So, we got a little bit of a situation here. He gave us consent to look in his car and this front seat has blood everywhere. He's saying it's from his friend that has a nosebleed. I think they might have a [ __ ] murder here. I'm not even [ __ ] you. Look at the blood. >> 1321 >> It's all over. It's up in the seat like he's been cleaning in here. You see he cleaned that old format. I got my lieutenant coming up here cuz you guys might have some [ __ ] here. Where is he? Yeah. >> Yeah, and look at all the grass and mud on the He's been driving off road. >> Spoiler details are in the video description and the full results of all charges in the case are laid out at the end of the video. >> That seat the movers carried in there, Alex. >> I spoke to you a few hours ago. I was checking to see if you were with the Sheriff's Office. This is Sergeant Knight from here. >> What's that? >> In short, the reason why we're here right now is how we can follow up with questions specifically we'd like to ask you and get clarified. Do you remember the form we read to you with your Miranda rights at Shelby Police Department and you signed off on those and you felt okay? This is the same thing. I'll read it to you over again. Everything still applies as before. Okay, if you have questions, stop me and ask me. How do you spell your last name? Is >> Yes. >> Okay. What's your current address on Taylor Town? >> 909 >> And what's your date of birth? >> 6 298 >> And your social please? >> Is that what you call it? >> Do you have a current contact phone number by chance? >> Uh >> All right, I'm just going to go here and read your rights to you as I have done before, okay? >> All right. >> You have the right to remain silent, do you understand that? >> Mhm. >> Okay. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law, do you understand that? >> Got it. >> You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have them present with you while you're being questioned, do you understand? >> Mhm. >> All right. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, we will be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish, do you understand that? >> Mhm. >> Okay. You can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements, do you understand that? >> Mhm. >> Okay. You have the right to legal representation by a county public defender if you so desire, do you understand that? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And then this is where I read you your rights. Down here is two questions for you. Do you understand each of these rights I've explained to you? >> Yes. >> Okay. If you understand those, just write yes there for me, please. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I'll open that for you in a sec. >> Second question, having these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to us now? >> Yeah. >> Go ahead and write yes. >> [snorts] >> Okay. And all I did was date and time that, and then place of signing, this is the Richmond County Jail and the address here, okay? Down here where it says signature, can you sign your signature there? Okay. Like I told you just a minute ago, the reason we're down here now is to ask you some follow-up questions, get some on everything so we're all on the same page, >> Okay. okay? Before we get into all that though, would you be willing to give me a DNA sample? What that entails is me swabbing both sides of your mouth with these. >> Okay, yeah. That'll be fine. >> That'll be fine? >> Yeah. >> Okay. There's two sticks in here, okay? What I'm going to do is I'm going to take one, swab it around the left side of your mouth, and then I'm going to take the other one and swab it around the other side. That's it. Just lean forward here and say ah. Let me know if this hurts. Okay. Other side. >> Okay. It's your house on 909 Taylor Town. Can you tell me which bedroom is yours in the house? >> That would be that front left one once you get up to the house. It's the top there. There's a window. >> Can I just verify going your front porch and I go in the front door that set of stairs on the right and I go >> Yeah, go up there. >> First bedroom on the right? >> First one, yeah. >> Okay. One with the storm trooper helmet mounted next to the big screen TV? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. Now, one of the things we're a little well, not a little but really hazy on here cuz you're kind of I'm not being mean to you here. I'm just telling it how it is. You're really all over the place with is the route you took, where you were at. Anything to do with where you were at. >> Right. Okay. >> We were level with you earlier. We were straight with you about everything. So, we'll do the same thing here. >> Okay. Okay. >> You live in that area on Taylortown. You run here. You spend your time there. I know you know your way around there at least by sight, if not knowing street names. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, I know we can get more specific on that. Well, I'm not sure on this one. Yada yada yada. You understand where I'm going with that. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, when you picked her up on Second Street and Shelby, where did you go from there? What route did you take? >> That route turns up the main street on there on Shelby. >> So, down to from Second down to Main Street? >> Yeah, like where I turned off and >> Or did you go over 39? >> No, I went down through just basically just straight on over to the turn lane into Taylortown. >> Okay. So, if you went down Second Street and Broadway, which is the main route there before it turns into Main Street, those two intersect. So, did you go down to Main Street and then cut over to 39, or did you take another side street over to >> I was on Second Street, took a left. >> Okay. >> Then took another left and basically just went straight on from there. >> Okay. >> And then there was that point where you turn onto Taylortown like right beside MTD. >> Okay. So, you ended up on 39, went all the way past the car dealerships, down past MTD, and took a left on Taylortown right there where it stops at >> Yeah. >> at 39. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And you told us earlier that when you took that right on Taylorsville Road, it was your intention to go to your house first so that you could pick up work clothes, things like that in case you got held over at the courthouse and all that. Was that right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. You also told me that when you initially struck Gabby, is that what she goes by? Or Gab? >> Gabe. >> Gabe? All right. You told me that when you initially struck Gabe, you were on Taylorsville Road right by the corner of Spring Road, that church. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And again, you correct me if I'm wrong cuz I'm just going by what you told me earlier, okay? >> Yeah. >> That was the area where you first struck her at and you said also in that area she was when she lost consciousness. Is that right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> [snorts] >> How many hits did it take to get her to go unconscious, approximately? >> I couldn't tell like how many I was doing. It just got kind of >> Was it more than one was it she went unconscious, though? >> Yeah. What what do you mean by that? >> And how much was she bleeding from all that? >> She was bleeding pretty heavy. >> From where? Like her face? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Now, you mentioned earlier that after all this was done, it was at your house where you went and you cleaned up. >> Yeah. >> The car? How much blood did you have to clean up? >> There was a lot. On the seats, mainly where it was. >> Okay. Anywhere else in the car? >> I think some got like on the dashboard, just a little bit, but not too much of it. >> Okay. Now, are we talking like you got to clean up some droplets, little splatter, or are we talking whole puddles and pools? >> It was just like splash, but I'll go. >> Okay. Okay. Now, this route that you took to get to your house >> Mhm. >> You're heading there to get your work clothes. You first hit her Taylor Town Road and Spring Mill. Was it a straight Okay, you went You got off of 309, went down to Taylor Town, turned down there towards where your house this altercation is going on. You hit her. It all happened in that frame. There wasn't any other driving around. >> No, no, no. Yeah, that happened like all there and then I never I didn't drive around until after. >> So, between that, leaving her house You went out on 309, getting out of Taylor Town, turning on there when the altercation gets physical, you're hitting her, she's going unconscious. You end up driving out to Bowman Street. >> Yeah. >> Where you dumped her out of the car. There was no traveling around elsewhere. It was just >> Yeah, yeah, it was >> Okay. >> Basically me just driving and I found somewhere. >> Okay. >> [music] >> All right. One more major thing we got to clear up here. >> Mhm. >> And like I told you above the shoulder police department. You're doing really well manning up about stuff. >> Yeah. >> And while [clears throat] you're hiding stuff, you're gradually coming out with more information, okay? I can tell you want to You want to talk and you want to get this off your chest. Okay? You don't seem like the type that wants to be vindictive about it and >> No, yeah, I know. >> You're slowly and surely coming out with stuff. >> Yeah. >> Okay? So, one last little piece of the puzzle here. Like I said, there's two of them that we need to get cleared up here, okay? You're not being honest about the manner in which she was killed. >> Right. >> Okay. So, you agree with me we're not being honest about that. >> Yeah. >> [clears throat] >> We need to get a lot in the air here, okay? We can't get closure on any of this without truth. >> Yeah. >> All right. How did you kill her? >> This little I had a pocket knife. And honestly, I just I don't know what got into me to do anything. I just remember flash from my eyes and I was angry with something she was telling me. >> Okay. So, you were mad at something she was telling you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. This pocket knife you had, did you stab her with it? >> Yeah. >> Okay. How many times did you stab her with it? >> Honestly, I couldn't tell you how many times. Did you slash her throat with it? >> No. No, I didn't get to her throat in any way. >> Remember, man. I swear to you, we can't have any closure. >> Right. >> All right. I know she's got a big gaping hole in her neck. >> Really? I didn't get near her throat at all. >> Where did you stab her? >> I think it was just mainly like from two her sides and everything. Her sides and her front. >> Okay. >> But her throat I didn't touch. >> Okay. Be really honest so far, man. There's no point in screwing it up now. >> Right. >> Okay? You know that's not true, too. Be straight with me here. Okay? I understand that you had a blackout moment where you were just so mad and >> Yeah. >> you couldn't control yourself and it was like how do I get this woman off my back? It's too much. And you snapped. >> Yeah. >> What did I tell you earlier? People snap. >> Right. >> Okay? But we got to be honest about this. We can't dance around the issue here, especially when I know the information you're giving me is not accurate based on what I've seen in my investigation. And you know it, too, because you were there. Okay? So, tell me how you did it here. Okay? I I know you didn't stab her in the side or in the stomach, at least not to an excessive amount. Okay? You cut her throat. >> Honestly, I don't remember cutting her throat. Like, honestly don't remember ever actually getting to that point. I may have hit it not knowing if I did, but from what I can remember I never touched your throat. >> Did you mate? >> And you're I'm asking for clarification here. So is it possible you may have done that and just not remember it cuz you were in a blind rage? >> Probably yeah. >> Okay. So where do you Where do you for sure remember stabbing her at? >> I do remember like I think it was it somewhere in her front and I'm pretty sure it was like her side towards her back area. >> Okay. Which side right left do you remember? >> Right side. >> Okay. Okay. See being more honest here now we can get further and I appreciate that. Okay. I told you we had two major things we still need a clarification on. Yes. was one of them. Okay. Here's the other one. Okay? Hasn't been bad being honest? >> What hasn't been bad between >> No, no. I mean hasn't been bad this whole interaction here. You being honest, being straight with me. You shooting straight. You shooting me straight. >> So, I guess this is not >> Okay. >> [clears throat] >> So, I'm not going to dance around this issue and this question. All right? I'm thinking she wasn't killed in that Jeep. My thinking is that there was some altercation in the Jeep, physical, with punching, maybe something like that. She got out at one point whether you tossed her out or she jumped out trying to get away from you or whatever, and you killed her outside of that Jeep somewhere. My question is is am I correct in that line of thinking or am I totally off base? >> It wasn't in the Jeep. >> You did kill her in the Jeep? Okay. So, you stabbed her in the Jeep? >> Yeah. I just got back from getting my lunch, water bottle, headphones. Got back in the car and I don't know. And then that's when I kind of blacked out. >> So, after you picked her up, did you stop somewhere to pick up your lunch or did you go to your house to get >> Went to my house cuz this it was just a little frozen. >> Okay. So, did did she wait in the car while you went in and got your lunch? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, had you hit her yet before you got to your house? >> Not before. >> Okay. Cuz that church is in the intersection of Plumas, Spring Mill, and Taylor Town. Before you get to your house, going down the route you're saying you went. And you told me twice that you hit her to begin with at Taylor Town and Plumas Spring Mill and that's when she went unconscious. Now, you're telling me you made it all the way to your house. No physical altercation happened. She waits in the car while you go in and get your lunch. >> Right. Yeah. >> Okay. So, we're taking this a different route here than you've already told me twice. When did this altercation start? >> It was right there right after I got my lunch. >> Like in your driveway? >> Yeah. >> Was it inside your car or did she get out of the car and have an altercation there? >> It was inside the car. >> Okay, like still in the driveway or what? Okay. So, then you stabbed her in your driveway? >> Yeah. >> Okay, stabbed her to the point where she was dead in your driveway? Or did you drive off and keep stabbing her? I'm just How did this develop? >> It was all right there in the driveway. >> Okay. So, after you went in the house, picked up your lunch, you closed, yada yada yada, come out to the car, get in the car, and this altercation has played and you stabbed her to death in the car in your driveway. And then did you just drive her over to Bowman by the tower and dump her out there? >> Yeah, cuz I was freaked out, myself, I tried to black out. That's it. >> [clears throat] >> I blacked out. >> Just that Just trying to call Sarge. Was there any physical altercation prior to getting to your house or was it just verbal? >> It was just more Just verbal. More talking. >> Not with them when I went to the >> After you came back out of the laundry, what what set it off at that particular moment in time that things just went zero to 100? >> I was asking her some questions about her and this other guy and you know, she was saying stuff that just really got to me. >> So, was she like saying stuff to purposely get on your skin with it or was she just yeah, I'm seeing somebody? I mean >> I mean, I was asking her stuff I probably shouldn't have asked her. You know, after all she was still stuck between what they were doing. >> Now, was there her answers and responses to this that got you upset? >> Yeah. >> Where was this pocket knife at prior to the stabbing happening? >> I think it was in my room. Cuz I had to go back up there to get my headphones. >> So, you didn't have the knife prior to stopping at your house to get your lunch? >> No, not at the time. >> So, when you got your lunch and you picked up this knife to go back outside, did you pick up that knife and go out there with the intention that you were going to kill her when you got back to the driveway? >> It was just I don't know. Like I just picked it up and I didn't want to do anything, honestly, to her at all. But then, you know, when she was answering the questions I was trying to give to her, it just kind of blacked out. >> Mhm. I said, "Okay." So, when you got in there were you thinking um "Maybe I will, maybe I won't." Or did you just pick it up cuz you carry a pocket knife like most of the regulars does? >> I was contemplating, honestly, with that. >> Contemplating hurting her? >> Yeah. And I don't really like I don't know why that was going through my head. >> So, would it be fair to say you were contemplating it and then after she starts getting under your skin with the answers to your questions, that's when you made the decision that you were going to >> Yeah. >> Okay. Was your intent just to hurt her by stabbing or were you intending to kill her? >> I just wanted to just hurt her, but kind of blacked That's when I really blacked out. >> Okay. And she for sure wasn't alive when you left the the driveway? >> Yeah, she wasn't for for she was I think she was like just slowly getting to that point where she was, you know, dying off. >> Okay. So, she might have died while you were driving over here. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. Last thing before we wrap up, okay? >> Okay. >> Obviously, I've got a detailed version of your side of things here, okay? That's why I'm asking a lot of questions, taking a lot of notes. >> Okay. >> Detailed version of your side, okay? Before we take off here, so guys, call report. It's not on right now, okay? I turn this on, read off some information. Would you be willing to give me a taped statement as far as what you just told me, not the whole shebang all the way through like we just went through over the last half hour or so, and just condensed simple facts as far as this is where we're going, this is what happened, this is what happened after that. >> Okay, yeah. >> You all right with that? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Tuesday, February 11th, 2020. Detective Andrew with the Watauga County Sheriff's Office conducting a taped statement with Alec Blair. Also present is Sergeant Rich Ickinger with the Watauga County Sheriff's Office. And Mr. Blair, you've been advised of your Miranda rights by me prior to this conversation, correct? >> Yep. >> Okay. And you decided not to invoke your right at this time, and you're okay with speaking to me, is that correct? >> Yep. >> Okay. Can you tell me, sir, what happened between you and Gabe Clevenger yesterday afternoon when you went to pick her up at her house? >> I picked her up cuz we were going to go to the courthouse to do some divorce stuff. So, I wanted to do that. Went to my house on Taylorsville Town where I was going to grab my lunch and stuff just in case I needed to so I can get to work afterwards. All right. Went up to get my headphones, and I grabbed this pocket knife. And I didn't have any intention to try to do anything. It was just me contemplating something. Went back outside, put my stuff in my car. When I got asked her some personal stuff between him, her, and this new guy and it got to the point where it got really under my skin. It triggered me to and I blacked out. And that's when I started with pocket knife on her. >> Okay. Did you stab Gaylin Clevenger with that knife? >> Yeah. >> Did you stab her until she was dead? >> I didn't want the intention to, but that's where it got to. >> Okay. So, I I mean, intention aside, did you stab her until she was dead? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. And what happened after that, sir? >> After that, I kind of had a freak-out moment after I got not blacked out anymore, freaked out, and drove over to that place on Bowman with that huge cell tower and everything. >> Okay. >> And dropped her there. After that, I came back home and was freaking out more, trying to clean up the blood out of the seat and everything. And after that, I went to work. >> Okay. What did you do with the uh knife and the rags that you used to clean up? >> The knife and rag, I pretty sure I put it in the trash. >> Which trash? >> I think it was right there outside. >> Like in the Like in front of the house? >> Yeah, the blue one in the garage. >> Yeah. All right. And after this clean up, throwing this up in the trash, you went to work? >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Did you send a text to or a Facebook message to her new boyfriend from her phone saying basically that you had decided not to go through with going to the courthouse today and we're going to do it another time? >> Yeah. It is. Yeah. >> Okay. Do you have anything else you'd like to add or say, Mr. Blair, before we conclude? >> Nothing that I can think of. >> Mr. Blair, I have a couple questions. >> Yes. >> Do you remember what time you went to your house? Do you remember an approximate time? >> After or before? >> Um when you pulled in and went to your room that time. >> I'm thinking it might have been like 12 something. Right there in that 12 area. >> Do you remember how much time went by until the time you went to your room until the time you went back and you and you stabbed your wife? >> I would say about 5 minutes. >> And was there any time about from the time when you stabbed her and and you said she was slowly going away, right? >> Yeah, that >> Was that in the driveway? Were you driving down the road? Were you watching her in the driveway or >> Uh I started driving when she was >> Did you Did you About what time did you get on Lone Star Street? Were you Were you in the driveway? >> I'd say about maybe 12:20, 12:30. >> Okay. And do you remember what the knife looked like? >> I think it was like red and skulls on it. That was the base of it. >> Any Any time did you ever think about calling 911 or getting medical attention >> for I did not, but I probably, you know, honestly should have. And then at the time it was freak out moment for me. I didn't know what to do. >> You have any more questions, Sergeant? Okay. Again, before we shut this off, anything else you'd like to add, Mr. Blair? >> Nothing I can think of that would go along with it now. >> Okay. End of tape statement. Okay. That does conclude our business here right now. We've asked you a ton of questions, so before Sergeant Ikin or I take off, I want to give you the opportunity. Do you have any questions of me or us before we leave? >> Just wondering like what else is going to happen going to happen like after like what else is going to happen, you know? >> Okay. Well, the the short answer to that is we still have a a bit of an investigation and paperwork that we have to finish, phone calls to make, all manner of things like that >> Mhm. >> before firm answers to your question can be set in place. Does that make sense? Okay, cuz I can sit here and I can sit well, I can speculate. Well, may happen this way and may do this. >> Mhm. >> I don't want to sit here and give you bad information or wrong answers to your question. >> All right. All right. >> So, all that being that's what it is for now. >> Okay. >> Cuz I don't want to give you bad information. Make sense? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Anything else? >> Is there like estimated time for any of this? >> Uh you'll be sitting here at least a day or two. >> Okay. >> Okay. At least. >> At least. >> All right. >> Does that count from last night or >> Yeah. >> something different? Okay. >> Okay. Just because of the nature how long it takes to get some of these things done. >> Right. Okay. >> All right. >> Mr. Blair, did you did you take any of her personal things from her and and put them anywhere? >> I did, yeah. >> What did you take? >> It was I didn't know at time, but the cell phone was in there. And then she had a bag with some of her stuff in it. I don't know what was in there. >> And who's your carrier for your phone? >> Verizon. >> You know hers? >> Uh >> And was on the same plan you got on the same plan? >> She wasn't on my plan. She was on a plan with her sister and I think that one's Verizon, too. >> Okay. What kind of personal stuff did you did you take of hers? >> Just the phone and bag. I don't know what was in the bag cuz I never opened it. >> What did you do with that stuff? >> The phone I had in my car and then the bag I put in my room. >> Where at your room? >> It was sitting on the floor at first and then I put it under my bed. >> Oh, I apologize. I did forget one thing that I wanted to ask you before we leave. At Shelby PD when we talked there, you told me that all the clothes you were wearing then was what you were wearing when this happened. >> Yeah. That wasn't true. What were you wearing? Well, I did wear that t-shirt. I did have that. >> Okay. But I'm sure you had it on under something probably. >> Yeah, a sweatshirt. >> Okay. What kind of sweatshirt? >> It was sweatpants sweatshirt. >> Okay. Okay. You know what kind of pants you wore? >> It was uh some black sweatpants. >> Okay. It was kind of like a matching set of sweatpants to that almost? >> Yeah, pretty much, yeah. >> Okay. All right, we just want to follow us out here. You want to sit back where we need to get them, all right? Give me a second, I'll I'll move the chair out of the way, okay? Just sit right there. >> In October 2020, Alec Blair pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and multiple related charges in the death of Gaberion Clevenger. On January 22nd, 2021, a Richland County judge sentenced him to 45 years to life in prison. He remains incarcerated at Madison Correctional Institution with first parole eligibility in December 2064. This account is based solely on official court and prosecutor records.