[Investigator exits the room]
[Investigator returns]
Investigator: Okay Jerrod. I have a couple other things [inaudible], alright?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And I believe you’re being honest with me, I really do. You told me stuff that, that, that I had no qualms about what you’re telling me except for a couple things, I know for a fact you didn’t get the WD-40 from the front yard.
Jerrod Murray: You’re right. I [inaudible] keeping him out of this but I did go into his house, he did give it to me, and, and, yeah.
Investigator: And when you say him, who?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, the parent of the friend that I called.
Investigator: Shane’s?
Jerrod Murray: Shane’s father, stepfather, yes.
Investigator: And do you know his name?
Jerrod Murray: Ah, Michael Norris.
Investigator: Okay, and what did you tell Michael?
Jerrod Murray: I told him about what had happened and asked for his opinion on the next course of action.
Investigator: When you said what happened, what do you mean?
Jerrod Murray: The murder. I told him about that.
Investigator: You told, you told Shane’s father about the murder you just did?
Jerrod Murray: Not the specifics but the general picture, yes.
Investigator: Do you remember what you told him?
Jerrod Murray: Not exactly. But I mean, I didn’t tell him “I fired three shots, missed one shot, in the head.” Not all that. I just said I got a truck, I killed a guy for it, it’s in a ditch.
Investigator: Okay. Did you tell him how you did it?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I don’t remember but I might’ve.
Investigator: Okay, and this is really important, and I want you to really think about this because you said you were trying to keep him out of trouble…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And I did know more than you think I know.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So, I’m still at the gun.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: It’s not in the truck.
Jerrod Murray: It was when I left the scene. That was the whole point of him taking me back, sir. To get it.
Investigator: Okay, so he took you back to the scene?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, no.
Investigator: Because you said you walked.
Jerrod Murray: No, ah, he drove me to the abandoned house that I spoke of.
Investigator: Okay, so Mr. Norris gave you the can of WD-40…
Jerrod Murray: Yes.
Investigator: And I believe he probably got that from the bathroom of his house.
Jerrod Murray: Ah, I’m not aware of where he got it but if that’s where he says then yeah.
Investigator: Okay, and, so he drove you from Asher back to
Jerrod Murray: The area of the scene.
Investigator: Just South where you would turn on Substation Road and that’s where the abandoned trailer house is on the West side.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So, you got out of the car and walked out through the abandoned trailer house, through the woods…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And that’s when you heard somebody cough?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Ah, there is a note wrote on a piece of paper, like a business card, on the passenger side window. Stuck on the pickup. The window’s up, and there’s a note stuck in there. Says “come to the house at the end of the road.” Did you write that?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Huh?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: You didn’t write that?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: You have any idea how that note could have got there?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir. I don’t think anything like that was there whenever I left.
Investigator: Okay. So, is it a possibility that the gentleman…?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, yes. On our way back to Asher he had told me some thieves had stolen about a thousand dollars’ worth of guns of his and that he was looking for them and that if he found them, he would kill them dead on the side of the road. Then I said that a thousand dollars is a fair amount of money and then he said it didn’t matter if it was fifty, he doesn’t like thieves.
Investigator: Okay, um, so is it possible that he, that on his way home he could have stopped and wrote that note?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, that’s a possibility, I won’t deny that. Like I said, I thought it might have been him who called the police. Ah, I still don’t know if it was or not, but I thought it might have been him. He went to go turn my lights off then saw the blood and then called but uh, if he did write that note then I don’t think he would have called police.
Investigator: Okay, uh, I just want to go over a couple points with you then we’re going to take another break, okay?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Um, and you started this out that, um, you’ve actually had this on your mind for about three weeks.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And you just didn’t know who.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay.
Jerrod Murray: Or when. Or where. Well, I had a general idea of the area but that was picked out about a week ago, sir.
Investigator: And was that picked out because of where you were aware of your surroundings?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And so, lets go back to our victim, the young man that you killed.
Jerrod Murray: Generro.
Investigator: Um, you, basically you picked him out because you thought that you, nobody would miss him, if I understood what you…
Jerrod Murray: In general, yes, sir.
Investigator: And you told me on the way you guys talked from Ada to Asher about your upbringings…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Was your upbringing any different than his?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: What was the difference between your upbringing and his?
Jerrod Murray: Nothing major, I mean, we didn’t talk on the topic of upbringings for very long. He just said that he was, uh, always fat and overweight and was made fun of for it so he had confidence issues and then I said that I never, well, I had that problem but that problem stopped in about the fifth grade, so.
Investigator: And why did that stop?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, the bullies that picked on me, I beat them up.
Investigator: Okay, and that was in Asher?
Jerrod Murray: Yes.
Investigator: Okay, so the bullies, you beat them up, not because you just wanted to beat them up but because they were making fun of you?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, to stop them from making fun of me, yes.
Investigator: Okay, I can understand that. Um, let me, have you done any other thing that’s been violent?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, yes, sir. The mutual friend that I talked about that I know him through, his name is Wyatt Freeman. He lives across the hall from me. I don’t know his room number. It’s directly across the hall though. Uh, maybe a month, a month and a half ago at college… we hung out almost every night, played video games, it was all fun and games, you know. Uh, I was talking to him and then the talk of [inaudible] was brought up and then he said if I got you in a choke hold you would tap out. I said I’m not going to tap out and then he got me in a choke hold and I was knocked unconscious and when I woke up everyone in the room was laughing at me and then he said that there was no way I was knocked unconscious in that short of a time and then I punched him in the face and then he pushed me away and told me to get out of his room and I spat in his face and left his room. And then he came to my room, and had a flashlight I had dropped out of my pocket and was holding it and said “this is your flash light”. I went to reach for it, he pulled me into the hallway, and was going to beat me for it. Then, I told him let them beat me and whenever they come to break it up, I would be the one with all the injuries and it would be his fault.
Investigator: Okay.
Jerrod Murray: And then the uh, East Central University police responded to that.
Investigator: Okay, and his first name is what?
Jerrod Murray: Wyatt.
Investigator: Wyatt.
Jerrod Murray: I’m not quite sure how to spell that. Freedman is his last.
Investigator: Okay, um, Jerrod, I want to ask you again just point blank because you sat here and confessed to…
Jerrod Murray: Pretty much everything.
Investigator: In my mind, I think you might agree with me, just cold blooded killed him that night, or last night.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Have you ever killed anybody else?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Have you ever thought of it?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, more myself than anyone else, sir.
Investigator: Okay, and when was the last time you thought about killing yourself?
Jerrod Murray: Three weeks ago, sir.
Investigator: And what was going on three weeks ago?
Jerrod Murray: Nothing in particular. Um, my grandfather died recently but that’s not related to it. Before his death I had similar thoughts as recently.
Investigator: Your grandfather, is that the same grandfather that you caught a ride to back to his house tonight or a different one?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, yes. My grandparent’s house. He lived there with my grandmother. Yes.
Investigator: Okay, so your grandfather’s dead so your grandmother lives by herself?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, she had a friend over but yeah.
Investigator: Okay. Uh, okay. Let me ask you this, Jerrod. Are you taking any medications for any mental illness?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Have you ever?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Do you take drugs?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Have you ever taken drugs?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I smoked marijuana in my mid to early teenage years.
Investigator: When was the last time you smoked marijuana?
Jerrod Murray: Maybe six years ago, maybe five.
Investigator: Never done any other type of drug?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Um, not on any medicatoin.
Jerrod Murray: No, sir. Just an albuteral inhalor for asthma.
Investigator: You do have asthma.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Um, so, um, when you, lets go back three weeks ago when you started planning that you were going to kill somebody.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And you just didn’t know who or when.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: What made last night the time and who. I kind of understand who.
Jerrod Murray: Uh, as I stated earlier, uh, it wasn’t neccissarily last night. I made the decision to do it and who three days ago and I tried. No, maybe two…. Tuesday. I made the decision, Tuesday. This whole saying days ago because it’s a different day than it was yesterday, uh, it was Tuesday that I made the decision it should be him. He wasn’t in his dorm, I didn’t try again, no. Maybe I did try again the day after. I can’t remember the days anymore. It was Tuesday I made up my mind, though. I knew who it was and tried that night.
Investigator: Okay, and I guess I’m having a hard time understanding what you got out of it. Can you kind of, can you help me?
Jerrod Murray: I don’t really get anything out of it.
Investigator: But I mean why, if you weren’t going to get something, self graditude, something, why did you do it, I guess is what I’m asking.
Jerrod Murray: If I’m pressed to answer I’ll say it’s to prove the strength of my resolve but that is only if I’m pressed to answer.
Investigator: I’m not pressing you. I’m just trying to understand.
Jerrod Murray: Then I don’t know why.
Investigator: Okay, so it just…
Jerrod Murray: Popped in my head.
Investigator: Popped in your head and you…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay but it ever popped in your head before?
Jerrod Murray: Ah, not an appeal, sir.
Investigator: That you, that you, you never killed before?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Okay, animals?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir. I’ve never hunted. I know how to hunt. I know how to make a bow and arrow. I know how to field dress animals and but not but I’ve never hunted before, no.
Investigator: Okay, now when we were talking before you indicated to me you did not graduate from Asher.
Jerrod Murray: No, sir. I flunked out.
Investigator: Okay, so when you say “flunked out” was that because you just couldn’t do it or you just…
Jerrod Murray: I didn’t want to do homework. The teachers at the school as well as all facitly amitted I was the smartest person there. They knew I could do the work. I didn’t see the point of doing it if they already know and everyone knows I could do it.
Investigator: That was my next question because it don’t make sense sombody who flunked out of school would be at East Central.
Jerrod Murray: Ah, that summer, I’ve been going to [inaudible] Upward Bound for math and science, uh, since maybe three years ago. Uh,
Investigator: And was you doing Upward Bound at East Central?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, that’s uh…
Investigator: Do they have it in…
Jerrod Murray: They have both Upward Bound math and science, obviously.
Investigator: [cross talk] also do the same thing but I don’t think you can get math and science at [inaudible] state [inaudible].
Jerrod Murray: Yeah. It’s upper math, yeah.
Investigator: Okay. So you’ve been going East Central Upward Bound?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, yes. For three years, yes, sir. And um…
Investigator: What kind of grades are you making in college right now?
Jerrod Murray: I believe I’ve failed everything besides choices and wellness, sir.
Investigator: Is, are you failing everything by choice?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And why is that?
Jerrod Murray: Mm, laziness I would suppose, sir.
Investigator: Okay.
Jerrod Murray: Didn’t feel like going to classes. I mean, if I was already up in the Central area to eat a meal I would go to classes because it’s not that I have a problem going to classes. It’s to the dorms to the central area; I was too lazy to travel that distance.
Investigator: Not because you couldn’t do the work.
Jerrod Murray: Not because I couldn’t do the work. I was passing most my classes before then.
Investigator: And what were your ambitions or dreams to be?
Jerrod Murray: Ah, I had hoped to become a chemist for the Department of Defense.
Investigator: Okay. Kind of hard to do in Canada.
Jerrod Murray: [laughs]
Investigator: Wouldn’t you agree?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And, I’m going to ask you this and you can answer if you want. I’m just, I’m having a hard time.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Do you feel any remorse?
Jerrod Murray: I’m sad that I got caught so quickly but that’s almost lessened by being caught by someone with “sheriff” on their jacket but for killing him? No.
Investigator: Okay, so it makes you feel better that it was somebody that had “sheriff” on their jacket who arrested you?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: As opposed to what?
Jerrod Murray: A deputy or someone like that, sir.
Investigator: Okay, well, I’m not the sheriff.
Jerrod Murray: I’m aware of that.
Investigator: I’m the under sheriff.
Jerrod Murray: The person driving me up here told me that but still, that’s…
Investigator: So it makes you feel better that you got caught by somebody up in rank opposed to somebody under…
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: But my question again is, do you have any remorse?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Okay. Alright. Give me a minute, okay?
[Investigator exits room]
[background conversation in another room]
[Investigator returns]
Investigator: {inaudible] okay?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir. Ah, my left thumb has been numb since we got to the crime scene.
Investigator: Do what?
Jerrod Murray: My left thumb has been numb since we got to the crime scene.
Investigator: How come?
Jerrod Murray: I don’t know. I figured when the cuffs came off feelings would return to it but in this area it’s still numb.
Investigator: Ah, you probably just need to work it.
Jerrod Murray: Well, I have been.
Investigator: Rub it. You ever been cuffed before?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: So aint never been in any trouble?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: So if I run a record on you I’m not going to find anything on you?
Jerrod Murray: You might find that assault from a couple months ago but that would be it.
Investigator: That’s when you and that other guy got into it?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: About the choke hold.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay. Um, I take it since you go to college you have a computer, correct?
Jerrod Murray: I have a laptop, sir.
Investigator: And it’s probably at your dorm?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay. Um, and I know we’ve talked about this, kind of in general, you didn’t know who it was going to be?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Or when it was going to be but you kind of knew where.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Then you tried this Tuesday night.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And he wasn’t there, he was home. This is now Friday morning so this was Thursday night.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: And when I talked to you, something about “was there going to be others”…
Jerrod Murray: I…
Investigator: And you made the statement earlier that you was happy that you got caught by somebody in the rank and stature of the Sheriff’s office.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: So, you understand I’m going to do my job thorough.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir. I understand that completely.
Investigator: And that means I’m going to end up getting a search warrant of your computer.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir. I understand that.
Investigator: So, if there is, I want this, searching your computer are we’re going to find any ideals of wanting to do a mass shooting in a school?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Or you was going to kill anybody else?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Okay, why do you want me to believe that this was going to be a one time thing since you planned this for three weeks, and by Tuesday night you knew who and when but it failed?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Tell me why I should believe you this was just going to be one person who was going to suffer from your consequences of killing?
Jerrod Murray: You have no reason to believe me, sir.
Investigator: Oh, I believe but so, but you’re trying to tell me you were just going to do it one time and that was going to be the end of it?
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Okay. So I’m not going to find anything on your computer that’s going to be or when I go to college when myself and this team from the DA’s office goes to the campus and we go and talk to everybody that you’re associated with at the dorms, uh, nobody’s going to tell us “well he’s talked about a school shooting or killing people”?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: I’m not going to find that?
Jerrod Murray: No, sir.
Investigator: Okay.
Jerrod Murray: That said, I have been asked by people, including at Asher, if I was a murderer or if I planned on it but I’ve never planned on it since three weeks ago and I’ve never killed anyone so the answer has always been “no”. I’m not sure if it was jokingly or seriously, that said.
Investigator: Okay. I guess I’m just having a real hard time understanding why. Why him?
Jerrod Murray: Well, if it was a random person there could be the possiblity he had children or something of that nature. Uh, if it was someone else up there they’d have a lot more friends or a lot more social, so…
Investigator: So… [inaudible] by his quota status of not having very many friends or being social, it was a good victim.
Jerrod Murray: His presence would be less noticed, yes.
Investigator: Okay.
[Investigator stands to exit]
Jerrod Murray: That said, he did have a girlfriend and some friends.
Investigator: Yeah. You don’t think his girlfriend would have missed him?
Jerrod Murray: Ah, I wasn’t aware of his girlfriend up until tonight, sir.
Investigator: Oh. So he told you before you killed him?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, no. The entire way down there uh, I had the phone at Wal-Mart, so the entire way down there she was texting him so I was texting what he told me to text back.
[Investigator sits back down]
Investigator: So this was a conversation between his girlfriend and actually you, but you was texting what he…
Jerrod Murray: Word for word, yes.
Investigator: Okay. You don’t think she’s going to be upset, heartbroken?
Jerrod Murray: I think she will be.
Investigator: How does that make you feel?
Jerrod Murray: No different, sir.
Investigator: Okay.
[Investigator exits room]
[Investigator enters room]
Investigator: Do one more thing for me.
Jerrod Murray: Yes, sir.
Investigator: Just the history deal with you, fill that form out for me.
Jerrod Murray: Uh…
Investigator: Just your name, address, city, phone number, stuff like that.
Jerrod Murray: Alright.
Investigator: Just [inaudible]
[Investigator exits room]
[Investigator enters room]
Investigator: Common’ big guy.
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I’ve got some questions about this paperwork.
Investigator: About what?
Jerrod Murray: Uh, I didn’t know what to put under investigator, date, armed, hair color or the bottom line.
Investigator: Okay, that’s no big deal. I’ll fill that in.
Jerrod Murray: Well, I didn’t even know if that was hair color, I thought it might be hair length, both. I don’t know.
Investigator: Okay, that’s good. I just needed general information on name and all that anyway.
[investigator and Jerrod exit room after Jerrod pushes chair back under table]
Investigator: Common, through here.