I have transcribed part two of the Cowell press conference to the best of my ability. There were places that the audio was very poor and it took several attempts to figure out what was said, but I think I was able to get it all. Also, there was a little of stuttering and um, ah, hmm type words used which I did not include.
I apologize if any of this is inaccurate, and if you hear something different please correct me! I agree that this is information that would be nice to have later on and if the video is pulled we may not have access to it anymore. As mentioned by anyoldtime48, the first half of the press conference is mainly thank yous and background info. If anyone feels it would be important to have as well let me know and I can work on it too.
Part 2 of Cowell Press Conference:
Q: You say that you have a lot of work to do. Does that mean that you think that someone else was involved in the murder of Mackenzie Cowell?
Capt. Doug Jones: We dont have any information right now that anyone else was involved, but information that we provide today is as we know it today and certainly thats something that may come to light through further investigation but as of right now based on evidence we got through DNA and the associated with Mr. Wilson with Mackenzie at the hair salon or hair school thats what we have right now.
Q: Has he made any statements that indicate that he acted alone or has he made any statements at all that you can share?
Capt. Doug Jones: Like we discussed in our PC avadavat like many of you have, he was arrested yesterday and interviewed, but were not going to go into a whole lot of detail about that particular interview yesterday.
Q: Why second degree murder?
Capt. Doug Jones: As you know, first degree murder we have to prove premeditation and at this point we dont know if it was premeditated or not, obviously we know she was murdered and there was an intent to do that based on the crime scene and so thats why we went with murder second at the prosecutors recommendation.
Q: Is it possible there could be more arrests?
Capt. Doug Jones: Again, like the previous weve got a lot more work to do and where we certainly wouldnt rule that out, but right now we dont have any information on a second person.
Q: The avadavat indicates one possible motive is references from a witness saying that the defendant had feelings for the victim, found her attractive and also there was a reference to dismemberment, what can you tell us about a possible motive in this case?
Capt. Doug Jones: Those statements seem to indicate that there was at least some kind of a budding possible relationship, again in the earlier stages of our interviews in that direction trying to establish a motive or determine a motive thats what some early indications are, but again thats pretty much what that says in that statement there that some people have told us that yes there was possibility of a relationship budding there.
Q: The eight month investigation prior to the DNA results coming back in September was Mr. Wilson a person of interest for the Task Force prior to that DNA result?
Capt. Doug Jones: Mr. Wilson was somebody that we knew through the investigation and through information we received through tips that was associated with her through The Academy of Hair Design. Based on that information, as we did with pretty much everyone that was associated with Mackenzie, we conduct an interview asked basically what were you doing that day. Certainly nothing at that point made him a person of interest beyond anybody else that was associating with her at that time and then the voluntary math swab for DNA is what we commonly got.
Q: If the DNA came back in late September, why wait almost two weeks to follow up?
Capt. Doug Jones: Well, the two weeks prior to that, I would have to say was um, and John, maybe you can fill in on this Ive been actually gone, but investigation strategy is really what we work at. Once we figure out DNA try to get as much background information on the person that we can, try to line up different resources like the crime lab that type of thing. It does take some time to facilitate the arrest and get all our ducks in a row prior to making that arrest so that we know when we do make the arrest we can transition right into the areas of the investigation that we need to get to. John, do you want to comment more on that?
Sgt. John Kruse: And I would echo what Captain Jones said, essentially its not just getting a DNA hit from the crime lab and going out and arresting somebody. We need to go ahead and martial resources, we need to go ahead and find out information about this person as much as possible before we go and contact them and potentially make an arrest so that does take time and weve been working very hard since we got the news of that DNA arrest towards this resolution that we had yesterday, but I really think should be said here, you know its been a long road as youve heard several people say and weve got a long road ahead. This is just a chapter and this arrest we believe is going to bring forth more information from people who may know Mr. Wilson and may think back to things that happened around at that time. It may even be people in this room that may have information and were encouraging the public if they have any information about this case and about Mr. Wilsons involvement to please contact us.
Q: Early in the investigation you talked about showing us a unique knife that you said was involved were you able to tie that to Mr. Wilson?
Capt. Doug Jones: Ah, that is obviously something were looking for, but to this time we have not located the physical knife uh regarding that. Part of ongoing searches and interviews is to see if anybody has any recollection of him having those types of knives.
Q: You found his DNA on duct tape. Did you find it in Mackenzies vehicle or anywhere else?
Capt. Doug Jones: No, the DNA match came from the duct tape that was at the crime scene out at Crescent Bar.
Q: Without that would you have been able to arrest or even know that Mr. Wilson was a suspect?
Capt. Doug Jones: Ah, no. Its fair to say that we would not have.
Q: What roll did that duct tape play in the murder or disposal of the body?
Capt. Doug Jones: The duct tape was located in the vicinity of the crime scene in respect that it had Mackenzies blood on it obviously tied directly to the crime scene or to her body from that location. Im not exactly sure what the location was, but maybe Robin has that.
Q: Was she bound with duct tape?
Robin Wagg (Task Force Commander): You know at this time I dont think I want to comment on the specifics of that it was part of the crime scene. It was on a drag trail that we found going to Mackenzies body with a mixture of her blood and his DNA on it I think at that point it would be all we would relay.
Q: Can you reconstruct at all what happened that night that she disappeared?
Capt. Doug Jones: Um, not at this point. Again, at this stage in the investigation, and I suppose we could say theres a lot of speculation that were following up on and the theories were following up on regarding where the crime scene is and those types of things and thats why were relying heavily on the crime scene witnesses those types of things to fill in some of those puzzle pieces for us.
Q: Can you explain the cell phone myth and what you believe?
Sgt. John Kruse: I can try to explain. As we stated in earlier press release, after contacting Verizon we were able to use cell towers that Mackenzies phone pinged off of in the 30 minutes after she left The Academy of Hair design. Both text messages and phone calls and a Verizon technician basically said he felt within a 90% of probability that those phone calls originated from the area of the Orondo street boat launch. Thats something we said earlier in the investigation. However, looking at the same distance data, when you look at 404 S. Chelan, the majority of those same phone calls and text messages could have occurred there. There was one anomalous one, but the other ones could have occurred there as well so thats why theres some data that suggests both things in this case.
Q: Now that you know about Mr. Wilson is their any evidence that she was texting, that they were texting between each other?
Capt. Doug Jones: We dont have complete phone data from Mr. Wilson yet, but based on Mackenzies phone we dont have any connection through text on there.
Q: After spending weeks and months on this investigation and witnesses can you give us an idea of who this suspect is and a little bit of his background? In the avadavat there is some stuff that hes obsessed with death and serial killers, can you give us a better picture of who this suspect is and what you know if him, can you release that?
Capt. Doug Jones: Based on what was in avadavat there is some indication obviously that there is some propensities in that direction, but again at this point in the investigation I dont want to speculate to far in his background regarding those types of feelings or propensities.
Q: You guys seem to be spending a lot of time at that location on Chelan street you were there all day yesterday, you have someone there today, can you talk anymore about what youre finding and also we know where her body was found but do we know where she died?
Capt. Doug Jones: Well, again, the location on S. Chelan street is a primary focus of the investigation team right now to in determine if in fact thats where she died theres no doubt about that and so thats why its very important that we bring the crime lab here, that theyre doing a very thorough search for trace evidence blood evidence anything that would tie Mackenzie into that location is what were really looking for there.
Q: So it is possible that she was actually murdered there and then moved, is that what youre considering?
Capt. Doug Jones: Right, thats a theory we are pursuing, yes.
Q: Because you dont believe she was murdered where she was found?
Captain Jones: No, we dont believe that.
Q: From the previous question to recreate what you think happened that day, a lot of speculation still, but what elements are you pretty certain of at this point I mean do you think Mackenzie met with the suspect willingly or against her will when she got together with him?
Capt. Doug Jones: Well we know that they both left approximately at the same time as mentioned earlier, we know based on the video from the parking lot that she went up in the direction of his residence if in fact he was at 404 S. Chelan at the time. She didnt make a right coming down Mission Street she went up towards Chelan street which would be consistent with going there. We know that she told certain members and students she would only be gone a short time, 15 minutes, that would indicate to us that she was only going a short distance so theres those things that add to that theory
Q: Is there any indication that he was on that video? You must have looked at that video for several lengths of times, was his vehicle ever seen in that parking lot?
Sgt. John Kruse: We took a look at that video and while we were able to identify Mackenzie because she walked to her specific car we see that she was leaving, the quality of that video shows several male subjects dressed in black, which is a standard uniform for people attending the Academy, leaving around the same time so we cant say for sure that exactly which one of those males we saw is him. Also, what we have found is he commonly walks to and from The Academy of Hair Design because its only a block and a half away.
Q: Can you confirm the suspect had prior contact with dead bodies? I heard that he had worked in a local mortuary.
Capt. Doug Jones: Right, he does have ties with employment at mortuaries. There was a statement that we received from somebody indicating that he had killed somebody but that was something that we looked into and have not found any unsolved murders in that particular area, I believe it was Ellensburg where he essentially bragged I suppose, that he had done this.
Q: Is there any indication that there is a connection between the suspect and Pitcher Canyon or Crescent Bar at all?
Capt. Doug Jones: Um, do you have any information on that, John? The only thing, as far as Pitcher Canyon, I guess the theory would be that would be a close location that he would be able to walk back from. As the avadavat mentioned, we do have witnesses that did see a person matching his description walking down from there, which is a theory which obviously is a possibility so that would be a good reason for Pitcher Canyon. As far as Crescent Bar (turns to Srgt. Kruse) do you have any information on that?
Sgt John Kruse: We do not, no.
Q: Charging papers indicate some investigation on the Chelan property found blood splatters. Eight months into the investigation I imagine you would have been some what shocked about finding something like that at that location?
Capt. Doug Jones: Well, when you call the Crime Lab and they say they found blood, were not talking about a lot of visible blood. They use chemical processes to bring that blood out so even if it was cleaned up it would show blood. I believe that some of the splatters that were indicated on the avadavat were slightly visible, but certainly enhanced by the chemical processes so when you see that its not obvious blood, but its certainly blood and we put that in the avadavat that that is something that needs a lot more examination obviously at this point were not even sure if its human blood, so thats something that we need to wait for and that could take some time as far as getting that back.
Q: Is it true that the suspect left the area and resided or spent some time in Arizona between the crime date and his arrest?
Capt. Doug Jones: Im not sure of that. John, do you have any information on that?
Sgt. John Kruse: We dont have any information on that.
Q: Do you have any indication whether Mackenzie ever worked at the salon?
Capt. Doug Jones: No, we have no indication that she ever worked there, no.
Q: Or was there or had visited as a friend? (referring to the salon)
Capt. Doug Jones: We have not established that. Again, a lot of interviews, a lot of stuff to dig through but to this point we dont have any information that she visited him there at all or was ever there as a student.
Q: Is there any indication that the suspect and victim had a relationship outside of the beauty school?
Capt. Doug Jones: Um, no not that Im aware of. Again, the statements that were referred to in the avadavat, my understanding, were primarily within the beauty school as far as their relationship and their interaction there.
Q: Just a clarification, wanted to hear if you have recovered a murder weapon or a knife one more time, and if anything from these recent search warrants have yielded anything that youre able to mention?
Capt. Doug Jones: Ok, the search warrants are still ongoing and I would say that the initial crime lab that looks for trace as evidence doesnt go into possible hiding places and stuff like that, so theres still a possibility that that might be found were just not done yet. Um, so, but no, as of this point we have not found a murder weapon per say.
http://www.krem.com/video/featured-...l-murder-suspect-arrest-Part-2-104522164.html
