WAKEFIELD: This is interview number six in case number 2000-08-002, the homicide investigation of Raychel Vanderhoff. It is 8:15 PM on August 20th. The interview is begin conducted by me, Detective Kevin Wakefield. The subject of the interview is Lance Wagner. Have you also come from Raychel's wake?
WAGNER: Yes, but I had to leave early. I couldn't stay.
WAKEFIELD: Then I would like to offer my condolences before we begin. I understand she meant a great deal to you.
WAGNER: She was everything to me.
WAKEFIELD: Then I promise I won't take up too much of your time. I just wanted to know if you could answer a few questions for me. We have already spoken with a number of your acquaintances regarding Raychel. Some have been more helpful than others. I was hoping that you could help me sort out some of the details.
WAGNER: If there is any way I can help.
WAKEFIELD: Especially if it goes to help convict Kyle McAllister?
WAGNER: Absolutely.
WAKEFIELD: Thank you. Now, let me start at the beginning. You are a founding member of an artistic community called The Bleeders?
WAGNER: I am.
WAKEFIELD: That is how you first met Raychel Vanderhoff in . . . let me find it . . . it's important that I find it . . . 1997?
WAGNER: Yes. I had spotted her on a few occasions at Safehaven before I actually met her, but it was in 1997.
WAKEFIELD: When exactly did the two of you begin living together?
WAGNER: Exactly? Let me think, exactly. A couple of weeks after she first walked into Safehaven, so it would have to have been August 30, 1997.
WAKEFIELD: Do you make it a habit to give refuge to prostitutes?
WAGNER: Are you asking me if I run a halfway house or are you asking me if I have a history with hookers? No to both counts.
WAKEFIELD: So Raychel was an exception?
WAGNER: Raychel was an exception in many ways. For instance-
WAKEFIELD: That's all right, you don't need to get into details. I only need your answers, not your explanations.
WAGNER: If that's all you need, fine.
WAKEFIELD: Getting back to my questions, during the time that Raychel lived with you, did you also know Laura Douglass?
WAGNER: Yes.
WAKEFIELD: And Laura Douglass and Raychel Vanderhoff knew each other?
WAGNER: The three of us were all members of The Bleeders.
WAKEFIELD: Did you have the opportunity to observe Raychel and Laura Douglass together?
WAGNER: Numerous times.
WAKEFIELD: How did they act together?
WAGNER: They were very close. Like sisters.
WAKEFIELD: Did you ever have the opportunity to observe Raychel and Laura Douglass abusing drugs together?
WAGNER: Pardon?
WAKEFIELD: Did you ever witness Raychel and Laura taking drugs? If so, what kind?
WAGNER: No.
WAKEFIELD: No? To which?
WAGNER: No. I never witnessed Raychel and Laura using drugs.
(PAUSE)
WAKEFIELD: Really? Interesting.
WAGNER: What is?
WAKEFIELD: Nothing. Are you aware of Laura Douglass' financial status?
WAGNER: Are you asking me if she's rich? Yes? Yes. Laura has money at her disposal.
WAKEFIELD: And you have witnessed her using her money to benefit Raychel?
WAGNER: Laura owns Safehaven. She bought the bar with her money. Is that what you are looking for?
WAKEFIELD: Not quite. Let me re-phrase my question: Is it true that Laura Douglass paid you while Raychel lived with you?
WAGNER: For odds and ends and rent yes, but . . . Oh, I see . . . Yes, Laura helped sustain us. If I was between odd jobs or anything, Laura would pay the rent and give Raychel money for groceries.
WAKEFIELD: She looked out for both of you?
WAGNER: Yes.
WAKEFIELD: And did that stop when Raychel stopped living with you?
WAGNER: What? No, not exactly. Maybe not so much, but Raychel wasn't with me. Well, for the most part, yes, she did not spend as much on me.
WAKEFIELD: Why did Raychel stop living with you?
WAGNER: Raychel left me to re-focus her energies. When Raychel and I were together then, she was a brilliant poet. Still rough around the edges, but that was her strength. The edges. She wrote breathtaking material. Raychel left me to pursue other career options-
WAKEFIELD: Laura Douglass told us that Kyle McAllister kidnapped her from her bar.
WAGNER: He did. I was getting to that.
WAKEFIELD: She also told me you took a serious beating from Kyle McAllister.
WAGNER: We had an altercation.
WAKEFIELD: Why didn't you press charges?
WAGNER: I couldn't find him, or Raychel.
WAKEFIELD: That's our job.
WAGNER: And when I filed a police report to ask for your assistance, what did I get? Dismissed! Are you telling me that a missing person receives less attention from the police than a few bruises and a broken nose? Would I have been better served whining about my precious face?
WAKEFIELD: There have been a number of allegations about this, but have you ever witnessed Kyle McAllister physically abuse Raychel Vanderhoff first-hand?
WAGNER: Abuse? Yes. On the night she was abducted by him. He grabbed Raychel and pulled her out of Safehaven completely against her will.
WAKEFIELD: How do you know it was against her will?
WAGNER: She was screaming. That's usually an indicator.
WAKEFIELD: I have to ask this. Have you ever . . . and I mean ever . . . abused Raychel?
WAGNER: No.
WAKEFIELD: No? Are you certain?
WAGNER: Positive.
WAKEFIELD: Because I have a person who can contradict you on this point.
WAGNER: Who?
WAKEFIELD: Sharon Wolfe claimed that she once had to pull you off of Raychel.
WAGNER: That was not abuse. I was not abusing Raychel when Sharon interfered. We were talking. Sharon didn't understand.
WAKEFIELD: Where were you on the night of August 17th, Mr. Wagner?
(PAUSE)
WAGNER: I was writing at home.
WAKEFIELD: Did you receive any phone calls? Friends? Telemarketers?
WAGNER: No.
WAKEFIELD: In the interest of curiosity, would you consent to a voluntary fingerprinting if I were to ask you?
WAGNER: On what grounds?
WAKEFIELD: Have you ever been inside Kyle McAllister's apartment?
WAGNER: No.
WAKEFIELD: Then you would have nothing to fear from volunteering.
WAGNER: If that's the case then I don't see why I should have to.
WAKEFIELD: You're declining?
WAGNER: You never asked.
WAKEFIELD: Will you consent to a voluntary fingerprinting?
WAGNER: No.
WAKEFIELD: Then you are declining?
WAGNER: At this time, yes.
WAKEFIELD: Does that mean you would reconsider?
WAGNER: Under different circumstances, yes.
WAKEFIELD: So, no right now, but if I ask you later, maybe?
WAGNER: I do not understand the reason for your asking me to submit to a test.
WAKEFIELD: I would like to eliminate a suspect.
WAGNER: Am I a suspect?
WAKEFIELD: Not at this time.
WAGNER: Then neither of us have anything to gain, do we? I suddenly feel a real sense of distrust from you.
WAKEFIELD: I can't help that.
WAGNER: Am I correct in assuming that I am not under arrest?
WAKEFIELD: No.
WAGNER: No?
WAKEFIELD: I mean yes. Could you speak more clearly?
WAGNER: You haven't arrested me, right?
WAKEFIELD: Right.
WAGNER: Then I'm leaving.
WAKEFIELD: Please let me know if you plan on leaving the county, if you don't mind.
WAGNER: Is that how you treat every non-suspect?
(END)
