lOMoARcPSD|22517024
Police Report Interviews
Criminal Justice Research and Writing (Liberty
University)
lOMoARcPSD|22517024
CJUS 230
POLICE REPORT INTERVIEWS
When investigating the case, use the following interviews and the accompanying
photographs. The photographs are staged and do not represent a real crime scene.
You will be writing from the perspective of the officer.
Notes at the Scene
Dispatched to 227 East Memorial Drive, Normal, Virginia 12345 on April 4, 2017, at
06:30. East Memorial Drive intersects with Vaughn Road. It was currently sunny. It had
not rained several days. The ground was quite dry for April. Upon arrival, the officer
knocked on the front door, but there was no answer. The officer went into the house
through the unlocked sliding patio door. Upon entry, the officer found the victim,
Natalie Lynn Turner (DOB 3/17/1996; SSN 434-71-2017), dead on arrival (DOA) in her
home.
The victim’s friend, who had called in the incident, was sitting in the kitchen, sobbing.
She was an Asian female.
Interview with Victim’s Best Friend at the Victim’s Residence
Officer: I am sorry about your loss. Can you tell me what your name is and
how you know the young woman?
Howser: My name is Chelsea Ann Howser. I am Natalie’s best friend.
Officer: Do you live here?
Howser: No, not anymore. I used to live with Natalie. I just moved out of the
condo a few weeks ago. Now I live right up the road on Daughtery Road,
319 to be exact, in Normal, Virginia 12345.
Officer: How long did you live with
Natalie? Howser: About 2 years.
Officer: What is your
birthdate? Howser: July 2, 1995
Officer: What is your Social Security
Number? Howser:490-22-2999
Officer: What is your phone
number? Howser:434-200-3410
Officer: Where do you
work?
Howser: I’m currently a law student at the local law school. I’m unemployed
right now. I have to get through school first.
Officer: Do you know what Natalie’s phone number
is? Howser: Sure. It is 434-288-1920.
Officer: Where did Natalie work?
Howser: She worked at the Espresso Café downtown Normal, 22 Grand Street.
She made the best chai latte in town.
Officer: Do you know what that phone number is?
Page 1 of 5
lOMoARcPSD|22517024
Howser: No, I typically text her if I need to get in touch with her while she is
at work.
Officer: What brought you by so early this morning?
Howser: I came by to pick up Natalie to go for a run. We run a few days a week
together. Typically she is right on time, waiting out in front of her place.
She was not out front this morning, and would not reply to my texts. So,
I went inside. Surprisingly, the sliding door in back was unlocked. We
never used that door when I lived here.
Officer: When was the last time you talked with
Natalie? Howser: Last night, around 8:30 p.m.
Officer: What did you talk about?
Howser: We didn’t talk for too long. We set up our run for today, but then Nat
said that she had to go because someone was at the front door.
Officer: Do you know about Natalie’s mental state?
Howser: She has been bipolar for years. She is good when she is on her
medication. Officer: Was she ever suicidal?
Howser: Not to my
knowledge. Officer: Were you
close?
Howser: Very. We have been through a lot. We’ve been best friends for 15
years. Officer: Do you know someone named Zack?
Howser: Zack Cain? Yes, a little bit.
Officer: How do you know Zack
Cain?
Howser: He and Natalie were dating. I met him several times before I moved
out. Officer: Tell me about Natalie’s relationship with Zack.
Howser: They discovered each other online, and have been communicating back
and forth since last year. They met in person about four weeks ago, and
have been spending a lot of time together ever since.
Officer: Where do they spend their time?
Howser: Typically they come over to Nat’s condo in the late morning. They did not
go out on the town too much, Zack tends to work until late.
Officer: Where does Zack
work? Howser: At Best Auto Parts
Officer: Where is Best Auto Parts located?
Howser: It is in Normal. Only one location.
Officer: Tell me more about Zack
Howser: Zack is a pretty quiet guy. He used to be in the Coast Guard, but he was
discharged. Not sure why. Nat mentioned something about a drug
issue. He seems like a nice, clean cut military guy though.
Officer: Was Zack abusive to Natalie?
Page 2 of 5
lOMoARcPSD|22517024
Howser: No, of course not. I mean, Nat said that Zack would raise his hand to
scare her every now and then, but I don’t think he ever hit her. Well…at
least I don’t think so.
Officer: Were Natalie and Zack still dating when she passed?
Howser: No. Natalie broke up with Zack last week. She didn’t want to see
him anymore. He was a bit too controlling. Their relationship had
been ‘emotionally draining’ Nat said. [staring off into the distance].
Officer: What do you… [Howser interrupts].
Howser: [Hysterical] That’s it; he did this. He said he would never let anyone
else have her!
Officer: Now, now, calm down. Who is “he”?
Howser: No, I can’t believe this…it was Zack [begins to
sob]. Officer: We can continue this later…
While at the scene, the officer took a few pictures of the victim. These photographs are
attached to the investigation file. The officer also discovered a note that was written
on the laptop situated in front of the victim. The contents of the note are contained in
an attachment to the investigation file.
Before leaving the home, the officer sealed and tagged the victim’s IBM Thinkpad (Serial
Number 05A5439) and the pills for evidence.
The officer left the home, and found a brown leather wallet on the back step hidden
slightly under the bushes. The wallet had an ID inside of it for Zachary Allen Cain. Mr.
Cain’s Social Security card was also inside the wallet: SSN: 333-22-4444. His picture
shows that he has light colored skin and green eyes.
Page 3 of 5
lOMoARcPSD|22517024
Interview with Co-Worker at Best Auto Parts
Officer: What is your name?
Whatley: John Whatley
Officer: What is your
address?
Whatley: 394 Radcliff Circle, Normal, Virginia
12345 Officer:What is your date of birth?
Whatley: April 3, 1987
Officer: Where are you employed?
Whatley: At Best Auto Parts, located at 123 Main Street, Normal, Virginia 12345.
I’m the night manager.
Officer: What is the store’s phone
number? Whatley:434-333-2378
Officer: Do you know Zack
Cain? Whatley: Yes.
Officer: How do you know Zack?
Whatley: He is an assistant manager at the store.
Officer: Can you describe what Zack looks
like?
Whatley: Sure. He’s about my height, maybe 5’8” or 5’11”. He is pretty well-
built, not too heavy but fairly muscular.
Officer: About how much does he weigh?
Whatley: I never had to weigh him, but my guess would be around 180, 200
maybe? Officer: Anything else you can tell me about his physical characteristics?
Whatley: Sure. He is pretty clean-cut, military hair cut ‘n all. He’s a red head. Oh,
he does have a tattoo on his upper right arm. It looks like an anchor to
me, although I have not looked too closely. There are so many freckles
around it, I’m not quite sure.
Officer: Tell me about how Zack conducts himself at work.
Whatley: He is knowledgeable about the auto parts we sell here. He has always
been pretty decent to work with. He gets straight to his work, and doesn’t
share too much with me about his personal life. Kind of to himself like
that.
Officer: Has he ever told you about his girlfriend?
Whatley: He mentioned a girl named Nat, but didn’t ever tell me anything about
her. Officer: Did Zack work yesterday?
Whatley: He was scheduled to work the noon – 10:00 p.m. shift and close down the
store. He came in a bit late, maybe around 12:30, which is pretty unusual
for him. Then, he left early, around 8:00 p.m.
Officer: What has Zack’s demeanor been like this week?
Whatley: He has seemed fairly distracted all week, which is strange for him.
Officer: Ok, Mr. Whatley, if I have any further questions, could I call you?
Whatley: Oh, yes, anything for the law.
lOMoARcPSD|22517024
Page 4 of 5
lOMoARcPSD|22517024
Visit to Mr. Cain’s Home
Next, the officer secured a valid search warrant, opened up the incident report (#5416)
and went to Mr. Cain’s home located at 410 Brown Street, Apartment #812, Normal,
Virginia 12345. Mr. Cain opened the door and let the officer search his apartment.
Sitting on top of Mr. Cain’s kitchen table, the officer found a pair of men’s black leather
gloves, and a red Kate Spade handbag. Inside the handbag, the officer found the
victim’s ID and a business card for a psychologist. The officer took these items as
evidence also.
After giving Miranda rights, the officer started to
question. Officer: What is your date of birth?
Cain: January 2, 1995
Officer: What is your phone
number? Cain: 434-577-1234
Officer : What is your relationship with
Natalie Turner? Cain: She’s just a friend.
Officer: Has she ever been over to your
apartment? Cain: No
Officer: Tell me about the purse that is on your table?
Cain: Uh, well, [looking at his watch] I really need to get to work, Officer.
Officer: [Before the officer could ask the next question, Cain ran out of the
apartment and drove off quickly in his vehicle, a 2016 Nissan Sentra. It
appeared to the officer that Mr. Cain was driving south on the
interstate.]
Page 5 of 5
