Emergency Call Recording - Kate Elizabeth Gibbons
The emergency call transcript captures Kate Gibbons reporting a break-in whilst searching for her missing son, Joel. Despite the operator's instructions to remain in her car, Kate witnesses two women fleeing the house in terror. Driven by concern for her son, Kate enters the house, disregarding warnings. The call, left active on the kitchen bench, records the operator's continued attempts to communicate. The transcript concludes with approaching police sirens, officers entering, commands to drop a knife, and a single gunshot. This recording becomes critical evidence in establishing the sequence of events that transpired.
TASMANIA POLICE
Emergency Call Recording Transcript
INCIDENT NUMBER: 2018/08/02-1712-BERR-001
CALL TYPE: Triple Zero (000) Emergency
DATE OF CALL: 2 August 2018
TIME OF CALL: 17:12:43 (AEST)
CALL DURATION: 7 minutes 18 seconds
RECORDING FORMAT: Digital Audio (WAV)
CALLER: Kate Elizabeth GIBBONS (DOB: 13/11/1976)
CALLER LOCATION: 5 Wallcrest Road, Berriedale, TAS 7011
INCIDENT LOCATION: 2 Wallcrest Road, Berriedale, TAS 7011
TRANSCRIBED BY: Constable M. Harrison, Tasmania Police
TRANSCRIPTION DATE: 5 August 2018
TRANSCRIPT NOTATION:
[...] = Pause or silence
[INAUDIBLE] = Speech unclear or unintelligible
[SOUND] = Non-verbal audio event
[TIME] = Elapsed time marker
[00:00:00]
OPERATOR 1 (Emergency Services): Emergency services, which service do you require?
CALLER: Police, please! There's a break-in happening right now at a house on Wallcrest Road, Berriedale.
OPERATOR 1: Connecting you to police now. Please hold the line.
[TRANSFER TONE - 4 seconds]
[00:00:15]
OPERATOR 2 (Police Emergency): Police emergency, what is your location?
CALLER: I'm parked outside 5 Wallcrest Road." My words came out in a rush. "There are two women breaking into a house across the road—number 2. I'm here looking for my son, Joel Gibbons. They're picking the lock right now!
OPERATOR 2: Understood. Can you describe the two women for me, Kate?
CALLER: Yes, one is tall with dark hair, wearing a black jacket and jeans. The other is shorter with blonde hair, wearing a red hoodie and leggings. They've just... they've just got the door open. They're going inside.
OPERATOR 2: Thank you. Kate, I need you to confirm you're in a safe location right now. Are you inside your vehicle?
CALLER: Yes, I'm in my car. I can see the front door from here. They've left it open... I can see shadows moving inside but I can't tell what they're doing.
OPERATOR 2: That's good, Kate. Officers are being dispatched to your location now. I need you to stay in your car and keep watching. Can you do that for me?
CALLER: Yes. Yes, I can do that.
[00:01:32]
OPERATOR 2: Kate, are you still there? Can you see anything?
CALLER: I'm here. The house is still. I can't see them anymore. The front door is just... open. It's so quiet.
OPERATOR 2: That's okay. Just keep watching. Officers are approximately three minutes away.
[...]
[00:02:48]
CALLER: [Sharp intake of breath] Oh my god.
OPERATOR 2: What is it, Kate? What do you see?
CALLER: The door at the front—they're coming out! They're running! They look absolutely terrified, they're—they're running away from the house!
OPERATOR 2: Which direction are they going?
CALLER: Down the street, away from me. They're running like something's chasing them. The blonde one nearly fell. They're... they're getting into a car now. It's parked on the other side of Berriedale Road.
OPERATOR 2: Can you see the vehicle registration?
CALLER: No, it's too far away. They're driving off. They just... oh god, what did they see in there?
[00:03:35]
OPERATOR 2: Kate, I need you to stay in your car. Do not approach the house. Do you understand?
CALLER: But my son might be in there. Those women ran out like they'd seen something horrible. What if Joel's inside? What if he's hurt?
OPERATOR 2: Kate, the officers are nearly there. They will check the house. I need you to stay where you are. It's not safe for you to go inside.
CALLER: The door's still open. I can see inside from here. If he's in there... if he needs help...
OPERATOR 2: No, Kate. Stay in your vehicle. The officers will handle it. Kate, can you confirm you're staying in your car?
CALLER: I... I can't just sit here. My son might be in there!
OPERATOR 2: Kate, I understand, but you need to wait for the officers. They're almost there. Kate?
[00:04:18]
[SOUND: Car door opening, alert chime]
CALLER: I'm going inside. I have to find my son.
OPERATOR 2: No, Kate, do not leave your vehicle! Kate, please stay in your car. Do not enter that house. Kate? Kate!
[SOUND: Footsteps on pavement, heavy breathing, car door closing in distance]
OPERATOR 2: Kate, please respond. Do not go inside that house. Kate!
[SOUND: Footsteps on gravel, then on wooden porch]
[00:04:52]
CALLER: [Breathing heavily] I'm inside the house now. It smells... oh god, it smells horrible in here. Like something died. I'm putting the phone down on the kitchen bench.
OPERATOR 2: Kate, get out of the house immediately! Do you hear me? Kate? Get out now!
[SOUND: Phone being set down on hard surface, footsteps moving away]
OPERATOR 2: Kate? Kate, please respond!
[SOUND: Distant creaking, footsteps in another part of the house]
[00:05:15]
OPERATOR 2: Kate, can you hear me? I need you to get out of that house right now. Kate? Please respond if you can hear me.
[No response]
[SOUND: Indistinct sounds of movement, possibly from another room or floor]
OPERATOR 2: [INAUDIBLE - speaking to dispatch] [...] caller has entered premises against instructions, need immediate response, possible situation inside, request backup [...] Wallcrest Road, Berriedale [INAUDIBLE]
[Silence - approximately 75 seconds]
[00:06:35]
[SOUND: Sirens approaching in distance, growing progressively louder]
OPERATOR 2: Kate, police are arriving at your location now. If you can hear me, please come outside immediately. Officers are there.
[SOUND: Multiple vehicles arriving, doors opening, radio chatter increasing]
[SOUND: Heavy footsteps, multiple persons entering building]
[00:07:05]
MALE VOICE (Officer): Police! Drop the knife! Drop it now!
[00:07:08]
[SOUND: Single gunshot]
[SOUND: Multiple overlapping voices, shouting, movement, urgent radio traffic - mostly indistinct]
MALE VOICE (Officer): [INAUDIBLE] —down! Officer needs— [INAUDIBLE]
ANOTHER VOICE: [INAUDIBLE] —medic! We need— [INAUDIBLE]
[00:07:18]
[CALL TERMINATED]
END OF TRANSCRIPT
NOTES:
This transcript was prepared from digital audio recording reference 2018-08-02-1712-000-BERR. Audio quality is good throughout with some periods of distant or indistinct sound when the caller moved away from the phone. The recording continues until call termination at 7 minutes 18 seconds. Additional audio analysis and enhancement may be conducted as required by investigating officers.
CERTIFICATION:
I certify that this is a true and accurate transcription of the audio recording referenced above, prepared in accordance with Tasmania Police transcription protocols.
Constable M. Harrison #4729
Tasmania Police
5 August 2018
