Frazier, Mary Wit

August 30, 2008

Today’s date is August 30th, 2008, the time now is 0921 hours. My name is Detective Terry Jones, my Code Number is 6354. I’m with the Louisville Metro Police Department. This interview pertains to Mr. Max Gilpin uh; the File Number is 08-197. And, it involves a death investigation. Uh, we are presently at 5316 Tahia Drive, and uh, in Louisville. And, we are conducting an interview uh, of Miss Mary Frazier. Also, present uh, is Mr. Danny Herald, and he’s with the security of Jefferson County uh, Board of Education.

Jones

Miss Frazier, can you identify yourself, please?

Frazier

I’m Mary Frazier.

Jones

And, your date of birth?

Frazier Jones

And, your address?

Frazier

5316 Tahia Drive.

Jones

Okay. And, are you aware this interview is being taped?

Frazier

Yes.

Jones

Okay. And, at this time I will ask you uh, if you can refer back to August 20th, 2008. While you stated that you had been attending a soccer

Page 2 of 12 Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a) August 30, 2008

game at PRP High School, involving Waggener and PRP? Frazier

Yes.

Jones

Okay, at that time, and can you uh, start from the point? The time you arrived there, and what you observed?

Frazier

I arrived about 5:45; the soccer game had already started.

Jones

Um-hum.

Frazier

And, uh, it was just a few minutes before I heard the coach yelling at the football players off to my side. That uh, ‘cause a couple of ‘em wanted to go get some water. And, he told them they didn’t need water yet. He would tell them when they could have a water break. And, I thought well that’s a little excessive, ‘cause it’s so hot today. And, went back to looking at the soccer game. And, just a few more minutes went by and I n…, once of the players became ill. And, they had to help him off the field. And, they helped him to the water. Few more went, minutes went by and a second team player went down. And, they tried to help him off the field. But, he just totally passed out, and they had to lay him down on the field.

Jones

Okay. And, what else happens after that?

Frazier

Uh, the coaches or the assistants, whoever they are, came over and they sat him up. Put some ice on his neck and was trying to revive him. But, I did not see any response to him.

Page 3 of 12 Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a) August 30, 2008

Jones

Uhm, so you’re stating you’re, you were attending the football game. And, what time did you get there?

Frazier

About 5:45.

Jones

I’m, I’m sorry you were attending the soccer.

Frazier

At the soccer game.

Jones

Okay. And, the soccer field is where, as related to the uh, player’s that were playing football or practice?

Frazier

It was on the left side of this big field and the football players were uh, practicing on the right side.

Jones

Okay. And, uh, so you stated that when you arrived you observed the uh, players running drills? Or, just, were they running or just hitting, or how were they?

Frazier

They were just out on the field r…, (chuckling)…, they whatever football players do.

Jones

Okay. But, your attention kept focusing back to the football practice, as opposed to the soccer game?

Frazier

Yes.

Jones

And, why was that?

Frazier

Because, they were yelling at ‘em so much, but I thought well, I guess that’s what they have to do. And, that’s what they do with football teams.

Page 4 of 12 Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a) August 30, 2008

Jones

Okay. And, at anytime did you s…, see any players uh, become ill?

Frazier

Yes.

Jones

And, who did you first see get ill?

Frazier

Uh, a black football player, I don’t know their names. Uh, they helped him off the field into the water. And, then the second one that went down a few minutes later was a white boy.

Jones

Okay. And, uh, so you actually observed 2 individuals. First a black male player, and a white male player second?

Frazier

Yes.

Jones

Uh, the black male player uh, did he collapse or anything?

Frazier

No, not, not completely his legs were buc…, started buckling. And, they were helping and he was trying to help himself walk.

Jones

Okay. So, he was eventually assisted off the field?

Frazier

Yes.

Jones

And, uh, the second player uh, the white male player?

Frazier

Yes.

Jones

Uh, describe what you saw with him?

Frazier

He, he when I looked over and saw, there was

Page 5 of 12 Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a) August 30, 2008

one on each arm. And, he was, he was uh, trying to walk. And, then he totally just went limp and they couldn’t hold him. He, he was totally, to me it looked like he fainted completely, and then. Jones

Was, did you ever see him move or anything?

Frazier

No, from that point on, the whole time that he was there. That I could see, till the ambulance took him. I didn’t see movement from him.

Jones

Okay. And, you stated that he had collapsed on the field itself, correct?

Frazier

Yes.

Jones

And, this was after the training or during the training?

Frazier

It was close to the end of the training, or maybe when this happened they all came off the field.

Jones

Okay. And, uh, what did they do with him next? You said they, they assisted him on the field (inaudible)…

Frazier

They assisted him on the field for awhile.

Jones

Okay.

Frazier

And, then a cart came, a little cart they drove up in, they picked him up and put him on the cart. He could not get on the cart himself, he looks ill unconscious.

Jones

Okay. And, where did they take him?

Page 6 of 12 Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a) August 30, 2008

Frazier

They took him over to the water fountains.

Jones

And.

Frazier

And, just watered him watered him down with the hose.

Jones

Did you ever see him uh, regain consciousness, or moving?

Frazier

Not from where I could see, I saw no hands moving or anything.

Jones

Okay. Uhm, let me back a little bit. While at the practice, how close would you. I’m sorry at your game while you were attend…, what you were attending? How far are you say you’re away from the uh, coaches?

Frazier

20 to 30 feet.

Jones

Okay. And, is (inaudible)…, did you hear uh, one of the coaches make any comments to any players who were attempting to get water?

Frazier

Yes. He told ‘em they couldn’t go get water yet, he didn’t.

Jones

And, this is based on?

Frazier

Say they could.

Jones

And, this based on seeing what, seeing a player?

Frazier

A couple of players started off the field to the water fountain, he said, where you going? Get back over here, I didn’t say you could have water yet.

Page 7 of 12 Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a) August 30, 2008

Jones

Okay. And, what did he, how did the players react to that?

Frazier

They were tired and hot, and they just kinda looked a little put off. Like awe, I really need to drink. But, they went back on field.

Jones

Okay. And, okay leading up to the second player that collapsed. And, you s…, and we’re at the point now where you said he was. He was being watered down?

Frazier

Um-hum.

Jones

By some uh coaches? And, at this time uh, well let me, let me ask you this. How, were the players uh, dressed while doing their training? Were they have, did they have helmets on, did they have equipment on?

Frazier

I didn’t, the hel…, lot of helmets were, were laying on the ground behind where I was sitting.

Jones

Okay.

Frazier

But, they, they had on other football stuff.

Jones

Okay. And, how many people you say were present uh, that may have heard what you heard? Uh, while attending the soccer game?

Frazier

There were 25 to 30 people.

Jones

Okay. And, your side, which side, were you on the uh, the uh, PRP side of the, of the uh, visitor’s side? Or, the uh, PRP side of the uh, soccer game?

Page 8 of 12 Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a) August 30, 2008

Frazier

I was actually in the middle between the two fields. Between the practice and the soccer game.

Jones

And, I think what I’m trying to ask you, were you uh, fan wise. Were you on the uh, Waggener side, or the PRP side of the soccer game?

Frazier

Well, on the, on the soccer games they had them all on the same side.

Jones

Okay.

Frazier

But.

Jones

Okay. Kinda staggered?

Frazier

Yeah, staggered.

Jones

Okay. But, you…

Frazier

But, that was the far side.

Jones

But, as relation to the, your position to the football team? They would’ve been right behind you, and you described as being 20 feet away from the coaches? Where you could clearly hear ‘em?

Frazier

Yes.

Jones

Okay. Danny you got anything?

Frazier

I don’t think so.

Jones

Uh, I think we’ve covered everything. Uh, you observed the running exercises, you observed

Page 9 of 12 Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a) August 30, 2008

the uh, players. You stated you observed, observed 2, at least 2 players try to walk over get water. And, you overheard one of the coaches, you’re not for sure who it was? Frazier

Right.

Jones

Say, I didn’t tell you to get water?

Frazier

Yes.

Jones

To some uh, to some effect? And, uh, did you hear any other orders, any other uh, coaches giving players uh, demands or, or instructions?

Frazier

No, not really.

Jones

And.

Frazier

I was trying to tune it out.

Jones

Okay. So, this, this was brought to your attention, because the coach was what, raising his voice at the young men?

Frazier

Yes.

Jones

And, it took your attention from the soccer game to the football practice?

Frazier

Yes, it did.

Jones

And, how, what was your personal reaction to this?

Frazier

My personal reaction was, I didn’t know they could talk to them that way, actually. ‘Cause, I mean there was some names he had said.

Page 10 of 12 Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a) August 30, 2008

Jones

(Inaudible)…

Frazier

That I guess, I just didn’t know they could do that with kids, but.

Jones

Uh, and I w…, was ac…, would end with this. As far as uhm, uh, the young man that was uh, later transported to the hospital and died? Could you determine if this was the same person that you seen collapse on the field?

Frazier

Yes.

Jones

The same person?

Frazier

Yes, it was.

Jones

Okay. And, your concern was that, in your opinion. You know, not mine or not uh, D…, uh, Danny Herald’s here, it’s all your opinion. You, you stated that the opinion of the practice was harsh on the players?

Frazier

Yes, it was.

Jones

Okay. And, describe what, what do you mean by harsh?

Frazier

I think it was excessive for the heat that day.

(Sound of bell ringing)… Frazier

If, if these kids felt they needed a drink of water, they should’ve been allowed to go over there. I mean instead of the structured breaks that they say they have? You have to you know, account for the, the weather. And, how hard they’ve been pushed.

Page 11 of 12 Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a) August 30, 2008

Jones

And, I’ll ask you this. Uh, did you see any other players have any uh, illnesses after the practice, or during the practice?

Frazier

There was a couple of other players that you know, bent over like they were gagging and gonna vomit.

Jones

And, did they eventually pass out or?

Frazier

No.

Jones

They were able to be.

Frazier

They were all right.

Jones

Okay. Uhm, I don’t think I have anything else. Only uh, the fact that uh, uh, did you eventually contact someone to, to voice your concern about what you had seen?

Frazier

Yes, I did.

Jones

Okay. And, that’s why we’re here, and that’s why we’re conducting an interview. And, and investigation into this. Is there anything else I didn’t ask you, anything else important that we didn’t cover?

Frazier

No.

Jones

And, and you were there from what time till what time? What time did you eventually leave from your game?

Frazier

Oh, it was after 7.

Jones

Okay. And, at that time, before that time you left. Did the victim uh, (inaudible)…, Mr.

Page 12 of 12 Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a) August 30, 2008

Gilpin had already been transported? Frazier

Yes, he had.

Jones

By an ambulance?

Frazier

And, the other student also.

Jones

Okay. And, did uh, and, and, and I asked you this. But, uh, you stated that several parents uh, who were attending the soccer game. Also, heard what you heard? Or, there’s a possibility that they heard.

Frazier

There’s a possibility, yeah.

Jones

Okay.

Frazier

I don’t see how they could’ve missed it.

Jones

And, all what we just talked about is based on what you saw, and what you personally heard?

Frazier

Yes, it’s what I saw, and what I heard and my opinions.

Jones

Okay, okay. With no further questions, we will conclude this interview with Miss Frazier, at 0934 hours.

END OF STATEMENT File #08197ajones-dl