Summary

In Chapter 13, “Evidence” (159), Trethewey presents transcripts of recorded conversations between Joel and Gwendolyn on June 3-4, 1985, just before the murder. They were recorded in an attempt to provide a judge evidence of Joel's threats to get a warrant issued for his arrest. She notes that at one point in the conversation, their call was interrupted by Trethewey calling her mother and that this was the last time she spoke to Gwendolyn.

In the first conversation, Joel expressed his belief that Gwendolyn recently told him she would give their relationship another chance; she said she did not. He said it was not fair that she left him because he “messed up one other time” and promised to “be better” (165). He then stated that he was going to kill himself and her if she would not get back together with him. She told him he...