Chapter 41

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

14 YEARS AGO

Witness Statement Recording Transcription

Location: Whitstone Station, Interview Room 3

Present: Detective Holson and Detective Ramsey

Witness: Ashley Trumont, Female

Starting Timestamp: 00:36 hours

Detective Holson: Hi, Ashley. I can call you Ashley, right?

Ashley Trumont: **Nods without speaking**

Detective Holson: That's great. Can I get you a drink? A soda, maybe?

Ashley Trumont: I … I want my dad. I … I …

Detective Holson: He's on his way. Is it okay if I ask you a few questions while we wait for him?

Ashley Trumont: I … I guess so.

Detective Ramsey: Do you think you could tell us what happened tonight?

Ashley Trumont: **sobs**

Detective Holson: Take your time, Ashley. But we need your help to understand what happened.

Ashley Trumont: I don't know. I don't know. My brother … Jason … Oh my god … oh my god ! **She rocks on her seat, covering her face. Following words are unintelligible.**

Detective Holson: Take a breath, Ashley. You're safe here. Why did you go to Jason's house?

Ashley Trumont: I needed to talk to him. I th-thought Mom and Dad were fighting. I w-wanted to ask him if he knew w-what was h-happening.

Detective Holson: It's late. It couldn't have waited until tomorrow?

Ashley Trumont: **shakes her head**

Detective Holson: What did you need to know?

Ashley Trumont: M-my mom and dad were t-talking about b-breaking up. I … I wanted to s-see if Jason knew anything about it.

Detective Holson: So, you got to the house, and then what happened? Did you see Zain Ryder there at all?

Ashley Trumont: N-not outside. H-his car was on the d-drive. Th-the front door was o-open. I-I walked in, and called for J-Jason.

Detective Holson: Did you hear anything? Did anyone answer you? Wasn't the door locked?

Ashley Trumont: **shakes her head**

Detective: Ramsey: So you let yourself into the house? Where did you go first?

Ashley Trumont: The kitchen. B-but it was empty. **She pauses here. Detective Holson hands her a handful of tissues. She wipes her eyes.** I w-walked up the stairs, still calling his name. And then … and then … oh god .

Detective Holson: You walked into the bedroom, and found Zain Ryder standing over their bodies, with a knife.

Ashley Trumont: N-no. He w-was there, b-but I don't think he was holding anything.

Detective Holson: Are you sure, Ashley? This is important. Your brother and Louisa were murdered, in their beds , by someone with a knife. You found Zain Ryder in there. He must have had the knife.

Ashley Trumont: **shakes her head** I … N-no. I didn't s-see any knife.

***RECORDING PAUSED WHEN ASHLEY TRUMONT'S FATHER ARRIVED**

Location: Whitstone Station, Interview Room 3

Present: Detective Holson and Detective Ramsey

Witness: Ashley Trumont, accompanied by her father, Bryan Trumont

Starting Timestamp: 01:52 hours

Detective Holson: I apologize for speaking to Ashley before you were present. I'm sure you understand how important it is that we move fast on this.

Bryan Trumont: My daughter is thirteen. You had no right to question her without a parent present.

Detective Ramsey: The situation really required us to get answers as fast as possible. I know this is difficult for you, Mr. Trumont, given the circumstances, but we really need Ashley's help right now. Are you comfortable with us returning back to the interview, Ashley?

Ashley Trumont: **nods her head** I-I want to make sure that the monster who did this to my brother gets caught. **She lowers her head to her hands and cries**

Detective Holson: Before the break, we were establishing the fact that Zain Ryder was holding a knife. Do you remember, Ashley?

Ashley Trumont: **nods* *

Detective Holson: I'm going to need you to speak, Ashley.

Ashley Trumont: Yes, a knife.

Detective Holson: And you remember him standing with it, don't you?

Ashley Trumont: I … I don't … maybe? There was so much blood. I don't know. He said my name. Told me to wait.

Detective Holson: But you ran, locked yourself in the bathroom, and called 911.

Ashley Trumont: I didn't … I didn't know what else to do.

Detective Holson: You did the right thing, Ashley. Do you remember what the knife looked like?

Ashley Trumont: **shakes her head**

Detective Holson: But you saw it? In his hand? Didn't you?

Ashley Trumont: I … I … yes ?

Detective Holson: And there was blood on it? You saw that, right?

Ashley Trumont: Maybe? I don't … I don't remember.

Detective Holson: Yes, you do. Think, Ashley. You walked into the room and found Zain Ryder standing over your brother and Louisa's bodies, and he was holding a knife. He'd just murdered them. And you ran, because you knew if he caught you before the police arrived you'd be next.

Bryan Trumont: Detective Holson! My daughter is thirteen . You can't say things like that to her. That's my son you're talking about.

Detective Holson: I apologize. Ashley, do you remember the knife?

Ashley Trumont: Yes. Yes, he was holding a knife.