Karen Whitlock Interview Recording
Media attachment retained with statement file PD-02-041-A. Playback access is routed through the Whitlock family statement record.
Department Contact: Millfield County Sheriff’s Department Records Desk, extension 1904
Attachment Summary
Recorded interview retained as a supplemental media attachment to the Whitlock family statement.
The file contains intake questioning conducted after on-site response to the April 28 dismissal incident.
This playback copy was prepared for internal archive review. Original recording media remains with sheriff’s department case materials.
Audio Playback
Internal playback copy. Audio may contain pauses, background room noise, and overlapping speech from intake processing.
Audio Transcript
MILLFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
AUDIO TRANSCRIPT
Recording ID: MCSD-INT-0428-A
Date: April 28, 2002
Location: Millfield Middle School - Administrative Office
Participants: Sheriff Hale, Karen Whitlock
[Recording begins. Low ambient hum present.]
SHERIFF HALE:
[clears throat] For the record... please state your name.
KAREN WHITLOCK:
Karen Whitlock.
SHERIFF HALE:
And you are reporting a missing child?
KAREN WHITLOCK:
Yes. My daughter... Emily Whitlock.
SHERIFF HALE:
You arrived at the school at approximately three twenty PM?
KAREN WHITLOCK:
Yes. Like I always do.
SHERIFF HALE:
And your daughter did not exit the building during dismissal.
KAREN WHITLOCK:
No. She didn't come out.
SHERIFF HALE:
School staff informed you they had no record of the student?
KAREN WHITLOCK:
[sighs] That's what they said, yes.
SHERIFF HALE:
And just to be clear... they checked enrollment, attendance, and classroom records.
KAREN WHITLOCK:
[annoyed] I don't care what they checked - she goes to that school.
SHERIFF HALE:
Ma'am, I just need to confirm-
KAREN WHITLOCK:
[raising voice] She goes there. She's been going there all year.
[Pause.]
SHERIFF HALE:
Can you tell me her homeroom teacher's name?
KAREN WHITLOCK:
Mrs. Givens.
SHERIFF HALE:
And you've met with this teacher before?
KAREN WHITLOCK:
Yes. We had a conference... two weeks ago.
SHERIFF HALE:
There is no record of Mrs. Givens having a student matching your description.
[Short silence.]
KAREN WHITLOCK:
[disbelieving] ...what?
SHERIFF HALE:
There are no records of-
KAREN WHITLOCK:
[emphatic] No, that's not - that's not possible.
SHERIFF HALE:
Ma'am-
KAREN WHITLOCK:
I dropped her off this morning.
SHERIFF HALE:
At what time?
KAREN WHITLOCK:
Eight... maybe eight ten.
SHERIFF HALE:
And did you speak to anyone at the school?
KAREN WHITLOCK:
No, I just - I watched her walk in.
[Pause.]
SHERIFF HALE:
Ma'am, I need to ask... are you certain the student is enrolled at Millfield Middle School?
KAREN WHITLOCK:
[quiet, disbelieving] Are you serious right now?
SHERIFF HALE:
I'm asking based on the information we have.
KAREN WHITLOCK:
[yelling] She has a locker! She has classes! She has homework sitting on our kitchen table!
KAREN WHITLOCK:
[voice tightening] What do you mean you don't have her?
[Pause.]
SHERIFF HALE:
At this time... we are unable to verify the existence of a student by that name in school or district records.
[Silence.]
KAREN WHITLOCK:
[whispering] ...then where is she?
SHERIFF HALE:
We will continue to review the information available.
KAREN WHITLOCK:
[angry] No - no, that's not an answer.
SHERIFF HALE:
That is the information we have at this time.
[Extended silence.]
KAREN WHITLOCK:
[sad] You're telling me my daughter doesn't exist.
[Very long pause.]
SHERIFF HALE:
That is not what I said.
[Recording ends. Low static.]
Handling Notes
Do not distribute outside approved departments.
Reference written statement copy for case indexing and public records review.