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 Mrs 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
game at PRP High School, involving Waggener
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Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a)
August 30, 2008

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.

Jones Uhm, so you’re stating you’re, you were

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

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.
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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

one on each arm. And, he was, he was uh,
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Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a)
August 30, 2008

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?

Frazier They took him over to the water fountains.

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

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.
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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?
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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
the uh, players. You stated you observed,
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Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a)
August 30, 2008

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.

Jones (Inaudible)…
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Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a)
August 30, 2008

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.

Jones And, I’ll ask you this. Uh, did you see any
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Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a)
August 30, 2008

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.
Gilpin had already been transported?
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Statement: Mary Frazier / Case #08197(a)
August 30, 2008

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