The call below represents what was told to the deputy in the field by the radio dispatcher. The true nature of an incident often differs from what is initially reported. No assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided.

Phone Tape

The 911 cellphone call made by Charity Blair to the Orange County Sheriff's Department on Saturday, 6/5/99 at 10:15 a.m. from Monarch Bluffs:

O = Orange County Sheriff's Department
Dispatcher Terry Estep

CB = Caller

O: Orange County Sheriff's Department, may I help you?

CB: Hello?

O: This is the Orange County Sheriff's Department. May I help you?

CB: Oh, hi. I'm calling about a body?

O: Excuse me?

CB: I'm calling on my cellphone and we've found a body here on the trail.

O: Can you give me your exact location?

CB: Well, we're here at Monarch Bluffs, and we've been walking in about – John?

O: Excuse me, what is your name?

CB: Oh, my name is Charity Blair. Would you like me to spell that for you?

O: No, and who is with you now?

CB: Just my friend, John Williams. Would you like to talk to him? Oh, he's walking to the truck.

O: Is he leaving?

CB: Oh, no. I think he's going to meet the police? John?

O: Ms. Blair, can you stay on the line please?

CB: Oh, sure. No, John's not going anywhere.

At this time, Ms. Estep was contacting Deputy Estevez in the field.

O: Ms. Blair, are you there?

CB: Yes.

O: I have dispatched an officer to your general vicinity, and he should arrive in just a few minutes.

CB: Oh, great. That's good news.

O: Can you stay on the line with me please, Ms. Blair?

CB: I sure can.

O: Can you give me the make of car that you were driving?

CB: Yes, it's a  blue Ford pickup truck. It's John's truck, so I'm not sure of the year.

O: And Mr. Williams was in this car with you?

CB: Yes, in fact he was driving…Oh! I hear a siren…

O: Ms. Blair, please stay on the line.

CB: Ok , that's not a problem. Do you want information on this body?

O: What do you mean?

CB: Oh, how I found it. That it looks definitely like a woman, that sort of thing.

O: No, the officer will get that information, Ms. Blair.

CB: I hear them…do you want to talk to the officer when he gets here?

O: No, Ms. Blair, I have contact with the officer.

CB: Oh, I am silly. I forgot that you do. Is here anything else you'd like to know? Oh, here they come.

O: Your address?

CB: Oh – I live in Asheville, North Carolina. And so does John. The officer is here. Can I hang up now?

O: Hold on…yes. Yes, you can hang up now, Ms. Blair.

CB: Thanks for all your help! Bye now!