Fife, Susuan Wit

September 4, 2008

Today’s date is September 4th, 2008, time now is 1419 hours. My name is Detective Terry Jones, Code Number 6354; I’m with the Louisville Metro Police Department. This interview pertains to File #08-197; it is a death investigation involving victim, Max Gilpin. This interview is being conducted at 9807 Lakewood Drive. And, this is the interview of Miss Susan Fife.

Jones

At this time Miss Fife, can you identify yourself?

Fife

Yes, my name is Susan Fife.

Jones

And, can you spell your last name?

Fife

F-I-F-E.

Jones

Okay. And, your address?

Fife

9807 Lakewood Drive.

Jones

And, phone number?

Fife Jones

Okay. At this time uh, uh, again this, this relates to the uh, death investigation of Max Gilpin. And, uh, it was brought to my attention that you were present during the football

Page 2 of 11 Statement: Susan Fife / Case #08197(g) September 4, 2008

practice on August 20th, 2008? At this time can you elaborate on things you did that particular day while at the field? Fife

Yes. I arrived at the field probably between 5:45 and 6:00. I was helping with the concession stand that was set up for uh, parents and players? Uhm, few minutes after we got there uh, we witnessed several boys trying to go get a drink of water. The coach then went after them and told ‘em to get back to the field. Told ‘em that they were nothing but a bunch of babies that they would never win at anything. Because, they couldn’t follow directions. He went between the concession table and the soccer field yelling at them. He continued to yell at them after he got around behind us. Uhm, at some point there was another player that came up and asked for a bottle of water for a player. And, a couple of minutes later he brought it back and said you know, he couldn’t drink it. Then I think it was after that point we saw a player, at this point I know it was Max Gilpin. Uhm, on the gator, they took him over to the water fountain and start hosing him off. After several minutes we found out that they had called an ambulance. Uhm, they when the ambulance got there, you know. They, they came in and uh, pulled the stretcher across the, the ground. And, worked with Max for a few minutes, and then put him in the back of the ambulance. The other boy that was also there, I mean he was walking around. But, they, they did put him in the ambulance also.

Jones

Okay.

Fife

And, take him. Uhm, at some point when they had Max over on the gator? The AD came, or

Page 3 of 11 Statement: Susan Fife / Case #08197(g) September 4, 2008

Assistant AD came and got some ice from us. Since we had concessions. Jones

Okay, okay. So, arriving there at the game uh, you stated that around quarter till 6? When you got there you did, you uh, worked concessions. Uh, you said you observed uh, players walk, football players walking over to the water area?

Fife

Yes.

Jones

And, they attempted to get water?

Fife

Yes.

Jones

And, you said that a coach, could you see if it was a head coach or?

Fife

Uh, we questioned later and we found out that, yes it was the head coach, Coach Stinson.

Jones

The same, the same person that you saw uh, confront the players who attempted to get water?

Fife

Yes.

Jones

Okay. And, how was he dressed?

Fife

Uh, he had a khaki safari hat, a tee-shirt, and shorts uh, they may have been red shorts, I’m not sure.

Jones

Okay. And, and, and let me backup a second. When you arrived at the field uh, for (inaudible)…, purposes could you observe any practice taking place on the field?

Page 4 of 11 Statement: Susan Fife / Case #08197(g) September 4, 2008

Fife

I could not see the football practice field at all.

Jones

So.

Fife

Uh, my, my view was obstructed by a tree, and bleachers, and spectators watching the practice.

Jones

And, your position as it relates to your uh, concessions set up. Would’ve been where in relationship to the field?

Fife

It was behind the field, and to the left of it. I had a perfect view of the soccer field, so uhm. Like I said it was my view to the football practice field was completely obstructed.

Jones

And, you were at the main entrance to the, to the field itself, correct?

Fife

Yes.

Jones

Which was a gate, and, and which you were on the right of the main entrance of the gate?

Fife

That’s correct.

Jones

Uh, but your view was structed…, extructed…, extruct…, obstructed by a tree and bleachers, correct?

Fife

Yes, yes.

Jones

And, you could not view what was taking place on the practice field?

Fife

No, I did not see anything that happened on the practice field.

Jones

Sorry, I got my tongue tied there. Uh, but let

Page 5 of 11 Statement: Susan Fife / Case #08197(g) September 4, 2008

me continue on uhm. So, 3 to 4 minutes uh, after an unknown player had came to your uh, set up. Uh, your concession set up, he wanted water? Fife

Wanted a bottle of water for another player.

Jones

Okay.

Fife

Uhm, I don’t…

Jones

Was, was that minutes after you had arrived with that, at the uh, concession?

Fife

It was probably maybe 10 minutes after we left.

Jones

Okay. And, you didn’t know what particular player required water, correct?

Fife

No, I did not.

Jones

And, uh, did you see any other players uh, anybody, another football player that was near you may have had some problems?

Fife

Yes, there was another player that was down behind us. He was just kneeling; he had gotten a drink of water. And, apparently had stumbled and another player helped him down to the ground. And, the got him in the shade behind us.

Jones

Okay.

Fife

Uh, as far as I know he, he just knelt there for the remainder of the practice and uhm.

Jones

Okay. And, his position was where uh, in

Page 6 of 11 Statement: Susan Fife / Case #08197(g) September 4, 2008

relationship to your set ups, your concession set up? Fife

He was back behind us uhm, at the end of the football practice field.

Jones

Was he able to get water?

Fife

I did not see him get water uhm; I believe he was headed back toward our table, after he had gotten a drink of water.

Jones

Okay. And, leading up to uh, Mr. Gilpin uh, you stated that he was observed to be on a uh. Is it like a cart, you, you referred to it as a gator?

Fife

The gator, yes.

Jones

Okay. And, tell me what you seen at that point?

Fife

Uhm, they went around behind us and over to the water fountain. And, I don’t know if it was assistance coaches or exactly who it was that was with him? But, they were holding his head up from behind and they got him over to the water fountain. And, just started hosing him off. Uhm, they came and got some ice from us, so they. I understand that they had put ice under his arms to kinda cool him down too. Uh, he appeared to be unconscious and never appeared to regain consciousness, as far as, I could tell.

Jones

And, that was on your own observations?

Fife

Yes.

Jones

And, uh, they you stated they took him to the

Page 7 of 11 Statement: Susan Fife / Case #08197(g) September 4, 2008

watering area. And, they aw…, attempted to put ice and water him down. Uh, how long did they do this, perform this? Fife

I don’t know, it seemed like maybe 15 minutes. But, I, I don’t know, like I said I wasn’t really looking at, you know, times as all of this was going on.

Jones

Okay. Uhm, and did EMS arrive?

Fife

EMS arrived uhm, they parked outside the gate. We tried to get them to come through the gate so they could be closer to him. Uhm, they pulled their stretcher across the, the lawn. And, worked with Max for a few minutes, and then got him on the stretcher. And, then pulled him back across the lawn. And, then at that point they did have an oxygen mask on him. They put him in the ambulance and.

Jones

And, you uh, stated that he appeared to be unconscious or unresponsive?

Fife

Yes.

Jones

Okay. Uh, did you see any other players have any other uh, illness other than the one you stated that was kneeled down?

Fife

There was one other player that uhm, apparently had had a uhm an asthma attack uhm.

Jones

And, he was a black male or a white male?

Fife

Black male uhm.

Jones

Player, black male player?

Page 8 of 11 Statement: Susan Fife / Case #08197(g) September 4, 2008

Fife

Yes.

Jones

Okay.

Fife

Uhm, he was had been seated on the bleachers, because uhm, I heard somebody say that they could hear him wheezing. Well, he was up walking around. But, he did walk over to the gator and was sitting on the back of the gator. When they were working with Max. So, then one of the gentlemen from the EMS started working with him too. He walked to the ambulance, so both of the young men were transported in the same ambulance.

Jones

But, uh, but referring to the black male who had an episode. Uh, the breathing issue uh, or asthma attack. You only observed him on the side line, walking around the end zone park right and?

Fife

Right. I did not see him collapse or anything.

Jones

Okay. Any events that he uh, was taken to the same area where s…, Ma…, where Max Gilpin was taken and, assisted to that degree?

Fife

He walked over there on his own.

Jones

Okay.

Fife

I mean uh.

Jones

Okay. Uh, is there anything else I didn’t ask, anything else important that we didn’t cover?

Fife

Not that I can think of.

Page 9 of 11 Statement: Susan Fife / Case #08197(g) September 4, 2008

Jones

And, we’ve covered the fact that uh, you later learned uh, from, from uh. The assistant athletic director that the coach in question, who was yelling at the uh, young man who were attempting to get water? Uh, was in fact, the head coach, Coach Stinson, correct?

Fife

That’s correct.

Jones

Okay. And, uh, again just to reiterate, you did not view the training. Because, your view was obstructed, correct?

Fife

That’s correct.

Jones

Okay. All right, we’re gonna go off record. Is there anything else before we conclude?

Fife

Not that I can think of.

Jones

Okay. We will conclude this interview with Miss Fife. And, this tape will be part of the case file. Time now is 1429 hours.

END OF STATEMENT Jones

Today’s date is September 4th, 2008, time now is 1434 hours. Uh, this is Detective Terry Jones, Code Number 6354. I’m with the Louisville Metro Police Department. This interview is of Mrs. Fife, we’re going back on record to make a clarification. Uh, that I uh, failed to ask her on the previous uh, interview. Uh, Miss Fife uh, are you aware this interview is being taped?

Fife

Yes.

Jones

And, we’re back on record?

Page 10 of 11 Statement: Susan Fife / Case #08197(g) September 4, 2008

Fife

Yes.

Jones

And, I spoke with you moments ago, but I had another question. Uh, as relates to the players uh, uh, uh, outfits? Uh, what were, what were the players observed to be wearing when you seen ‘em?

Fife

The one player that I saw kneeling behind us, he had on a black tee-shirt, or jersey. And, the white football pants. Uh, at that point I believe he still had on his shoulder pads. He did not have on a helmet. The 2 players that were transported uh, by ambulance. When I saw them neither one of ‘em had on shirts. Uh, they both had on the white pants. So, I don’t know if, what color shirt that they had had on previous to that.

Jones

Uh, as it relates to Max Gilpin uh, could you determine if he was wearing full uh, equipment?

Fife

When I saw him uh, like I said, all he had on was the white pants uh, don’t.

Jones

Was he, was he bare chested down to his skin?

Fife

Yes.

Jones

And, the first person had on uh, the black male had on a black tee-shirt?

Fife

Uh, the black male, when I saw him, he did not have on a shirt.

Jones

Okay.

Page 11 of 11 Statement: Susan Fife / Case #08197(g) September 4, 2008

Fife

The, the one that was kneeling on the ground.

Jones

Okay.

Fife

Uhm, that was not transported, he just, he was uh.

Jones

Just kneeling down?

Fife

Just kneeling down trying to cool off some I think.

Jones

Okay. All right, as uh, again this was a clar…, clarification with Miss Fife. And, we went back on record uh, to address that. Time now is 1436 hours.

END OF STATEMENT File #08197gjones-dl