True Crime: Five and Counting

Chapter 7: Alice Stoudt

        Detective Mills took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he glanced into the ashtray. He had cleaned it a year ago, but he could still see ashes. The case was getting to him. He was craving a cigarette. The old habit clawed at his lungs. He turned up the radio to aid his struggle at ignoring the feeling. The loud music helped push the urges from his mind.

        Gary had a long way to drive. He was headed to visit Alice Stoudt, the previous tenant of the house Jenna and all those kids died in. Maybe she had a clue, or even an answer. The detective could have saved himself a two hour drive and just called Alice, but he needed to talk to her in person. Body language speaks much louder than words.

        Detective Mills wished he had more leads, but Jacob couldn't give him any. He asked the landlord for the names of any hired repairmen, but Jacob was having issues finding the receipts and paperwork. The retired fireman was so distraught from the incident. It was clear he had been missing sleep. The media was probably hounding him for interviews as well. Maybe after some rest the old man could be more helpful.

        Gary himself needed sleep. That, or a cigarette... He grit his teeth and took another smokeless deep breath. The detective barely slept the night before. His mind wouldn't let him. Gary was too obsessed with piecing together the puzzle. 

        An hour passed. Detective Mills was half way there. He began going over the questions he wanted answers for. They were written down, but he wanted to be looking at April, not a piece of paper when he asked questions. Another hour and the detective was pulling into her driveway.

        The door opened after the first knock. Gary was greeted by a chunky young woman in her late twenties holding an infant. The detective flashed his badge as he spoke.

        "Alice Stroudt? I'm investigator Gary Mills from Abbeville county. How are you doing today ma'am?"

        The woman looked concerned, "I'm fine..."

        "I don't mean to worry you, but I've just got a few questions for you. Do you mind if I come in?"

        The young woman opened the door wider. "Not at all."

        Detective Mills surveyed the house as he entered. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. "So you used to live at 771 Rosemont Avenue. Is that right?" He turned and looked at her as she closed the door.

        "Yeah, I moved here just two months ago." She set down her infant in a playpen then turned and faced Gary. "It wasn't easy moving while I was nearly nine months pregnant, but I had to get out of that house!"

        "What was the rush?" Gary was anxious for the answer.

        "That damn landlord wouldn't fix anything!" She sighed with frustration as she thought about it.

        Gary smirked. This would explain why no repairs were ever made on the house. Perhaps Jacob is having a hard time locating receipts and paperwork because there are none. The detective pressed on.

        "That's terrible. What kind of repair issues did you have?"

      "One of the toilets were broken. The faucet was leaky. The heat kept going in and out." Alice shook her head. "I left that man voicemail after voicemail."

        Gary began to feel sick to his stomach as he wondered if Alice did any self repairs. The thought of a new mother facing 5 counts of homicide made him cringe. He tried to work up the courage to ask the question. Alice continued talking.

        "That house made me sick! At first I thought it was just the pregnancy. I had horrible stomach pains and constant headaches. I was complaining to my mom about all my symptoms and she came over and forced me to go to the hospital. I'm lucky she did. I had carbonmonoxcide poisoning!"