"Nobody Really Thought I Was a Good Guy": Israel Keyes and the FBI, May 24, 2012

Name: "Nobody Really Thought I Was a Good Guy": Israel Keyes and the FBI, May 24, 2012
Uploaded: 2018-08-17
Duration: 49 min 35 s
Description: The day after he slipped his leg irons and ran in a federal courtroom, Israel Keyes told an FBI agent and an Anchorage officer that the escape attempt changed nothing, and that he wanted straight answers from the prosecutors.

The day after he slipped his leg irons and ran in a federal courtroom, Israel Keyes told an FBI agent and an Anchorage officer that the escape attempt changed nothing, and that he wanted straight answers from the prosecutors.

Subject: Israel Keyes
Recorded: May 24, 2012
Runtime: 49:35

Content warning: Concerns a man who murdered at least three people; the murders are referred to but not described. Contains strong language.

The Interview

On Thursday, May 24, 2012, FBI Special Agent Steve Payne and Officer Jeff Bell of the Anchorage Police Department sat down with Israel Keyes for another of the interviews he had been giving since his arrest in March. It was the day after Keyes had broken out of his leg irons and run during a hearing in federal court in Anchorage, and had been stopped with a Taser by U.S. Marshals. Agent Payne read him his rights again; Keyes waived them and declined to have his standby counsel present. Most of the session is about the escape attempt and what it had done to the negotiations under way with the prosecutors.

Historical Context

Keyes, a 34-year-old building contractor from Anchorage, abducted Samantha Koenig, 18, from the coffee stand where she worked on February 1, 2012, and killed her. He was arrested in Lufkin, Texas, on March 13, 2012, after using her debit card. Returned to Alaska, he confessed to her murder and, in later interviews, to the murders of Bill and Lorraine Currier in Essex, Vermont, in June 2011, and described other killings. The FBI believes he may have killed 11 people. He took his own life in the Anchorage Correctional Complex on the night of December 1 to 2, 2012, before he could be tried.

Circumstances of the Interview

According to the Anchorage Daily News listing of the released interviews, Keyes became frustrated with what he heard at the May 23 hearing, where prosecutors wanted a trial within a year and the defense considered two years more reasonable. On the tape the officers tell him that the prosecutors would not come to speak to him "after yesterday", that the Vermont authorities were asking hard questions, and that a draft letter they had seen, in the talks with Vermont, contained "everything you asked for". About 27 minutes in, the officers leave the room to telephone the prosecutors; the recording runs on through the break, and they return about eleven minutes later.

What the Interview Covers

Keyes says he disagrees that his actions threw away the "business relationship" with the prosecutors: he says that by their own words in court they had not been honest with him about "what my bottom line has been throughout all this", that he wants it "all wrapped up as quickly as possible", and that he needs "straight answers" before taking "the next step". He says he cannot discuss the Koenig case without his attorneys and recalls that federal prosecutor Kevin Feldis had offered a meeting with counsel a month earlier that had not happened. Of the escape attempt he says: "Ooh, I'm a bad guy, I tried to escape. But, um, let's be honest, nobody really thought I was a good guy before that." He tells them "I already know how this all ends for me" and that he did not want press or drama. Agent Payne warns that the attempt may now stand in the way of his wish to represent himself. After the break the officers report that the prosecutors will write to his attorneys, with a copy to him, offering to sit down with him "first thing tomorrow morning". Near the end of the session Keyes asks what time he is due in court the next day.

What Makes the Recording Significant

The interview records Keyes's own account, the next day, of why he tried to escape, and shows the investigators trying to keep his cooperation after it. It also shows the bargaining that ran through his custody: further confessions in exchange for speed and control over what became public. The Anchorage Daily News listing records that the meeting arranged here took place the following day, May 25, 2012, when Keyes met his attorneys and members of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office and said he no longer wanted the March 30 agreement under which the government would not seek the death penalty.

Archival Importance

Keyes died without trial, so his recorded interviews are the main record of his own account. This is one of the five Keyes sessions the FBI published with transcripts.

Important Caveats

Keyes's statements about his motives and his intentions are his own claims. The interview took place under court restrictions on discussing the Koenig case, so he and the officers speak around it. The transcript was made from a single machine reading with no captions to compare, and several passages are unclear. The uploader's title calls it an "interrogation" and the "first of 5"; it was a voluntary interview after a Miranda warning, and Keyes was interviewed many more times than the five sessions the FBI published.

Officer Jeff Bell: [unclear: "Sleep much less"; probably "Didn't sleep much last night?"]

Israel Keyes: [inaudible] Remind[ed] me of like those late night infomercial[s].

Investigators: [unclear: "Shocked your abs."] Oh.

Israel Keyes: No, I tried it once. [inaudible]

Israel Keyes: No, all the ab, yeah, shocker things. [inaudible]

[speaker Uncertain]: [unclear: "This same stuff that we do"] [inaudible]

Special Agent Steve Payne: [inaudible] [unclear: "stop here and you will not be taken down to the jail, if you understand what I'm saying"]. Here, I'll go through your Miranda rights here. I know we've been through them before, but I'll go through them one more time. Before we ask any questions, I want you to understand your rights. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say [unclear: "you can use it against your court"; probably "can be used against you in court"]. You have the right to talk to a lawyer [unclear: "to the vice"; probably "for advice"] before we ask any questions, [and] the right to have the lawyer with you during the questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, [unclear: "if you cannot afford a question, you can wish"; probably "one will be appointed for you before any questioning, if you wish"]. If you decide to answer questions now, without a lawyer present, you have the right to stop answering [unclear: "your questions"] [at any time]. Do you understand these rights as [I've] explain[ed them]?

Israel Keyes: Yes.

Special Agent Steve Payne: And with that explanation in mind, do you want to [unclear: "make your rights and speak on this"; probably "waive your rights and speak to us"]?

Israel Keyes: Yes.

Special Agent Steve Payne: One [other] of the things: you've got standby counsel appointed in this particular matter. I believe it's Rich Curtner. It may also be Jacqueline Walsh. I'm not 100% sure of that, but [unclear: "he has it made"]. Do you want either of those attorneys present today?

Israel Keyes: No.

Special Agent Steve Payne: Are there any medications or any other substances that we should know about?

Israel Keyes: No.

Special Agent Steve Payne: And are you having any difficulty understanding where you're at or what's going on?

Israel Keyes: No.

Special Agent Steve Payne: I [didn't think so]. All right, now we're done with that. I apologize. We jumped in here, and the person I had to tell you, and Israel, you talked about it a little bit earlier: that, that [stunt] yesterday in the courtroom [unclear: "you may not go all the way out"].

Israel Keyes: [unclear: "What's that?"; perhaps "With who?"]

Special Agent Steve Payne: Well, with a lot of folks, not the least of which [were the] prosecutors. And that was the delay, actually. What I mean there is, maybe you had some legal questions, and so when [we] reached out for them and said, hey, Israel said he's got some questions, are you guys available to speak to him? I couldn't even get one. One was in court, and the other one said, you know, basically, [not] after yesterday. So they didn't think that was too funny.

Israel Keyes: [unclear: "So, in my day of grade, I'd actually get away"; perhaps "Why, are they afraid I'd actually get away?"] That would be a great experience.

Special Agent Steve Payne: I don't think that they were looking at it from that perspective.

Israel Keyes: The lawyers just don't like excitement.

Officer Jeff Bell: Well, it's more of an understanding that they thought we were kind of working towards the goal, and they're working on trying to get Vermont on board and doing everything.

Israel Keyes: I would have sent them an anonymous letter [unclear: "to you"].

Officer Jeff Bell: And so, they're kind of wondering where we're at with that. Where are we at with the... what's changed since yesterday?

Israel Keyes: More... [inaudible]

Special Agent Steve Payne: What's changed for you, though?

Israel Keyes: Nothing? Possibly additional charges? I don't know. Well, I don't understand why... It's surprising to me that they would take it [unclear: "out"; perhaps "personally"], first of all.

Special Agent Steve Payne: I didn't interpret it as though they [took] it personally. They're very concerned and very frustrated, because I think in their mind, we have [a] business relationship set up here, and they work very hard to kind of figure out their position and the things that they thought that they could potentially do that would be in your interest, based on the information you've provided. So, they felt like we had a business relationship, and they felt like the actions that you took yesterday really [threw] that out the window. I gotta be honest, [it] kind of look[s] that way from our perspective, too.

Israel Keyes: Oh, I disagree. I mean, honestly, I know we can't go too far back into some of the original interviews I had with them, but by their own words yesterday, and their opening statement to the judge in court, I feel like they have not been honest with me about what my bottom line has been throughout all this. And that's what I wanted to talk to them about. So I'm not going to take it out on you guys, but I do have some serious issues right now. There's some sort of obvious communication breakdown over the entirety of this whole situation. And it's easy to just sit there and say on the recording, "We're not here to talk about the Koenig case," but the fact of the matter is that they're the same people that I talked to about that originally. So you [understand] my position on that.

Israel Keyes: So I understand I'm not allowed to talk to [them about] that. I respected their wishes about not talking to them about that either without my attorney present. But I have some serious frustrations right now regarding matters related to that. So that's, as far as that's concerned, [unclear: "life"]. And I don't think it's something that can't be worked out. I've been trying to work it out [from] my end, but apparently there's only so much I can do. So that's what I wanted to speak to them about, and not in a matter of any specifics regarding any other case, just general topics. Like I say, it's the topics that were discussed in open court yesterday. So yeah, that's a frustration to me right now. They won't talk to me about those topics, but it's okay to talk about it in open court. You know, I'm not buying that, so it's okay.

Special Agent Steve Payne: Well, there are different rules for what can be done in open court, because [unclear: "your chair is your president, your chair is his president"; probably "the judge is present"], and when we're having discussions over here, we've got to adhere to a different set of rules.

Israel Keyes: Right, because you had me sequester[ed] away from... I understand that. And I've been working on that as much as I can [from] mine. But, you know, there really is just like a couple very simple questions I have to ask them, and I need to get a straight answer from somebody before I can move forward on it, because I'm not getting a straight answer on mine.

Officer Jeff Bell: So, you think they might be able to provide [you] with some...

Israel Keyes: Yes, I...

Officer Jeff Bell: General questions about...

Israel Keyes: Right, right. Not even questions related to the case. Just, you know...

Officer Jeff Bell: And are you talking about the hearing yesterday afternoon or the hearing yesterday morning?

Israel Keyes: Yes. Well, let's see.

Officer Jeff Bell: Yeah, [unclear: "it did"].

Israel Keyes: Let's see. No, it was pretty much strictly related to the afternoon hearing.

Officer Jeff Bell: How about if you... If you can give me the general question, and [we] might be able to make a phone call and see if they can...

Israel Keyes: Well, okay. My position has been, and I [unclear: "may know secret"; probably "make no secret"] about this, my position has been that I want to talk to them about the Koenig case and find out, you know, where we stand with that. But, you know, we can't do that.

Officer Jeff Bell: And they can't do that right now without...

Israel Keyes: Right. No, I understand that. But he's...

Officer Jeff Bell: So, we don't want to talk about the [unclear: "phone"; probably "Koenig case"].

Israel Keyes: The impression that I [got when I] spoke to him before, and he [gave] me the impression that he was open to that, but only if my attorneys were present. And I said, okay, fine, I'll talk to them, they'll set it up. That was a month ago. So, there's something...

Officer Jeff Bell: Oh, I see.

Israel Keyes: There's communication... That's all I can say about it, because they're not here, you know, to state their case, their side of the story. But I do know what they've been telling me, and so if he, and, you know, he made it clear that, at least at that time, that he was open to that suggestion that I had, and, and I'm assured that, see, I don't, yeah, I guess it just comes down to, I don't know who to believe right now, because there's something, something is, there's a hitch in the communication somewhere. And it, and it's all, and honestly, I wasn't that concerned about it until yesterday, and I heard some of the things that were said in court.

Officer Jeff Bell: Some of the things that were said by...?

Israel Keyes: By the, I think it was, [unclear: "yeah, yeah"], from what he said, I was not at all happy with the... And actually, I had heard, I had heard a day or two before that hearing that that was what was going on, and I had no idea, and then to hear it confirmed in court like that was kind of just, you know, it's frustrating. And I, and honestly, I'm not gonna get all in a tizzy about it until we can at least talk about it and find out what is going on. It's, I, it's not that I'm not willing to accept the people's explanations for why things, for what's going on, it's just that no one's giving me [unclear: "an act of life"; perhaps "an explanation"].

Special Agent Steve Payne: But I guess my thought on that is, we try to do that, and we'll continue to try to do that, but just keep in mind that all of us are, you know, we're bound by the rules, you know, set down for us. And in some cases, the rules will be more restricted than usual. And that's kind of what's going on. And then, you know, sometimes there are just additional rules that we have to live by, and, like, the standby counsel at any time is kind of like an issue. We don't want to do that very often.

Israel Keyes: Right.

Special Agent Steve Payne: And there are some other things, and I'm not going to get into it because it's kind of legal stuff, and it's not really my strong suit. But just keep in mind that the attorneys are juggling more things than [unclear: "they warm up in the world"].

Israel Keyes: Right.

Special Agent Steve Payne: And there are things, I think, that we would all like to be able to talk with you about, but we just haven't had that opportunity to do that.

Israel Keyes: Right. And that's my concern.

Officer Jeff Bell: Are these questions that you have for the attorneys, questions under the conditions that you know we have to speak about? Are these questions that they're going to be able to answer, or are they just going to tell you, we can't talk to you about that because it's not related?

Israel Keyes: They're questions they're probably not going to want to answer unless I have [my attorney present].

Officer Jeff Bell: Okay. So it's not something that they can even answer in this environment right now?

Israel Keyes: Not right here, right now. But I do, I would like [re]confirmation on the previous statement that Feldis had told me. I mean, he gave me that statement in an interview that was, you know, with just me. And I don't know if he was saying it as an official response, or if he was just saying it to placate me, but he did say he was willing to do that, have a meeting with me and whoever, you know, whatever counsel was required, so that we could discuss things openly, and it hasn't happened.

Special Agent Steve Payne: Well, and...

Officer Jeff Bell: Do you think that, I'm not, do you think we're [on] this side stalling that?

Israel Keyes: I don't know, somebody's stalling it. That's all I can say for sure. And it's not me.

Special Agent Steve Payne: Well, one thing that [unclear: "quite many kids like me"; probably "we can tell you"] is, neither Kevin nor Frank are the kind of guys that are going to tell you something just to [unclear: "chime on"].

Israel Keyes: I haven't got that impression, no.

Special Agent Steve Payne: They're not. And so if they told you something, it is something that they believe is, can be done. And I don't always understand all the reasons why things work exactly the way they do.

Israel Keyes: Right.

Special Agent Steve Payne: But they're not going to bullshit you. It's just not [their style].

Israel Keyes: Well, right. I mean, I agree with you, and I believe you up to a point. I mean, I'm not, it's not like I'm here expecting special treatment. I don't know. I have no doubts about what my part is in all this. I'm just saying that, yeah, from what I've seen and from what my dealings are with them so far, I'm more inclined to put my faith in the things I've heard from them than from certain other people. So.

Officer Jeff Bell: We know that they have gone through... what they're trying to work out, and what I think they have worked out with Vermont, is unheard of, too.

Israel Keyes: I think they have. Right. Well, I mean, and, yeah.

Officer Jeff Bell: We were prepared to come and talk to you about that today, and I just, the [unclear: "employers"; probably "attorneys"] are just, you know, they're just not sure where we stand now, because [unclear: "we got to stand"]. They want some assurance that we're still kind of going that way.

Israel Keyes: Well, that is a good point. I haven't even thought of it in that light, that now that it's on the news, that people there are going to read it, too.

Officer Jeff Bell: Well, that's the difficulty that they're having there. They've been [on] conference calls talking to them, saying, I thought this guy was, you know, I thought we were, he's on board. And so they're, frankly, that's why we're having this trouble today, and [unclear: "he would be today"] just kind of, so we could give them a feel for how things are and where we stand, and what we can tell them, where we stand. This was just, you know.

Israel Keyes: Yeah, well, I mean, I know it's going to be hard for anybody to accept, but especially them, I would imagine, that [it] didn't really have anything to do with our arrangement. [From] my perspective.

Officer Jeff Bell: Yeah. So, okay. But, I mean, I don't think it's something that they can't work past. They've worked through some pretty [miraculous] stuff right now. So, I think this is something they can probably, they just, they want some assurance that we're going to be able to go back down that same road that we were on.

Israel Keyes: I...

Officer Jeff Bell: We made a major turn.

Israel Keyes: I don't imagine this will stay strictly between you and me and the people in this room, but you know, I believe the people in this room know me well enough now to know that, um, that when I say what happened yesterday has nothing to do with our [unclear: "rain"; probably "arrangement"], like I said, it's not some kind of some grand scheme. Um, I already know how this all ends for me, so.

Officer Jeff Bell: I mean, it's good, I think, that we can hear that from you. That's just, yeah, that was an opportunity that happened there.

Israel Keyes: And that's what it was.

Special Agent Steve Payne: Some of the things that they're concerned about, and that they're getting questioned about by Vermont, for example, um, because, like Jeff said, we know that they had a long conference call with Vermont today, trying to explain what happened and answer questions in, you know, Vermont. We saw a draft version of the letter, and, uh, it was everything you asked for. I mean, it truly was. And, uh, I think they're trying to answer some pretty tough questions from Vermont right now about, basically, what the fuck.

Israel Keyes: Right, but, I mean, still, even still, from their perspective, um, I, [unclear: "David"], I mean, come on, let's face it, yeah, what happened yesterday? Ooh, I'm a bad guy, I tried to escape. But, um, let's be honest, nobody really thought I was a good guy before that, so. It's not like [trying to escape] suddenly makes me untrustworthy. I was kind of untrustworthy before that, so.

Officer Jeff Bell: At least you have the perspective of, you know, kind of an unrealistic perspective.

Israel Keyes: Yeah, I'm not, um, and obviously, I think you probably especially know that I'm not going to get another opportunity like that, at least not within my lifetime. So, I mean, I don't know. I don't know what to tell them. You know, all I can say is that, I mean, nothing's changed as far as my day-to-day, my reality, you know. I'm still, still the same.

Officer Jeff Bell: You're still envisioning a way where we can get, to meet both our goals, where we can get what we want out of this?

Israel Keyes: I think so, but, like I say, after yesterday, I had some frustrations of my own. So, that was kind of the catalyst that, you know...

Officer Jeff Bell: So what you're saying is, there's a couple things you need cleared up from them.

Israel Keyes: I do, yeah, and I need, I mean, and honestly, like we've talked about before, like all this other stuff, it's like little bargaining chips, whatever you want to call it, you know, that's, that is all one thing. But, you know, everybody knows what my bottom line concern is in all this, that I, you know, that I want [it] just all wrapped up as quickly as possible. And, like I say, [it] was [in] open court yesterday, and it's obviously not happening. So, that's, you know, and I'm, and I'm, it's not that, like I say, it's not that I'm pointing the finger, placing blame on anyone. I haven't even had an explanation of why things are the way they are. So, how do I know whose fault it is, or if it's anyone's fault? I don't even know that.

Israel Keyes: But, that doesn't mean it doesn't, you know, kind of, you know, because I remember, I remember all the interviews we've had. I remember what I've said since day one, and in my perspective, [nothing has] changed from doing that. Yeah, granted, we've talked about a lot more things since then, but those are all things that I already had in my head before. Just because they're out on the table now, that doesn't change anything. What I wanted originally, what we talked about originally, it's all still the same issue. Anyway. So [unclear: "good"]. So all that being said, we're moving through here. Honestly, I don't know. I don't know that we can go anywhere until I get some straight answers on what I was just talking about. Because really, that is, that has been my bottom line all along. I won't be a [unclear: "biz"], but I think I know what's going on, but I need confirmation before I decide to take the next step, or steps, whatever it takes.

Officer Jeff Bell: And I don't know specifically what you're talking about, but it's very possible that it's something, whatever your questions are, that they may not be able to answer them, for other reasons.

Israel Keyes: I know there's, regardless of how you deal with situations, that doesn't mean we can make it even more unusual. I'm not expecting all the answers.

Officer Jeff Bell: Nobody wants to cross the line that we've been told by a judge can't be crossed. They can't do that. Nobody can. All I can tell you is you're going to have to use your judgment on the information that you're getting, and see if you can do it.

Israel Keyes: But, but it's not an easy thing. It's not an easy thing when you get everything through a middleman, as it were. So, like I said, I don't know who to blame on [this] right now. I'm pretty sure I know, but, you know, I was trying really hard to work with everybody on this, keep everybody happy, but as you [know, that] [unclear: "prison always happens"]. And I don't, you know, I don't want this to turn into any more, my whole concern with, in all of this, and I know it's going to happen. If I have to do it, I will. But, you know, if I, if I have to take the next step and just, you know, it's going to turn into even more of a [unclear: "previewing circus"; probably "three-ring circus"].

Israel Keyes: Right, and nobody wants that, and I don't think they want that. So I, that's why I thought it [was in] everyone's best interest, but, you know, because we could all have, you know, all parties involved, once again, sit down and have the, just like in the beginning, when there was no question about the legality or whether this was proper or improper. You know what, it was all, there was nothing weird or unusual about that. It was a standard interview, and there were no objections or court orders or paperwork or petitions. You know, all this stuff that's happened since then, it seems like it's done nothing. It hasn't changed anything. I still come over here and talk to you about stuff. It hasn't changed any of that. It hasn't changed my bottom line at all. All it's done is made everything more complicated for everyone else involved.

Israel Keyes: And the bottom of that, I still, I don't get a straight answer on anything. Well, I mean, maybe I have been. I hope I have been, [on] a few things, but definitely not on everything. Because I'm not there. I don't know. I don't see all the emails. I don't see all the paperwork. I don't see what's, I don't hear what's said, you know. And it's not even that I want to hear all that stuff, but I['d] at least like to hear and know about the stuff that pertains to me and what my interest is.

Special Agent Steve Payne: I think one of their concerns, and I think we all share it, is that yesterday's actions, regardless of why [you] took them, are just going to create a new [unclear: "purpose"; perhaps "problem"] for them. I mean, literally, they had something, I really think it was just about agreed to. You may have even been agreed to, and I just don't know it. But, like I said, we saw a draft version of the letter that had, I think, everything that you discussed and wanted, you know, so they had achieved that. And then yesterday has now endangered that. In addition, you know, I think they're concerned now that maybe you have a different agenda than what you told us, because you were very specific: you know, "I don't want any [media] attention." This has created a bit of a frenzy. I gotta believe that your next court appearance is going to be [unclear: "standard"].

Officer Jeff Bell: There's going to be... [unclear: "what?"]

Israel Keyes: There's probably going to be a lot of vigilantes guarding the door on that one.

Officer Jeff Bell: I'm afraid there's going to be, you know, there's only, there's only a couple [media] people there yesterday. I'm afraid tomorrow's going to have some, you know, a fair amount more [media] people, unfortunately.

Special Agent Steve Payne: And then, arguably, one of the, probably, the biggest potential hurdles now is, you know, we know you indicated that you want to represent yourself in the things for which you're not charged. And this could be a huge hurdle now that didn't previously exist.

Israel Keyes: Right. I, I, I get that idea.

Special Agent Steve Payne: These are all things that all of us are thinking about, but to be honest, they're probably more focused on it than the rest of us. You may not have thought about those things, but that's what [unclear: "I'm"; perhaps "they're"] all about.

Israel Keyes: Right. No, I, I get that. I get what you're saying. And honestly, I really hadn't thought of it at all until you [mentioned] it. I, I was, I was concerned about the immediate coverage, not really thinking about the effect that we have on the things we've discussed, thinking more about, you know, that is my bottom line. I didn't want a bunch of press, and didn't want a bunch of drama, and honestly, I [unclear: "couldn't"; probably "could"] live with the drama as long as I had been successful in escaping. But since I [unclear: "did"; probably "didn't"], now I'm like, man, I really wish I hadn't created all this drama.

Officer Jeff Bell: Well, maybe we could, maybe we could step out and get a phone call over and just express some things. You know, just let them, let them know some concerns. I don't know what the specific questions are. It sounds like they're probably questions that wouldn't be able to be answered in this setting, with the people that are here.

Israel Keyes: No, probably not. But I mean, you get [the gist]...

Officer Jeff Bell: I do.

Israel Keyes: I mean, you know, I'm not...

Officer Jeff Bell: I appreciate that. [unclear: "You're all outstanding"; perhaps "Your honesty"].

Israel Keyes: Yeah, I mean, I'm not... I have no problem with other people speaking for me. You know, the bottom line is I get to make all the decisions in the end, and I'm not going to be coerced or tricked into something that I don't know I'm getting into at this point. So, yeah, I mean, if you need to pass on, in your own words, whatever you think is going on, go for it, you know? And I'll... the more communication we have on the issue, the quicker we can get [it] resolved, and I can get to the bottom of whatever's going on in [my] mind, so...

Special Agent Steve Payne: [Okay], well, let us step out for a minute, and then I can...

Israel Keyes: All right.

[speaker Uncertain]: All right.

Special Agent Steve Payne: I really appreciate your patience here. We talked to the attorneys, and they were more than happy to sit down and talk to you, just like Kevin said.

Officer Jeff Bell: [unclear: "What was that about?"]

Special Agent Steve Payne: Yeah, just like Kevin said before, nothing's changed. We knew that, but we're just [unclear: "looking for a minute"; probably "reconfirming that"]. And they have, what they're going to do, is they're going to draft a letter that says, we understand, we the prosecutors understand, that Israel Keyes wants to sit down and talk about whatever issues. Yeah, just leave it completely open, with his attorneys, with your attorneys.

Israel Keyes: Right.

Officer Jeff Bell: They're ready, they're ready first thing tomorrow morning.

Israel Keyes: Yeah. Okay.

Special Agent Steve Payne: And they're going to, they're going to send that to your attorneys. And you should get a copy.

Officer Jeff Bell: They're going to CC a copy to you, so you know that it was sent.

Israel Keyes: All right. Good. And, well, my attorney should show up tonight. So, that's good to know.

Special Agent Steve Payne: So, you'll have a copy, you'll have a copy of the letter, you'll know exactly what it says. And then it's up to you and your attorneys, [unclear: "when they're not in policy line"].

Israel Keyes: All right. Well, that's going to be much better than the shot in the dark.

Officer Jeff Bell: Yep.

Special Agent Steve Payne: And in fact, they're not doing this to blow you off here today. It's just their concern. [unclear: "You're going to ask questions."]

Officer Jeff Bell: I mean, I kind of told them what was going on.

Israel Keyes: No, that's fine. I mean...

Officer Jeff Bell: They don't want to cross the line. They want to be [unclear: "involved"].

Israel Keyes: No, I agree. I don't want to talk about these things until we can talk about it. Okay. I don't want to pussyfoot around or, you know, like, talk around the edges of issues when we can just, you know, get it all out in the open. And that's what I've been trying to do. But, you know, apparently I was right in my assumption. So, that's good to know. We'll get things moving now. And especially, you know, if they give that letter to them, and I, then there's no doubt in my mind as to what's going on. So, okay.

Officer Jeff Bell: And we'll talk to them, and they can shoot that out as soon as they can. And, you know, maybe you guys will get it [unclear: "leave in the season"].

Israel Keyes: Yeah. I don't know. Have you guys heard what time I have court tomorrow?

Officer Jeff Bell: I think it's at 2 o'clock.

Special Agent Steve Payne: Yeah. I think it's 2 o'clock.

Israel Keyes: All right. All right. Good.

Special Agent Steve Payne: So, there's [unclear: "20 times"; probably "plenty of time"].

Israel Keyes: Yeah. All right. Well, it's good to know. I imagine we'll see.

Officer Jeff Bell: All right. Well, I think, unless you have anything, any other questions or anything else you want to...

Israel Keyes: Yeah. I don't know.

Officer Jeff Bell: You want a nap before tonight?

Israel Keyes: No.

Officer Jeff Bell: All right.

Special Agent Steve Payne: Hang tight.

Israel Keyes: All right.

Officer Jeff Bell: And we'll probably be heading back.

Israel Keyes: All right.

[speaker Uncertain]: Yeah.

[speaker Uncertain]: Yeah, yeah, you know what, okay, there's a normal way of saying it, it's all right.