Evidence locker
Case Files
Documents are presented in chronological order. Filter by type, or read straight through the timeline from the morning the body was found.
EvidenceJan 27, 2001Incident report
On January 27, 2001, a 911 caller reported the discovery of a body inside an Elm Street residence.
BiographiesJan 27, 2001Jonah Dale bio
DOB: 5/4/49 Occupation: Hardware department manager Hometown: Tupelo, MS Relationship to case: Victim’s father Excerpt: “Jonah was heartbroken and lonely but fought his depression to…”
InterviewsJan 27, 2001Jonah Dale interview
The detectives spoke to Jonah Dale at the crime scene, after he found his daughter’s body and called 911.
BiographiesJan 27, 2001Kevin Travers bio
DOB: 6/2/72 Occupation: Photographer Hometown: Pontotoc, MS Relationship to case: Victim’s neighbor Excerpt: “Kevin often seethed with anger and frustration when he…”
InterviewsJan 27, 2001Kevin Travers interview
The detectives spoke with Missy Hammond’s friend and neighbor, Kevin Travers, about what went on in the neighborhood the day before her body was found.
InterviewsJan 27, 2001Brenda Marsh interview
The detectives spoke to a teenager who was babysitting across the street from the Hammond house on the afternoon of January 26, 2001.
PressJan 27, 2001▸ VideoNews video
The local news reports live from the crime scene, where a young mother was found dead in her home.
BiographiesJan 28, 2001Missy Hammond bio
DOB: 7/18/75 Occupation: Hairstylist Hometown: Oxford, MS Relationship to case: Victim Excerpt: “Sometimes the fights escalated into the breaking of furniture and dishes and even violent…”
BiographiesJan 28, 2001Liddie Hammond bio
DOB: 12/12/93 Occupation: Student Hometown: Oxford, MS Relationship to case: Victim’s daughter Excerpt: “Liddie still believes to this day that if she had been more of a good girl, they would…”
EvidenceJan 28, 2001Hammond scene evidence inventory
CSU submitted this preliminary inventory of items taken into evidence in the Missy Hammond homicide investigation.
EvidenceJan 28, 2001Hammond neighborhood map
Investigators prepared a map of Missy Hammond’s neighborhood
InterviewsJan 28, 2001Hammond neighbor canvass
Investigators conducted a canvass of residents in Missy Hammond’s neighborhood.
PressJan 29, 2001Young mother murdered
The local newspaper reports on the death of young mother, Melissa Hammond.
BiographiesJan 29, 2001Roger Hammond bio
DOB: 10/31/74 Occupation: Sales Manager, Farrell Motors Hometown: Oxford, MS Relationship to case: Victim’s ex-husband Excerpt: “[Roger] flew into a rage and began ransacking the…”
InterviewsJan 29, 2001▸ VideoRoger Hammond interview
The detectives brought in Roger Hammond to talk about his ex-wife’s murder.
BiographiesJan 29, 2001JP Wallace bio
DOB: 8/9/72 Occupation: Warehouse associate Hometown: Oxford, MS Relationship to case: Victim’s boyfriend Excerpt: “By the first of the year, he was growing tired of Missy’s demands on…”
InterviewsJan 29, 2001▸ VideoJP Wallace interview
The detectives brought in Missy Hammond’s boyfriend to talk about their relationship and the argument they had the afternoon of her death.
PressJan 29, 2001Daylight burglar strikes again
The local newspaper reports on recent burglaries in Yoknapatawpha County.
EvidenceJan 29, 2001YCSD archive: Break-in incident report
On January 18, 2001, a 911 caller reported a break-in at a residence at 311 Elm Street.
EvidenceJan 30, 2001Missy Hammond phone records
YCSD investigators obtained Missy Hammond’s phone records for the days prior to her death.
PressFeb 04, 2001Murder victim laid to rest
The local newspaper reports on Missy Hammond’s funeral.
InterviewsFeb 05, 2001Dr. Charles Flaherty interview
The detectives spoke to the doctor whose phone number was in Missy Hammond’s phone records.
BiographiesFeb 05, 2001Johnny McPhail bio
DOB: 12/24/41 Occupation: Actor/Freelance CPA Hometown: Burlington, NC Relationship to case: Victim’s cousin Excerpt: “[Johnny often gave Missy] advice on matters that she didn’t feel comfortable discussing with…”
InterviewsFeb 05, 2001▸ VideoJohnny McPhail interview
The detectives talked to Jonah Dale’s cousin, who had a close relationship with Dale’s daughter, Missy Hammond.
InterviewsFeb 05, 2001JP Wallace alibi canvass
Investigators conducted a canvass of Murff’s patrons to try to corroborate JP Wallace’s alibi.
BiographiesFeb 06, 2001Thomas & Gloria Hammond bio
Married: 6/17/72 Occupation: Co-owners, Farrell Motors Hometown: Oxford, MS Relationship to case: Victim’s ex-in-laws Excerpt: “Almost immediately, the couple began fighting over…”
InterviewsFeb 06, 2001Thomas & Gloria Hammond interview
The detectives visited the Hammonds at their car dealership to talk about their son and former daughter-in-law.
InterviewsFeb 06, 2001Liddie Hammond interview
The detectives spoke with the victim’s seven-year-old daughter about what she saw and heard the night her mother was killed.
EvidenceFeb 06, 2001Liddie Hammond drawings
In happier times, the victim’s daughter drew a picture of her family.
EvidenceFeb 06, 2001Coroner’s report
Preliminary report from the Yoknapatawpha County Coroner’s Office on the autopsy of Melissa Hammond. Additional analyses are ongoing.
EvidenceFeb 07, 2001Missy’s letter to Kevin Travers
Weeks before she died, Missy gave Kevin a letter to open if something happened to her.
InterviewsFeb 07, 2001Kevin Travers interview #2
Kevin Travers notified the detectives that he had some additional information to share with them.
EvidenceFeb 07, 2001Travers’ view of Hammond residence
Investigators prepared a diagram of the relative locations of the Hammond and Travers residences.
InterviewsFeb 07, 2001Brenda Marsh interview #2
The detectives talked to babysitter Brenda Marsh again to clarify some questions about her original statement.
BiographiesFeb 12, 2001Steve Kirby bio
DOB: 4/17/75 Occupation: Co-owner, Complete Computing Specialists Hometown: Oxford, MS Relationship to case: Victim’s ex-boyfriend Excerpt: “Steve thought this was the perfect way to teach Missy a lesson.”
InterviewsFeb 12, 2001Steve Kirby interview
The detectives tracked down Missy’s high school boyfriend and asked him to come in for an interview.
InterviewsFeb 13, 2001Janet Hipps interview
The detectives tracked down the delivery driver seen in the victim’s neighborhood on the afternoon of January 26th.
InterviewsFeb 13, 2001Chuck Ward interview
The detectives spoke to Brenda Marsh’s friend who was with her the afternoon of January 26th.
EvidenceFeb 13, 2001Search – Farrell Motors
Thomas Hammond gave investigators permission to collect evidence from the Farrell Motors service center.
InterviewsFeb 13, 2001Farrell Motors employee canvass
Investigators spoke to Farrell Motors employees to try to corroborate Roger Hammond’s alibi.
BiographiesFeb 14, 2001Selena Crosscroft bio
DOB: 8/11/76 Occupation: Social worker, NMRC Hometown: Memphis, TN Relationship to case: Victim’s ex-husband’s girlfriend Excerpt: “[Selena] constantly reviewed divorce law and custody statutes, looking for something that would give [Roger]…”
InterviewsFeb 14, 2001Selena Crosscroft interview
The detectives spoke to Roger Hammond’s girlfriend about her whereabouts the afternoon of January 26th.
InterviewsFeb 15, 2001Dana Tonninger interview
Detective Murphy talked to one of Missy Hammond’s close friends at the Southern Beauty hair salon.
InterviewsFeb 16, 2001Southern Beauty canvass
Investigators spoke to the victim’s co-workers about her life and state of mind before her death.
EvidenceFeb 19, 2001Insurance investigator’s letter
An insurance investigator contacted the detectives regarding the Missy Hammond homicide investigation.
EvidenceFeb 19, 2001Registered vehicles
Investigators compiled a list of vehicles registered to persons of interest in the investigation.
InterviewsFeb 20, 2001Jonah Dale interview #2
The detectives asked Missy’s father to come in for another interview to follow up on some open questions.
BiographiesFeb 21, 2001Maureen Kirby bio
DOB: 9/27/75 Occupation: Business Manager, Complete Computing Specialists Hometown: Oxford, MS Relationship to case: Victim’s ex-boyfriend’s wife Excerpt: “Maureen was incensed at what she thought was Missy’s…”
InterviewsFeb 21, 2001Maureen Kirby interview
The detectives asked Steve Kirby’s wife to come in for a conversation about her connection to the victim.
InterviewsFeb 21, 2001Steve Kirby interview #2
The detectives asked Missy’s former boyfriend to come back in and clarify a few open questions.
InterviewsFeb 22, 2001Roger Hammond interview #2
The detectives brought Roger Hammond back in to discuss some unresolved questions about his previous comments.
EvidenceFeb 22, 2001Maureen Kirby alibi
Investigators attempted to verify Maureen Kirby’s whereabouts on the afternoon of January 26th.
EvidenceFeb 22, 2001Places of interest
Investigators prepared a map showing locations relevant to the Missy Hammond homicide investigation.
EvidenceFeb 23, 2001Preliminary forensics
The Crime Lab provided preliminary findings on their analysis of evidence collected in the Hammond investigation. Additional analyses are ongoing.
InterviewsFeb 26, 2001Thomas Hammond interview #2
The detectives spoke with Roger’s parents again to clear up some inconsistencies. Det. Murphy talked to Thomas Hammond.
InterviewsFeb 26, 2001Gloria Hammond interview #2
The detectives spoke with Roger’s parents again to clear up some inconsistencies. Det. Armstrong talked to Gloria Hammond.
InterviewsFeb 26, 2001Johnny McPhail interview #2
The detectives asked Johnny McPhail to provide some more information about Missy’s relationships.
InterviewsFeb 27, 2001Selena Crosscroft interview #2
The detectives asked Selena Crosscroft for more details about Roger and his activities around the time of the murder.
InterviewsFeb 27, 2001Janet Hipps interview #2
The delivery person who was in the victim’s neighborhood the afternoon of the murder agreed to work with investigators to try to remember more about that day.
InterviewsFeb 28, 2001Pam Thompson interview
A local private investigator spoke to detectives about the Missy Hammond investigation.
EvidenceFeb 28, 2001PI report
Private investigator Pam Thompson provided a copy of her reports to the detectives.
EvidenceMar 02, 2001Search – Roger Hammond
YCSD investigators obtained a warrant to search Roger Hammond’s residence and vehicle.
EvidenceMar 03, 2001Search – Kirbys
YCSD investigators obtained a warrant to search Steve and Maureen Kirby’s residence and vehicles.
InterviewsMar 06, 2001Kevin Travers interview #3
The detectives dropped in on Missy’s neighbor to ask a few follow-up questions.
InterviewsMar 06, 2001Liddie Hammond interview #2
The detectives talked to Liddie again to see if they could learn anything more from her.
InterviewsMar 07, 2001Roger Hammond interview #3
The detectives talked to Missy’s ex-husband again to try to answer some open questions.
InterviewsMar 08, 2001Maureen Kirby interview #2
The detectives asked Maureen about her reaction to the recent contact between her husband and Missy.
InterviewsMar 08, 2001Steve Kirby interview #3
The detectives asked Steve about his relationship with Missy and his wife’s reaction to it.