Case #: SA-7J-008375

I.R. #:    75

Description:        Interview – Taped – Kevin Knox

Office of Origin:                                Madison County Sherriff’s Office

Case Agent:        Deputy Charles Irwin

On 5/24/06, starting at 5:12AM, Kevin Knox was interviewed at the Madison County Sherriff’s Office located in Jackson, Madison County, Tennessee, by Deputy Charles P. Irwin of the Madison County Sherriff’s Office. The following is a transcript of the interview.

(RECORDER ON)

Irwin: Mr. Knox, my name is Deputy Charles Irwin with the Madison County Sherriff’s Department. Before we begin, would you please state your name for the record?

Knox: Kevin Knox.

Irwin: May I call you Kevin?

Knox: Yeah. Sure.

Irwin: Kevin, I know that you were questioned on the scene by Officer Levin, and you’ve had a long night, but if you can just run through your story for me again.

Knox: I’m really, like- I’m tired, sir. I’m trying so hard to be helpful and stuff, but I was almost killed a few hours ago, you know? I’m still (unintelligible)

Irwin: You’re shaking. Are you cold, Kevin, or just tired?

Knox: I’m tired. Both, I guess. I’m not sure.

Irwin: I can get you some coffee or a Coke or something.

Knox: No. I mean, no thank you, sir. I just…really want to go home. I need to (unintelligible)

Irwin: Just have a seat, Kevin. I know you’re restless, but you need to have a seat. Can you do that? We’ll do this as quickly as possible and then I’ll find you somewhere to sleep until your dad gets here, okay?

Knox: Yeah. I guess that’s okay. I just don’t—I mean, why do I have to go through it over and over?

Irwin: Sometimes, Kevin, the more times you talk about something the more details you remember. So, please— You were home alone this evening?

Knox: Yeah.

Irwin: Your mother was out?

Knox: She had to work late. Sometimes the hospital keeps her an extra shift. You know, if someone calls in sick or something. She likes overtime because she (unintelligible)

Irwin: I couldn’t hear you, Kevin. You said your mom liked overtime because?

Knox: She thinks we need to move. We, uh, we got a lot of family, you know, on her side and they’re always in her business and looking for handouts and stuff. It was great having them close after my dad left, but she wants us to start over somewhere else.

Irwin: Tell me about the break-in. When did you realize someone was in the house?

Knox: The news was on, so after 10 o’clock, I guess.

Irwin: What I mean, Kevin, is how did you first realize that you weren’t alone in the house?

Knox: I thought I heard something downstairs. Loud, you know? Like someone knocked something over. I, uh, guess I got scared. I mean, I had no intention of going down there. I just wanted to call 911, you know?

Irwin: And you did call, correct?

Knox: Not then, no. I couldn’t find my phone. Sometimes I leave it on the kitchen table with my keys. I looked all over the room, kind of panicked, you know? But I couldn’t find it. I could—I could hear someone coming up the stairs. There’s a creaky step midway up. It’s how I always know when mom is coming up for my laundry. I heard it creak and freaked out.

Irwin: But you still hadn’t found the phone.

Knox: Right. So I grabbed my basketball trophy, because it’s heavy and, like, the only thing that seemed like a weapon. It was on a shelf near the door, but it’s around this corner, so you can’t see the door from where I was standing.

Irwin: Can you show me? You think you can draw it on paper?

Knox: I guess.

Irwin: Try it. Here. Use my notepad. If that pen doesn’t work, I have another.

Knox: No. It’s good.

(Note: 1 minute and 42 seconds of dead air follows.)

Knox: It’s like this. See this corner? The shelf is here and the door is there. So I’m here when the door opens. The hall light was off but I could still see his shadow.

Irwin: Whose shadow, Kevin?

Knox: I don’t know. I just saw the shadow. Whoever it was had a knife. Something big.

Irwin: We recovered a machete at the scene.

Knox: It was like a sword. I saw it come past the corner before he did.

Irwin: Can you describe him?

Knox: He was about my height. He had dark clothes, black or maybe dark blue. I couldn’t tell in the dark. They were all dressed like that.

Irwin: Your room was dark?

Knox: Yes, sir. I turned out the light. My TV is over here. See? So, I left that on and turned the other light out. I guess he thought I was still watching. He never even looked around the corner. I didn’t even notice he was wearing a mask until he was down.

Irwin: Can you describe the mask?

Knox: It was a clown mask, but washed out sort of. Like all the color had been bleached away or something.

Irwin: So he came into the dark room holding that machete. What happened next?

Knox: I hit him.

Irwin: With the trophy.

Knox: Yes, sir. Hard as I could.

Irwin: Do you remember how many times you hit him?

Knox: A bunch. I’ve seen enough movies to know you don’t mess around, you know? Someone’s trying to kill you, you take them down and make sure they don’t get back up.

Irwin: So you took him down?

Knox: Yeah. I hit him in the head. Again and again. I probably wouldn’t have stopped except—

Irwin: Except what?

Knox: I heard someone downstairs.

Irwin: Did you take anything from the intruder? A wallet? Anything?

Knox: Just the machete.

Irwin: Did you remove his mask?

Knox: No, sir. I didn’t have time. I was scared someone else would be coming up the stairs if I waited too long.

Irwin: Is that when you called the police?

Knox: No. I still hadn’t found my phone. I don’t have a land line in my room and I have the only room upstairs. I didn’t get to a phone until—

Irwin: Okay, wait. I don’t want to make you jump ahead, Kevin. I’m sorry. Go ahead with what you were saying. You had just heard someone downstairs.

Knox: So I took the machete and made my way downstairs. I knew enough to avoid the creaky step. Before I got downstairs, I heard the noises again. Sounded like they were coming from the kitchen.

Irwin: Could you see the kitchen from the bottom of the stairs?

Knox: No. I wasn’t trying to go to the kitchen, though.

Irwin: You said your phone was on the table.

Knox: That’s what I figured, yeah, but there was a phone in the den, so I slipped in there.

Irwin: Was the downstairs (unintelligible)

Knox: No, sir. All the lights were out. They had been on when I went to my room earlier, so I guess they turned them off. Anyway, I made my way to the den, but then I saw a light in the kitchen. I ducked down behind the couch and waited.

Irwin: You never made it to the phone?

Knox: No, sir. It was on the other side of the room. When I saw the light, I got scared that someone was coming, so I ducked and just kind of froze there. I didn’t move until I heard the refrigerator door close.

Irwin: One of the intruders was in the fridge?

Knox: I guess. That’s the sound I heard. It’s also in the same direction the light was coming from. I just kind of put two and two together, you know?

Irwin: So you were still behind the couch?

Knox: No, sir. As soon as the light went off, I moved as quiet as I could to the doorway. I figured, if the guy had been in the fridge, his eyes weren’t as adjusted to the dark.

Irwin: Did you learn that from the movies, too?

Knox: Just common sense.

Irwin: Did he come to the den?

Knox: I threw something across the room so he’d come check. As soon as he came in, I brought the sword down.

Irwin: Was he wearing a mask?

Knox: Same as the other guy, yeah.

Irwin: You killed him.

Knox: I guess. Yeah. I was so scared. I—

Irwin: How many times did you hit him with the machete?

Knox: Just once. The sword got—um, it got stuck. In his head, you know? So, I—It got stuck, so I left it.

Irwin: Did you go back to the phone in the den?

Knox: No, sir. I was going to. I walked over to it, but I heard someone cussing. Sounded like it came from the living room. I just heard someone say “Shit!” and it seemed like it came from that direction. Where the phone is, the one in the den, you can see that table from the living room. I didn’t want to risk it.

Irwin: So what did you do?

Knox: I went to the office.

Irwin: Where is the office?

Knox: There’s a short hallway between the kitchen and the den. The only thing back there is the office and the laundry room.

Irwin: Why the office?

Knox: Only other place with a phone. I could’ve gone for my cell in the kitchen, I guess, but I would’ve had to backtrack and get past the body.

Irwin: So the office.

Knox: Yeah. I snuck down there and got the phone. Called 911. Told them they were in the house. Told them I thought I killed two, but there were more.

Irwin: You told the 911 operator that you killed them?

Knox: Well, yeah. I mean, she wanted to know how many were in the house. I told her I had killed two but I thought there were more.

Irwin: Did she tell you to stay on the line until the police got there?

Knox: Yes, sir.

Irwin: But you didn’t, did you, Kevin?

Knox: No, sir.

Irwin: Why not?

Knox: I remembered something. My mom bought a gun after my dad left. For protection, you know? She kept it in the office because she has a safe in there for important papers and stuff.

Irwin: Wouldn’t it make more sense to keep the gun in her room?

Knox: Maybe. Mom just said she couldn’t sleep with it in there. She didn’t want the gun, she just thought she needed it. It—I mean, it’s a good thing she kept it in the office. For me, I mean. I could never have gotten to master bedroom to get it.

Irwin: Your mother told you the combination to the safe?

Knox: No, sir.

Irwin: Then how’d you get the gun?

Knox: My mom. She means well, you know? But, the truth is, she’s a little outdated when it comes to computers and stuff. She has a file on the computer with all our bank info, important phone numbers, insurance stuff.

Irwin: And the combination to the safe.

Knox: Right. Just in case. She didn’t password protect it or anything, so one day while I was on her computer, I see the file sitting on the desktop and it opens right up.

Irwin: So, what? You just memorized the combo?

Knox. No. I mean, yeah, eventually, but not at first. I just opened it up, you know? I wanted to see it. Hold it. That’s all. But, I guess, I did that enough times that I memorized it, yeah.

Irwin: But you didn’t think of the gun until then?

Knox: I wasn’t—I was so scared, you know? I was kind of on automatic pilot, or something. I just didn’t think about the gun until I was in the office.

Irwin: So you set the phone down to get the gun.

Knox: Yes, sir. I got it out. Got the bullets out of the desk drawer and then fumbled through getting it loaded. That’s when I heard the third guy.

Irwin: The one from the living room?

Knox: I’m not sure, but, I guess so. He was screaming, “No! No!” over and over again. I ran into the hallway and there he was…kneeling beside the body in the doorway to the kitchen. He had a bat in his hand.

Irwin: A baseball bat?

Knox: Yeah. The metal kind or whatever.

Irwin: Aluminum.

Knox: I guess.

Irwin: What happened next?

Knox: He, uh, looked up and me, and—

Irwin: Was he wearing a mask?

Knox: Like the other ones. Yes, sir. Clown face. Covered the whole head.

Irwin: Did he see you?

Knox: Yes. He was yelling. He said, “What did you do, you stupid bastard?”

Irwin: Did he say anything else?

Knox: (unintelligible)

Irwin: Kevin?

Knox: He, uh—no. He just stood up with the bat and I shot him.

Irwin: Did you warn him? Try to get him to drop the bat?

Knox: No, sir. I mean, all I could think of was getting out of there alive. I just…shot.

Irwin: How many times, Kevin?

Knox: I, uh—what?

Irwin: How many times did you fire?

Knox: Um, twice I think. Maybe three times, but I think just two. First shot missed. I, uh, think it hit the wall, you know?

Irwin: And the second one hit the third victim?

Knox: The third intruder, yeah. In the, um—in his chest.

Irwin: Is that when you shot your mother?

(Note: 39 seconds of dead air follows)

Irwin: Kevin? Kevin, I need you to answer the question.

Knox: I don’t (unintelligible)

Irwin: Kevin, is that when you shot your mother?

Knox: I was—She opened the door, the front door, just as I was—

Irwin: Tell me, Kevin.

Knox: I was about to look under his mask.

Irwin: The third victim.

Knox: Why do you keep—I was scared. I went to lift his mask, and she…opened the door. I thought she was one of them. I thought she (unintelligible)

Irwin: Calm down, Kevin. I need you to calm down and tell me the truth.

Knox: I am, sir. I swear to God, I am. She startled me. I guess she heard the gun. Came running in, and I… thought she was one of them.

Irwin: So you shot her?

Knox: Oh God! I didn’t—I never meant to—Oh God!

Irwin: You said you didn’t know it was her, Kevin. When did you know?

Knox: Oh God! Oh God, momma. I’m so sorry.

Irwin: Kevin, keep it together. When did you know it was your mother?

Knox: As soon—as soon as the—

Irwin: As soon as what, Kevin?

Knox: In the flash from—When I shot. I saw her just after I pulled—

Irwin: After you pulled the trigger.

Knox: Yeah.

Irwin: And that’s when the police got there?

Knox: Yeah. When my ears stopped ringing from the shots, I could… hear the sirens coming. Two seconds earlier and I would’ve—I would’ve felt relieved, you know? I would’ve felt relieved.

(Knocking)

Irwin: Just hang on a second, Kevin. I’m going to pause the tape and step out of the room. I’ll be right back. You want anything?

Knox: Water maybe.

Irwin: You got it.

(Note: At this point the tape is paused for an indeterminate amount of time, then recording began again.)

Irwin: Are you okay, Kevin? You okay to go on? I just have a few more questions for you.

Knox: I’m really—Could we finish this tomorrow? I’m so tired. I mean, my dad should be here soon, right? I just—

Irwin: Kevin, we’ve got some new information here and I need to run it past you.

Knox: No, I…appreciate the water, but I just need to sleep, you know?

Irwin: I know, Kevin. Just one more question. One question regarding this new information and I’ll let you sleep, okay? One question, Kevin. Is that okay?

Knox: I guess, so, yeah. You promise I can sleep? After, I mean?

Irwin: I promise, Kevin. You have my word.

Knox: Okay, then. I guess it’s okay.

Irwin: Kevin, when Deputy Jenson knocked on the door, it was to let me know they ID’d the victims in your house. You know, from what we’ve been able to piece together at your place, your story seems to add up. All the victims had masks and the weapons just like you said. They came in through the sliding door from the back yard.

Knox: What about my mom?

Irwin: It seems accidental, but it’ll be up to the district attorney to determine whether or not charges will be filed. Don’t worry about that, Kevin. You’ll be released into your dad’s custody as soon as he gets here and when the D.A. makes a decision, we’ll let you know.

Knox: Question.

Irwin: What would you like to know?

Knox: No. You said you had a question.

Irwin: It’s just that we need to try and piece together exactly what happened and why these people broke into your home. So my question for you is: Do you know anyone named Christopher Nelson?

Knox: Chris Nelson? That’s—

Irwin: You know that name? Kevin? Kevin, look at me. Do you know that name?

Knox: It’s my cousin. My aunt Marie’s oldest son. He’s a grade ahead of me, a Junior. Is that—was he one of them?

Irwin: He was. Apparently he was the one you shot in the hallway, just before your mother came in. The other two were friends of his, a Trey Lewis and Bobby Kreff.

Knox: Trey and Bobby. They’re his buddies. They play football together. Why would they—

Irwin: We had the local PD call your aunt to tell her about her son. After they identified themselves as PD, she asked if it was about Chris. It seems Chris and his buddies had been joking around, saying that you were an easy scare. She said they had torn up her basement looking for some old Halloween masks so they could go over and scare you. Your mom had told her sister about working late, so the boys decided to pull what was apparently just meant to be an elaborate prank.

Knox: No, that can’t—You’re lying. You have to be lying.

Irwin: Why would I lie, Kevin? Why would I need to? I believe your story. I don’t think you killed your mother on purpose, even if that’s not my call to make. I believe that you didn’t know it was your cousin and his friends.

Knox: I don’t understand. Why would they do that?

Irwin: They wanted to scare you, Kevin. It was just a really, really bad joke. A stupid prank.

Knox: A prank? A prank? They—They made me—I killed my mother!

Irwin: Kevin—

Knox: I killed my mother. Oh my God. Oh—“

(Note: At this point, the recording ends.)