Byerly, Nathan Todd Ply

September 9, 2008

Speaking is Detective Timothy Hightower, of the Louisville Metro Police Department Homicide Squad. The time is approximately 9:52 hours. Today's date is Wednes...correction...that would be Tuesday, September the 9th, 2008. We are currently on the parking lot of Pleasure Ridge High School parking lot. Presently, I'm in my vehicle and in my vehicle is Nat Byerly.

Hightower

Nate, if you would, state your full name for the tape.

Byerly

Nathan Todd Byerly.

Hightower

Okay. And would you spell your last name?

Byerly

B-Y-E-R-L-Y.

Hightower

And how old are you, Nathan?

Byerly

14 years old.

Hightower

And Nathan is a white male. And what is your date of birth?

Byerly Hightower

Okay. Your home address?

Byerly

x

Page 2 of 13 Statement: Nathan Todd Byerly / Case #08197 September 9, 2008

Hightower

x

Byerly

x

Hightower

Okay. And what is your home phone number?

Byerly Hightower

Okay. And what is your zip code?

Byerly

40258.

Hightower

Okay. This statement is being tape-recorded. Does it met with your approval?

Byerly

Yes, sir.

Hightower

Okay. I'm taking this statement in reference to the events that occurred on Wednesday, August the 20th, 2008, that occurred during the PRP football practice. Please describe to me the events of Wednesday, August the 20th, 2008, from the beginning to the end of practice.

Byerly

Well, since I'm a freshman, I've gotta go to study hall, so I had study hall from 2:30 to 3:10. And the sophomores, the senior, they weight-lift and then they watch film, so they did that until about 4 o'clock. And then at 4, we went out to practice, and uhm, I guess it started around 4:15, around there or somethin'. Uh, we started out with team take-off's, where we just run plays real fast against the line defense, then we went in to individuals. Uh, I think on that day, we always start with a handoff drill, 'cause I'm a running back. We did that for a while. And then we got a water break. And then we did uh, we hit the pad a little bit, I

Page 3 of 13 Statement: Nathan Todd Byerly / Case #08197 September 9, 2008

think. Yeah. We hit that for about 10 or 15 minutes. Then we got a water break. And then we did buck drill, uh, it's a play we run. We did that for a while. Then we got a water break. And then we were walkin' back from the water and so Coach Stinson, he got a little mad so we lined up on a line and we were gonna run till practice was over. Hightower

Okay. Let's go back to that. You said uh, you start off uh, what time did you get out there on the field, you said?

Byerly

Around 4:15, I guess.

Hightower

4:15? Were you in full gear?

Byerly

I think it was only shoulder pads and helmet. We didn't wear pants that day.

Hightower

Shoulder pads and helmet? And you said uh, you got on the field in the first ex...and the first practice the things you were doin'...what was that?

Byerly

Team take-off.

Hightower

What is that?

Byerly

Uh, offense lines up on one side of the field and defense line on the other, and then we just run plays, like up tempo, against no defense.

Hightower

Okay. Is that freshmen...sophomore...

Byerly

...Well...

a

mixture

of

Page 4 of 13 Statement: Nathan Todd Byerly / Case #08197 September 9, 2008

Hightower

...juniors...seniors?

Byerly

The varsity, they run first and then they get behind the freshmen...the JV goes next then the freshmen go. And then we just keep alternatin'.

Hightower

Okay. And you are a freshman?...

Byerly

...Freshman. Yes, sir.

Hightower

Okay. And then after you did that, what was the next thing that occurred?

Byerly

Uh, individuals, where you go with your uh, position groups.

Hightower

Okay. So you were with your position group, what group was that a gain?

Byerly

The running backs.

Hightower

Okay. How uh, what...go on from there. So you were, you were practicin' the running backs?

Byerly

Yeah. We do a hand-off drill, where you get in two lines, you hand the ball off, and you just keep going. And then we did that for a while.

Hightower

And then what happened after that?

Byerly

We got a water break and then we did like hittin' the pass, like blocking.

Hightower

Okay. Now you say you got a water break, did the whole, did just the running backs get a water break or...

Page 5 of 13 Statement: Nathan Todd Byerly / Case #08197 September 9, 2008

Byerly

Well, usually, they're like two or three minutes apart. Like the quarterbacks and stuff, they'll get one, then the linemen will, the linebackers, running backs, but we're not all over there at the exact same time.

Hightower

Okay. So you were over there with what?

Byerly

the running backs.

Hightower

Running backs? that?

Byerly

Then we uh, we went to do the blocking stuff and we did our blocks for the certain plays and everything. And then we got another water break and then we went to buck drill.

Hightower

Okay. And then after buck drill, what happened then?

Byerly

We got a water break and then that's when we had to run after that.

Hightower

Okay. Why did you have to run?

Byerly

'Cause we were just walkin' back to the field and we weren't hustlin' or anything.

Hightower

Okay. Who, who ordered y'all to, who told y'all to run?

Byerly

Coach Stinson.

Hightower

Coach Stinson? So how many water breaks were you given?

Then what happened after

Page 6 of 13 Statement: Nathan Todd Byerly / Case #08197 September 9, 2008

Byerly

We were given three before we ran and then after practice was over we could get one.

Hightower

Okay. So was that individually or as a team?

Byerly

As a team.

Hightower

So you were given three and then you get one after...

Byerly

After everything was over.

Hightower

After everything was over? How many water breaks did you take?

Byerly

I took all of 'em.

Hightower

How many is that?

Byerly

four. When we ran, uhm, the freshmen, they got to quit a few early. So I got one then.

Hightower

Okay. Uh, after the, the first water break, what did practice consist of?

Byerly

It consist of blockin' the pass and then buck drill.

Hightower

And why was the team running those uh, sprints?

Byerly

Because we were walkin' on the field and not hustlin'.

Hightower

How many sprints did you do? Or did you do 'em as a group?

Byerly

We did 'em as a group.

Page 7 of 13 Statement: Nathan Todd Byerly / Case #08197 September 9, 2008

Hightower

Okay.

Byerly

There was the little runnin' backs and like linebackers and stuff, they run, and then the gasser, you run start field, we run it sideways, you run 50 yards there, 50 yards back, 50 yards there, and 50 yards back...then you get a break while the big guys do it.

Hightower

Okay. So that's...I'm lookin' at you, I know we're on tape...how many times is that, that you run back and forth?

Byerly

Uh, runnin' backs, we fre...or the little guys, the freshmen, we pro'bly only did like ten. they might o' done three or four after us.

Hightower

Okay. Now in your group, you said you were in the uh, running back group?

Byerly

Yes, sir.

Hightower

Or...when you were doin' the sprints, do you break 'em in different kind of groups then?

Byerly

It's just two groups, the linemen and everybody else.

Hightower

Okay. So which group were you in?

Byerly

Everybody else.

Hightower

Everybody else' group? Okay. and was that a combination of uh, bigger kids and little kids or...

Byerly

All the big guys ran together and all the little

Page 8 of 13 Statement: Nathan Todd Byerly / Case #08197 September 9, 2008

guys got in together. There weren't freshmen groups, it was all ages. Hightower

All ages. Okay. And how many uh, sprints did your group do?

Byerly

About ten.

Hightower

ten?

Byerly

Well, the freshmen...the little guys... they pro'bly ran around 13 or 14...

Hightower

...Okay...

Byerly

...but we stopped a few early 'cause the freshmen goes less.

Hightower

Okay. So you...so how many did you do? Your group that you were in?

Byerly

Ten.

Hightower

Ten? And you said you were in the group, you were in the uh, what was the name of the group that you were in again? You said it was a...

Byerly

It was everybody else. Little guys.\

Hightower

Little guys? Okay. When you ran these sprints, did you have your gear on?

Byerly

We started with everything on and then we ran a few of 'em, then we got to take our helmets off, then we ran a few more, then we got to take our shoulder pads off, and we were just runnin' just in T -shirts and a short shirts.

Page 9 of 13 Statement: Nathan Todd Byerly / Case #08197 September 9, 2008

Hightower

So how many sprints did you run with your gear uh, on?

Byerly

Pro'bly three or four.

Hightower

Three or four? Then after you took off your gear how many did you run?

Byerly

Uh, pro'bly three.

Hightower

How long do you think the team was running sprints?

Byerly

Pro'bly 25 minutes, 30 minutes.

Hightower

Did any of your teammates ask for water breaks or try to get water during the sprints?

Byerly

not during the sprints.

Hightower

Did you or any teammate become ill while you were running the sprints?

Byerly

Uh, one of the seniors, Calloway, he, he was having a breathing problem and he was about halfway through, and he was like wheezin' a lot, so they got him off the field.

Hightower

So Calloway?

Byerly

Calloway. He's a senior. I don't know his first name.

Hightower

And he got sick during the sprints?

Byerly

About halfway through.

Hightower

Did you see anybody else?

Page 10 of 13 Statement: Nathan Todd Byerly / Case #08197 September 9, 2008

Byerly

Uh, people were tired and stuff, but nobody was sick, really.

Hightower

During any practice, this year, have you seen or heard of any teammate being injured or quitting the team?

Byerly

Uh, kids have quit but I only remember one, he's a freshman, he quit during practice, but everybody else would quit like afterwards. They just didn't wanna do it anymore.

Hightower

Okay. Well, let's go to who the kid that you know that quit.

Byerly

Uh, I don't know his name, they call him "John Deer."

Hightower

"John Deer"?

Byerly

Yeah.

Hightower

Okay.

Byerly

He wore a John Deer hat all the time.

Hightower

Okay. What was his race?

Byerly

Uh, he was white.

Hightower

Okay. and when did he quit?

Byerly

He quit a while back, about a month ago.

Hightower

A month ago?

Byerly

It was the first day in pads like full gear, and he

Page 11 of 13 Statement: Nathan Todd Byerly / Case #08197 September 9, 2008

just didn't like to hit. Hightower

Okay. So he quit. Now. You said there was another kid that you knew about: Somebody else?

Byerly

Well, a few freshmen quit 'cause they just didn't think it was the sport for them, I guess.

Hightower

Okay. Uh, do you know their names?

Byerly

Uh, off the top of my head Gomez quit, uh...

Hightower

...What is his race?

Byerly

Mexican or somethin'.

Hightower^

Okay.

Byerly

And then Timmy quit.

Hightower

And what is his race?

Byerly

He's white.

Hightower

Okay.

Byerly

Uh, some other kid, I think his last name is King, he quit. But he quit a long time ago. Older guys, I don't really know of any older guys quittin', just freshmen.

Hightower

And on that day, Wednesday, August the 20th, 2008, when you were practicin', did you see Max pass out?

Byerly

Uh, I was like on the side 'cause freshmen quit...he fell on the last one, I saw him gettin'

Page 12 of 13 Statement: Nathan Todd Byerly / Case #08197 September 9, 2008

dragged off. Hightower

Okay. So you, you...you had just quit runnin' sprints?

Byerly

I had quit about two or three before and they were on their last one...

Hightower

...Okay...

Byerly

...and that's when he passed out.

Hightower

Okay. When...so he was runnin', did you see him with gear on when he was runnin'?

Byerly

He was just in...I think he didn't even have a shirt on. Just shorts.

Hightower

Just shorts on? And you saw him...what happen? what did you see happen?

Byerly

I didn't see him fall down, I just saw him gettin' dragged off.

Hightower

You just saw him gettin' dragged off?

Byerly

'Cause we had a little meeting with the freshmen before that.

Hightower

Okay. So you saw him gettin' dragged off? Where was they draggin' him off to?

Byerly

Uhm, under the shade tree, to the bleachers.

Hightower

The bleachers? Okay. Did you go over there where he was at?

Byerly

No.

Page 13 of 13 Statement: Nathan Todd Byerly / Case #08197 September 9, 2008

Hightower

What were you doin' at that time?

Byerly

Uh, freshmen were cleanin' the field off, like all the pads and stuff. And then we were gettin' in our big team huddle.

Hightower

Okay. Has anyone influenced you in any way to withhold information or to change any of the facts that actually occurred during that practice?

Byerly

No.

Hightower

Is this statement the truth?

Byerly

Yes, sir.

Hightower

Do you have anything else to add?

Byerly

No, sir.

Hightower

I'd like to end this statement. approximately 1003 hours.

END OF STATEMENT File #08197hightower-ks

The time is