Joh Peel’s “missing” fourteen minutes focuses on the portion of his self-directed chatter banned by Judge Schulz. It begins with Sergeant Flothe telling Mr. Peel to calm down. During the initial part of the interview Sgt. Glenn Flothe is heard coming and going from the room, at one point offering John a cup of coffee. During that portion of the interview, Sergeant Flothe is the “Q.” John Peel is the “A.”
This is only the second time the missing minutes have been published. It should be noted, too, that the missing portion quoted here is that provided to the State of Alaska by the FBI. The Peel defense actively disputed some portions of this transcript.
Q. Calm down, and maybe we can get it cleared up once and for all.
A. Okay.
Q. Okay?
A. You bet.
Q. Okay.
A. Whew. (Sound of door opening and closing)
A. Calm down.
A. Pretty dirty. Jesus, four witnesses identify me. Whew. Whew. (Pause of 10 seconds) Whew. Man, oh, man.
(Sound of door opening and closing)
Q. Here you go. Why don’t you have a cup of coffee?
A. No, I’m coffeed out…
Q. Are you?
A. …on caff– l’d go for something caffeine-free. A glass of water or something.
Q. Oh, let me go get it for you.
A. I need something to slow me down.
(Sound of door opening and closing)
A. Oh, why me? Jesus. Whew. (Pause of 10 seconds)
A. Whew, four eyewitnesses? Ooh-kay. Oh, geez, why me? (Pause of 10 seconds)
A. Whew. (Pause of 15 seconds)
(Sound of door opening and closing)
Q. There, how’s this?
A. Yeah, thank you.
(Sound of door opening and closing)
MR. PEEL: Oh. Oh, boy. Whew. Whew. Whew. Whew. (Whispers) (Inaudible) I did. Fuck. (Sound of deep breathing for 18 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Jesus. (Pause of 12 seconds) Whew.
MR. PEEL: Guy with acne and dark hair. It’s a guy with blond hair. Fuck. (Pause of 8 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Oh. (rapping sound) (Pause of 10 seconds).
MR. PEEL: Whew. Whew. Whew. Whew. Jesus. Oh. (Sound of deep breathing for 20 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Whew. (Pause of 10 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Oh, man. Whew. (Pause of 18 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Whew. Oh, I’ve got to relax, whew. No way. Whew. (Pause of 20 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Whew. Just my fucking — whew. (Pause of 1 minute 20 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Oh, boy, Lordy, Lordy, Lordy. (Sound of deep breathing for 16 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Jesus. (Pause of 1 minute 20 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Oh man. (Pause of 25 seconds)
MR. PEEL: (Whispers) Shit. (Sound of deep breathing) I done it. Oh… (Pause of 1 minute 35 seconds)
MR. PEEL: (whispers) I can’t believe it. Wow. Shit. (Sound of deep breathing) (Pause of 10 seconds)
(Sound of door opening and closing)
BY SERGEANT FLOTHE:
Q. Feeling a little better now?
A. Yeah. Okay.
Q. I’ve talked to the polygraphist, John.
A. Yeah.
Q. He’s available and ready. There’s a few things he needs to talk to you about.
A. Okay.
Q. And kind of explain the process and how it works and such; but, there again, it has to be your decision, not mine.
A. Yeah, I’m ready.
Excerpts from the unpublished original manuscript, “Sailor Take Warning,” by Leland E. Hale. That manuscript, started in 1992 and based on court records from the Alaska State Archive, served as the basis for “What Happened in Craig.”
Copyright Leland E. Hale (2020). All rights reserved.
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