PUHL: One more question. In your honest opinion, what do you think happened that night, Ms. Bentley?

BENTLEY: Chris, or Paula, or whatever her name is, left my apartment that night, was wasted, got into some kind of altercation with Bev, and killed her. Thing is, it’s not just what I think. She admitted it to me at Reg Bolton’s house.

• • •

PART 2 OF RECORDED INTERVIEW: PAULA CHRISTINE WILESON

Interview duration: 39 minutes

Location: 18th District Police Department, City of Chicago

Interview conducted by:
Detective Claire Puhl, Detective Greg Kuchi

PUHL: This interview is being recorded. I’m Detective Claire Puhl. Also in the room with me is Detective Greg Kuchi. This interview is being conducted in relation to the investigation of the death of Mrs. Beverly Brighton, 115 West Oak Street in Chicago, Illinois, which took place on Saturday, August 8. Today is August 13.

Can you please state your name?

WILESON: Paula Wileson.

PUHL: And where do you live?

WILESON: 404 Parvis Road.

PUHL: Why are we here, Paula?

WILESON: Excuse me?

PUHL: When you last came in here to tell us your…theory…about Ryan Hooks, you said you’d never been back to the apartment on Oak Street. But that wasn’t true, was it?

WILESON: (Inaudible)

PUHL: I need you to speak up, please.

WILESON: No, it wasn’t true.

PUHL: Okay, from here on out, I need you to tell me the truth, the whole truth, not just bits and pieces. Can you do that for me?

WILESON: Yes.

PUHL: Okay. So, when did you first go back?

WILESON: To the apartment? The night of the party—

PUHL: Not just inside. Outside, around, down the block. Anywhere nearby. And I want you to be careful here, because I already know a lot.

WILESON: Oh, okay. Well, yeah, I went back a few days later, because I went to a dog park nearby.

PUHL: Why did you go there?

WILESON: Because I saw Emma Bentley.

PUHL: The woman who you saw in the window on Saturday, August 1.

WILESON: Yes. I was just driving by, and I saw her, and I stopped. I promise you, I can’t really explain why. I just wanted to learn more about her. So I pulled over, and we got to talking.

PUHL: Then you went back to the park a couple days later.

WILESON: I did. She wasn’t there when I arrived, but when she got there, she came right over, and we started talking.

PUHL: She says you approached her.

WILESON: That’s not true.

PUHL: What did you talk about?

WILESON: I promise, I wasn’t up to anything. I just wanted to meet her. And then I went back a few days later, and she asked me to come to the dinner party to learn more about the clothing line. I wasn’t going to go.

PUHL: Had you already corresponded with Ryan Hooks by then?

(Inaudible)

PUHL: Louder, please.

WILESON: Yes, I had.

PUHL: What about?